Bilstein B14 coilovers.

So I fitted the bilstein coilovers on Friday. Such an improvement over the OE cup suspension. Soaks up the bumps so much better around town, doesn't feel like you're getting bounced about the place. Had a short blast out the road today and it's much more direct with zero body roll. Will give them a week or 2 to settle and then see if I need to adjust them a bit more. Pretty happy with the way it sits just now but possibly needs the rear up some more or front down, see what happens. Then I'll get the geo setup.

 

Yea they've only been on sale a short while so so like you say the mk2 might be in the pipeline. You could alway ring bilstein and ask about them.

Cheers mate.

 

Haha will do mate. They better not rust to bits, they've got the bilstein triple C coating technology and come with a lifetime warranty so I'm sure they'll be fine.

 

Nice one.

 

Yea I knew what you meant, I've seen loads of coilovers rust really bad and it is shocking considering how much they cost. Mainly why I chose ones with the lifetime warranty and rust and they'll be getting sent back.

 

Cheers mate. Will do

 

So little update on these for you that want to know.

Had them set as it looks in the pics above and after about a week the front had settled about 10-15mm lower than what it was, everything seemed perfect although it was looking a bit low for my liking.

Finally managed to give he car a good blast with them on and noticed a vibration from the front through the whole car at 5k rpm onwards in every gear, was almost like an unbalanced wheel, not extreme but enough to notice.

So I'd heard rumours before of the MK3 destroying driveshafts when running on coilovers and instantly thought it must be the shafts as I did notice they were pointing up at a fair angle. Got talking to another guy who runs these from Belgium and discussed heights he was running etc etc as he wasn't having any issues. After he had measured his and I compared mine he was running 20mm higher (bearing in mind mine had dropped almost that amount just with settle)
So I set about winding them to the settings he was running and that has cured the vibration. BINGO! Must of been the strain on the shafts with such an angle.

Super happy with how they ride/handle, like night and day from the wallowing OE setup. Couldn't recommend them enough. Will still be playing about with the height in the future, fancy it 5mm lower at the front than what it is now (provided the vibration stays away) but it's fine for the winter months as it is.

Also I'd like to know if anyone else running coilovers on the Mk3 has experienced the vibration or not.
I'll get an updated picture of the height it's at now tomorrow.

 

Pretty much is just a McPherson strut that doesn't rotate.

The ride is completely different, it feels more solid if that makes sense like it's connected to the road better. Hard to explain, the cup setup felt almost bouncy if you like when going round town. Yes it's still firm but a different kind of firm.

 

They're B14, I'll check the spring rates for you tonight when I'm home. Got them direct from Germany, a place called TVH.

 

This is how it sits now, pretty happy with how it is but possibly have another fiddle with the height after winter.

 

Not sure on the spring rates mate, I'll need to email bilstein direct to find out because I want to know this also. Gives you all the details but not Spring rates. They're excellent quality and TUV approved.

Cheers mate, na there's still plenty of ground clearance. The standard height is rediculous haha.

Cheers bud.

 

Now that there is no vibration I think the shafts should be ok. You could go lower if you fitted adjustable top mounts and ran some camber to counteract the bend in the joint.

 

When you're on the site you need to click on the bit where it says coilovers, just to the right of the home symbol then select Renault and car model that way. Then it will show you them. But you can also phone if you like, the guys are extremely helpful.

 

No problem bud.

 

Cheers mate, yeah I have heard of a few that needed shafts after running low. To be honest it will probably stay the height it's at now for good. Nice to get some input from someone else with a MK3 that has coilovers. When mine was low I was getting a light wobble through the steering wheel when turning at low speeds, that's gone now too.