Installed Bilstein B14 PSS Coils

[Addikted To Boost]

Got these from edge last week, they are only height adjustable, no adjustable damping, but I am just using them for parkway runs and occasional mountain driving. I got to try them out a couple days ago on the parkway (after an alignment) and damn to they make the car handle great. I had Bilstein B8s and Eibachs on my old speed 3 and they were decent, but I was throwing the car into curves harder than I would ever dare on my old setup.

It could also be the new wheel/tire combo helping out, I went with 17x8 +45 RPF1s with conti extreme contact dw 235/45s. The car rides great over very bumpy back roads around my house, and feels awesome on the highway as well, close to stock but a little rougher over big bumps and dips. I did manage to fuck up my driverside fender while trying to roll them using the baseball bat method, and that really pisses me off, hopefully the dent can be pulled using PDR...

Anyway, here are some pics, they dont slam the car by any means, the fronts have a 15mm adjustable range that you have to measure once they are installed on the car from the center of the strut knuckle bolt up to the spring perch. However there is at least an inch and a half of extra threaded part where you "could" lower the car more, but im assuming that puts the struts into an area it isnt meant to operate in. The rears only have 5mm of adjustable range, which you can measure and set before installing them above the springs.

Some of these were before i installed my DIY center caps, others were after.

[doctavus]

Sexy, looks great!

[jtday]

That color combination looks AWESOME...

[dealerjohn1]

Damm fine setup you have got there

[mituc]

Originally Posted by Addikted To Boost I had Bilstein B8s and Eibachs on my old speed 3 and they were decent, but I was throwing the car into curves harder than I would ever dare on my old setup.

Maybe it's the tires then, because B8 + Eibach pro (=B12) + alignment kit (Corksport camber plates in front, Eibach arms for the rear) handles better than the B14.
However, there's just a tad more roll with the B12 than the B14 and about as much more squat, which takes away from the driver's confidence when throwing the car hard around curves and tight turns, but the grip is there and about the same.

With the B14 kit always have a spare set of strut bearings at reach. On rough roads the coils of the front spring may come in contact occasionally and every 6-8k miles the front strut bearings will need to be replaced.

Otherwise it's an awesome suspension kit which will put a smile on your face both on the track and road.

[Addikted To Boost]

Im hoping i dont have to swap the strut bearings that often...the roads around me are pretty decent so hopefully that wont be an issue

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Looking good! Although I'm not used to see MS3 with 17's on, and man that's a lot of tires. They look comfortable.

May I ask why you decided to go with 17's instead of 18's?

[Addikted To Boost]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo Looking good! Although I'm not used to see MS3 with 17's on, and man that's a lot of tires. They look comfortable. May I ask why you decided to go with 17's instead of 18's?

I wanted something lightweight, and these wheels are only about 16 lbs each, and also wanted a little taller sidewall to offset some of the harshness from the coilovers. Plus they were out of the OZ Ultralaggeras i wanted which were 18s in gold, and they dont make the RPF1s in 18s in gold that fit our car...

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by Addikted To Boost I wanted something lightweight, and these wheels are only about 16 lbs each, and also wanted a little taller sidewall to offset some of the harshness from the coilovers. Plus they were out of the OZ Ultralaggeras i wanted which were 18s in gold, and they dont make the RPF1s in 18s in gold that fit our car...

Nice! I'm a big fan of OZ stuff.

I had my eyes set on the OZ Alleggerita's until I realized it'll bankrupt me if I were to buy them new.

[RusianKid]

@Addikted To Boost;

Could you give us an update on how these are holding up?

How many miles driven on them?

Any weird noises?

[Addikted To Boost]

I've got about eight thousand miles on them so far, they're doing great, no noises, car handles like it's on rails

[RusianKid]

Originally Posted by Addikted To Boost I've got about eight thousand miles on them so far, they're doing great, no noises, car handles like it's on rails

That is great to hear!

Do you remember what your front strut measurement was(the one between 225mm-250mm)? and the back(between 45mm-50mm)?

Do you feel like the dampeners are valves properly for the MS3?

[Addikted To Boost]

I set them to as low as the manual allowed, I'm by no means a suspension expert but they behave well in my opinion in just about all conditions

[RusianKid]

Thanks for all the feedback!

One last question, how is the clearance between tire and strut?

[RusianKid]

What paint did you use for the center caps?

I just purchased some gold RPF1s and am looking to paint my Honda caps gold

[Addikted To Boost]

I dont remember really, i just picked out a gold color at advance auto that looked close. Mine isnt an exact match but its close enough. I just sold these wheels actually.

[Addikted To Boost]

its certainly not as smooth as stock but ive riden in cars with much stiffer coilovers i'd say these are good for daily driving but it can get a little unruly over rough patches of road.