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Re: Tokico v. Koni adjustables on an E30 M3 (archive)

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Posted by Pat Chiang on January 02, 2001 at 01:05:10:

In Reply to: Tokico v. Koni adjustables on an E30 M3 posted by jej on December 30, 2000 at 00:39:37:


I'm replacing the struts/shocks and springs on my E30 M3. I decided to go with the H&R sport springs and was going to use the Koni adjustables. However, I am less than impressed with the "ease" of adjusting the Koni's. (This is in comparison to the Tokico Illuminas I have on my other car - which isn't another BMW. With the Tokico Illuminas, all I need to do is turn a little valve at the top of the strut.)

Does anyone have experience with either of these adjustables on your E30 M3? If so, how do you have the Koni's adjusted? (It would appear that the struts have two and one-half turns of adjustment, despite the instructions indication that it only has 180 degree or 360 degree settings.) If you have the Tokico's, are the struts adjusted by the valve at the top? Are the shocks adjusted by an external valve towards the bottom of the strut.

The car will see spirited street driving (for lack of a better description) and some autocross. Therefore, the ability to adjust the struts and shocks without removing the cartidges is desirable.

Thanks in advance, jej


I have the H&R Sport Springs and the Tokico Illuminas and the car handles great. I got the Tokicos for adjustablility. I track my car approx. 3-4 times a year and drive it on the street too, so the Tockicos allow me to soften the ride for street and stiffen it for the track.

The fronts are the easiest to adjust, and yes both front and back are adjusted from the top of the shock. The rears are harder to adjust as I cannot get my head up high enough to see the indicator (1-5).

My settings are currently 4 for the front and 5 for the rear (5 is max). This is my track setting and with the ST sway bars it gives my M3 a throttle lift oversteer, but still pushes the front when the power is on.

I'll cure this with some camber plates for the front later. Hope this helps. The Tockicos are great shocks.

Pat '89 M3




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