I always say go for something height-adjustable (B14, B16, other brands available)

They don't cost that much more and you can do whatever you like.

 

I can recommend B8s 100%. Very pleased with mine as they have transformed the ride & handling.

 

Changed my stock adaptive setup for Bilstein B12 kit and definitely the best mod I have ever done to any my cars. Maybe next time would pick height adjustable but on this car, this height that B12 offers suits well to me (maybe would prefer -5mm drop on the rear).

 

https://ibb.co/ydpJwYh

Thats lowered on b12.

Would be nice if it was maybe 5mm lower at the back but it doesent look like a 4x4 so its fine.

B14 i was put off as id heard quite a few stories about clunking noises AND they will be a bit firmer than the b12 aswell.

B16 are too expensive and too many settings to play with.

 

I'd recommend ST-X(A) over B12:
More adjustability
Better comfort

 

https://ibb.co/ydpJwYh

Thats lowered on b12.

Would be nice if it was maybe 5mm lower at the back but it doesent look like a 4x4 so its fine.

B14 i was put off as id heard quite a few stories about clunking noises AND they will be a bit firmer than the b12 aswell.

B16 are too expensive and too many settings to play with.

That is interesting, mine seems a bit lower? M140i xDrive with Bilstein B12 kit. Tyres are 225/40 R18 winter.

Maybe useful, because when I first searched different photos of B12 kit and M140i, found very few of them.

 

https://ibb.co/ydpJwYh

Thats lowered on b12.

Would be nice if it was maybe 5mm lower at the back but it doesent look like a 4x4 so its fine.

B14 i was put off as id heard quite a few stories about clunking noises AND they will be a bit firmer than the b12 aswell.

B16 are too expensive and too many settings to play with.

That is interesting, mine seems a bit lower? M140i xDrive with Bilstein B12 kit. Tyres are 225/40 R18 winter.

Maybe useful, because when I first searched different photos of B12 kit and M140i, found very few of them.

Mines the RWD, not sure if that makes a difference.

 

https://ibb.co/ydpJwYh

Thats lowered on b12.

Would be nice if it was maybe 5mm lower at the back but it doesent look like a 4x4 so its fine.

B14 i was put off as id heard quite a few stories about clunking noises AND they will be a bit firmer than the b12 aswell.

B16 are too expensive and too many settings to play with.

That is interesting, mine seems a bit lower? M140i xDrive with Bilstein B12 kit. Tyres are 225/40 R18 winter.

Maybe useful, because when I first searched different photos of B12 kit and M140i, found very few of them.

Mines the RWD, not sure if that makes a difference.

Maybe just different angles.

 

As above. Always something with adjustability or you might as well fit springs.

B14 are monotube design (do your own research) or ST X or XA by KW.

I got my B14 off AUTODOC for £740.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

As above. Always something with adjustability or you might as well fit springs.

B14 are monotube design (do your own research) or ST X or XA by KW.

I got my B14 off AUTODOC for £740.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Why with adjustability exactly?

So getting a b12 kit means you might aswell just buy springs? Makes no sense lol.

 

Why with adjustability exactly?

So getting a b12 kit means you might aswell just buy springs? Makes no sense lol.

For me, the price difference is small. Why not go for something with adjustability?
If in the future you need a bit of extra clearance for some wheels or something, it's a trivial job.
If you want to tweak the rake so the car is flatter rather than having the nose-down attitude a lot of springs have, it's trivial.

 

Why with adjustability exactly?

So getting a b12 kit means you might aswell just buy springs? Makes no sense lol.

For me, the price difference is small. Why not go for something with adjustability?
If in the future you need a bit of extra clearance for some wheels or something, it's a trivial job.
If you want to tweak the rake so the car is flatter rather than having the nose-down attitude a lot of springs have, it's trivial.

He said you might aswell buy springs over buying the b12 package, that makes no sense as the dampers are the most important bit.

 

As above. Always something with adjustability or you might as well fit springs.

B14 are monotube design (do your own research) or ST X or XA by KW.

I got my B14 off AUTODOC for £740.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Why with adjustability exactly?

So getting a b12 kit means you might aswell just buy springs? Makes no sense lol.

I'd like to make sure each corner of the car is exactly the same height or if I want to fit m4 lca s and then adjust it again in the future. If I change my wheels, gonna need to change the height if I want 19s for example.

B12 are not adjustable. Nor are springs. Hence the comparison.
Excluding the over expensive adjustable springs on every YouTube car in the last 6 months. Made sense to me

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Can't say I agree with that at all, well matched spring and damper combos are on another level compared to just lowering springs.
Obviously adjustability is good but most people want fit and forget for a road car opposed to the fit and fiddle of adjustables.
Different if you're going down the track work route, as different tracks need different set ups if you're chasing tenths of a second.

I guess some just also prefer adjustability and some don't. But how many are out there corner weighting and adjusting damper settings because they are going to drive a different road...

Finally making the car the same ride height on all 4 corners without corner weighting is seriously screwing the balance of the car and imo thats not what adjustable ride height suspension was ever designed for.

 

I have b12 and an happy enough but if I had my time again I would go v b16. Not because of height adjustability, more because of dampers adjustment.

I find b12 perfect height for M4 LCA and TS in stock wheels. But when wanting other wheels it would be beneficial to have adjustable height.

Also, I think if I had to pick I would have the setup a few clicks stiffer than what b12 provided.

Although b14 and b16 Are completely different spring rates to b12 so who knows.

Crashy is different to Firm.. many people think they don't want it too hard because they relate that to crashy and uncomfortable but you can have hard and firm but not uncomfortable. That's my preference.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

OP above is just my opinion in response to another member mentioning that about lowering springs...

Personally if you want a substantial drop adjustable coilovers are probably better suited to the job. Preferably with adjustable damping as well, more a pain to set up and find what you like but ultimately it once dialled in you'll have a better set up for you're needs.

You could probably get the drop you want just off just lowering springs but on stock dampers or too low(45-50mm) on b8 dampers is asking too much of them imo.
Damping is where these cars suffer most.

 

Crashy is different to Firm.. many people think they don't want it too hard because they relate that to crashy and uncomfortable but you can have hard and firm but not uncomfortable. That's my preference.

Well said. I've driven some seriously firm cars with well controlled damping and some not so firm cars that are crashy everywhere.

 

It's only when you've experience it that you understand. It's almost like it can't be told. Lol

I'm happy and don't want to sound negative at all. B12 is a vast improvement but ide be lying if I said they were the best thing since sliced bread.

I think the dampening on other cars .e.g Porsche, and possible even the F40 m135i / new golf R is better than even b12.

But it's also about the whole car. It's not just about dampers.

I don't think b12 damper would be suited to much harder springs that what come with b12 kit. You would need better dampers again. But they are 550 quid so can't complain.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Can't say I agree with that at all, well matched spring and damper combos are on another level compared to just lowering springs.
Obviously adjustability is good but most people want fit and forget for a road car opposed to the fit and fiddle of adjustables.
Different if you're going down the track work route, as different tracks need different set ups if you're chasing tenths of a second.

I guess some just also prefer adjustability and some don't. But how many are out there corner weighting and adjusting damper settings because they are going to drive a different road...

Finally making the car the same ride height on all 4 corners without corner weighting is seriously screwing the balance of the car and imo thats not what adjustable ride height suspension was ever designed for.

Your going a bit over board. You get what I'm saying. For the extra money I chose adjustability every time. I rather have something I don't use rather than something I don't have and want to use.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Your going a bit over board. You get what I'm saying. For the extra money I chose adjustability every time. I rather have something I don't use rather than something I don't have and want to use.

Not at all, to say may as well fit lowering springs over dampers/springs isn't accurate or good advice in the slightest.
Nor is buying adjustable ride height to have all 4 wheels at the same height without being corner weighted to keep the 'seesaw' balanced. I suspect you've created handling that provokes understeer by having the ride height all the same. To me that's a car park mod, form over function. (Looks good parked up)

 

Springs only does little to improve handling it's more for a better stance, they slightly reduce body roll, they will firm up the dampers and don't to much to solve the main issues with the suspension setup on these cars. Everyone does it first because it's a cheap mod! I'll be switching from my adaptive on Motech stance springs to b8's probably or maybe something with height adjustment..

 

Your going a bit over board. You get what I'm saying. For the extra money I chose adjustability every time. I rather have something I don't use rather than something I don't have and want to use.

Not at all, to say may as well fit lowering springs over dampers/springs isn't accurate or good advice in the slightest.
Nor is buying adjustable ride height to have all 4 wheels at the same height without being corner weighted to keep the 'seesaw' balanced. I suspect you've created handling that provokes understeer by having the ride height all the same. To me that's a car park mod, form over function. (Looks good parked up)

It's not supposed to be advice. It's my opinion about springs vs non adjustable coilovers.

And I was giving a brief answer why I want adjustability.
For one, I don't set my car up, I personally take it to a professional so my car is always function over form.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Well as much as everyone's entitled to an opinion, it's the wrong opinion in my opinion to suggest people would be better to fit lowering springs over a springs/damper upgrade.

People may read this in years to come and get some false info based on opinions.. When it comes to the dark art or suspension and geometry tuning it's better if people understood the factual differences rather than opinions.
You also said you wanted adjustments to have the ride height level on all 4 corners, that's not why adjustable suspension was ever created.
Obviously suspension feel is an opinion but the fundamentals of suspension and geometry tuning aren't.

 

Well as much as everyone's entitled to an opinion, it's the wrong opinion in my opinion to suggest people would be better to fit lowering springs over a springs/damper upgrade.

People may read this in years to come and get some false info based on opinions.. When it comes to the dark art or suspension and geometry tuning it's better if people understood the factual differences rather than opinions.
You also said you wanted adjustments to have the ride height level on all 4 corners, that's not why adjustable suspension was ever created.
Obviously suspension feel is an opinion but the fundamentals of suspension and geometry tuning aren't.

It's a forum. It's built on opinion, fact and fiction.
I gave my opinion and that's how I feel. Take that how ever you want

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Agreed in that respect. Don't feel like I'm pulling you up. Sharing opinions with another member👍