Can Coilovers be Comfortable? Comparing Ride Comfort Data - Bilstein B16 PSS10 Test and Review

[@athousandtinycobras4349]

I just put these on my wife's F30 328i (RWD) after the OE shocks wore out. Lowered it slightly (she doesn't want it too low) and have all four corners set to 4. It feels like a new car. Better than new. The ride is still comfortable, but it's "taught." The car now feels like it's bolted together better, with fewer noises and rattles (it was good before, but now it's better). The main reason we replaced the OE shocks is because the car felt very loose at speed. Now it feels razor sharp. Install was pretty easy. Oh, and they look nice. Highly recommended.

[@sadatx101]

I was looking for information on the B16 and funny enough, F30 328 is the exact car I have. This comment hits the mark. :)

[@johncastellano6464]

Thanks for the information basically confirms what I had assumed the Bielstein set up to produce. There are several choices to put on my 04 911 turbo and I feel this is the route I will be taking.. appreciate the effort you put into this

[@msmarshall854]

Wow, this is legit content, not click-bait garbage. It's appreciated man!

[@DadWagon]

That's one of the nicest comments i've ever received.

[@CGSurge]

yo, the production quality and thoroughness of the experiment -- blew me away! fantastic content, thank you! I can't wait to get some b16s on my dad wagon, too!

[@DadWagon]

Thanks so much Surge. Let me know if there are other details you want to know.

[@NitinRashuworld]

Real nice data analysis that can help a lot of folks and exactly what I had been looking for over a year.

[@tommyzegers]

Your channel is the reason I went Bilstein B16. Installing them next week. Thanks for the content.

[@DadWagon]

Right on! Enjoy!

[@honestreviewer3283]

I put these on my wife's F30 BMW. Night and day difference. The car always had a floaty front end and now it doesn't, and, yes, it rides nicer (on setting 3 all around).

[@MikePlays88]

This was fantastic. Subscribed. And then bought B16 damptronic for my '20 GLI.

[@Porkchop17]

THANK YOU for taking the time do this whole experiment. When I saw the notification for the video, I clicked instantly. I've been wondering about this myself for a few months now. I keep reading stuff like you said "rides better than stock" or "rides like an old school lexus" was my favorite claim haha. While comfort is my first priority, I do want to get coilovers for when i eventually track the car. I'm thinking KW street comforts are as "comfortable" as it gets for coilovers. It might have been nice to also try doing one run with stock suspension and with normal springs instead of lowering springs. I imagine that mightve been the most accurate representation of how different they would be. Otherwise, awesome video. Happy subscriber here

[@DadWagon]

Yes, i considered this but unfortunately i didn't have any local VW friends with an alltrack or GSW. I guess i could have put my stocks back on....that sounds like a lot :)

[@jeoffbenzos4959]

Very good test. Exactly what I'm looking for. Everyone has a different opinion that it is hard to know what to believe without actual data to back it up. I wish there was a channel that went through all kinds of suspension setups and brands to get data for comfort as well as performance.

[@garrettgiuffre7298]

I've always been a bilstien lover. Its always been a quality performance suspension

[@DadWagon]

I continue to enjoy them and Bilstein makes a great product.

[@theman8447]

This is proper going to the extend comfortability research on car suspensions. How abt an off road test?

[@colinmcdonell5034]

Getting ready to install Bilstein B16 coilovers with Damptronic on my MK7 Golf R stage 3. I currently am running a stock suspension with Eibach Pro Kit Springs. I currently have APR Front/ Rear swaybar with Eurocode front and rear strut tower braces. Hope to have really improved handling with the B16 coilovers. I will be running some track days this coming year.

[@DadWagon]

You’re going to love them, especially with the electronic adjustability

[@TUONOv4]

Thank you for doing this! Shopping very soon.

[@DadWagon]

Have fun!

[@yasuke1075]

Good video. Unfortunately, this study only deals with factory tuned coilovers and not custom tuned setups. There is data out in research papers and here on YT showing that a properly tuned and matched set of coilover can be much more comfortable than an OEM setup. Especially when tuner takes into account bump and compression force buildup curves, the ratio between bump and rebound force at different shaft velocities, and gas force due to fill pressure. Another big factor that many OEMs use that only some aftermarket companies employ is matching the springs to each other based on the natural frequencies of the front and rear axle as well as matching the damping force to the spring and mass of the vehicle.

[@coryroberts9400]

Love the colab between these two enthusiasts! Great vid breaking down the outcomes in a measurable way. Question on the b16, at their highest height setting how much of a drop is it over stock? Am on the fence for a set but I do a fair amount of forest road camping… wondering if I crank them up how low would I still be?

[@danielfey6770]

Really nice discussion. Thanks very much for a thinking process with some maturity and perspective. Thanks again. Good work.

[@DadWagon]

Much appreciated!

[@juliussmith4001]

Bravo this is just what i was looking for.

[@DadWagon]

Thank you!

[@hksmr2]

thanks for a great video! i'm waiting for PSS9 kit to be installed on my 2000 E39 M5 with 136k miles, after original oem sachs struts/shocks are worn out. I didn't want to get coilovers but oem replacements were more expensive than the bilstein kit! I look forward to seeing how this will ride...

[@mathiasjonsson1969]

Have you installed and tested the setup yet? i'm looking to buy this kit for my e39 540i/6 with the s62 swap. Enoy your beautiful car! :)

[@hksmr2]

@@mathiasjonsson1969i love them!! Have them set 7 in front and 8 in back…super comfortable and sporty!

[@dominicortega9007]

Great Video!!! Definitely makes things clearer. In the test you used setting 3 but have you used setting 1 for daily driving and see a comparable ride to the control or better?

[@DadWagon]

I used setting 1 for a very short period of time. The ride was overly bouncy for my liking, even more so than what I remembered stock springs and dampers to produce. Thanks for watching the video!

[@jpchampine6992]

@@DadWagon Thanks for the video. Have H&R springs but an switching over to coilovers for reasons you've noted in the video. Very helpful on your part. My question is how easily adjustable/reachable are the 1 to 10 settings on the coilovers once installed? Is it a fairly simple procedure, or is it a multistep process?

[@Ricardo.Sigwalt]

Very nice approach to the subject ! Thank you !

[@chriszablan2260]

Hey! Great video, I appreciate your thoroughness on all the topics you cover. As a MK7 Golf Alltrack owner having videos like these really help me layout exactly what I'd like to do for my car. I see a lot of great feedback on the Bilstein B16 coils but I'm on the fence about a DCC delete. I do like that adjustability while I'm driving. I know KW makes a plug and play model that will still maintain the DCC function in our cars. My question is do you notice a difference without that function? I know it's lowered and you'll experience differences regardless but I'm curious how vital the DCC is. Also, does it trigger any lights on the dash when you swapped to coils? Did you have to override anything to clear those lights if so?

[@DadWagon]

Appreciate the comment and great question. Unfortunately, I can’t answer this one. My bottom tier S model of the Sportwagen doesn’t have DCC at all. So I didn’t need to make that choice. However if kw makes a plug and play version, and you daily drive your car, Keeping that functionality would be really nice to have.

[@JBR_1995]

I think coilovers are always worth it, because it's a set where every part is engineered to work together. Lowering springs can be very good, but they can also make your ride worse. And in the end, I believe every brand is different. I heard that Bilstein is generally stiffer for example. But a friend of mine got ST X coilovers and he says his ride is now way more comfortable compared to the OEM setup. Which I translate as the coilovers made the ride better without making it uncomfortable.

[@rushnerd]

I lowered my Supra on Fortune 500's and I KNOW that is quality, but even on the softest setting, it's crazy harsh. Looking to lower my 01' Celica now and I figure if I go with coilovers again, I'll ruin my new daily. Wanted to go with lowering springs and new shocks, but it's a complete nightmare in cost and extra work compared to coilovers. Weird spot to be in.

[@dk8r]

Hello, I was wondering what app you had used to take the measurements. I wanted to collect data to quantify the changes in suspension between 19” and 18” wheels with taller sidewall tires. Thank you.

[@DadWagon]

I believe it was called vibration analysis

[@miketrix581]

Awesome video. Every B16 review was either for BMWs or track-spec VWs. I drive a daily MK6R currently on H&R sport springs - if I get the B16s I'll need a DCC delete kit so still on the fence. I'm always in Sport mode anyway so hoping the B16s won't be too much of an unbearable ride compared to the sport springs/oem damper combo.

[@obsessings-automotivelifes7740]

Check out the Bilstein B16 rc so you don’t need the DCC delete. Don’t know if these are available for the MK6R but mine being installed as we speak on my MK7R.

[@miketrix581]

​@@obsessings-automotivelifes7740 whoa thanks for the recommendation! I had no idea the B16 Ridecomforts even existed. The B16 PSS10 variant for MK6R doesn't come with a damptronic option like the MK7 so thought my only choice was to delete DCC altogether if I went coilovers.

[@garybrown5769]

You can also flick the phone in its static position and get a reading , subtracting those those xyz values for every value analysed would have got rid of the holders bounce error

[@lukemfross5533]

Great video! I went with St xa coils and love them but I would have loved access to great videos like this when deciding!

[@DadWagon]

Thanks Luke - always appreciate your support. Enjoy the STs, I’m sure they’re great.

[@mastrorio1]

Bro thanks for doing this with data

[@DadWagon]

No problem.

[@n.prince2458]

Not bad video review. The Bilstein B16 ought to be tested on 1 ...the lowest setting to really compare it to the factory. From what I read ....anything over the lowest setting, will substantially increase harshness. The test I really like to see is the Bilstein EVO SE (and maybe, the EVO R, too) compared to the factory ride quality. Even better, I would like to see the Bilstein EVO SE with MSS (Medium/Sport) springs tested. That would be among the most impressive coilover & spring test online! ***Extra Also, what is the deal with the Nitron coilovers, do one really must replace the strut inserts every 15k miles. ...and can Nitron (and maybe, Spax) coilovers offer a more compliant than factory ride

[@Pccart1121]

Great video. Taking this data driven approach is very cool. I’d be interested to see the difference between a lowering spring/sport damper kit vs the B16 kit. I imagine the lowering spring/OEM damper combo was “bouncy” due to the mismatch between the spring and damper. Keep up the good work!

[@DadWagon]

Thanks! I agree - I'd love to see that as well - my hunch would be it would be very dependant on the damper, but if you get it matched properly, it would be pretty similar to b16 kit - but with less harsh impacts on very uneven surfaces due to the increased travel opportunity due to ride height.

[@karstgeo7290]

I have the same H&R Sport springs on Bilstein B8s and had them on stock dampers prior. The B8s control the movement more for sure vs. the OE dampers is my subjective comment but no idea how that compares to his B16s. Also keep in mind the ride quality on coilovers will also have some influence from the ride height which is controlled by spring pre-load so lower is less pre-load and also less compression travel so in that case, you start hitting bump stops more often.

[@wyattorlob5719]

Great video and awesome information! I’m currently trying to figure out what to get and this helps allot. I’d love to see what a cheaper set of coil overs would look like compared to the Bilstiens.

[@Benny905]

i bought solowerks s1’s for my jetta and i hate it so much. its harsh and bounces over bumps like crazy making my bumper scrape. i really want to switch to these tho…

[@tredfxman]

This answered my fears! In other words you will not get a more comfortable ride out of aftermarket coil overs. Now im wondering: Not even ours here from Sweden: *Ohlins Road & Track...??*

[@Camarao_Pistola]

Ohlins are better than bilstein coilovers... so it's possible

[@ecologicaltime]

good video, well done

[@DadWagon]

Thank you.

[@ja.5763]

wow great video! Please review them on the track!

[@DadWagon]

Will do

[@gilbertoreyna2952]

your video is the best one thanks. Once installed can you go adjust the height up and down? Or just down? Thanks in advance.

[@DadWagon]

Yes you can!

[@stefanodonati3251]

Grazie per il video, sto considerando l' acquisto di questo set di ammortizzatori e questa recensione è assolutamente ciò che cercavo, una parte soggettiva, ma soprattutto dei dati quanto più oggettivi, per capire se è un kit che può essere utilizzato su una daily car, o ne cambia il comportamento tanto da farti rimpiangere gli ammortizzatori OEM. Grazie

[@santosmartinez503]

Thank you!!! U just helped with my decision!!! Glad i found ur vid 🤙🏾

[@DadWagon]

No problem! Glad it helped out.

[@ksevenavenger]

Good video, mate. It would be good to add whether you had the coils set to their minimum drop, I think 30mm from stock, or max, 50mm. I am thinking 30mm would be more comfortable.

[@DadWagon]

Great point! A good set of calipers needs to be my next tool.

[@coryroberts9400]

That was going to be my question, where the coils were set at. In the still pic the body looked to be set down low right on the tires (but maybe just a random pic). Assuming ride height would change the amount of vibrations detected.

[@rSb.Benjaminz]

Yooo, are these still the Yokohama tires on this particular video? I think the sidewall saying BFGoodrich, no? It’s a sick looking tire! And also, thank you for expulging more information on these Billsteins, I’m still quite interested in installing these on my Golf.

[@rSb.Benjaminz]

Oh wait, I just noticed you had it listed in the last Bilstein video I saw. The Goodrich Comps, right? Is it that one on all four, naturally, right? How are they, and are they noisy tires?

[@DadWagon]

They’re good tires. Grip is excellent But yes they were somewhat noisy

[@MQBMVP]

Did you get any noise or other trouble from your top mounts with the 034 parts.

[@geokilla007]

I wish I saw this a few days earlier. I was debating between the Bilstein B14 and B16 and ordered the B14 but now I'm having second thoughts while I wait for it to be delivered. Got a few questions: 1. Does the B16 come with any recommended settings in the manual? Why didn't you test using damping setting 1 or 2 and settle on 3? 2. Do you think damping setting 3 is similar to the stock GTI suspension? 3. I found on Reddit that damping setting 5 is how the B14 handles. Any ideas of this is true or not? 4. How does it handle at the track? Do you have a preferred setting? Thanks!

[@ShauniusK]

I'm torn between b14 and b16. What's your opinion on the b14s you got

[@CarsandCoding]

I watched the whole thing and I still can’t gather if you like the coil overs better than the lowering springs. Was it worth the money? Would you do coil overs again if you knew what you know now? You really need to do air suspension for next weeks video. ;)

[@DadWagon]

Yes, definitely prefer the coilover over the lowering spring setup i had in the drivability aspects. Add all the other adjustability in to the equation, 100% yes i prefer them. but if you're not after the adjustability (height and rebound), then lowering springs with proper sport dampers would likely be great as well.

[@ghostwrench2292]

@@DadWagon good to know. I put H&R springs with B8 dampers on my wife's car (Volvo S40) and I like it so much I want to do the same to my car. Then I found the Bilstein coilover kits and I've been struggling to decide which way to go.

[@SuperBullyone]

Honda does not build OEM shocks - springs for the S2000 any longer.

[@karlInSanDiego]

Wait, why set it to highest and highest -1 settings only? Aren't you supposed to start with factory settings or lowest damping settings and increase until you are over damped and experience harsh ride? The benefit of high priced shocks should be better differentiation between high speed and low speed valving, so instead of a one trick pony, the shock can be soft for high freq hits, and resist body roll and pitching associated with low freq. changes. What I got from your test is, Bilstein B16 are pretty harsh but hey that's what race settings on an adjustable shock give you. Did you try softer settings to see how they worked in the corners?

[@happytravels7784]

Hi, what's the height set up on your bilstein right now? Damper on 3 right? Planning to get one soon. Thanks!

[@shredthetrack6858]

You forget that there are a Lot of different damper technologys. so i say it depends on the Car and what Kind of damper tech is used. and also the Setup If the damper hast dials to tune it.

[@Seraphim401]

Thanks for this.

[@goltrackday]

Hello! Have you tested the B16 ninth adjustment "9" on track?

[@DadWagon]

I have not yet.

[@larsw.larsen4173]

What about stock springs and bilstein dampers - would this be possible?

[@DadWagon]

definitely possible.

[@justivthem]

Did you get an alignment yet? I’m curious what you’re getting up front for camber.

[@briank10101]

So how can one achieve a more comfortable ride than OEM? I would love a natural spring frequency of 1 Hz or less. It sickens me when I see lowered rides with 3 Hz or higher spring frequencies and everyone's head shaking like bobble heads...novelty must wear off by age 18. I hear so many suspension experts say that a stiffer ride worsens handling and lateral grip when the road surface is not in perfect condition

[@jives.]

solid video

[@DadWagon]

Thank you!

[@ShowMeWhatINeedToKnow]

How do I get my car go get a MORE comfortable ride than stock?

[@malcolmmarshall5864]

I’ve got a 2005 VW Golf TDI On 19 x 8.5 wheels 255/30 et 30mm How do I figure how much I can lower it while still being functional with the B16s

[@EthanLeitch]

I'm looking at wheels for my MK6 TDI, if you don't mind, did you have to roll fenders or do any modification to make those wheels fit?

[@astro0274]

Oh hi dad

[@samuelbuettner2785]

Hi

[@xxyvng6831]

Is that a feista

[@jeoffbenzos4959]

What app did you use?

[@bluecent]

This is standard style suspension, not the variable DCC type ?

[@DadWagon]

Correct.

[@christianjonassen4365]

None of the links in your website is working

[@DadWagon]

Thank you Christian - I'm trying to get that worked out right now. I appreciate the heads up.

[@randomghost4385]

I got cinder block wheels

[@tayfunemine]

wonderful

[@DadWagon]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Stylefront]

Your sidewalls are ugly but it's the best dang all round tire. The wheel protection is second to none as well. I have the same tires. Awesome video and thank you for taking the time to put it together!

[@MrBOgieboy]

Hi, I have a TOYOTA SERA 1990 she is 32years old. and three years ago , I replaced the stock suspension. Replaced to Hydraulic suspension which at the time it looked very cool. As it's a show car. However , I think I made a mistake on the Hydraulic I am dispersed to change the suspension to more comfortable drive, I don't know which is the best for my toyota sera . you can goggle it, toyota sera Hydraulic and see my car.. can you help me. I am in UK. Regards David Macpherson.

[@jankindl915]

"Can Coilovers be Comfortable?" Doesnt 80% (maybe more) of all cars, have coilovers from factory? so yes, Coilovers can be comfortable.

[@DadWagon]

80% of cars have coil overs from the factory? I didn't know that. I knew more and more models are coming with electronic dampening control... but I can't think of many cars that come with mechanical height-adjustable coil overs.

[@jankindl915]

@@DadWagon i dont talk about mechanical adjustable coilovers, i dont talk about new cars. I Talk about general coilovers on most of cars (europe). Coil over spring.But maybe in my country it means something different.

[@MowSow]

I’ll explain it clearly, setup 1, bouncy. setup 2 almost as bouncy as setup 1 at double the cost. setup 3, super bouncy you won’t need to file your teeth. You cannot have a comfortable ride and excellent handling at the same time, it doesn’t work that way. No shocks/spring, coilover will ever be as comfortable as stock .. STOP fooling yourself