First post, new Fit owner sorta. My wife has had a 2012 TW Fit Sport for about 1 1/2 years and I couldn't resist anymore and picked up a 2013 Fit Sport in black. I'm looking to keep it understated and relatively OEM. Also preference is performance and light weight versus doing something just for asthetics.

The one thing I want to do is tighten up the suspension. I plan to have this vehicle long-term as it is my commuter/DD. I don't want to make a suspension decision that will have me replacing parts every 20-30k. With this in mind, I'm thinking of either the Bilstein coilovers or waiting for the Koni set-up. I would prefer the Koni's I think but the lack of a solid timeframe concerns me.

Any feedback??

 

The Koni full coilover system is & has been availble for the GE8's for a little while now... 2009 Fit Suspension Page scroll to the bottom of the page

just an fyi US Fit's 07-08 are GD3... and US Fit's 09-13 are GE8.

Been having trouble deciding between the Bilstein's & the Koni's myself... but I have get one of these setups before the end of the year.

 

Bilstein>Koni any day of the week

rebuild-able and you can send them in if the valving is not proper for your current setup. They do great work and have great service!

 

If you look, the Koni's are not out yet. the link you posted it says coming soon.

 

100% disagree

Koni inserts are used in the setup from Redshift and are also rebuild-able and can be custom valved as well.

The Koni dampers are adjustable. Bilstien is fixed

The Koni's also come with YOUR choice of spring rate on linear springs. Bilstiens come with and unknown rated progressive spring.


NOW, I am not a Bilstien hater AT ALL. We use them near exclusively on all the British luxury stuff we work on.

I just think, if your going to spend $$$$ on coil overs, you should get the full benefits of flexibility and customization that a coil over system has to offer. NOT fixed rate dampers and progressive springs.

Also, a very close friend HAS the Bilstien's on his GE. He is now AutoX'ing with me, and is considering a change.

 

Yes, the sight does say that, but just call Chris:

RedShift Motorsports
480 Slocum Ave.
Exeter, PA 18643
tele: 570-407-9100
chris@redshiftmotorsports.com
Hours: 9-5PM, M-F

 

Last I spoke to him he made 5 sets for the GE8... not sure how many he has left.

 

Another pro/con is that the Bilsteins are lifetime warranty, send them the dampers, and they will repair them if they meet the conditions (ie.. you didnt abuse the crap out of them).. where as the Koni's are limited warranty.

Both are TOP NOTCH manufacturers... and as mentioned most Honda people who track their cars are running some sort of Koni set up. I love the fact that you can custom the spring rates, and even swap out for Swift coilover springs straight as you buy them. Chris really did hook us up on that one.

My only concern is that I will only be tracking the car tops 3 times a year. The Bilsteins seem to suit me better, but love those Koni's too...

Oh, just an FYI, I actually emailed Bilstein this morning right after I posted the original reply to this thread about spring rates.... still waiting to hear back from them... from what I've read around the web, it might be better to call them.
If anyone finds out the rates, please update the rest of us.

 

I say either way you choose, those 2 brands are perfect for any sort of suspension.

I like making that big chunk of money count as much as possible. That is why I stand behind Bilstein. Ive even seen them follow through on the warranty 11 years after purchase before.

 

See... Even if you only track or AutoX occasionally, being able to soften the front, then stiffen up the rear suspension, THEN once your done go back to a preffered "street" comfort setting... Can ONLY be done with adjustable dampers...

Also, the Bilstens come with zip ties to secure the ABS sensor.... Frankly, I think that is BS. ESPECIALLY considering the price! How hard is is it to weld a bracket to the shock body to clip the sensor back into?!

The Redshift photo shows brackets:

 

WAT?

Now I don't feel bad about using zip ties to hold my brake lines in the past that's just half-assed for a manufacturer, especially one like Bilsten.

 

I mean, it's a "fancy" zip tie with a plastic nutsert thing half way down it that you screw onto a threaded post.... but it's STILL a zip tie...

 

I agree 100%... and that's a GREAT "pro".

Yup
top of page 6 of their install pdf shows the ziptie bracket clearly... http://cart.bilsteinus.com/pdfs/E4-WM4-Y626A00.pdf

Their R&D is great, but that ziptie....

 

For those who don't want to look throught the PDF, Boom:




http://qkme.me/3u2wmx

 

^^^ Lol... didn't have time to do that... nice!

 

I thought Koni had the same type of warranty? As long as it's on a registered car and not abused they're covered?
http://www.koni-na.com/pdf/warranty.pdf

 

Hello,

I think our Bilstein B14 kit is the same as the JDM Bilstein BSS kit.
if that so, the Spring rate are:
Front Spring 2.6-4.2kgf/mm (progressive)
Rear Spring 2.4kgf/mm

I also know the Mugen Coilover spring rate,
and they are
Mugen for car with CVT (Part# 50000-XLFD-K1S0)
Front = 23 N/mm
Rear = 22 N/mm

Mugen for car with 6-speed Manual (Part# 50000-XLFD-K0S0)
Front = 22.5 N/mm
Rear = 22 N/mm


which mean the Bilstein spring rate are harder then the Mugen
but far softer then the Ohlins coilover


Ohlins spring rate:

Front :68.6N/mm（7kgf/mm）
Rear :39.2N/mm（4kgf/mm）

 

^^^Good info Alpina...


Nice find... I could've swore on Redshift it was a different warranty...

 

Ohlins makes kit for GE? I can only find GD (Jazz) kit. They don't even show Fit kits on the NA website. I know you can retrofit GD kits onto GE. Import from Down Under?

Ohlins DFV Coilovers for Honda Fit GD1/3 - Fortyone Automotive Limited

Baller parts, one can dream...

 

The Zip Tie will enable Bilstein to use it on many different car with several different mounting type for the brake line.
I mean they are a mass manufacturer,
and our Bilstein model is a cheaper version of Bilstein anyway.

The cost save by Bilstein by doing this method over the entire offering
will be substantial compare to welding a custom bracket for every single car.

Of course the welding of the mounting bracket for the suspension is a must, but if they can save cost for this brake line, they will.

I think for people who use their car mostly on the street,
the Bilstein with their progressive suspension might suit them better,
but for people who use their car for track use,
then the linear spring will be better since well it is linear...

still, if I have to drive my car on the road everyday,
I want my spring to be initially soft so they will absorb bumps,
and only when I turn into street corner (car lean), that the spring will
become harder to control the body roll.
because if I have to endure a very hard linear spring all day long
while driving on the street...
I think it will not be comfortable.
and I think if you drive with hard springs every day for a few years,
your chassis will also receive harder punishment because
the hardness of the road is transferred more to the chassis with harder spring.

I used to work on some mining facility,
and because the road is not smooth,
in just few years, it is not uncommon for car to have their fender falling
(weld fail) because of the vibration from the harsh road.
Yes of course, harder linear spring might not cause our Honda fit fender to fall off, but nevertheless it will effect the car body/chassis (after few years of use).

so again, for street use, I think the progressive spring is much better,
but for track use, the linear spring is better.

I mean, using the Koni's with linear spring on the track will most likely
give better time then the Bilstein (because it is harder spring and it is linear),
but how many seconds do you want to shave from your time
if you are driving the Honda Fit from your home to walmart (like I do)?


so after taking all the factor above, and especially after I found out about
the Bilstein Progressive Spring rate,
all the factor above make me decided that
I am going to choose Bilstein for my street use,
beside the Bilstein is a little cheaper too, so I can use the extra money for
aligment

but if you are going to track, I think the Koni's with the adjustability and
the higher rate linear spring will be a better choice and give very good value for the money.

and if you have the budget (for race track), I say, buy OHLINS !