H&R vs Eibach Pro-Kit: let the tournament begin!

[Shock96]

Looks like the Eibach's are not available in North America yet. Bummer

[kychungkevin]

I ordered the B12 kit but everywhere would take over a month to ship since the distributor have to get them from Euro. I would like the KW V1 but I want less drop for winter driving (V1 minimum drop is 1.6in vs 1.2 on B12).

[DRTMGRT]

Originally Posted by Dmitry83

Great it can be useful for someone!
Can you wait for about 3 weeks to let me get the Eibachs and give them a try?

PS
A guy from the bmwclub Russia is waiting for the Bilstein B12 Kit to arrive in about 15 days as well. Will keep you all updated on his impressions (his set up is 28i + BMS Stage 1 + downpipe, full stock suspension)- should be interesting.
I have read another post from local car community on the same kit installed to an M-Sport with very positive feedback. The owner sais it goes like a boat now on hardest road damages. Will try to ask him more as well.

PPS
And there is one wild Marrakesh Brown X1 with 28i with BMS Stage 2 + downpipe + bigger intercooler, pushing out some 320 hp, also running on H&R with stock shocks. This car fires 0-100 km/h in 4,6 seconds. This example was my final decision to try H&R alone.

Got a link to his set up? Or specifics?

[Dmitry83]

DRTMGRT, here you are, Man:
http://www.drive2.ru/r/bmw/563619/

[DRTMGRT]

Originally Posted by Dmitry83

DRTMGRT, here you are, Man:
http://www.drive2.ru/r/bmw/563619/

Thanks! My Russian is a little rusty.

[Dmitry83]

Originally Posted by DRTMGRT

Thanks! My Russian is a little rusty.

Not a problem- will try to translate the mods list tomorrow.

[Dmitry83]

It is the Second week with H&R, and around 350km passed.
So now the springs had kompletely lost not only any shade of harshness- I cannot say it is stiff anymore!
Having settled after two hard-drive evenings, the body had not lowered anymore, but obviously the metal had reached its nominal flexibility. The ride is FANTASTICALLY comfortable now, and still no peckings on braking, no motorboat on accelerating, the body roll is unnoticable in cornering (comparing to stock).
Driving involvement and enjoyment is day and night comparing to the stock.
Now the car feels just what it should had been at the production.
I really hardly imagine Eibach will be able to give anything better.

So for everyone who does not need that extra 30mm of ground clearance- an ablosute recommended mod.

[GTony]

Originally Posted by Dmitry83

It is the Second week with H&R, and around 350km passed.
So now the springs had kompletely lost not only any shade of harshness- I cannot say it is stiff anymore!
Having settled after two hard-drive evenings, the body had not lowered anymore, but obviously the metal had reached its nominal flexibility. The ride is FANTASTICALLY comfortable now, and still no peckings on braking, no motorboat on accelerating, the body roll is unnoticable in cornering (comparing to stock).
Driving involvement and enjoyment is day and night comparing to the stock.
Now the car feels just what it should had been at the production.
I really hardly imagine Eibach will be able to give anything better.

So for everyone who does not need that extra 30mm of ground clearance- an ablosute recommended mod.

HI Dmitry83,
Thanks for your informative thread.
I am just finishing off replacement of RFT's with NON RFT's and new Wheels.
Have been looking at getting H&R's for that slight drop to complement my new set up.

Your running Report with them on has been a big help,
Cheers.

[Dmitry83]

GTony, most welcome!

[zeevette]

This' a great thread. I'd like to lower mine, but didn't want to go too low. And also make the ride worse.

[Dmitry83]

Originally Posted by zeevette

This' a great thread. I'd like to lower mine, but didn't want to go too low. And also make the ride worse.

Thanks a lot and welcome!
For now I feel the H&R became soft the same as the stock and the same comfort, but way better steering.
Actually these are not names "H&R Sport", but "H&R Lowering Springs".
I would even prefer the springs to have stayed a little stiffer. But in fact sometimes when I'm still fresh in the afternoon, I would prefer the whole suspension including joints to be stiffer and sharper. But at the evening, when I'm wasted after work, It is such a pleasure to drive myself home in comfort.
Don't know yet if the Eibachs are progressive or the same linear- the parcel had just been released from the Customs, so next weekend i should be able to install it.
Only if the springs will look exactly the same as H&R's for the same coil thickness, I will think if it worth it, as probably it could be the exact copy.
Hope it will turn out to be progressive- very interesting.

[Parker821@gmail.com]

I went with K&W then added Michelin Pilot SS to my 2014 X1 35x. Incredible upgrade in comfort and performance. The RF tires were harsh. Expensive and slow( K&W from Germany thru Turner) but it worth it.

[NTTY]

If you want the stiffness back, try some lighter wheels. I was impressed by the difference just using lighter wheels (From an M3 E9x, wheels type M260). This will make your journey a bit more exciting :-)

[Dmitry83]

NTTY, yes, I agree with that 100%, as I had locally manufactured 17" forged wheels for winter tires on my E81- with KW it worked great.
The weight of 7,5x17 forged wheel was 8,0kg against 7,5x18 Motorsport BBS stock alloys of 11,2kg. And that was a huge difference in damping. The car was like flying over all bumps etc. Fantastic.

[Shock96]

Thanks Dmitry. Really loving the play by play review. I am looking forward to your review of the Eibachs.

Thanks again for going the extra mile!

PS: Did you ever think of trying the AC Schnitzer springs? There were on my list along with the H&R's.

[Dmitry83]

Very welcome and thanks for participating!

Yes, I thought of AC Schnitzer and even have the part number 313084560.
But the price is higher than both Eibach & H&R sets taken together...
Anyway I admire that manufacturer and beleive they organize a lot of tests to make the high-performance products.
The manufacturer for ACS is still Eibach, so direct comparison would be very intetesting of course.

[Dmitry83]

Guys, so this is what I've faced when picked up the awaited parcel at the post office today:






The cardboard box is a pice of junk- it is thin and weak as for the pair os sneakers. The inner walls are even thinner so not a surprise it all smashed like a house of cards immediately.
The short side inner box wall was torn and obviously the box was pulled along the pavement floor- there were only a couple of sticky-tape pieces, holding the long sides of the box.

As a result- deep scruffs on each of the coils of one of the front springs. So deep that even around a millimeter of coil metal is erased.

Of course the springs will be sent back to the Seller, as this damages will cause the spring to rust immediately and after Winter the spring can just burst.

There is also some kind of dent on other front spring from inner side, which was carefully PAINTED OVER. Obviously after production.

So to me the Eibach quality is a closed deal- how can I trust the product quality if the package is a pice of junk?
There is also the only paper which you can see on the photo- sending the customer to find the instructions in the Internet.
(H&R had the Certificate, measurement results, instructions and a pair of cute stickers. The rear springs were wrapped in the bubbled-foil, inserted inside the front ones and all that in a twice-thick cardboard).

The quality of the spring finish is quite nice with glossy paint. However it does not feel so durable like on the H&R, which have semi-matte finish which is very similar to KW.

I did not measure the coil thickness, but the rears look WAY thicker than the stock and H&R.
The fronts do not look such heavy-duty. I consider this is the reason Eibach sometimes looks like the car is diving with front lowering more than rear. Obviously their trick is to lower and soften the front with hard rear to eliminate the understeer and make the steering impulse faster.
In addition, the box of H&R weighs 11,7kg, while Eibach is 12,9kg. And subjectively the front Eibachs are even lighter and thinner compaired to those of H&R.

So in total I'm frustrated, but for now completely happy with H&R ride quality, steering and lowering.
If I will go for the next springs test, it will definitely be AC Schnitzer (hope they do take care of the packaging).
Next step I'm going to take is to replace the dampers with Bilstein B6- will plan that either for October this year or April next year. But still hope Koni will give birth to X1 shocks at last this year.

[Shock96]

Those look almost used. See what the seller says. Weird man.

[pokerface]

I've had Eibachs installed on three cars to date and the boxes have never come in that condition. Good luck OP.

[Dmitry83]

So as a result of the discussion with the Seller, they've requested the replacement spring from Eibach, which will be sent to me.
I can't predict how much time it will take, but obviously will receive it in a month or so.

Meanwhile I will concentrate on shocks research.
At the moment there are only two options:
1) KW Variant 1, which I don't want due to a minimal 40mm lowering and higher price (+ I have the 2-years experience on E81, so want something other).
2) Bilstein B6

Koni did not reply to my question when they are going to launch the shocks for E84, but taking into account they have started with FSD for E83 X3 only in 2013(!), it's a long time to wait. And I am definitely not interested in FSD- only Sport Yellow. So this is not a way to go.

Lowtec does not offer anything as well as ST.

ACSchnitzer has a complete suspension setup (shocks are manufactured by Bilstein as per what I could have found out), but the price is enormous.

So for now awaiting for Bilstein B6 (B12 Pro-Kit actually) review from the local forum member- hopefully it will be installed this week.

[PrematureApex]

Put the H&Rs on wifey's car today. A bit of an improvement in overall ride...I'm sure the lack of travel will hurt in large Philly potholes, but besides that, I like them.

I need to put subframe bushings in next. Probably go with another set of whitelines for easy of install/cost.

[Drlu23]

I'm researching what the best subframe bushings will be, but that will not cause an overly stiff ride once the HR's are one. What do you guys recommend for bushings?