MSS Spring Kit Review
#1
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MSS Spring Kit Review
Among my circle of friends, I have had the opportunity to drive a few variants of the C43 and from various model years.
2017 C43 Wagon
2017 C43 Cabriolet
2019 C43 Sedan
2019 C43 Wagon
Whether you might feel it or not - and everyone's perception is different - the consistent issue I have with the C43 across the four variants and model years is that they all have slow damping oscillations in Comfort. You may not feel it, so it may be a non-issue for you. I certainly feel it, and it bugs me. In Sport and Sport+, the damping gets better and the oscillations disappear. This is usually a sign of not enough rebound damping for a given spring rate. So either increase damping, or reduce spring rate. (I have quite a bit of experience tuning coilovers for customers as it is part of my job).
The following is what I perceive and what I perceive alone, and you may not have the same perceptions.
Anyway, I have tried KW HAS and now MSS Springs. KW HAS has a pretty similar feel to stock, but lower, and suffers from similar oscillations as stock springs.
MSS springs have a totally different design philosophy. They lower the spring rate, but increase the preload. This makes the ride very comfortable, and the upside to all this is that the softer spring rate matches the Comfort damping pretty well.
I used to drive exclusively in Sport+ mode with the stock springs because that was where I felt there was enough damping resistance for the spring rate.
Now, I drive in Comfort mode with MSS Springs because I need less damping to match the spring rate.
The downside of all this is that roll-resistance is somewhat decreased.
The other aspect that you will have to know when considering the MSS Spring Kit is that it only lowers a maximum of 10mm in the front.
Having driven my car on MSS Springs for the last 4 months and 2000 miles, this has not changed.
That being said, while I had originally intended to only lower the car slightly and get rid of the oscillations in Comfort, I have finally caught the mod bug and I'm going to go lower with a more sporty ride. The MSS Springs are coming out of the car and I'm going to explore other options. They will be on sale if anyone is interested!
2017 C43 Wagon
2017 C43 Cabriolet
2019 C43 Sedan
2019 C43 Wagon
Whether you might feel it or not - and everyone's perception is different - the consistent issue I have with the C43 across the four variants and model years is that they all have slow damping oscillations in Comfort. You may not feel it, so it may be a non-issue for you. I certainly feel it, and it bugs me. In Sport and Sport+, the damping gets better and the oscillations disappear. This is usually a sign of not enough rebound damping for a given spring rate. So either increase damping, or reduce spring rate. (I have quite a bit of experience tuning coilovers for customers as it is part of my job).
The following is what I perceive and what I perceive alone, and you may not have the same perceptions.
Anyway, I have tried KW HAS and now MSS Springs. KW HAS has a pretty similar feel to stock, but lower, and suffers from similar oscillations as stock springs.
MSS springs have a totally different design philosophy. They lower the spring rate, but increase the preload. This makes the ride very comfortable, and the upside to all this is that the softer spring rate matches the Comfort damping pretty well.
I used to drive exclusively in Sport+ mode with the stock springs because that was where I felt there was enough damping resistance for the spring rate.
Now, I drive in Comfort mode with MSS Springs because I need less damping to match the spring rate.
The downside of all this is that roll-resistance is somewhat decreased.
The other aspect that you will have to know when considering the MSS Spring Kit is that it only lowers a maximum of 10mm in the front.
Having driven my car on MSS Springs for the last 4 months and 2000 miles, this has not changed.
That being said, while I had originally intended to only lower the car slightly and get rid of the oscillations in Comfort, I have finally caught the mod bug and I'm going to go lower with a more sporty ride. The MSS Springs are coming out of the car and I'm going to explore other options. They will be on sale if anyone is interested!
Last edited by TModelle; 03-04-2020 at 07:44 AM.
#2
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Thanks for the thread. I think compiling some images of the different users would be great too.
The KW HAS allows you to tuck tire - if you had so desired. So really different end results - I also believe at max height it would be close to stock if not the 10mm lower like the max low on this MSS kit.
Can't agree more. I was like 2 finger gap will be perfect. Then I wanted no finger gap less than a month later. This car is super easy to drive low - no clearance issues anywhere despite being fairly low (practical low for a DD anyways).
The KW HAS allows you to tuck tire - if you had so desired. So really different end results - I also believe at max height it would be close to stock if not the 10mm lower like the max low on this MSS kit.
Can't agree more. I was like 2 finger gap will be perfect. Then I wanted no finger gap less than a month later. This car is super easy to drive low - no clearance issues anywhere despite being fairly low (practical low for a DD anyways).
#4
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I like the sportier feel of the KW HAS but not the damping issues (to me), so I’m going with KW V3’s. That way I can dial out any damping issues to my preference. I don’t need the damping modes, as I tend to keep it on one setting and leave it there. I’m so particular with my damping settings that depending on what springs I’m on, only one of the three modes feels right to me, so I really only use one mode. The advantage of the V3’s is that the front shocks are built with an additional 15mm of piston movement and 5mm more in the rear than stock shocks.
#5
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#6
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I like the sportier feel of the KW HAS but not the damping issues (to me), so I’m going with KW V3’s. That way I can dial out any damping issues to my preference. I don’t need the damping modes, as I tend to keep it on one setting and leave it there. I’m so particular with my damping settings that depending on what springs I’m on, only one of the three modes feels right to me, so I really only use one mode. The advantage of the V3’s is that the front shocks are built with an additional 15mm of piston movement and 5mm more in the rear than stock shocks.
#7
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Cost is a big factor for sure. But considering the cost of the car where I’m from, it is quite a small proportion. Different factors in different parts of the world. Anyway, I get a good price because I’m in the trade, which is definitely a welcomed advantage.
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#8
I certainly can't say I have noticed decreased roll resistance and I would wager as far as "spirited driving" is concerned I am putting this car through the paces much more than most. My main thing is aesthetically these springs suck. Of course now that I get a set installed a thread starts but before I purchased them the ONLY picture online I could find is the cab which was taken by a guy that works for MSS and is purposely deceptive.
Last edited by Clark Griswold; 03-04-2020 at 10:17 AM.
#9
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#10
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I certainly can't say I have noticed decreased roll resistance and I would wager as far as "spirited driving" is concerned I am putting this car through the paces much more than most. My main thing is aesthetically these springs suck. Of course now that I get a set installed a thread starts but before I purchased them the ONLY picture online I could find is the cab which was taken by a guy that works for MSS and is purposely deceptive.
#11
#12
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#13
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#17
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I’ve exchanged dozens of emails with MSS months ago and they had me do all sorts of measurements and take photos, etc. and finally they said you have to drive the car for 2000 miles before you can get more than the 10mm drop and to get back to them after the 2000 miles. Now that I get back to them they seem to have forgotten the case, how convenient. I believe I am not the only one with the same problem, but their standard answer is to drive 2000 miles. And then give you the run around all over again. At the end of the day, my takeaway with this product and the people behind the company is only get this product if you can accept a maximum of 10mm drop in the front and don’t bother with dialogue with them because they are not listening. You know the type, where they give you the run around, verbose but really not listening, a one way street.
#20
I’ve exchanged dozens of emails with MSS months ago and they had me do all sorts of measurements and take photos, etc. and finally they said you have to drive the car for 2000 miles before you can get more than the 10mm drop and to get back to them after the 2000 miles. Now that I get back to them they seem to have forgotten the case, how convenient. I believe I am not the only one with the same problem, but their standard answer is to drive 2000 miles. And then give you the run around all over again. At the end of the day, my takeaway with this product and the people behind the company is only get this product if you can accept a maximum of 10mm drop in the front and don’t bother with dialogue with them because they are not listening. You know the type, where they give you the run around, verbose but really not listening, a one way street.
can you post some side shots.
#21
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#23
#24
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#25
KW V3 comparison to MSS springs?
Among my circle of friends, I have had the opportunity to drive a few variants of the C43 and from various model years.
2017 C43 Wagon
2017 C43 Cabriolet
2019 C43 Sedan
2019 C43 Wagon
Whether you might feel it or not - and everyone's perception is different - the consistent issue I have with the C43 across the four variants and model years is that they all have slow damping oscillations in Comfort. You may not feel it, so it may be a non-issue for you. I certainly feel it, and it bugs me. In Sport and Sport+, the damping gets better and the oscillations disappear. This is usually a sign of not enough rebound damping for a given spring rate. So either increase damping, or reduce spring rate. (I have quite a bit of experience tuning coilovers for customers as it is part of my job).
The following is what I perceive and what I perceive alone, and you may not have the same perceptions.
Anyway, I have tried KW HAS and now MSS Springs. KW HAS has a pretty similar feel to stock, but lower, and suffers from similar oscillations as stock springs.
MSS springs have a totally different design philosophy. They lower the spring rate, but increase the preload. This makes the ride very comfortable, and the upside to all this is that the softer spring rate matches the Comfort damping pretty well.
I used to drive exclusively in Sport+ mode with the stock springs because that was where I felt there was enough damping resistance for the spring rate.
Now, I drive in Comfort mode with MSS Springs because I need less damping to match the spring rate.
The downside of all this is that roll-resistance is somewhat decreased.
The other aspect that you will have to know when considering the MSS Spring Kit is that it only lowers a maximum of 10mm in the front.
Having driven my car on MSS Springs for the last 4 months and 2000 miles, this has not changed.
That being said, while I had originally intended to only lower the car slightly and get rid of the oscillations in Comfort, I have finally caught the mod bug and I'm going to go lower with a more sporty ride. The MSS Springs are coming out of the car and I'm going to explore other options. They will be on sale if anyone is interested!
2017 C43 Wagon
2017 C43 Cabriolet
2019 C43 Sedan
2019 C43 Wagon
Whether you might feel it or not - and everyone's perception is different - the consistent issue I have with the C43 across the four variants and model years is that they all have slow damping oscillations in Comfort. You may not feel it, so it may be a non-issue for you. I certainly feel it, and it bugs me. In Sport and Sport+, the damping gets better and the oscillations disappear. This is usually a sign of not enough rebound damping for a given spring rate. So either increase damping, or reduce spring rate. (I have quite a bit of experience tuning coilovers for customers as it is part of my job).
The following is what I perceive and what I perceive alone, and you may not have the same perceptions.
Anyway, I have tried KW HAS and now MSS Springs. KW HAS has a pretty similar feel to stock, but lower, and suffers from similar oscillations as stock springs.
MSS springs have a totally different design philosophy. They lower the spring rate, but increase the preload. This makes the ride very comfortable, and the upside to all this is that the softer spring rate matches the Comfort damping pretty well.
I used to drive exclusively in Sport+ mode with the stock springs because that was where I felt there was enough damping resistance for the spring rate.
Now, I drive in Comfort mode with MSS Springs because I need less damping to match the spring rate.
The downside of all this is that roll-resistance is somewhat decreased.
The other aspect that you will have to know when considering the MSS Spring Kit is that it only lowers a maximum of 10mm in the front.
Having driven my car on MSS Springs for the last 4 months and 2000 miles, this has not changed.
That being said, while I had originally intended to only lower the car slightly and get rid of the oscillations in Comfort, I have finally caught the mod bug and I'm going to go lower with a more sporty ride. The MSS Springs are coming out of the car and I'm going to explore other options. They will be on sale if anyone is interested!