Currently with the number 1 pads, i feel the car's stance is perfect and that I do not need to go any lower. But although the stance is good, the handling is still like a 'boat', heh. I heard some people mention they threw on some bilstein HD shocks and it really helped with the handling, i'm wondering how this combo with work.
With my 19s the ride quality did suffer a bit so I do not want the car to really get any stiffer than what it is now, that is partly the reason why I do not want to get lowering springs and also because i don't want to get the camber kits for the front and back.
So for those who have have added on bilsteins struts/shocks to stock springs, how was the result in terms of ride quality and firmness. Was it really worth it in the handling department, better around the corners?
Currently with the number 1 pads, i feel the car's stance is perfect and that I do not need to go any lower. But although the stance is good, the handling is still like a 'boat', heh. I heard some people mention they threw on some bilstein HD shocks and it really helped with the handling, i'm wondering how this combo with work.
With my 19s the ride quality did suffer a bit so I do not want the car to really get any stiffer than what it is now, that is partly the reason why I do not want to get lowering springs and also because i don't want to get the camber kits for the front and back.
So for those who have have added on bilsteins struts/shocks to stock springs, how was the result in terms of ride quality and firmness. Was it really worth it in the handling department, better around the corners?
HUGE SUSPENSION PERFORMANCE DIFFERENCE-i used Koni Yellows(adjustables)to replace my stock shocks. The Shocks will influence the ride more than the spring swap(i have H&Rs on mine). My W210 now rides stiffer/sportier but not harsh, it can handle cornering so much better with high responsiveness- It now rides like a BMW with sport suspension. DEFINITELY A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED MOD.
Thanks for the info, you did mention you have h&r springs now, so you did try your stock springs with koni yellows? Yea if it improves the handling where the car is not floating around corners, i would like to do this swap right away.
BTW, where is the top shock mount on the rear? I took out the trunk panels but i do not see where the upper strut bolt/screw is....?
I currently have the same Koni's on my car. On the front, 1 coil was removed with the stock spring with a #2 pad. I am running the softest setting on the front.
On the rear, stock my car with #1 pads. To even out the ride height I took 1/4 turn of coil of the rear springs. 1/4 turn equaled to 1/2" in ride height reduction, or you can hardly tell. I found the rear Koni's to be too harsh, even set at the soft setting. I returned them back to the Tirerack, and I am currently running the stock shock. I will probably go with KYB's on the rear. They are slight stiffer than stock, but not as the Koni yellows.
I am not trying to pull high G's out of my W210. But I didn't like the boat ride either. Another person on this forum is very happy with KYB's all the way around.
GT23, The rear shock mounts are located behind the rear back seat. Considering that you have OEM Springs(and contented with the current height right now) with the 19' tires i can conclude that the thinner tires definitely did made the car ride harder. The E55 has the Bilsteins HD with Stock Springs, and 18' tires. The E55 HD shocks made the suspension stiffer during cornering with a FIRM comfortable ride(BUT is not as hard with 19' tires)....If you decide to go with the KONI Yellows setting is relative depending on your preference(mine is set at Mid.), and you can use it with either the OEM OR Lower(aftermarket) Springs....Bilstein HDs are recommended with the Stock springs NOT Lower(aftermarket) Springs. Either way youll get better cornering....Whatever you do, i dont recommend cutting springs more than 1/4 coil since this will negatively alter the ride performance....BTW, I got away with cutting 1/4 FRONT coil ending up with WITHIN NORMAL CAMBER RANGE[:D]
Well with the number 1 pads, the car lowered about .75 inches in the front and ab out .50 inches in the rear, combined with the 19" tires, the ride height is perfect for me. I did not know that e55 used stock springs, i thought they were different because they sold amg springs? You think it will be ok with bilstein HD with the little bit of drop that I have?
And the rear shock mounts, are they behind the lower part of the rear seats or the upper part of the rear seat? I tried to take off the upper part and can't seem to budge on it.
The E55 Springs is a tad thicker(coil diameter) to accomodate the heavier V8 Engine. The Bilsteins HD are around $250-320 and the KONI Yellows are about $400-550... If price is not an issue id still go for the KONI Yellow adjustables(ride adjustable in 3 settings, and you can also use with EITHER Stock or Low Aftermarket springs...In my own experience- i just love the cornering control i got from the KONIs( Mid Setting). I got the same cornering performance like my 00 BMW M5...BTW as a base of comparison, my current setup is as follows: H&R Springs/KONI Yellows/19" Wheel/245x35x19s..... The rear shocks are behind the Rear Seat Backrest- you have to take the rear seat first, then followed by the rear back rest.
wow, as good as a m5 huh? But thats with your h&r springs too right, hard to imagine that shocks with stock springs can improve the handling that much... :)
So konis for adjustablity over bilsteins then huh, someone mentioned that koni yellows were too stiff even on the lowest setting, thats not true is it?
You would be surprised about the amount of improvement in cornering/handling when you upgrade your stock shocks with performance shocks even without changing the stock springs... I can only assume that the KONI Yellows(performance adjustable shocks) would be a BIT harder than the Bilstein HD(keep in mind Bilstein Sports are actually the performance shocks in the Bilstein line)... Ived always considered most BMWs to have a sportier/firmer/more responsive suspension than most MBs(Stock vs. Stock comparison)--Thats why i decided the E39 M5 over the W210 E55[:D]
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