I just had the Tein S tech springs which came on my S when I bought it replaced with Koni FSDs and the new TSW springs. IMHO it's a great improvement.The Teins dropped the car more than 2", which I thought was too much, even with 16" BBS wheels, and the ride was really harsh, especially on roads with bad repairs, expansion joints and potholes. The new setup dropped the car a little less than an inch - more in the front than in the rear in order to eliminate the rake. The car handles just as well if not better, and the ride is much improved - firm but not harsh. For autocross or track the Teins may be fine, but for "spirited" street driving, the FS/TSW setup is da bomb.

Chris Burdett

My 2004: all factory options, 17% pulley, Remus cat-back exhaust, K&N CAI, H&R 19 mm adjustable rear sway bar, Alta catch can, BBS wheels with Pirelli Nero Zeros, additional gauges - boost, oil pressure, voltmeter and oil temp.
My wife's 2003: Milltek cat-back exhaust, Helix 15% pully and chip, H&R adjustable rear swaybar, ALTA CAI & tube, BBS wheels with Goodyear F1s.

 

this is the exact setup i am looking at
good to know it works well

 

Yes, thanks for the write-up. I've pretty much decided on the TSW springs, but I'm still trying to decide between the Koni FSD and Koni Yellows. I autocross about twice a month, so I'm leaning toward the Yellows, but this car is also a daily driver, so I'm wondering if the FSDs might not be a better choice, especially with linear springs.

At this point, I'll probably get the Yellows and stick with them unless the ride is unbearable on the street.

 

FWIW Grassroots Motorsports project MINI was equipped with FSDs and they performed with good success in autocross competition. TireRack has this report.

 

I followed that blog quite a bit and there is lots of good information in there.

FWIW, shortly after they autocrossed the FSD's, they changed the rears to Koni DA for competition (built up a second entire set of springs/struts for the rear) and then swapped the rear FSD's back in after the fact.

I'm also autocrossing on the FSD's (front and rear) with the stock springs, but I may go the Koni Yellow route here in the spring.

 

Thanks for the summary

I'm having the same setup installed on the 23rd with IE fixed camber plates and adjustable rear control arms to compliment my H-sport RSB. Based on your assesment, it sounds like I'll end up with exactly what I was looking for out of this!

 

I based the statement that the springs I took off were Tein S techs on the basis of what several people on the list told me when I asked what they were and described them as well as I could while they were still on the car. I just went out to the garage to look, and to my surprise, they're not Teins, they're H&R Sport Springs. Sorry for the mistake (I'm new at this).

 

That's intriguing, I'm doing the same thing on the 16th, this Saturday.
Yahoo!

 

Where are you having the work done? Central coast by chance?