Happy New Years!

I've had my R53 for about a month and it's got roughly 196k miles. The previous owner installed Bilstein Sport Dampers and Apex Suspension Systems springs with the Hotchkis camber plates at around 140k miles (link in my signature). The car drives like a go cart, I love it BUT when ever I hit a pothole, or any significant bump in the road, the shocks feel/ sound like they are bottoming out. Hard clunk/ bang noise. I've been told that's to be expected with this stiff chassis but hasn't someone designed a better (shorter rod) shock for this chassis to prevent the clunk? It's teeth chattering.

 

That sounds like the valves in the dampers could be blown out. My Megan's did that. If you got time, pull on off, the rears are very easy to remove, 3 bolts, and then give then try to compress them by hand by putting your full weight on the damper and spring. If it is easy to do and you hear a squish sound, new dampers are needed. The fronts are a little harder to get off but not that hard. Could also be the pillow ball nuts at the top of the front struts. if they are lose, the suspension will knock as well. That happened with my Megan's as well. but the suspension should not knock.