Anyone have reviews or opinion about them? I see them on the UUC website, I don't know wether to go with this kit or dish out a little more for the eibach kit.

As a UUC Vendor, I'm clearly biased toward their products. However, I installed this suspension package in my 2000 323i a couple years before thinking about starting this business.

Truly, I can't say enough about the ride quality and handling improvement. I went for the full Stage 4 Plus - Sachs Spring/Shock package, sways, and strut bar.

The promotional photo below says 1000 words. The Stage 4 car on the right is mine, btw...

http://www.alkendesign.com/suspension%20compare.jpg

This Stage 3 kit is popular for a reason. Rock solid construction and perfectly matched components from Sachs - the supplier of BMW's OE suspension.

Click the photo for our listing:
http://www.whatsyourconcept.com/data/%7BA0CF68C0-574C-4193-8852-25F868C7F371%7D_springs%20shocks.jpg (http://www.whatsyourconcept.com/itemDetails.asp?itemID=415)

Please don't hesitate to contact me with any specific questions about this, or any of our products.

Ken

I'll have to give you guys a call, im interested in the kit along with a set of RSM's. Any recommendations while I'm getting the kit?

Shoot me an email - alkendesign @ gmail . com. I'd like to discuss your driving habits and general needs before recommending anything.

Ken

The promotional photo below says 1000 words. The Stage 4 car on the right is mine, btw...

http://www.alkendesign.com/suspension%20compare.jpg

I just noticed that those photos are taken at different parts of the turn, stock suspension during apex, stage four while exiting the turn.

You are correct. There is no way to say that the two example cars are facing the absolute same forces.

To my eye, the Stage 4 car (me driving) is turning sharper than the stock suspension, at least at the moment the shot was taken. Still, clearly there is no guarantee that the photo is showing the same (or what could possibly be higher) forces on my car.

The two photos were not taken in an attempt to prove the performance capabilities of the suspension. They were simply photos taken at an autocross - not a scientific test by any stretch of the imagination.

That said, the shear specifications of the UUC/Sachs setup vs. stock is reason enough to fully expect a performance increase. Shorter, stiffer springs; more robust sway bars; and, in my car, a rigid strut brace vs. none CLEARLY dictate that ANY car with this package installed will handle better.

Those objective comparisons should be enough evidence to at least SUGGEST that the very visible handling differences in the two cars pictured is possible, no?

Ken

You are correct. There is no way to say that the two example cars are facing the absolute same forces.

To my eye, the Stage 4 car (me driving) is turning sharper than the stock suspension, at least at the moment the shot was taken. Still, clearly there is no guarantee that the photo is showing the same (or what could possibly be higher) forces on my car.

The two photos were not taken in an attempt to prove the performance capabilities of the suspension. They were simply photos taken at an autocross - not a scientific test by any stretch of the imagination.

That said, the shear specifications of the UUC/Sachs setup vs. stock is reason enough to fully expect a performance increase. Shorter, stiffer springs; more robust sway bars; and, in my car, a rigid strut brace vs. none CLEARLY dictate that ANY car with this package installed will handle better.

Those objective comparisons should be enough evidence to at least SUGGEST that the very visible handling differences in the two cars pictured is possible, no?

Ken

Good cover up.. :devillook

Can I shoot you a pm, or is email the prefered choice of contact?

I really prefer email - much easier for me to track.

As for my response, there's really nothing to cover. Quality components from a leader in BMW aftermarket equipment and the OE suspension supplier, which are tuned to provide a marked improvement over stock setup should speak for themselves. The photo is merely decent representation of two cars under turning loads during competitive sessions. As the "after" car is my own, I can attest to the fact that it has the UUC/Sachs setup. The "before" car belongs to a friend, and I can also state it had the stock sport suspension at the time.

Both cars are 323s, both with street tires.

Even if you discount the photo as 'admissible evidence', there's no denying the improvement the Stage 4 setup has to offer.

But even in the simplest scientific form, the best way to objectify something relatively subjective (demonstration of peformance through pictures rather than data) would be to have all comparisons between stock and modified as close to the same circumstances as possible. You are probably correct that stiffer springs, sway bars, etc do something to performance or at least ride quality, but for a reputable company to properly advertise that difference, they should have used the same car, same driver, same speed and same area of the track with a stock set up and then the modified set up.

And, if you really wanted to make an impressive statement, you'd do it showing each modification in stepwise fashion. What can I say, I'm a scientist - I tend to look at things very analytically.

You are completely correct, though I'd have to throw a bit of defense toward any implication that any company is not reputable for offering any less than that level of scientific demonstration.

If we (or anyone) was showing these photos as a comparison between competing aftermarket parts, it would be well advised to question the implications of the test conditions. However, the typical customer looking for information about this suspension kit is most likely upgrading from stock. The Stage 4 setup is not in competition with stock replacement parts.

Based on that premise, the specifications alone make it clear this kit will behave better. Having two photographs from otherwise similar cars in relatively similar driving conditions is simply a bit of icing on the cake.

Either way, I understand and appreciate the difference between a controlled experiment and the photographic examples provided.

Clearly, though, these photos weren't around when I was shopping for a suspension setup...

Ken

I am not a UUC vendor, but I am definitely biased because it is probably my most favorite mod to my e46 (come on UUC, make one for the e30 iX! hehe)

I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to upgrade their suspension... I've had it for a couple years no with no problems what so ever

sorry - totally didnt intend to imply that the company isn't reputable - and, even though I don't have UUC products on my car, I'm sure that they work - I was just merely jumping in on an interesting topic.

No worries! I love a good discussion...

Ken

I just ordered this kit today from UUC for my high mileage 1999 328i. My goal was to firm up the ride while maintaining some civility to the ride. I've had plenty of coilover kits and turned plenty of street only cars into off ramp cornering champions but that is not my intention with this car. I get my fix of that racing my Spec E30 car.

Additionally I will be installing the Powerflex bushing kit from BimmerWorld and tanny mounts from UUC. I'm am sure that it will be awesome compared to the worn out 175k mile stock suspension that is currently on the car. I'll post up my impressions next week.

Just as a somewhat more direct comparison, here's a shot of my car at the autocross on stock suspension and sway bars. Notice this is not at the apex yet...

http://www.alkendesign.com/roll1.jpg

Just as a somewhat more direct comparison, here's a shot of my car at the autocross on stock suspension and sway bars. Notice this is not at the apex yet...



will the stage 4 setup get you to take a better line than you are doing in that picture?

will the stage 4 setup get you to take a better line than you are doing in that picture?

No more than removing your fog light gains you horsepower...

will the stage 4 setup get you to take a better line than you are doing in that picture?Driving proper lines at autox is overrated. I just take lines right through the cones. My times are fantastic, and my recalculated scores are always 20-30 points higher than the next best guy out there.

No more than removing your fog light gains you horsepower...


that's a GREAT idea! thanks


forced air FTW!

Alken you dont by any chance happent to ship to the UK? And if yu did approximatley how much P&P would cost?

Thanks!

We can certainly look into it. Please email me directly - alkendesign @ gmail . com and let me know exactly what you're looking for.

Ken

As a UUC Vendor, I'm clearly biased toward their products.

Props to you as a vender for always giving a disclaimer!

Thanks - there's simply no reason to pretend that I'm not marketing a product I sell... At the same time, I want it to be clear that I was a UUC customer long before I started the business.

Ken

Thanks - there's simply no reason to pretend that I'm not marketing a product I sell... At the same time, I want it to be clear that I was a UUC customer long before I started the business.

Ken

So are you biased on the UUC exhaust? I want to get one, but the borla catback looks good too, and is a lil cheaper, but again, i love UUC products. I have a UUC badge on my trunk and two uuc stickers on the back windows :stickoutt

I'm happy (and a little scared) to say that my car is a rolling UUC showroom. If only I'd waited until I was a vendor to mod it so heavily...

I have the TSE3 and absolutely love it. My only experience with the Borla is reading about it on the boards. A recent thread did describe how the owner wasn't happy with it, as the change in tone wasn't that great from stock. Besides that negative feedback, I've never heard anything bad about it.

I will say that the technology that went into the design of the TSE3 is insane. It is virtually silent when cruising, but you get that great roar when you go WOT. My favorite part is the awesome back pressure release 'gurgle' when you lift...

Oh, and it's a nice little kick in the pants, performance wise, too... especially for the 323s, which suffer from a significant constriction of 6 cylinders to two outlets at the cat to one main pipe. It does get split at the muffler, but not after that big bottleneck. The TSE3 offers a true dual exhaust from the cat, through the resonators and out the back.

Ken

To any of you who ordered and installed the UUC kit, do you have any feedback on its performance? I am looking for a small increase in stiffness while still retaining comfort for the poor roads in my area.

How dare you revive my old thread.

I've heard uuc kits are good. Honestly UUC, and eibach or both good and worth the money. Drops aren't too dramatic and ride is still good.

The best proof/selling point would be video before and after. As for me, with a non-sport setup anything would be a terrific improvement.

Seriously, the UUC/SACHS kit is a great suspension kit. It lowers the car noticeably but not too much and still retains a nice ride on the street. At the same time the handling difference over stock is well worth it. I would highly recommend the Stage 4 kit with the swaybars. IMO, it is a perfect suspension for street/moderate track use. I love it.

i have the tse3 exhaust on my 330i zhp and i believe its the best sounding exhaust made for bmw. it sounds absolutley amazing and looks and fits great. its not that loud from the inside of the car so its not annoying, it doesnt drone, but standing on the side of the street as it goes by it sounds terrific. amazing part. I was wondering if you think the uuc sachs kit would help on my 330i zhp, would it make it any lower seeing that the zhp is lowered slightly more so than the other e46s? any feedback would be great cause im debating whether to go with that kit, or cough up the extra cash and go with the bilistein pss9 coilovers