My 0.02: The Eibach drop, even though it is hardly noticeable, will surely make your butt-o-meter needle needle move up. This in combination with Bilstein Sports shocks.

I had this setup before and decided that since the drop is "hardly noticeable" but my spinal vertebrae meter is redlining especially on long drives and the car creaking more, I changed out the springs to OEM. The result was phenomenal. The negatives are that the ride appeared higher than stock and the firmness is just a tad a little over my liking on long drives. Aditionally, there was the loud "thud" in the rears when going over parking lot bumps at just 5 mph. I have 17s and I was thinking, the ride on 16s should be perfect with this setup. Regardless, this offered the best compromise and I can live with it forever. Body roll is better than a GS equipped with L-tuned combo/TRD blue sways as I was able to compare in a back-to-back testing. The other GS with the L-tuned/TRD even had 18s so I was surprised there quite a bit.

Now that the "lifted" look began to bother me, I changed over to L-tuned shocks/springs. I wasn't kidding when I said earlier that it appeared higher than stock ride. Perhaps the Bilstein in some ways tend to assist the springs to perch-up the car.

With L-tuned, it should have been the stock component. Anyway, it rides like the Bilstein shock/OEM springs but on the softer side by just a hair. I can hardly tell the difference in fact. The ride height is actually lower than the Bilstein/Eibach combo. It is "tuned" very well with the car. Parking lot bump "thud" has disappeared. Long freeway drives are most pleasant nowadays...and this I can notice very well. I'm pleased.

 

whitels - Great post and very glad you have a suspension that you like. A question, have you also changed sways or not, I can't really tell from your post. Also, I have noticed that when you go to bilsteins they do seem to raise the car a bit (may be crazy but it sure looks like it even on bimmers). But they do eventually lose a bit of that, just a bit of the nitrogen leaking out? Who knows.

Absolutely nothing like getting that handling you want and a happy buttometer.

 

RON430-

I still have the stock sways. Down the line I know I will begin to look into it but for now. I'm enjoying the ride.

Yes, the "lifted" look happened with the Bilstein. Comparing the compression resistance between the Bilstein and the L-tuned (fronts), the L-tuned is way too easy to compress. This is when you try to compress an un-installed shocks by putting your weight on it towards the ground. On the rears, the two are almost similar with Bilstein just a tad offering more resistance.

There are times on the L-tuned now, especially on the freeway, when I wished it is a hair firmer like the Bilstein/OEM spring combo. I can feel the tendency for the car to rebound more than before (when it had the Bilstein/OEM). But I guess, that's what you get when you want a more comfy ride. Interestingly though, there are times also when I wished the L-tuned was softer especially on bad freeway or street repaired roads. But then again, that's how I knew that I have finally reached the best compromise. I wish I had the TEMS (from the old Supra). But in 90% of driving, I am really satisfied.

 

As a genuine old fart, a senior moment is allowed. I am trying to remember on the licensees of the deCarbon patent but I am pretty sure that bilstein and kyb licensed the patent for the nitrogen pressurized shock and use a low pressure setup while Koni opted for a high pressure setup that makes a big difference. The valving should only impact the shock response while the nitrogen pressure is to prevent foaming but from experience, the two different approaches produce a very different "feel" in the shock. Heck, if you are happy with your setup, no sense mucking with anything, just enjoy.