Bramage

Installed

Impression after a little over a week: WOW


Here are things I noticed:

• My pano roof is 90% quieter that before (Creaks / rattles)
• My street has arch stone every 100 feet (In strips) It used to be VERY loud going over this strips
• Freeways dots are smoother than I ever knew they could be. Again, they used to be noticeable
• MUCH more stable at speed and when making transitions. With my airshocks, high speed lane changes sometime felt "iffy" and hitting a bump during a transition never felt solid
• Much better steering wheel feedback
• Handling: >100% improved. I am so used to the old set up and I slowly trying to find the new limits of cornering. Its more than a night and day difference

Now I can't raise my car anymore, so I figured I would rip off my lip spoiler. So far so good. Not been an issue



So to sum it up: I am more than happy with this set up and glad my airmatic finally started giving out Thank you airmatic gods!!!

Denroll

Me want.

C_DirtyTwo

Sooo you're saying this is a must-do? How low are you?

55fanatic

I am waiting on ISC to make a set for me before I do my swap... they are located right in NH

kponti

I did it with 18k front springs instead of the 16k ones. Still rides barely stiffer than stock except over ripples on the road.
Car feels like a go kart with better bump absorption. However I do have a very hard time getting it up to stock height. The fronts are easy to get it up, the rears are a HUGE PITA. I am about 25.25" - 25.50" from the ground to the edge of fender with 35psi (stock under same settings is 26") in the rear. That last half and inch or so is impossible to get without dismantling everything so I am waiting for my 19s to go on and i'll see if I even want to be bothered with raising it any further.

By far the biggest change on the car, only the supercharger pulley comes close to the difference.

Need4Speed

BC Coils are great you cant beat them for what they offer and how their priced

KMS11

I've been lurking the forum on this conversion. I've replaced my fronts with Arnott's, the air ride doesn't bother me but should I ever sell the car I don't feel like doing a lot of explaining on why I swapped. Thoughts on whether this would matter to potential buyers?

kponti

Its a 9 year old car, honestly if a buyer questions why you don't have all the factory parts they are probably jerking your chain and don't know what they are buying.

KMS11

Soon to be a decade old car, very true. When I buy a car I'm always weary of an owner with too many stories so I seek to never be that kind of seller myself.

Bramage

I like this ride and handling MUCH, MUCH better than the stock suspension. I waited until my Airmatic began to fail. Would I do it before they failed? Now I would having felt the difference.

The parts are inexpensive but very high quality. I have to say I liked them more than the $2500 kit I put on my BMW. (KVW)... I am not auto-crossing my E55, although, that might be a blast.

I'm sitting just about where the picture below shows, Maybe a hair lower. You can go much lower if you want.

And so no one gets confused: In another thread I said : Don't Buy BC Anything!!!

Here is why:

I was pissed off that their largest distributor showed the parts "In Stock - Only 2 left" On Amazon

I ordered.. Heard nothing - Called the following Monday: Oh, they are on back order.. 2 to 3 weeks. S H I T... (pet peeve: don't say in stock when they are not).. ARG

So did they come in 2 - 3 weeks?? Of course not.

4 weeks later I got the parts. And even after all that, I love them.

Enigma94

I really wish I wasn't under warranty so I could do this.... They should of came stock with a coil set up vs the air crap.

HeissRod

How do you slammed guys deal with speed bumps and such after doing the swap?

kponti

Mine is not slammed. This kit will get you to stock height easily, just set the rear on the top 1/4 threads before installing

G_Money

It's not unreasonable to want a stock car. Especially when it comes to performance vehicles.

justinwrock

Go sideways.

The two cars I had before my E55 sat lower, and didn't have air. You learn to make due.

HeissRod

I go sideways into my driveway with the car raised.

kponti

Definitely not unreasonable, for most cars. With cars with very well documented fail parts like on the w211 e55 (supercharger pump and pulley, airmatic leaks, other pulleys, ball joints, etc etc etc for example), it can be expected that these parts will be replaced. And sometimes not with expensive factory parts that do fail faster. Johnson pumps, Arnott air suspension components, replacement bearings on supercharger pulleys etc are not stock.

kponti

Set the rear on the bottom 1/4 aspect of the coilover sleeve, you will be near stock height.
The front there is nothing to worry about, will easily go higher than stock and easily adjusted on the car.

Exotic-metal55

How much manual adjustment you have with your coil overs?

BenzoBoi

Coilovers are a must on the 211 55K's. That is all.

__pg

I did the coilover swap as well. I went with KWs but sorta wish I had done the BCs now. Your review is exactly what I'd say about mine but with a $1K more price tag. I'm thinking about going BC on my Evo though.

Did you do the install yourself? The rears took forever and I had to drop the exhaust. It was a 2 day job for me. I still can't find the proper fuse to pull to get rid of the "Car to low. Visit Workshop" warning. The how to on here shows a fuse I don't have.

I do love the swap and it's a must for those who love handling! It really completes the car.

justinwrock

Go even more sideways...

More seriously, if you want coilovers, but don't want to lose the on-the-fly height adjustment: http://kw-suspension.com/us/kw_hls.php

aghakauve

Nice, glad to see you like swap!! Swapped mine over as well and went with D2 coilovers, the car finally feels nice and steady. A lot more easier to slide around and drift hahaha!

hayseed

iTrader: (2)

what are the part numbers (or parts) you need for the rear perches and shims if any ? -- thanks and good luck with them --

Bramage

All you need (And I mean all you need) is 2 Lower Control Arms.

I just bought QTY 2 of these:




Part number is 211 350 18 06

Both sides are same / interchangeable.


Exotic: There is a LOT of adjustment potential From slammed (cant even drive car) to at or above stock. Rear does not go quite as high, but just as low. I think any range anyone would ever want their car is covered, unless you are gonna run some 32" WHEELS