Final suspension question, how many turns on rear koni yellows? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Close Encounter · 26th April 2007, 11:06

I'm installing the GC coilovers this weekend, 430fronts/380 rears. I'm going to set the rear dampers to 3/4 turn from full soft, and the fronts initially to 1 whole turn from full soft.

I do not want to have to mess with the rears again, so is 3/4 turn from full soft a good setup?

Thanks!

Lscman · 26th April 2007, 15:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Close Encounter

I'm installing the GC coilovers this weekend, 430fronts/380 rears. I'm going to set the rear dampers to 3/4 turn from full soft, and the fronts initially to 1 whole turn from full soft.

I do not want to have to mess with the rears again, so is 3/4 turn from full soft a good setup?

Thanks!

I would say definitely not! The 3/4T from full soft setting is for folks who are sensitive to ride quality & want to maintain stock ride comfort with stock BMW springs!! The 380 rears are much stiffer than Dinan springs and Dinan recommends 1-1/4T for their stockish rate setup.

You have not stated what you do with this car. Without knowing your duty & ride expectations, I'll make a "wag" and say something between 1-1/4T from full soft and 1-1/2T from full soft might work.

Close Encounter · 27th April 2007, 02:15

I'm not exactly sure what my expectations are, I don't want a brutally harsh ride but I don't require alot of comfort either. If I had to set it between the two it would definitely be more towards performance.

All I can really exploit up here are long, curvy highways and sweepers, no raceways or tracks, and the auto-x's are usually in school parking lots and not friendly towards long-legged cars. All I know for sure is that I don't want to bottom out, and I frequently carry rear passengers.

Thanks!

TiSiBeast · 27th April 2007, 02:52

I would send an email to the guys at Discovery Automotive and ask them. They have set up countless M5's and I think they work closely with Ground Control. They should have some good ideas for you.

Lscman · 27th April 2007, 04:45

The correct way to set the Koni shocks is to count the turns from full soft to full firm and then calibrate them from the full firm setting. This method provides better calibration matching because the total number of turns varies from shock to shock. The max firm setting is always the same while the full soft setting might not be consistent. What you find is some dampers will allow an extra 1/4 turn or so in the soft direction.

I'd probably split the difference and go with 1-3/8 Turn from full soft.

If the total turn count from full soft to full firm turns out to be 2-3/4T, then you'd be close to a 50% setting. You can basically wind each shock to full firm and then back it down by 1-3/8 turns.

GC or Discovery may advise you on the optimal damper setting for the 380's. The guesstimate I offered should work good for performance street use, autox and typical non-competition weekend flogging with that spring.

drallen · 27th April 2007, 04:49

I am with Rick on this one...

I have the "softer" rear springs (early adaptor #280, Dinan bar in the middle hole) and I am running mine with 1 full turn out from full soft...so 1.25 turns out from full soft should be just about "right" for you...

I believe that I am running 1.25 or 1.5 turns out from full soft on the fronts with #430 springs and 275s on the front (on stock rear rims)...

I hope this helps...

Mark