I found a complete set of KYB GR-2 shocks with a set of vogtland lowering springs for $440 delivered. I was looking for a complete set for between $500 and $600 so when I came accross these I almost bought them.

1ST I wanted to check with someone that has this set up or with someone that can tell me what I could expect from this set up.

THX,

JD

Yes, on the front with stock springs on my 535i.

If you're trying to run away from the STi-characteristics on your BMW, don't ... trust me. It's very firm. I mean it wont shatter any teeth, but they are very very firm.

I've only heard negative about KYB...

Bummer! I was looking to get the Vogtland springs and to get both for that price would be great. O and BTW I don't want the STi ride back, and either does my wife, she hated that car.

JD

I've only heard negative about KYB...
For the price, there isn't a better shock.

It's like Bilstein HD + 1 notch of stiffness.

On stock springs and tires/wheels, the ride is still alright ... on 18s like he's planning with lowering springs ... he'd die.

What is the most cost effective way to get some springs & shocks that still give you a pretty good ride quality with 18's?

I know that the 18's will hinder my ride quality a bit but I just don't want things to get to stiff.

JD

I've only heard negative about KYB...
Same with me, I bought my 533 with them but they're getting yanked for either billie sports or koni yellows :drool:

OK I came accross another good deal. Tell me what you think about this one:

Bilstein Twin Tube Shocks with the Vogtland springs for $369 plus shipping.

With the 18's would that give me a better ride than the KYB's?

Vogs are good, KYB on the front = bad...I will be getting bilstein on the front, soon.

what's everyone's reason for saying they are bad? apart from them being too stiff for everyone's liking?

i hear so many people say they are total shit but have no valid reason for saying so

Mine are way too soft, and the spring rates on the H&R's do not work well with them. Firm springs plus soft shocks = weird. The ride is fine, and it handles way better than stock, but that sound of bottoming out makes me cringe every time. I'd do Bilstein, Boge, or Koni if I were you.

Mine are way too soft, and the spring rates on the H&R's do not work well with them. Firm springs plus soft shocks = weird. The ride is fine, and it handles way better than stock, but that sound of bottoming out makes me cringe every time. I'd do Bilstein, Boge, or Koni if I were you.

fair enough. i thought people on here were complaining that they were too harsh.

fair enough. i thought people on here were complaining that they were too harsh.People have had different experiences for whatever reason. All I can tell you is that I wish mine were much more stiff. Mine are GR2's as well.

People have had different experiences for whatever reason. All I can tell you is that I wish mine were much more stiff. Mine are GR2's as well.

yeah i'm on the look out for some stiff shocks without shelling out for koni's or billies. i want a nice firm ride. thinking of trying Boge heavy duty's. my brother has had good experiences with them

+1 on bottomming out.. go bilstein or koni's... its a couple more hundred.. but i think its well worth it.. i know i wish i did back when i bought my kyb's.. otherwise.. they arent THAT bad ..

I have know KYB's to be good and have also had them fail very quickly so I don't trust their quality control. (KYB = Kill your butt, so the saying go's) My 2 cents. They certainly are cheap enough. I have a number of friends driving 944's and KYB's are not generally recommended by that crowd either

I have them and they don't 'kill my butt', as they say. Mine are paired up with Eibach springs and they have worked very well for more than a year. If you have a discerning eye you will notice that the majority of those who dog KYB shocks are the ones who have no experience using them.

I took a chance with ordering them because I know how stuff goes on message boards. People on them are all about what's most popular. Not unlike pop culture.

If you go to Tire Rack's review section on the KYB/Eibach combo, you will see many satisfied customers (including BMW).

I would tend to agree that they will work well with stock springs. If you use aftermarket springs, then you will have to modifiy the bump stop's length to accommodate the drop.

If you have a discerning eye you will notice that the majority of those who dog KYB shocks are the ones who have no experience using them.


my point exactly

I have kyb/vogts on my 89 525. Great ride if you dont go over bumps. I dont recommend them. I would prefer billies or konis. These are not designed for such a low spring and any major bumps will be teeth shattering. Dont waste your time and money.

I have kyb/vogts on my 89 525. Great ride if you dont go over bumps. I dont recommend them. I would prefer billies or konis. These are not designed for such a low spring and any major bumps will be teeth shattering. Dont waste your time and money.
:/ maybe it's the spring I chose. Speed bumps are no problem going over in this town. Crappy roads are a different story. They'll tear apart stock suspension. What do you think will happen on a lowered ride? I bet you'll get billies/konis with whatever spring and bumps will still be harsh on bad roads. That's the trade-off when lowering your car.

OK thanks for all the info and mixed reviews.

One question, if you could choose between KYB/Vogts and Bilsteins/vogts for the same price which would you choose.

I'm not dure which version Bili it is, it just said "Bilstein Twin Tube Shocks".

JD

OK thanks for all the info and mixed reviews.

One question, if you could choose between KYB/Vogts and Bilsteins/vogts for the same price which would you choose.

I'm not dure which version Bili it is, it just said "Bilstein Twin Tube Shocks".

JD
Bili twin tubes are their stock shocks. Bilstein will recommend their sport shocks with lowering springs which are much more expensive than the twin tube. I don't know if it really makes a difference or what design the sports are, however someone here will surely have an opinion.

I assume you are looking on eBay based on the options you have in mind.

I have kyb/vogts on my 89 525. Great ride if you dont go over bumps. I dont recommend them. I would prefer billies or konis. These are not designed for such a low spring and any major bumps will be teeth shattering. Dont waste your time and money.
You can't really say they're not designed for such a low spring ... the stiffer the shock, the better with the lowering spring because that's exactly what keeps them from bottoming out every time you go over anything.

They might not be comfortable, but you can't say they are not designed for a lowering spring.

I mean if you want it to feel like you're driving on a road made of marshmellows, you should have gotten a Cadillac.

really when matching shocks up to lowered springs, you need shocks with a shortened stroke so they are working within their proper range

I read an article about Bilstein shocks in one of those BMW magazines you find in those popular bookstores and it said if you are using lowering springs you must use the SPORTS shocks while HEAVY DUTY(HD) for stock springs. They even said that this is where most people get it all mixed up.

For the price, there isn't a better shock.

It's like Bilstein HD + 1 notch of stiffness.

On stock springs and tires/wheels, the ride is still alright ... on 18s like he's planning with lowering springs ... he'd die.

QTF kyb `2s are excessively stiff on compression in my experience on other cars... my Billie Sports + 18's are great... but we have smooth pavement. Wen I was on the gulf coast in march the uneven pavement sections on the roads post katrina was borderline harsh...just enough give to keep it from rattling you but not comfortable. I can not imagine running an even stiffer dampner.


but here is someone who just did that exact same combo on their car.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=855243

Ive said this before, i will say it again...go buy yourself some Monroe Sensatracks and you will be pig-in-shit happy...cant beat their ride, warranty, or quality..as for springs go with vogt's, H&R's or eibachs...you will swear by this combo...but then again what do i know ;-))

cheers.


I found a complete set of KYB GR-2 shocks with a set of vogtland lowering springs for $440 delivered. I was looking for a complete set for between $500 and $600 so when I came accross these I almost bought them.

1ST I wanted to check with someone that has this set up or with someone that can tell me what I could expect from this set up.

THX,

JD

I heard Monroe is as bad as Gabriel. Don't know how true that is, but for about a month, I had Gabriel shocks on my 525i before I could afford Bilsteins ... needless to say, it felt like a 1970s Oldsmobile.

I heard Monroe is as bad as Gabriel. Don't know how true that is, but for about a month, I had Gabriel shocks on my 525i before I could afford Bilsteins ... needless to say, it felt like a 1970s Oldsmobile.

1970's oldsmobile because it was like riding on a cloud, or because it had the body roll of a clipper ship in a squall?

I'm curious, because even though I have an e36, not an e34, I'm in the market for new dampers and the roads in my area are absolutely terrible.

It had the body roll so huge, it was scary.