I went with the Koni Yellow / H&R spring combo on my 330xi. The handling was great (with a beefier rear sway bar) and the ride was VERY firm. I think the drop *amount* was perfect though.
Those were just replaced with koni yellows and neuspeed sports. I like the ride height with these. I have used these same springs in the past with boge turbogas dampers. The konis certainly ride better and I hope last much longer.
I opted to go w/the following: Golf R springs (euro wagon rears form E-ACCA), Koni Special Actives, Golf R bumpstops. I have about 5K on the setup, and absolutely love it. The tire-to-wheel cap is around 38mm front and rear, and there's very little sag with a loaded boot.
Based on the information learned from 40+ pages of reading in that thread, I just installed Koni Yellows and Neuspeed Sport springs on mine. It is now a totally different car. I had been running stock dampers with VWR springs for the last 3 years (zero improvement in handling with VWR springs by the way). The konis are damped / valved nice and taut without being harsh.
Currently running KONI yellow shocks and he sport springs, all poly bushings in the rear, Rs3 and TTRS in the front. Also running Passat spindles and control arms and a rear sway bar from Neuspeed with a UM haldex tune. My car weighs 3000lbs and I can tell you it is about as good as it gets handling wise.
Now on the shocks: Before I cut the bump stops, the car would frequently bottom out on the rears, so they weren't really able to do any work. Afterwards though, she smooth. I'll still feel bumps and holes through the chassis from the springs and hear the tires going over cracks, but I don't really feel the cracks quite as much. Train tracks that used to rock the wheels are more floaty and smooth now.
I installed a pair of Koni Special Actives in the rear, but didn't have time to do the front yet. Initial impressions (remembering that I only have the Koni installed in the rear): - Compression damping feels about the same as what I remember newer OEM valving feels like. - Hitting small to medium bumps feels pretty good. It's firm but still controlled. Probably a little better than stock. - In low-frequency mode there is a little too much rebound damping. I noticed this when driving past expansion joints on the freeway that form a /\\ shaped ramp. The rear feels like it's being picked up and then dropped. It's subtle though. - In high-frequency mode there might be too little rebound damping. I noticed this when corning hard on smooth roads with occasional rough patches. The Tiguan tilts a little more than I would have expected. But since my front dampers are still worn this really isn't a fair evaluation yet (roll couple is way off). I'm not sure what I feel about the FSD valving yet. The change in valving from the FSD is a little "weird" if I'm paying attention to it. I would say that there is a touch too much rebound, but that gives the impression of sportiness. I think for most people these would be pretty good dampers. They feel sporty but still handle bumps well.
Now I am in the middle of getting some Koni Special Actives installed to help with the ride.
Love my Koni STR.T's (Orange) with VW Driver's Gear Spings (similar to stock GLI springs, only lower), they're perfect. Particularly since I don't have to wonder if they're on the right setting, as they're not adjustable lol. Inexpensive too. Simple, solid, can't go wrong.
Ok, got the front Koni Yellow's on and have driven on them maybe 20mi set on minimum setting and car road very nice not really any difference from the 180K H&R's I took off other than I did notice improvement when worn rears were replaced.
Write your review
Help others - share your experience with this part.
Shock absorbers Bilstein or KONI
Shock absorbers Bilstein or KYB
Shock absorbers Bilstein or Monroe
Shock absorbers Bilstein or Sachs
Shock absorbers Bilstein or Rancho
Shock absorbers Bilstein or Dobinsons
Shock absorbers Bilstein or FOX
Shock absorbers Bilstein or GABRIEL
Show allVoted AGAINST engine oil RAVENOL on the rating page
The brake pads OEM Alfa Romeo got the first review!
The tires OEM Fiat got the first review!
The ABS unit OEM FORD got the first review!
For oil additives LIQUI MOLY already 25 reviews.
For tires GISLAVED already 25 reviews.
In the rating best cabin filter already 13 brands participate!
In the rating best shock absorbers already 13 brands participate!
In the rating best fuel pump already 5 brands participate!
In the auto rating shock absorbers for Ford Ranger already 20 brands participate!
In the auto rating headlights for Volkswagen Golf already 5 brands participate!
In the auto rating tires for Toyota Corolla already 50 brands participate!
For cabin filter Fram already 25 reviews.
Voted AGAINST engine oil RED LINE on the rating page
Voted AGAINST engine oil PENNZOIL on the rating page
