H&R coilovers arrived

[Kongo-Otto]

New toys arrived today. A H&R/Bilstein coilover set.

http://i56.tinypic.com/10sdjk3.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/5ajdkj.jpg

Bilstein upside-down shocks in the front

http://i54.tinypic.com/2kkifo.jpg

Since i am off work until June 19th i will mount these very soon. Pictures will be updated. :w00t:

[pokiou]

mind if i ask how much they cost and where you got them from ? and does it void your warranty ?

[Kongo-Otto]

mind if i ask how much they cost and where you got them from ? and does it void your warranty ?

I bought them at a local store here in Germany. As far as i know H&R sells their goods worldwide. The set cost about 870 EUR here which is about 1270$. Maybe export coilovers are a bit cheaper because they don't need to be German TÜV approved. Here in Germany we need expensive TÜV certificates for such modifications.

I doesn't void warranty in general. But it might void warranty for parts which are in a direct coherence to this coilovers. In example: If my car suffers from additional rattling noises now i sure will not get that covered by warranty anymore if it is because my suspension is stiffer now.

[cali yaris]

You paid full retail? I could have gotten those to you for a lot cheaper. I am an H&R dealer.

[Kongo-Otto]

You paid full retail? I could have gotten those to you for a lot cheaper. I am an H&R dealer.

No, it is not the full retail price in Germany. Retail here is about 1100 EUR. Don't forget that export coilovers are missing necessary papers and even if you get them cheaper there still is the shipping cost to germany + customs (10% customs fee + 19% "import" taxes).

Things are always more expensive here. :frown:

You know K-Sport/D2/Megan coilovers? They are .... better sit down now ... 1245 EUR = 1800$ here. Atleast if you buy them from official dealers.

[cali yaris]

^Wow, that's crazy, especially since Megans are less expensive here than H&R products.

Your suspension is going to be so nice now. :clap:

[Thirty-Nine]

Very nice! If I were to go the coilover route again, I think I'd go with these.

[Kongo-Otto]

Another pic of the upside-down shock:

http://i56.tinypic.com/1110940.jpg

I've never seen them on car before i thought this is motorcycle exclusive. The tubes are quite huge. Doesn't look that huge at the picture.
According to Bilstein they should be more stable when it comes to transverse forces.

[ilikerice]

stop looking at them and get them on the car... WITH PICS

[Kongo-Otto]

Hehe its 11 PM over here, no can do.
I installed the rears already. I will go on tomorrow. Pics to follow.

[toad]

curious to see how the car sits at its highest and lowest settings. i know that's A LOT of work and you probably just want to go out and hit the twisties now so if you can't - no biggie!

how's the ride? h&r is typically 'tight-lipped' about their spring rates and i was just wondering for some real-world impressions. congratulations!

[miketejero]

those had to be very good, I had H&R "sport" springs installed on my 1.3L sedan and the ride is incredible already.

[bzinn 1]

Hehe its 11 PM over here, no can do.
I installed the rears already. I will go on tomorrow. Pics to follow.

Plenty of time for sleeping when we are dead......now get tot he garage and mod....lol

[Jason@SportsCar]

Another pic of the upside-down shock:

I've never seen them on car before i thought this is motorcycle exclusive. The tubes are quite huge. Doesn't look that huge at the picture.
According to Bilstein they should be more stable when it comes to transverse forces.

Its actually very common in race struts, started with the Rally guys. There is a "bearing" in the tube that gives support to the shock body. If you take the unit apart (it is essentially a shock insert in a strut body) the shock shaft (that you would see at the top on a normal setup) is not any bigger than normal.

The AST units we had made were done the same way. In this pic you can see at the bottom of the strut is the adjustment tab for the shock inside, on a normal application this would be the top of the shock.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xv6avDuVZAw/Tffy3Rf29PI/AAAAAAAAArc/p_6ApUNZukI/s800/2011-06-14_10-35-01_640.jpg


This illustration explains it, the red part is fixed, the blue part moves:
http://www.pfadtracing.com/photos/data/522/Strut_Comparison.jpg

[Kongo-Otto]

Plenty of time for sleeping when we are dead......now get tot he garage and mod....lol

Yes i know. I am finished but didn't take new pictures yet. Car has to be prepared for the German TÜV. That means wheel alignment and i can't go very low with the coilovers else i will not get the needed certificate from the TÜV engineer. Very strict here in Germany. :wink:

Its actually very common in race struts, started with the Rally guys. There is a "bearing" in the tube that gives support to the shock body. If you take the unit apart (it is essentially a shock insert in a strut body) the shock shaft (that you would see at the top on a normal setup) is not any bigger than normal.

Thank you for the explanations. That is really interesting. The rear shocks are not upside down. I guess it would be useless with this type of wheel suspension?

[Kongo-Otto]

Finally i took some pictures with the coilovers installed (and after german TÜV approval). Pictures are a bit blueish thanks to me not knowing how to take pictures.

http://i56.tinypic.com/15hbck0.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/zohz47.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/30v0l1v.jpg

Car is lowered about 60mm (2.36") in the front and 50mm (1.96") in the back. Still some threads left to go lower but this would result in me not being able to enter some parking lots in the future. Ride is very well balanced. Car feels completely different to stock.

[cali yaris]

Perfect stance, looks great.

[PROX4x4]

Finally i took some pictures with the coilovers installed (and after german TÜV approval). Pictures are a bit blueish thanks to me not knowing how to take pictures.

http://i56.tinypic.com/15hbck0.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/zohz47.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/30v0l1v.jpg

Car is lowered about 60mm (2.36") in the front and 50mm (1.96") in the back. Still some threads left to go lower but this would result in me not being able to enter some parking lots in the future. Ride is very well balanced. Car feels completely different to stock.

Awesome upgrades!
Can you please tell me the specs on the wheels and tires? :w00t:

[Kongo-Otto]

Wheel specs are:

Borbet LS 7x17 offset 38mm
Pirelli PZero Nero 205/40 ZR17 84W XL

Tires have uprated sidewalls (stiffer) and are allowed to go 270km/h. I don't think i will go that fast. :laugh:

[toad]

looks perfect! thanks again for the pics! do you have any issues with the 38mm offset on a 7" wheel being lowered such as you are? spacers/camber bolts/etc?

[Kongo-Otto]

I had no issues like rubbing so far except reduced ground clearance. The car is not lowered very, very much but i have to take more care when driving over ramps or big curbs.

I have no additional spacers or camber bolts.