TexasLex

This is a question for Natnut, but I think it applies to the main question of this thread. Natnut, I noticed in your sig. that you have the Bilstein HD shock but you receommended the Daizen sways as the best mod for the bucks spent. Does this mean if you wer edoing it all over again that you would do the Daizen sways before the shocks? I am wondering b/c I have already installed the Daizen urethane bushings and have ordered the Bilstein HD shocks but want to keep my smooth ride. did the Bilsteins make the ride any rougher?

CRSO

Oh... you meant scraping. cool...

natnut

My HDs are also on order as well.

This is my experience with shocks and springs : I started out with stock 16 wheels, installed Daizen sways on my stock car---handling was noticeably better, ride was slightly firmer but still comfortable.

Next, I installed Tanabe NF 210 lowering springs with Bilstein Sports as well as 18 inch forged rims. I regretted that decision. Handling on smooth roads was vastly improved. My friend who drives the previous gen 5 series admitted it had better road holding than his stock car.

However, driving over poor roads was a torture. Also, I kept scraping my front bumper on ramps since my car was lowered. I eventually switched to KYB-gr2s for better ride comfort but at the cost of poorer handling.

When I sold my old GS and bought another 2nd gen, I carried over the wheels and the Daizen sways but kept the springs and shocks stock.I feel the KYBs are too soft for me and I have the HDs on order.

Looking back, I feel the biggest contributors to ride comfort degradation was the 18 inch rims and the Bilstein sports as well as the stiffer lowering springs. I won't give up my rims as they look good so I'm opting for the Bilstein HDs which is a good compromise between the Sports and the KYB-gr2's.I also won't lower my car again.Hearing your lower bumper scrape on ramps and gradients is not pleasant.

TexasLex

Awesome info., thanks!