Koni sport adj -30mm

[Rha]

At last Larkspeed have delivered my Koni / H&R sport kit after nearly two months wait, have purchased rear OEM top mounts along with top reinforcement plates and plates for front top mounts, haven't made my mind up which front top mounts will suit mainly road use, was wondering if any other Z-er on here has fitted this kit and has any advice on the do's and don'ts when fitting. Have had this setup before on a Golf GTI and found the handling really pleasing with the adjustment facility but didn't fit it myself and left it to AMD. This time though I'm going to get my hands dirty helping my mechanic friend. Will be looking at bushing while we've got it on the stands and may need advise on what's worth changing at the time with what works best. Already changed front ARB and TCAs to poly bush but haven't touched the drop links or any other bushes inc rear ARB. Have front top strut along with rear top Bertini brace and Bertini strong strut so hoping this kit might help bring it all together.

Not that impressed with the kit as a whole when there's no new gaiters for the front shocks, I'm sure the Bilstein kit I bought for my Escort RS 2000 back in the early eighties had them on front and back. Now have to source good gaiter kit, be nice if they could advise you when you order.

 

[Rha]

Update; since I posted last and haven't had any replies, I'm hoping I'm not the first to use the Koni kit but having said that I've gone ahead and ordered e36 Z3M OEM top mounts for the front and Meyle heavy duty rear top mounts, that's made my newly purchased OEM rear top mounts redundant. Any one looking to do rear top mounts in the future and need these please give me a shout and we'll try and get them to you free of charge, otherwise they'll just sit in the garage and get forgotten. Just need to work out what else lm needing to get this kit on without having to stop and dive off for bits.

 

[miller1098]

Update; since I posted last and haven't had any replies, I'm hoping I'm not the first to use the Koni kit but having said that I've gone ahead and ordered e36 Z3M OEM top mounts for the front and Meyle heavy duty rear top mounts, that's made my newly purchased OEM rear top mounts redundant. Any one looking to do rear top mounts in the future and need these please give me a shout and we'll try and get them to you free of charge, otherwise they'll just sit in the garage and get forgotten. Just need to work out what else lm needing to get this kit on without having to stop and dive off for bits.

One of the things on my list could you put my name on them I'd appreciate it .good luck with the recast of the upgrade

 

[Rha]

One of the things on my list could you put my name on them I'd appreciate it .good luck with the recast of the upgrade

No probs Hugh, they're yours, keep an eye out for any one from my area who will be attending same event as you and I'll get them to you, is it urgent if so I'll post. Roy

 

[miller1098]

No probs Hugh, they're yours, keep an eye out for any one from my area who will be attending same event as you and I'll get them to you, is it urgent if so I'll post. Roy

Not urgent at all,haven't got time ( busy making beds) will keep in touch .thanks

 

[Antm72]

These are all the bits Roy.



Quite a few ontop of your brought kit if your looking for a complete rebuild without using you stock stuff.

 

[Rha]

These are all the bits Roy.
View attachment 22737
View attachment 22738

Quite a few ontop of your brought kit if your looking for a complete rebuild without using you stock stuff.

Thanks Ant, that's really helpful, will only reuse what's still in really good shape.

 

[Antm72]

I imagine most of the bits would be next day from bmw and the washer etc won't be expensive. The bumper stops etc i imagine will not be that dear either. the only part i would think would be would be the top hat and that may surprise too.

 

[Rha]

I imagine most of the bits would be next day from bmw and the washer etc won't be expensive. The bumper stops etc i imagine will not be that dear either. the only part i would think would be would be the top hat and that may surprise too.

Ok Ant, thanks again, it'll defo get what we think should be replaced, no sense in using old stuff if we got to do it all over again next year because something old isn't up to it. Thanks again for the gift, I'll post pics for your opinion when it's done.

 

[Brian H]

Update; since I posted last and haven't had any replies, I'm hoping I'm not the first to use the Koni kit but having said that I've gone ahead and ordered e36 Z3M OEM top mounts for the front and Meyle heavy duty rear top mounts, that's made my newly purchased OEM rear top mounts redundant. Any one looking to do rear top mounts in the future and need these please give me a shout and we'll try and get them to you free of charge, otherwise they'll just sit in the garage and get forgotten. Just need to work out what else lm needing to get this kit on without having to stop and dive off for bits.

On the front the two bolts that attach the shock to the kingpin are meant to be onetime use and to be fair they do get as rusty as....

On the rear, if you are changing the drop links the nut/bolts also take a pounding, have a look at your rear shocks at the bottom mounting hole/tube, on the OEM shocks the mounting tube through the shock is elongated, many aftermarket are not, this is not an issue if you have a small spacer to hand. If your rear shocks are for the bucket, you can saw off a section of the bottom tube to create a spacer if needed without the spacer the OEM bolt will be too long.

A tip when changing out the rear Spring is to release the rear ARB from the trailing arm, this will allow the trailing arm to drop enough to allow the OEM Spring to come out.

If I can think of anything else I'll let you know.

 

[Rha]

So glad you read the post Brian, thanks.

 

[5harp3y]

FYI I've just bought nearly all the sundries above for £90 from sopers Lincoln

The top mounts were half price at gsf compared to bmw (lemforder)

Bumpstops and gaiters came from eBay.

 

[Lee]

I ran Koni's on my M so you know how that handled

 

[Rha]

Thanks for the info Sharp3y, have got most of what I need but may have paid just a little over the top for them. Roy.

 

[Rha]

I ran Koni's on my M so you know how that handled

Yep I remember it well Lee, looks like it might turn out ok if and when I get the last couple of items. I'll put pic up of some of the bits I have, then ask for advise about which will suite for what I still have to purchase.

Meyle HD rear top mount kit (with reinforcement plates not show), Meyle ARB drop links front, E36 M3 front top mounts. Still need spring plates top and bottom and rubbers, front shocks rubber boots, some new nuts and bolts.TCA are already done with power flex as are the front ARB mounts. Aim to build up front struts so we can do straight swap. What have I forgot???????
Just answered the door and my shock rubbers have just been delivered from Street Star so I've added a pic.

 

[Rha]

Well this is nearly the last of it, and just these bits alone from main dealer cost £85. Only the strut mounting bolts to go fetch. So now my mechanic friend will take the front struts to work and build them up. Waiting for the start of better weather that will no doubt see them all on with no probs, hopefully. Going to get my hands dirty on this one and help him. Spose he'll get me to make the tea and fetch and carry, could do it myself but the misses is afraid I might get trapped under the car and as we decided we didn't need life cover after we retired she wouldn't get anything insurance wise.
What ever does she mean??????

For those interested the prices of parts from main dealer. It's taken for ever to get this far, but should be all fitted for the next summer .org season.
Rha, Roy.

 

[Antm72]

Looking forward to seeing this it should look and drive great

 

[zedonist]

I note you have bought Z3M front top mounts, I assume you know these will increase the castor angle and if fitted the correct way round will introduce positive camber on a normal Z3, this may come in handy with the lowering springs. I think they also require extra fettling to fit.

The good thing is that increasing the castor angle and negative camber helps the car to turn in, reduces under steer etc.

 

[Rha]

I note you have bought Z3M front top mounts, I assume you know these will increase the castor angle and if fitted the correct way round will introduce positive camber on a normal Z3, this may come in handy with the lowering springs. I think they also require extra fettling to fit.

The good thing is that increasing the castor angle and negative camber helps the car to turn in, reduces under steer etc.

Thanks Zedonist, I did some reading and thought if it helps why not try and fit them, will keep an eye on tyre wear though and it'll go straight in for alignment, just hope they don't give us too much grief cos it's all got to be done outside, that's why I agreed to build the front struts befor we start. Will hopefully get time to take pics on the build to help others that might go down the same route. Thanks for the heads up, appreciated. Roy.