jumbosrule

First let me say I take no offense and I know you didn't intend any.

I'm an enthusiast and a career engineer. When forming an opinion about a product or brand from a technical/performance standpoint, I take personal experience as my first benchmark. Second are the claims from the company, ONLY if backed up with objective evidence. I'm capable of figuring out for myself what's quality and what is popular.

BC and Megan are both manufactured in the same Taiwanese plant. They share mostly the same components, based on model and features. I actually own some BCs, which was a giagantic improvement of my previous Eibach/stock setup, which was a big improvement over stock. So if actually having the product and liking the performance makes me a fan, I have no problem with that.

I'll admit that I went with BC because they were the ONLY option for my other vehicle. Not surprisingly, Megan came out with an alternative option weeks after BC. Megan was slightly less expensive, but BC offers a lifetime warranty - for $100 per corner. If at any time anything fails ever, the entire corner will be replaced for $100. I've never heard of any other BC owners having to use this warranty, nor have I heard of any complaints on quality.

The single biggest advantage to these coilovers is adjustability. Ride height and dampening allow each owner to fine tune - something you can't really do with the Bilstein, Tein, Koni - for anywhere near the same price.

I would also argue that the brands you mention are for more serious track & autoX drivers. BCs & Megans are only occasional track visitors - telling you something about the goals of the owners. I wouldn't fault anybody for having their own opinion.

Track

Ok guys, lets nip this at the bud. Stay on topic, start another thread if you want to discuss shocks brands and their respective applications.

bigx5murf

Wanted to mention last weekend, I helped a friend install fm v-maxx w/ NB tophats into his 1.8NA. These things look like quality, they're heavy though. When you order them with tophats, they come reassembled, with the helper springs on top of the main spring. The ring separating the the 2 springs is actually anodized aluminum (xidas use a plastic ring). There aren't any needle bearings where the spring meets the perch though. They also came with some cool looking hinged spanner wrenches.

Overall, I was really quite impressed with what you get for $700. With options like these available on a budget, why consider other budget coilovers? These are backed by FM. They lack shock adjustments, but I've been told on budget shocks those things never match each other at same settings, and is meant to get shocks to match each other on a shock dyno.

Mobius

I have Tein Flex, 9kg/6kg. Stock sways. Riding just a hair under stock ride height. I have the EDFC controller as well, which is nice for on-the-fly adjustments. For normal tooling around I leave them on full soft.

bigx5murf

I always wondered why no one ever made a universal EDFC unit. If KW can make a universal kit for their HLS... I don't see why teins can't.

http://www.kw-suspension.com/us/kw_hls.php

guzerone

R-Package Bilsteins with 450/250 lb springs on ebay sleeves.
Replaced the FM with a RB tubular (1/8" wall) front bar and added the stock rear bar.

Great on the big track (Spokane at least), not sure how this setup works on a slow, tight track like Pacific Grand Prix or for AutoX.

I think I'm at the upper end of what the R-Package Bilsteins can handle, might have to upgrade to Sport version (or go all-out and get a set from Fat Cat).

Track

you can get them revalved for stiffer springs from Bilstein. No big deal there, and I think its $75 a shock.

buying the sports will net you the same performance (just a new shock) and a lower ride. although its the better setup if you plan to go stiffer.

$hane

I have the same setup and I really enjoy it for a DD. I've autox'ed a few times and it feels great, I think I could benefit from some stiffer sways though.

Ride is more comfy than previous msm stock setup and handles better. BTW the shocks are Bilstein,

Rates are strange, I've heard 250 lbs front and back, progressively wound.

I got mine for a steal and at this price I would buy again but if i were to spend over 1k, I wouldn't.

Track

^are you on stock sway bars? if you are then, you could use a stiffer front sway and removing the rear sway. As a matter of fact a 1" front sway would be all you need if you remove the rear sway.

That will balance you out closer to stock. you are an NB right?

$hane

Yeah I'm on an NB, i dunno my alignment settings make oversteer snappy, I'm wondering if front and rear sways will help it.

Maybe I'll adjust my alignment next yr, currently I'm running


Rear
Toe: 1/32 inch (0°4.5' or 0.075°) IN per side
Camber: -2 degrees

Front
Camber: -2.2 degrees
Caster: 5.0 degrees
Toe: 1/32 inch IN per side