Does anyone have an XI with stock springs and Koni Yellows?

I've been browsing for the better part of an hour and I can't find anybody (XI or otherwise) who's using stock springs with Koni Yellows!
Mine has 87,000 miles and the suspension feels pretty rough. I like the stock ride height and comfort, but being able to increase dampening for "spirited driving" and autocross would be great. Opinions? Anybody out there using this setup?

Koni is a sport shock that is made for a lowering spring.
The shaft length on the Koni will likely not work with the height of the OEM spring, it would be overextended. My 325XiT tore a shock in 2 because the shaft was for a shorter spring, not a pretty sight. It overextended over a big bump and the shaft snapped after ripping out of the tube!

Measure an OEM shock vs. Koni and you will see.
ALSO, if you bother switching shocks, not doing springs seems like a waste, especially since the rear springs on these cars are guaranteed to break at sooner rather than later lol

What you could do though, is buy Bilstein HD shocks for your OEM springs. The 'HD' is an OEM length replacement for OEM springs.
But, the best suggestion: Get Eibach with Koni and you will be happy.

Originally Posted by SharkmanBMW

Koni is a sport shock that is made for a lowering spring.
The shaft length on the Koni will likely not work with the height of the OEM spring, it would be overextended. My 325XiT tore a shock in 2 because the shaft was for a shorter spring, not a pretty sight. It overextended over a big bump and the shaft snapped after ripping out of the tube!

Measure an OEM shock vs. Koni and you will see.
ALSO, if you bother switching shocks, not doing springs seems like a waste, especially since the rear springs on these cars are guaranteed to break at sooner rather than later lol

What you could do though, is buy Bilstein HD shocks for your OEM springs. The 'HD' is an OEM length replacement for OEM springs.
But, the best suggestion: Get Eibach with Koni and you will be happy.

That must have been an exciting bump!!
This is interesting. I will be replacing everything, including springs, no matter what; I think I will probably just go with OEM, the roads are so bad near my house that ride comfort and ground clearance are both a lot more important to me than they would otherwise be.... *sigh* to live somewhere with nice roads...

Athayer187 has koni shocks and OE springs. He says it's a nice stup, and I believe him.

Go for it.

I suggest eibach springs though- mainly because rear stock spring break.

Get the Konis - I set mine up to be slightly overdamped (firm) in the summer months with summer tires, then soften them up in the winter with snows. My car is a 4 season daily driver (need the ground clearance for snow in northern VT), so I like "sporting comfort". I have my E28 for autox and the track. Let me know if you want some more specifics.

Originally Posted by athayer187

Get the Konis - I set mine up to be slightly overdamped (firm) in the summer months with summer tires, then soften them up in the winter with snows. My car is a 4 season daily driver (need the ground clearance for snow in northern VT), so I like "sporting comfort". I have my E28 for autox and the track. Let me know if you want some more specifics.

I definitely identify with the "sporting comfort", that's really the goal isn't it! On the softer settings, do you think the shocks are comparable to the OEM ones? In terms of dampening, and also things like progressiveness and travel length; also, did your ride height stay essentially the same? How long have you had them for? Sorry for the bavarian inquisition...

I emailed Koni, I'm curious to get the official verdict on whether or not their shafts are too short (lol) for stock springs. Thanks for the input guys!

Im with you Miles, ride height and travel is more important for where I live also.
Is there a stock height replacement for the rear springs that break?

i put the 4 brand new koni yellows with 4 fairly new stock springs 2 months ago after 200k on the original setup and 2 rear broken springs. i like it, much improved. i started with the factory preset on soft and then adjusted the fronts 1/2 way (stiff) and like it even more. i plan on adjusting to the tightest setting and seeing how that feels. b

I've had this setup for ~60k miles, so I have a fair amount of experience with it. Ride height is very close to stock, no drop at all (travel is the same too). Ride can be what you want it to as far as dampening goes. I overdamp in the summer and damp just right in the winter. The non-technical meaning of that is a firmer ride in the summer months, and essentially identical to stock in the winter.

Awesome guys! I think I'm gonna go for it once I hear back from the Koni rep.
athayer187, awesome E28. Such a cool track car!

bump miles, any update? I'm running this same setup as we speak because the koni shocks were cheaper to acquire for me than stock shocks.

also, if the koni hardware is about an inch or so shorter than the stock shocks, wouldn't it compress the springs an inch or so to given how low the spring hat now sits when bolted onto the shock?

Hi guys in the market for new struts , shocks and 4 springs. From what i have read the KONI will work on the OEM springs? I do not want to lower my car like it the way it its. Any input appreciated. Tks!

Koni Does work with OEM springs. I am on that setup now. My brother (new owner of my car) however planning on getting OEM struts and shocks in the next month and is planning on selling our recent Koni setup if you are interested.

^ kabooOm, not to affect your sale but... how come he's offing the Koni's for OEM? I'ts fine if the response is too stiff or something, we all know ride is subjective to each owner. Seems strange with fresh shocks?

What model struts and shocks are we talking here? Has he played with the settings?

Originally Posted by White_Knuckles

^ kabooOm, not to affect your sale but... how come he's offing the Koni's for OEM? I'ts fine if the response is too stiff or something, we all know ride is subjective to each owner. Seems strange with fresh shocks?

What model struts and shocks are we talking here? Has he played with the settings?

he is spoiled by the luxuries of lexus suspensions (his previous car was a gs300 before giving it to my mother). Now he needs a car and I don't want him to piss his money on another so I am giving him my XI while I drive my e30.

He hated driving my car when I had my Dinan suspension so I sold the springs and got stock springs. It still wasn't enough for him even at the softest setting no do I blame him. Ultimately, he should service his car to his liking so if that means OEM specs to retain comfort. That's fine. I rather he spend $800 bucks on new struts than to purchase another car for $10k-20k

Edwagon - Let me know when you complete that set-up. I have the same car and would like to know how it is before i tweak my suspension. I've read here that bilstien sport and H&R give the touring a negative rake. Not interested in having my car look like an old benz 300d wagon.

Originally Posted by kaboo0m

he is spoiled by the luxuries of lexus suspensions (his previous car was a gs300 before giving it to my mother). Now he needs a car and I don't want him to piss his money on another so I am giving him my XI while I drive my e30.

He hated driving my car when I had my Dinan suspension so I sold the springs and got stock springs. It still wasn't enough for him even at the softest setting no do I blame him. Ultimately, he should service his car to his liking so if that means OEM specs to retain comfort. That's fine. I rather he spend $800 bucks on new struts than to purchase another car for $10k-20k

You're a great brother. I see he's a toughy to please. I keep reading the Koni's, on the softest settings, are close or equal to factory setup. Guess that's not exactly a winner in this case.

Originally Posted by White_Knuckles

You're a great brother. I see he's a toughy to please. I keep reading the Koni's, on the softest settings, are close or equal to factory setup. Guess that's not exactly a winner in this case.

hah thanks for the kind words we are in no position to splurge per say so i'm making do with what we can. Consider his job requires a lot of client interaction and perhaps shuttling them around, the car should be as comfy as possible. I even sold my dinan exhaust and went back to stock to keep the noise level down

Originally Posted by ParadigmShift

Edwagon - Let me know when you complete that set-up. I have the same car and would like to know how it is before i tweak my suspension. I've read here that bilstien sport and H&R give the touring a negative rake. Not interested in having my car look like an old benz 300d wagon.

Spoke to my Indy said springs last a long time and he wouldnt change them if I'm ok with ride height. I think I may just not mess with it and just change struts and shocks with oem. And leave springs in if they are ok.

Originally Posted by EDWAGON

Spoke to my Indy said springs last a long time and he wouldnt change them if I'm ok with ride height. I think I may just not mess with it and just change struts and shocks with oem. And leave springs in if they are ok.

Yeah Ed, that's where I am. If I could get the height to stock 325i touring with sports package I would. But it would have to be a straight bolt on and ride (alignment of course). So I am going to go with Bilstein OEM to stifin it where it is. Replacing camber plates, trimming bump stops, choppin front springs to maintain positive rake, and adjustments to traction control for toe in is way too much to do to a car referred to as the "ultimate driving machine". I will upgrade on failure....but for now at 80k miles the ride and ride height is cool with me.