If your BMW’s suspension just isn’t what if used to be, then chances are you’ve already considered coilover suspension as an alternative to the OEM arrangement. Alternately, you could be chasing properties standard suspension simply can’t provide and have decided that upgrading to coilovers is the best alternative to suit your driving style.
We recently looked at KW Street Performance suspension <<< https://southernbm.com.au/news/kw-street-performance-suspension-for-your-bmw-vqgqk >>> and the benefits installing this product can have for the handling of your car. But in this blog, we look more closely at the installation process, and how proper installation and setup can dramatically enhance the product for your driving style.
Coilovers have gained popularity for a reason. They might seem expensive, but they’re able to offer a variety of benefits your standard suspension can’t.
For starters, coilovers are a straightforward way of lowering or raising the height of your vehicle and can be more easily adapted to account for vehicle weight distribution and intended use, be it on the road or on the racetrack.
In a way, coilovers are quite similar in design to a MacPherson strut, and if your vehicle is fitted with MacPherson struts (front or rear) then coilovers will be a direct swap.
The most significant difference between a coilover and a MacPherson strut, however, is that the coilover has the spring integrated around the assembly itself, where a MacPherson strut simply provides a place for the coil spring to sit (often referred to as a perch). On a MacPherson strut, the perch height is fixed. On a coilover the perch height is adjustable.
Further, the spring on a coilover is a perfect match for the valving inside the shock absorber (or damper), and unlike a MacPherson strut can be adjusted to compensate for specific values including preload and ride height, while the damper can be adjusted for both compression and rebound forces.
For these reasons coilovers can be tailored to account for or to mitigate a variety of factors, including body roll, squat, and dive.
Corner weighting can further adjust the parameters a coilover offers to account for the diagonal weight distribution of the car, front to rear weight distribution of the car, and even the left to right (and right to left) weight distribution of the car to ensure weight perfectly distributed across all four tyres.
In short, we recommend discussing your specific driving needs when opting to fit coilovers to your BMW. Not only can we help you select a package that’s right for your driving style but provide a setup and alignment that will complement your new coilovers and offer a ride and handling package that works for your specific needs.
For more information contact us at SouthernBM or visit southernbm.com.au
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