My Swift Spec-R Review: Street & Track

[HP Autosport]

Excellent review on the Swift. Thanks!

[chamba002]

Originally Posted by HP Autosport

Excellent review on the Swift. Thanks!

Thanks!

[duvinclunk]

I'll have to look not Swift...was leaning towards B&G.

[duvinclunk]

I have re-read this thread and am so confused as to why some people use the e36 bumps tops. Swift, I would assume, has engineers that design, fit, and test these things and they say stick with the factory bump stops. And then we have a bunch of non-automotive engineers that basically are saying "we know better than the designers of the product" and then go with something else. Am I missing something? Is there some other source that was successfully tested to show the e36 bump stops are really a better choice? Has someone done side by side tests to show the e36 are better?

[Emm Tree]

Originally Posted by SROC5

Stock tires 245/265 in 35s and with 18/15mm spacers. 255/275 would not rub at all. Mine might look somewhat close to rubbing because of the spacers, but even in front there's still good space there.

Very helpful stuff. Thanks for the detailed post, OP.

Care to share some thoughts (and pics) of the Swift springs after you've driven on them for a while?

I need to get off the fence.

[S65V8]

Originally Posted by Emm Tree

Very helpful stuff. Thanks for the detailed post, OP.

Care to share some thoughts (and pics) of the Swift springs after you've driven on them for a while?

I need to get off the fence.

I've had them for three years, and driven more than 35k miles on them, and they have been 100% solid and performed linearly and consistently. I still highly recommend them if you're interested in keeping your EDC in place. The main point here is that on track and street, they are the only springs I've ever had that actually improved the car's dynamics. It is exactly how Swift has described them, as springs being tuned for the upper limits of the stock dampers vs. the stock springs which do have to accommodate the avg. person's need for comfort and compliancy on the road. With that, I already bought new Swift springs for my M4 as well.

[81bear]

Originally Posted by duvinclunk

I have re-read this thread and am so confused as to why some people use the e36 bumps tops. Swift, I would assume, has engineers that design, fit, and test these things and they say stick with the factory bump stops. And then we have a bunch of non-automotive engineers that basically are saying "we know better than the designers of the product" and then go with something else. Am I missing something? Is there some other source that was successfully tested to show the e36 bump stops are really a better choice? Has someone done side by side tests to show the e36 are better?

Dude I think you're thinking way too deep into this...

I've emailed Swift directly and they said that they designed the springs with e92 bump stops but confirmed that they're will be no performance degradation if you use e36 bumpstops instead.

It's a personal preference if you'd like a larger safety margin from bottoming out on your suspension, that's it...

[Emm Tree]

Originally Posted by SROC5

I've had them for three years, and driven more than 35k miles on them, and they have been 100% solid and performed linearly and consistently. I still highly recommend them if you're interested in keeping your EDC in place. The main point here is that on track and street, they are the only springs I've ever had that actually improved the car's dynamics. It is exactly how Swift has described them, as springs being tuned for the upper limits of the stock dampers vs. the stock springs which do have to accommodate the avg. person's need for comfort and compliancy on the road. With that, I already bought new Swift springs for my M4 as well.

Man. Another solid post. Thanks, OP. Two questions for you:

1. How is the "bounce" factor of these springs?
2. Did you use the e36 bump stops?

We need more threads like this on here.

[simpleM3]

+1

This is basically the same conclusion I came to. I bought them for the piece of mind

Originally Posted by 81bear

Dude I think you're thinking way too deep into this...

I've emailed Swift directly and they said that they designed the springs with e92 bump stops but confirmed that they're will be no performance degradation if you use e36 bumpstops instead.

It's a personal preference if you'd like a larger safety margin from bottoming out on your suspension, that's it...

[S65V8]

Originally Posted by Emm Tree

Man. Another solid post. Thanks, OP. Two questions for you:

1. How is the "bounce" factor of these springs?
2. Did you use the e36 bump stops?

We need more threads like this on here.

No bounce, acts like OEM comp springs with a slighter stiffer feel.

Yes, I did use e36 bump stops even if it isn't required. To me extra travel for the damper could be a bad thing, more room before it hits the shock tower and bump stop.

[duvinclunk]

Originally Posted by 81bear

Dude I think you're thinking way too deep into this...

I've emailed Swift directly and they said that they designed the springs with e92 bump stops but confirmed that they're will be no performance degradation if you use e36 bumpstops instead.

It's a personal preference if you'd like a larger safety margin from bottoming out on your suspension, that's it...

Not over thinking it, just trying to make the best decision when getting springs.

This review has pretty much sold me on the Swifts. Thanks OP.

[X5-User]

Originally Posted by duvinclunk

Not over thinking it, just trying to make the best decision when getting springs.

This review has pretty much sold me on the Swifts. Thanks OP.

Do you know what the difference is between swift and B&G springs in terms of height and stiffness?

[duvinclunk]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-M3

Do you know what the difference is between swift and B&G springs in terms of height and stiffness?

According to EAS's website, the B&G's will got little lower thank the Swift. They're aren't any spring rates listed for the B&G but according to the picture they look progressive vs Swift's linear.

[simpleM3]

the difference is: Swift > B&G

Originally Posted by Bimmer-M3

Do you know what the difference is between swift and B&G springs in terms of height and stiffness?

[X5-User]

Originally Posted by duvinclunk

According to EAS's website, the B&G's will got little lower thank the Swift. They're aren't any spring rates listed for the B&G but according to the picture they look progressive vs Swift's linear.

Exactly !! there is no spring rates listed so I wasn't sure but I heard great feedback about them if not better than Swift

Originally Posted by simpleM3

the difference is: Swift > B&G

Thanks I figured that out since you already picked up a set

[duvinclunk]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-M3

Exactly !! there is no spring rates listed so I wasn't sure but I heard great feedback about them if not better than Swift

You've heard better feedback for the B&G?

[X5-User]

Originally Posted by duvinclunk

You've heard better feedback for the B&G?

There is no right or wrong answer but I did hear great feedback on B&G and how they have aggressive height and yet they still maintain OEM ride in all modes.

[duk]

Just tracked over weekend with Swift springs + stock EDC on Thunderhill.

The springs held up well, was not bumpy or bouncing off bumpstops although T-Hill is pretty smooth. I would recommend for folks that are not hard core tracker but want a decent drop.

[duvinclunk]

Originally Posted by duk

Just tracked over weekend with Swift springs + stock EDC on Thunderhill.

The springs held up well, was not bumpy or bouncing off bumpstops although T-Hill is pretty smooth. I would recommend for folks that are not hard core tracker but want a decent drop.

Are you on the factory bumpstops?

I think I'll try the springs with the E9x bumpstops first and see how it goes. I called Swift and spoke with them regarding the design around the factory bumpstop. The gentlemen basically made it sound like even they scratch their heads as to why people use the E36 bumpstops when the springs were designed with the factory ones in place. They even test the bumpstop to get the rates from them to incorporate with the spring design. But he did say suspension tuning, obviously, is subjective and people always tweak to get what suits them but they wouldn't recommend the E36 bumpstops to a customer.

Another interesting note that he said was that the E36 M3 bumpstops do not have a purpose on the E36 shocks other than to stop the shock from bottoming out. BMW designed them that way with the purpose of not allowing the shock to bottom out only. The E9x's bumpstops are more complex and actually have a specific rate that are designed to be used with the specific vehicle's spring and damping rates. Swift have then designed their springs to use these rates like BMW M did.

Either way. Suspension tuning is subjective and everyone will have differing opinions and preferences. If they seem to be too bouncy or whatever then I'll switch to E36 as mentioned here.

[S65V8]

glad everyone finds use in this review even now, here's another one I did for the F8x platform for those thinking of making the move...
http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...1#post18841261
enjoy!

[0-60Motorsports]

Great Review. Thanks.

[chamba002]

You can use the factory bumpstops on Swift springs. I do and I have no problems.