Im tired of waiting on Koni to get there struts/shocks in stock, so im thinking about the Bilstein sports...If anybody on here is running them on a Speed3 chime in and let me know what you think about how well they perform and ride..please include what springs you are using with them also. I have Eibach Pro's on my car right now. Thanks
Who's running Bilstein shocks/struts?
- Thread starter Remspeed3
- Start date
Some people on the other forums have been saying that the Bilsteins are also out of stock for a while but you might find them somewhere.
From what i remember, they ride pretty damn good and a bit more stiff than stock, in other words, a firmer suspension.
I think the Sports will match up well to your Eibachs.
From what i remember, they ride pretty damn good and a bit more stiff than stock, in other words, a firmer suspension.
I think the Sports will match up well to your Eibachs.
charlessss
Member
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- MazdaSpeed 3
I have read good reviews on the Koni's mann... I think you should wait it out.
I actually almost had a full set of Koni's in my posession, but one got lost during shipment and TH Motorsports wouldn't send me a new one without me paying for it first..so I sent the others back because of the back order and the customer service I recieved.
I've had Koni yellows on one of my previous cars before and they were fantastic...im just tired of the bounce on the highway everyday.
I've had Koni yellows on one of my previous cars before and they were fantastic...im just tired of the bounce on the highway everyday.
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charlessss
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- MazdaSpeed 3
that sucks man. Any word of when they will be restocking them?
FrequentFlyer
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- 2008 CWP Mazdaspeed3
I've got the Bilstein SP's on stock springs. I've had them since April. You can't go wrong with either Bilsteins or Koni's (MS3 specific). The Bilsteins were really designed for the heavier Volvo S40, so they've got stiffer valving than the Mazda3 Koni's. Now the new MS3 specific Koni's have higher rates and my be comparable. The Bilsteins are abit more pricey than the Koni's, but in my opinion, they're a better shock/strut and think the build quality is better. They're both rebuildable. Of course, the Bilsteins are not adjustable, which for me isn't an issue. They're stiff and that's how I like them. No need for me to make them soft for the street and stiff for the track. I don't really track/auto-x the car and I like a firm ride all the time. The Koni's are not easy to adjust anyway (at least the rears aren't). Between my Cobb RSB and the Bilsteins, the MS3 has been transformed. This is the way the car should have been from factory. I'm running stock springs because I feel the car is low enough from factory. I would love it however if someone would make a spring set with 15-20% higher spring rates without lowering ride height, but I don't think that's going to happen. Most people buy aftermarket springs to drop their cars, not for a higher spring rate, so for now, I'll keep my factory springs. I wound up getting my Bils for around $675 shipped, so the difference between the Bils and Koni's was less than $100 for me at the time.
Both are great dampers. I have Bilstein internals on my H&R coilovers and they work great. The main advantage Koni Sports offer is adjustable rebound. Otherwise they are directly comparable to one another.
Bilstein is very popular with racing shops and parts are generally very abundant. I'm only a couple hours from Bilstein's West Coast HQ. They service their struts & shocks for 65 & 75 respectively. Koni shocks/struts can only be serviced through their authorized dealers.
Bilstein is very popular with racing shops and parts are generally very abundant. I'm only a couple hours from Bilstein's West Coast HQ. They service their struts & shocks for 65 & 75 respectively. Koni shocks/struts can only be serviced through their authorized dealers.
That's so funny! I ordered mine from them too and they so dicked me around! I ended up completely canceling my order from them and going to tirerack.
Seemed like a bunch of young punk ass kids running thmotorsports.
In the end, I made the right choice. I'll never go to th again.
charlessss
Member
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- MazdaSpeed 3
How's the ride quality on the bilsteins? How is it on crappy roads?
I remember you telling me about them, but it was after I had already ordered them..needless to say by the time the I got my refund the Koni sale was almost over.. and I didn't want to submit and order and wait for Tire Rack to get them back in stock... I was thinking coilovers at that point but they were on back order too!.
Charlessss I thought you had H&R coilovers? don't they have Bilstein dampers in them??
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charlessss
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- MazdaSpeed 3
Just curious to know how they are with different spring set ups. Funny thing is Im going to be getting rid of these coilovers to possibly someone on these forums, and may be switching to Konis/H&RS. My daily commute is getting a bit harsh with these coils, I-5 sucks here in my neck of the woods. Plus wifes complaining haha.
^^yeah I can't blame you on that, I had two different sets on my GTI..the first set was the Bilstein PSS' which didn't go very low but rode great, the second set was some FK's that had Koni adj. dampers in them, the ride was good and I had plenty of height adj. but i had an issue with one of them, the cap that held the shock insert in would come loose all the time and start popping when I would turn. I had to send it off and spend another 300. bux for a new insert and cap. I won't buy another set of coilovers unless I build a dedicated track/autocross car, and I can't see that happening anytime soon...but to be honest im not sure that the ride quality will improve that much with a spring and shock combo. I've been thinking about putting my stock springs back on with some Koni FSD's.
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charlessss
Member
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- MazdaSpeed 3
yea, suspension is truely a pain at times. I have asked a couple members about the koni/h&r combo on another mazda forum, and they state that the settings on 3/3 or 3/4 the ride is great, no bounce, comfortable, but of course you can still feel very hard dips on the road. I just want to eliminate the bounce and crappy roads. If I didnt have to commute 35 mins back and forth everyday these coils would be great. They are good on decent roads, and handle amazing. One of those members even said he felt his ride quality improve from stock with the koni/h&R combo, but I'm not going to take that seriously. Everyone pretty much says that haha. Let me know if you find a site that has them in stock, i'll be looking as well.
^^Im probably going to just wait until next spring now..the weather is going to be changing pretty soon...so im not in a hurry at this point...I guess the best bet would be to go ahead and order them from Tire Rack and just wait, I started to do that but I tend to procrastinate alittle...lol! Im going to change to the H&R springs to when I get my Koni's also, I like the way the front sits on the H&R's from the pics i've seen.
charlessss
Member
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- MazdaSpeed 3
yea the stance is pretty nice on em. I want to know though if any member has H&R's with Bilsteins to chime in on ride quality. I searched and found one thread where someone did it years ago, said ride was relatively harsher than stock, but absorbs bumps way better. But anymore input would be great. Not in a hurry as well, but im going to call tirerack to get an estimate on when they are going to get them.
FrequentFlyer
Member
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- 2008 CWP Mazdaspeed3
I'm running stock springs, but the ride is definitely firm. On crappy roads, it does get a little rough, but it's controlled. Over dips and humps it kinda slams you back down into the seat a bit. I would say this car is about as firm as my '04 S2000 was now. No more floatiness and turn-in is super quick. I've got my Cobb rear sway bar on the soft setting and I don't think I'd have any problems getting this thing to oversteer. You feel every bit of the road, but it hasn't been uncomfortable for me. I like a firm suspension though. It definitely feels like a sports car now.
And yes, I believe they were H1's and they were "sports". There has been some arguement over which ones are better, the SP's or the HD's. The HD's have a longer shaft and aren't for lowered cars whereas the SP's are. I went with the SP's because the way I see it, the MS3 is lowered from factory a good bit (over a half inch lower than the MZ3) and it's definitely lower than any Volvo S40 I've seen, so I figured I'd get the SP's. Either one will work though and the valving is exactly the same.
And yes, I believe they were H1's and they were "sports". There has been some arguement over which ones are better, the SP's or the HD's. The HD's have a longer shaft and aren't for lowered cars whereas the SP's are. I went with the SP's because the way I see it, the MS3 is lowered from factory a good bit (over a half inch lower than the MZ3) and it's definitely lower than any Volvo S40 I've seen, so I figured I'd get the SP's. Either one will work though and the valving is exactly the same.
charlessss
Member
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- MazdaSpeed 3
By the ride being controlled, you mean not bumpy on the crappy roads? Like head bouncing? Or very little vehicle movement, but you can feel the road? Haha sorry for asking more questions.
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