mobilefriend
Well-Known Member
Hiyaak,
I had planned to changed my shocks and lower the car before changing to 18” rims… however I came across a set of ACS Type3 too good to pass on …As a result I was running around with my 18” rims on stock shocks and springs for 1 month (some people call me lorry). While I do enjoy the comfort level, I feel the need to “close the gap” …. There are of course many choices available in the market. I do like driving really fast at times, I don’t really track, so I still want something which still provides a certain level of ride comfort, while improving the asthethics and handling.
I first came across the Koni FSD review in the June’05 issue of BMWcar magazine, at the launch, they had 8 different models of cars setup with both stock and the new Koni FSD installed, the reviewers commented that even with the mini cooper (which they expect little improvements) experience better handling and comfort with the FSDs installed. Of course one of the cars tested was a E46 318. The Koni FSDs promise the best of both world interms of comfort and handling….
I visited Koni FSDs website, called up Andy and impulsively ordered a set for my E46 320. (I was quite impress that the FSDs were used as OEs on Lamborghini Gallardos…
. The FSDs are shock absorbers designed to work with the stock springs, since I wanted to lower the car further, I ordered a set of Koni Sports Springs to go with it. And as long as the drop height does not exceed 35mm, the shocks should work fine.
Today I got my Koni FSD for the E46 saloon installed after 1 months' wait ….(thanks to Andy for helping to expedite, if not wait 2 more weeks…). Seto recommended a change of all the top mounts, which I agreed since I haven’t touch them for 3.5 years. Setting up was done at J4C, the whole setup took a little more than 2 hours, I was impress with the short wait… Since the shocks were tailor made for the E46 (different part number for different cars), it's just install and go, no need to worry about any other settings
Before the installation, the gap at the front wheel was about 4 fingers, while the back about 2. Immediately upon installation, the gap dropped to 2 finger front and 2 back, the front seemed to have dropped but not the the back… :thinking: After driving it back to the office, the spring had settled a bit more to a drop height of 1 finger for both front and back, happy now
I have not done any hard corners with it, but for initial observations, a great deal of “vibrations” when driving over port holes or uneven roads is significantly reduced! Honestly, I WAS expecting a harsher ride with the drop, but I was pleasantly surprised. I have this rather “uncomfortable” hump at the entrance of my office carpark which makes the car sort of “bounce excessively”, but it was markly different today when I drive over it. It is sort of smoother with the shocks negotiating the hump nicely. Honestly, I felt that the comfort level is not much different from the days when I had my 16” wheels, not what I expected after putting on 18 inches with a 35mm drop height…
I guess I’ll have to put it to more hard drive test in the next few days and report back shortly… At the mean time, thanks for reading!
Total Damage:
FSD Shocks + Sports spring ~SGD1.7k
New OE top mounts ~SGD187
Here are some photos taken for the setup process:
I had planned to changed my shocks and lower the car before changing to 18” rims… however I came across a set of ACS Type3 too good to pass on …As a result I was running around with my 18” rims on stock shocks and springs for 1 month (some people call me lorry). While I do enjoy the comfort level, I feel the need to “close the gap” …. There are of course many choices available in the market. I do like driving really fast at times, I don’t really track, so I still want something which still provides a certain level of ride comfort, while improving the asthethics and handling.
I first came across the Koni FSD review in the June’05 issue of BMWcar magazine, at the launch, they had 8 different models of cars setup with both stock and the new Koni FSD installed, the reviewers commented that even with the mini cooper (which they expect little improvements) experience better handling and comfort with the FSDs installed. Of course one of the cars tested was a E46 318. The Koni FSDs promise the best of both world interms of comfort and handling….
I visited Koni FSDs website, called up Andy and impulsively ordered a set for my E46 320. (I was quite impress that the FSDs were used as OEs on Lamborghini Gallardos…
. The FSDs are shock absorbers designed to work with the stock springs, since I wanted to lower the car further, I ordered a set of Koni Sports Springs to go with it. And as long as the drop height does not exceed 35mm, the shocks should work fine.Today I got my Koni FSD for the E46 saloon installed after 1 months' wait ….(thanks to Andy for helping to expedite, if not wait 2 more weeks…). Seto recommended a change of all the top mounts, which I agreed since I haven’t touch them for 3.5 years. Setting up was done at J4C, the whole setup took a little more than 2 hours, I was impress with the short wait… Since the shocks were tailor made for the E46 (different part number for different cars), it's just install and go, no need to worry about any other settings
Before the installation, the gap at the front wheel was about 4 fingers, while the back about 2. Immediately upon installation, the gap dropped to 2 finger front and 2 back, the front seemed to have dropped but not the the back… :thinking: After driving it back to the office, the spring had settled a bit more to a drop height of 1 finger for both front and back, happy now
I have not done any hard corners with it, but for initial observations, a great deal of “vibrations” when driving over port holes or uneven roads is significantly reduced! Honestly, I WAS expecting a harsher ride with the drop, but I was pleasantly surprised. I have this rather “uncomfortable” hump at the entrance of my office carpark which makes the car sort of “bounce excessively”, but it was markly different today when I drive over it. It is sort of smoother with the shocks negotiating the hump nicely. Honestly, I felt that the comfort level is not much different from the days when I had my 16” wheels, not what I expected after putting on 18 inches with a 35mm drop height…
I guess I’ll have to put it to more hard drive test in the next few days and report back shortly… At the mean time, thanks for reading!
Total Damage:
FSD Shocks + Sports spring ~SGD1.7k
New OE top mounts ~SGD187
Here are some photos taken for the setup process:
You pulling my leg right?