I'm going to be in the market for some new shocks and springs to replace the OEM set up on my 2005 R53 - its my daily driver and is never going to be tracked. At the moment the H&R Touring Cup Kit (the one with the Koni Sport shocks) is my top choice. Anybody out there with experience / opinions of this kit? Thanks

 

I am in the same boat. Have you made a decision yet?

 

No decision made yet. I talked to my mechanic about the H&R kit and while they speak highly of it they said that I may end up with a car that sits slightly higher than it does currently, because of the factory fitted (and now tired and worn) sports suspension. So I may go for coilovers, probably ST . . but no decision made yet between this kit and the coilovers.

 

With the price of H&R and Koni's you aren't to far off from having a ST coilover kit. The benefits of using a coilover kit is the matched spring rate with the dampening. Also the ability to adjust the lowering height of the car. Performance will be slight better with the coilover kit because of the spring rate and dampening.

 

Agreed - my main (and probably only) concern with switching to coilovers was making the ride harsher or rougher, because the car is my daily driver and my wife already hates how rough it is!! I'm not looking for a massively lowered car, in fact I'd be happy with the current ride height from the factory sport set up - but what I want is a smoother, more even ride, with less wheel movement when moving laterally on an uneven surface, which we have lots of here in Seattle!!

 

It would be smoother than springs/shocks

 

Sounds like an ST coilover set up is what I'll be going for then! I'll give you a shout when I'm ready to pull the trigger

 

Just out of interest, whats the best price on a set of ST's for an R53 at the moment?

 

I will PM you

 

So, ST coilovers will ride smoother over bumps and crappy roads then Koni Sports and say TSW Springs?

 

Yes

 

Completely agree...I've been through this with many different types of cars and everytime I've ditched the spring/damper combo in favor of CO, the ride and handling always improved dramatically...skip the spring/damper and go straight to CO everytime!

 

See I tell no lies lol

 

my ex-mcs with H&R cup kit, it was very comfortable for daily driving but not so much for any track or fast mountain driving. for the price I was very happy with the way it handle (as daily driving car).
I have the different set up now, I trade in my mcs for a JCW car last year. Since then I upgrade to KW V2 and it drive an d behavior completely different, even it has many different level of adj it still drive more like a weekend track car (very stiff - compare to the H&R cup kit). It put a huge smile on my face once i take it to my favorite mountain road, chasing all the fancy fast car on the way is my weekend fun drive. It handle like no others.
Both suspension are great but design for different driving style.

 

Umm, do you know this to be true? I like ST's but I'd be surprised if you're not just completely making that up. Not even a big fan of TSW springs and there are some issues but ride quality is something they do well.

- Andrew

 

Thanks for the input - I was swaying away from the H&R Cup Kit to the ST coilovers, but as I'll primarily using my car as a daily driver (no track driving, and very little fast mountain driving) maybe the H&R Cup requires further consideration! The stance of your MCS with the H&R kit looks just about perfect for what I'm after - lowered, but not too low . . whereas the KW V2 looks just a little too low for me.

 

I live in Victoria and I think our roads are similar up here I have the ST's and they're pretty compliant. It is stiffer than stock but not jarring. I drive hard and recklessly on some gravelly cornered back roads here and they've kept me planted and alive this far.

 

If you're not really keen on lowering (I think you said in an early post stock ride height was okay...) and your main factor is comfort and better control, the Koni FSD's and stock shocks might be a good option for you, too. I've yet to read anything bad about them.

 

I start with the TSW when I got my car but it was not really look any different than the stock suspension, three months later I switch to the H&R cup kit. H&R cup kit is sitting about 1/2" - 3/4" higher than my current KW. If it is not for the occasion track day events I will stay with H&R (since it is lot more comfortable than the KW- you trade off your comfort for performance).
my two cents will be: H&R is the best bang for your buck. you can even get it less than $700 now.
http://www.altaperformance.com/p/29

 

I use to have the H&R Cup Kit on my VW GTI 16V. it was the best...right along side the Bilstein BTS Kit. Just set it and forget it. that's long before there were coilovers. now, i'm just happy with the stock suspension.

 

Hi all,

So did you end up installing those H&R touting cup kit, I'm seriously considering them since my suspension is completely shut.

I drive in winter and don't want to go the coilover way because of this.

Are you satisfied with them?

Also what brand of rear control arm (camber) did u get??

Anybody use camber plates up front with them???

Thanks

 

I haven't made any change yet - still waiting for my mechanic to get back to me. I started out undecided, then decided to go with the ST's, and now I'm moving back towards the H&R again!!

 

Why not STs? We have a package deal with Eibach Plates and ST coilovers

 

Its not a question of anything against ST's - its a question of shocks / springs versus coilovers

 

The adjustable ride height is always a plus.