Sammo

After experiencing a Covid related 3 month delay on receiving Suspension from the UK earlier this year I ordered some ST-XA Coilovers from Demontweeks, being under the impression they had an order on its way within two weeks. Just got the email notification - stock isn't expected to arrive in the UK until 25th of October ? Better be worth the bloody wait!

@TheManBearPig Sportlines are supposed to be very low? was tempted to get some after my new AP springs didn't give me the drop I was after but ended up going the whole hog and ordering some ST XA coilovers from Demontweeks...

@kvmvl Where did you get the reps?

This is why I'm looking forward to a (semi deserted?) South Island road trip in a few weeks. Shame I'll be in a RAV4 rental ?

I like the drive down SH16 from Wellsford through Helensville - decent roads and great scenery. Need to try the Awhitu Peninsula and the famous Pohutakawa coast drive. Might need to drag myself out of bed early on a spring Sunday morning and 'beat the traffic'.

Great topic here: Plenty of E46 M3 experts here to chip in. Might be overpriced being an SMG Vert with 200+ km though.

I've got good news and bad news https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/2755802817?bof=9849D4pu

A stunning silver E30 and E39 - what a great combo ??

Nice - I came from a MK6 GTI to a Straight 6 E46 - VWs are 'Gateway Drugs' haha

This is a mirror site with different interface?

They broke it IMO. Mobile app still seems to work as before though.

Nice colour combo, and bet its beading like crazy with all that wax on it!

That's definately the plan!

Update: Thank you all for your advice - really appreciate all the feedback! I'm going to order some ST-XA coilovers - while I probably don't really need damping adjustment, for another $300, might as well throw it in. KW made, twin tube dampers and more friendly spring rates sold me here (as compared to the Taiwanese offerings). I'm looking to be around 330mm hub to arch in the front and 320mm rear which is well within the tested TUV range. While I do love the idea of having KWs, talking to their support, the ST-XA product is the otherwise the same as KW V2 and paying $500+ for stainless front strut housings isn't worthwhile in Auckland IMO. @leichtbau Looks like I do have several options for spring rates - either a 50 n/mm front linear spring with a 20n/mm tender or a 60 n/mm front linear spring with a 20 n/mm tender. Rears are same progressive at around 84 n/mm (must be an approximation, being progressive). The non damping adjustable ST-X also offer a progressive front spring, utilising the factory upper perch. My current AP springs are 27n/mm front and 49 n/mm rear, so the 50n/mm should be noticeably stiffer without being overkill (BC and XYZ are both 8-10kg!). Attached photoshop-lowered pic of my car haha

That's the one. I've not seen it but have met the seller before, nice lad, think he has two E36 and this is the 'minter' one.

There is a guy on Facebook selling a Daytona Violet 1996 with 157km - Cloth M Rain interior. NZ New, service history - looks tidy and stock on DS1's / Style 22.

Mine doesn't *for now*. Does drink it though ?

Yeah, I like it, a little meaty for super aggressive offsets but I would want to got much below ET30 on E46 anyway.

@///M The lure of shiny stuff is real haha

@///M Cheers - how long have you had your STs and presume they are holding up without any corrosion? Need to get my car on a flat surface and get my wheel to hub measurements and ensure my goals are comfortably within the range on the TUV / install guide. My wheels are 18x8.5 ET30, so would imagine I will have no clearance issues.

@leichtbau Cheers, that makes sense - essentially a dual rate spring system. The likes of BC, appears you are straight into the 8kg linear spring with a monotube damper which sounds harsh. I'll have a chat to KW support, I've found them helpful in the past and they seem more than happy to discuss both KW and ST products impartially

@Bandit Thanks mate! I had a bad experience earlier this year with Demon Tweeks (Parcel Force delayed, then lost package and Demon Tweeks support throughout was really poor) having said that, most of the issue was their carrier, Parcel Froce and to be fair, it was right in the middle of Covid's first wave. I've not used DC Performance, but they have been very responsive to email questions to date at least - prices seem comparable (product dependent). Definitely leaning towards either KW V1 or ST XA at this point (similar price - basically brand appeal vs rebound adjustment...) Car is driven in rain about 7000km a year but no salted roads up here so I imagine ST would be totally fine.

@leichtbau tender spring being that little 'helper' spring? I did see the KW V1's offer 2 types for the front axle - 2 piece race spring (helper and linear?) or one piece (progressive?)

@Gaz How is the ride and NVH on the BCs? I'm running 235/40/18 so have a little bit of sidewall.

Jeez, looks like 8 weeks lead times from KW at the minute... Although to be fair, even 'local' option BC was going to be 6 weeks...