[ElCapitan]

Hi all,

I performed a and didn't get detailed answers.

I seen a lot of posts stating that after market springs shortens the life of stock shocks. Some said it shortens their life by a lot and others not quite that much.

I want to hear from people that know the answer first hand. Either techs that have seen cases like that and/or people that went that way and their experience with after market springs with stock schocks.

Thank you.

[KL2DC]

+1, I'd like to know too. Theoretically/historically this is a general truth/understanding but since our cars are made to run on RFTs (read: higher unsprung weight), wouldn't that mean the suspension components are more robust than in other cars.

[Mr.Bimmer]

you always want the spring and strut/shock in balance together. if you change the spring, change the strut/shock, unless that stock shock/strut is proven to work safe and effective on a different spring.

[wj4]

By switching the springs out, you are putting more pressure on the stock shocks as it was designed to work with the KG of the new springs. The shocks won't blow out in a day or two, but in a couple of years.

You're basically killing your shocks, slowly. This is why some people opted to go with aftermarket shocks like Konis when they put in new springs.

[ehhhwik]

i have h&r sports springs on my e92's stock shocks which came with sport suspension from the factory, and after 6 months, it still feels 100%

i am planning to get coil-overs 1 or 2 years down the road...

[ElCapitan]

Originally Posted by ehhhwik

i have h&r sports springs on my e92's stock shocks which came with sport suspension from the factory, and after 6 months, it still feels 100%

i am planning to get coil-overs 1 or 2 years down the road...

This is the kind of response I am looking for but on a longer time period. Surely there are some people here that had E46 with only springs for a few years... Let them speak up.

[montreal_bimmer]

on stock non-sport suspension you can run Eibach Pro-Kit or H&R sport springs and have no problems.

on stock sport suspension, you can run Eibach Pro-Kit and Sportlines, H&R Sport and Race springs with no problems.

If you install the Eibach Sportlines or H&R Race springs to non-sport suspension, the shocks will be good for 6-8 months before you start noticing the sag.

so in conclusion,

Eibach Pro-Kit and H&R Sport springs are good with STOCK SPORT SHOCKS no problem...(no need for aftermarket shocks)

Eibach Sportlines and H&R Race Springs, will run best with after market shocks.(koni yellows).

these are the best scenarios for the aftermarket springs mentioned above, based on personal experience.

[ElCapitan]

Originally Posted by montreal_bimmer

...Eibach Pro-Kit and H&R Sport springs are good with STOCK SPORT SHOCKS no problem...(no need for aftermarket shocks)

these are the best scenarios for the aftermarket springs mentioned above, based on personal experience.

Thank you got one question for you. How long did you running sport springs (Eibach Prokit or H&R Sport) on stock shocks for?

Thanks again buddy.

[montreal_bimmer]

on my e46, my buddy is running Eibach Pro Kit on stock no sport shocks going on year 3 now, and no sag what so ever.

[ElCapitan]

Excellent! Any more input from anyone else?

[NFS13]

I have had pro-kit on for 1000 miles now and it feels a slight bit stiffer than stock and is great on corner set ups! Sorry I don't have anymore than 1000 miles, but the friends of mine that have run Eibach's alone on BMW sport susp. have had no issues over the years, so I trust in that.

[shragon]

some blurbs from www.hr-motorsport.de/index.php?sprache=en:

"Combinable with OE – as well as nearly any other type of sport shock absorbers, H&R spring sets offer an inexpensive but high quality possibility to experience sportivity by yourself."

"Shock Absorbers
If the existing shock absorbers are not in good working order, we recommend that you change them for new OE parts. However, best suited for all sport springs are the use of sport shock absorbers which H&R offer for most spring sets. These will offer optimum performance and handling"

from what i've heard in the past, aftermarket springs from germany are TUV tested with stock shocks.

imho, aftermarket sport springs (moderate lowering) with the zsp shocks should not be an issue. the shocks certainly will not last as long, but they also won't go out extremely quick as some may suggest.

[ElCapitan]

Thanks for all the respnses so far. Keep them coming people.

[Del@Creative]

From my personal experiences I have always gone w/ a coilover setup. THis last time around however, I went with springs because I didn't wanna spend on the coilovers. After 7k miles, my shocks are going. They bottom out and the tires are cupping. Why pay for the labor twice? Just go with a coilover system from the start, you will not regret it. if you can't afford it at the time just wait it out until you can... you will not be disappointed

[NFS13]

Originally Posted by Del@Creative

From my personal experiences I have always gone w/ a coilover setup. THis last time around however, I went with springs because I didn't wanna spend on the coilovers. After 7k miles, my shocks are going. They bottom out and the tires are cupping. Why pay for the labor twice? Just go with a coilover system from the start, you will not regret it. if you can't afford it at the time just wait it out until you can... you will not be disappointed

What type of springs and on what type of stock suspension? No offense but your comment is what I got from everyone trying to sell me just springs.

[markE90]

Just curoius, how can you tell if your shocks are going?

thanks!

[BoostedBMW]

Originally Posted by Del@Creative

From my personal experiences I have always gone w/ a coilover setup. THis last time around however, I went with springs because I didn't wanna spend on the coilovers. After 7k miles, my shocks are going. They bottom out and the tires are cupping. Why pay for the labor twice? Just go with a coilover system from the start, you will not regret it. if you can't afford it at the time just wait it out until you can... you will not be disappointed

I agree with this, not to mention that when you are combining a smaller spring with different spring rates with your stock shocks that weren't designed for them you are definitely hurting performance in the handling department. This is true for almost every car out there, not just the 335. I would rather invest my money into a coilover setup where you are paying for labor (or doing the install yourself) once, where you are actually improving your car's handling, not hurting it. I just don't see why you would spend so much money on a car to chince out on springs and screw up your handling. I'm sure that any enthusiast who actually pushes their car, and not just cruises to and from work looking good with their new drop, would agree with this. Just my 2 cents.

[ElCapitan]

Originally Posted by Del@Creative

From my personal experiences I have always gone w/ a coilover setup. THis last time around however, I went with springs because I didn't wanna spend on the coilovers. After 7k miles, my shocks are going. They bottom out and the tires are cupping. Why pay for the labor twice? Just go with a coilover system from the start, you will not regret it. if you can't afford it at the time just wait it out until you can... you will not be disappointed

7000k miles that is definitely the fewest miles I heard of. Others report years with no issue with running springs/stock schocks. I really wish I could afford the coilovers. The reality is that I have three BMWs. I don't plan on tracking my cars. My budget in modding although low, has to be split beween three cars. In my case, it is either after market springs only or nothing.

Originally Posted by BoostedBMW

I agree with this, not to mention that when you are combining a smaller spring with different spring rates with your stock shocks that weren't designed for them you are definitely hurting performance in the handling department. This is true for almost every car out there, not just the 335. I would rather invest my money into a coilover setup where you are paying for labor (or doing the install yourself) once, where you are actually improving your car's handling, not hurting it. I just don't see why you would spend so much money on a car to chince out on springs and screw up your handling. I'm sure that any enthusiast who actually pushes their car, and not just cruises to and from work looking good with their new drop, would agree with this. Just my 2 cents.

I appreciate your comment and I understand the concept that stock schocks will wear out faster. However aftermarket springs are designed to work with stock schocks so I would expect stock schocks to last more than 7000k miles (a lot more than 7000k miles).

I want first hand experiences from people that either had springs/stock schocks or are auto techs that has seen the results of such a combo.

Thank you guys, keep them coming.

[BoostedBMW]

Originally Posted by ElCapitan

I want first hand experiences from people that either had springs/stock schocks or are auto techs that has seen the results of such a combo.

Thank you guys, keep them coming.

To be totally honest, I wouldn't want an opinion from someone who decided to go with springs on oem shocks because it just doesn't make any sense to screw up your handlling for the sake of having it look nicer (this is coming from someone who has lowered everycar I have ever owned), but if that is what you are looking for then suit yourself. So if someone replied and said that they have 75,000 miles on stock struts with H&R or Eibach springs you would be satisfied? Why not ask them how much worse their handling became after the install? I just don't see the point.

[Adham]

If i had a nickel for every time i had to post this ....


Go with coilovers. Matching a spring with a shock that its not designed for is not the smartest way to modify any car ... especially one like a BMW. The shock is over stressed and will fail (and perform poorly as it does). You bought the car, now only perform modifications that will RAISE the car's performance and looks. If you can't afford coilovers at the moment, then wait; they aren't going anywhere, and you OEM suspension is just fine. I can't stress this enough: DO IT RIGHT. GET COILOVERS.

[Del@Creative]

[QUOTE=ElCapitan;756905]7000k miles that is definitely the fewest miles I heard of. Others report years with no issue with running springs/stock schocks. I really wish I could afford the coilovers. The reality is that I have three BMWs. I don't plan on tracking my cars. My budget in modding although low, has to be split beween three cars. In my case, it is either after market springs only or nothing.



I know 7k miles sounds extreme, but I used Eibach sportline springs which lower the car about 2 inches or more. I have sport package on my car. (Dare I say its not a Bimmer...haha) although it probably will not happen that quickly with any other springs it will happen eventually. You will then need to replace the shocks. Pay for the labor or do it yourself to remove the shocks. This whole time you could have just put on coils saved time and probably cost the same. Do NOT take this as an attempt to sell anything, I am just trying to tell you from my personal experiences and others agree as well. In the end the decision is completely up to you. If you don't want to justify spending on coils, then don't...don't let anyone else skew your decision, but I'm pretty sure most would agree to do it right the first time.

[purplewidow]

my e34 with dinan stage 1 suspension(konis) has had the front shocks replaced twice in 4 years..once from original!!! at about 17k my koni right front shock has gone for the second time..my parts guy at the dealer said they go fast esp on e90's so i would imagine same around every 2 years...
funny thing is my car feels fine i just get a slight vibration when making a right turn but it handles the road fine and my car isn't all bumping up and down and stuff like a typical bad suspension!!!! anyways she is on the sale block now hopefully in a week r 2 she will be gone !!! it is sad to see her go after the 6 years (60k) i had her!!! i got almost 400hp in the beast with the 2 dinan chips exhaust high flow induction...not bad for the money she flies on the highway...dammit 335 here i come!!! in 4-5 weeks need it to be tomorrow!!!
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