Apexi EXV N1 vs. BC Racing BR Coilovers
Aug 11, 2011, 07:30 PM
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Apexi EXV N1 vs. BC Racing BR Coilovers
I have narrowed down two sets of coilovers that I am interested in. The BC Racing BR's seem to have good reviews but I can't seem to find any threads regarding experience and durability of the Apexi EXV N1's. The only other option I am debating is Swift springs but it doesn't lower the car as low as I want to. Whats everyone's thoughts? I don't want to spend more than around $1200 as those are what the EXV's are going for and the BR's just under that. 
Aug 11, 2011, 07:48 PM
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Not sure on evo's but the BC BRs are amazing on the 2 wrx's that we have installed them on in the past month.
And im on Bilsteins and Swifts and its low enough to look good but not low enough to scrape on everything. I do scrape sometimes
And im on Bilsteins and Swifts and its low enough to look good but not low enough to scrape on everything. I do scrape sometimes
Aug 11, 2011, 08:00 PM
#3
There are definitely more BC's on the road vs Apexi's. Both are great brands and definitely wont' leave you disappointing.
I'd consider Megan Racing coil overs, they work just as well and are pretty reliable.
I'd consider Megan Racing coil overs, they work just as well and are pretty reliable.
Last edited by VRSF Tiago; Aug 11, 2011 at 08:28 PM.
Aug 11, 2011, 08:26 PM
#4
I ran Apexi EXV N1's in my Evo 8 for a couple years. Lots of track time. I loved them for what they cost. They are built well.
Also saw 3 seasons of Tahoe snow and they still looked new after washing them down.
I actually had faster lap times at Thunderhill with the EXV's then when I switched to KW V3's.
Go figure.
Also saw 3 seasons of Tahoe snow and they still looked new after washing them down.
I actually had faster lap times at Thunderhill with the EXV's then when I switched to KW V3's.
Go figure.
Aug 12, 2011, 01:05 AM
#5
Bryan, what kind of spring rates did you run on the KWs vs the Apex'?
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i've had OTS BC BRs on my WRX, Megan Tracks (the older ones) on my Evo and i'm currently running Ohlins R/T (with the DFV valving). while the former coilovers are decent for the money, i do feel that the Ohlins are worth every single penny even at 3x the price. a handful of my friends have BCs on their Evos/WRXs and another has TiCs (AST 4100s) and the biggest difference between euro coilovers vs taiwanese ones is ride quality. if the roads and tracks you live by are smooth, i'm sure you can get by with the taiwanese stuff because the spring rates will do a better job of keeping your car from rolling and pitching than the stock setup, therefore minimizing weight transfer and giving you a sense of improved handling.
the roads up here are really bad even by Canadian standards and as such, i need something that not only handles good but rides good as well. every single mid range euro coilover (KWs, Ohlins, ASTs) i've ridden in rides GREAT. the taiwanese/japanese stuff, not so much. granted, not all asian coilovers are created equal, but really most of them are waaay overdamped in the high [piston] speed region, meaning you'll feel very rut, puthole, expansion joint, manhole cover, train tracks, trackside gator etc. given a strong enough stomach, it might not be a huge concern for daily driving, but being bumped off the line on the track is frustrating to say the least.
like everything else in life, suspension is all about compromise. ride, handling, price - choose 2
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i've had OTS BC BRs on my WRX, Megan Tracks (the older ones) on my Evo and i'm currently running Ohlins R/T (with the DFV valving). while the former coilovers are decent for the money, i do feel that the Ohlins are worth every single penny even at 3x the price. a handful of my friends have BCs on their Evos/WRXs and another has TiCs (AST 4100s) and the biggest difference between euro coilovers vs taiwanese ones is ride quality. if the roads and tracks you live by are smooth, i'm sure you can get by with the taiwanese stuff because the spring rates will do a better job of keeping your car from rolling and pitching than the stock setup, therefore minimizing weight transfer and giving you a sense of improved handling.
the roads up here are really bad even by Canadian standards and as such, i need something that not only handles good but rides good as well. every single mid range euro coilover (KWs, Ohlins, ASTs) i've ridden in rides GREAT. the taiwanese/japanese stuff, not so much. granted, not all asian coilovers are created equal, but really most of them are waaay overdamped in the high [piston] speed region, meaning you'll feel very rut, puthole, expansion joint, manhole cover, train tracks, trackside gator etc. given a strong enough stomach, it might not be a huge concern for daily driving, but being bumped off the line on the track is frustrating to say the least.
like everything else in life, suspension is all about compromise. ride, handling, price - choose 2
Aug 12, 2011, 06:49 AM
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I ran Apexi EXV N1's in my Evo 8 for a couple years. Lots of track time. I loved them for what they cost. They are built well.
Also saw 3 seasons of Tahoe snow and they still looked new after washing them down.
I actually had faster lap times at Thunderhill with the EXV's then when I switched to KW V3's.
Go figure.
Also saw 3 seasons of Tahoe snow and they still looked new after washing them down.
I actually had faster lap times at Thunderhill with the EXV's then when I switched to KW V3's.
Go figure.
All the 1500 and below coilovers are basically the same (let some people tell it BC Racing, Megan, Tein, Apex'i, Tanabe......all made in the same factory). Don't know if there is any truth to that. Make sure you pic your spring rates properly. Most of the OTS coilovers have the spring rates stiffer in the front/softer in the rear and for Evo's its the reverse.
If I had to do it ll over again I'd go either Ohlins or Swift's with Bilsteins. When I look for a reason to swap suspension out I'll be looking at either the Bilstein PSS(10 for now but by the time I buy they will probably be on 11's or 12's) or Ohlins DFV's 9Or whatever they have changed the name to now/in the future.
Aug 12, 2011, 07:23 AM
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BC Racing produces those Apexi coilovers and the MR coilovers overseas. So all three sets will be pretty much identical 
edit : Not the same producer as Tein though. Also can't say if its the same deal with Tanabe.
edit : Not the same producer as Tein though. Also can't say if its the same deal with Tanabe.
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Aug 12, 2011, 07:24 AM
#8
For the same price, you should look into Fortune Auto 500 series. $500 more will get you Swift springs and maybe helper springs.
Aug 12, 2011, 07:33 AM
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What are your guys recommendations are far as springs rates are concerned. With both the BR's and EXV's they are stock with 8K up front and 6K in the rear. It will be my daily driver and see track maybe once or twice a year. The advantage I have with the BR's is my buddies friend works there and will give me a different spring rate without charging me and it's close to where I live so if I have warranty issues its no problem. How about upgrading to Swift coilover springs in the future? Anybody have good things about that?
Aug 12, 2011, 10:09 AM
#10
Both where out of the box rates.
They might come from the same factory but the Megan coilovers are much cheaper build wise then the apexis. I actually had both sets side by side and you can tell the difference in materials, even though they shapes and such where identical.
They might come from the same factory but the Megan coilovers are much cheaper build wise then the apexis. I actually had both sets side by side and you can tell the difference in materials, even though they shapes and such where identical.
Aug 12, 2011, 11:01 AM
#11
Always more to a story.
Out of the box KW (9k front and 6k rear) and Apexi (8k front / 6k rear) spring rates are for street/average drivers (lot more front rate for more understeer -- safer for public). KWs are nice because of their internals. Good quality overall. And when matched to proper rates (GTWorx or RobiSpec'd) get suspension. It would be worth your while to get them setup right.
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...-your-evo.html
Both where out of the box rates.
They might come from the same factory but the Megan coilovers are much cheaper build wise then the apexis. I actually had both sets side by side and you can tell the difference in materials, even though they shapes and such where identical.
They might come from the same factory but the Megan coilovers are much cheaper build wise then the apexis. I actually had both sets side by side and you can tell the difference in materials, even though they shapes and such where identical.
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...-your-evo.html
Aug 12, 2011, 11:10 AM
#12
Always more to a story.
Out of the box KW (9k front and 6k rear) and Apexi (8k front / 6k rear) spring rates are for street/average drivers (lot more front rate for more understeer -- safer for public). KWs are nice because of their internals. Good quality overall. And when matched to proper rates (GTWorx or RobiSpec'd) get suspension. It would be worth your while to get them setup right.
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...-your-evo.html
Out of the box KW (9k front and 6k rear) and Apexi (8k front / 6k rear) spring rates are for street/average drivers (lot more front rate for more understeer -- safer for public). KWs are nice because of their internals. Good quality overall. And when matched to proper rates (GTWorx or RobiSpec'd) get suspension. It would be worth your while to get them setup right.
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...-your-evo.html
I was mearly stating a perfect 1:1 comparison of the two coilovers from my own personal experience. The Apexi's allowed lower lap times out of the box compared to the KW V3's out of the box, for me. This was in my personal Evo, that at the time, had at least 40+ track days under the car and driver. I also instructed at the time. I wasn't a track spring chicken.
Personally I hate(ed) the V3's out of the box. I know full well that they are capable if customized, but again, I was doing a direct 1:1 comparison with real world results. The coilovers where literally the only thing that changed at the time.
Last edited by razorlab; Aug 12, 2011 at 11:13 AM.
Aug 12, 2011, 12:42 PM
#14
Yup I am fully aware of that. I didn't say the KW V3's are inferior in any way to the Apexi's. I know full well what the V3's are capable of as I've tuned some record breaking Nasa Time Trial evos that used "custom" V3's (not straight out of the box).
I was mearly stating a perfect 1:1 comparison of the two coilovers from my own personal experience. The Apexi's allowed lower lap times out of the box compared to the KW V3's out of the box, for me. This was in my personal Evo, that at the time, had at least 40+ track days under the car and driver. I also instructed at the time. I wasn't a track spring chicken.
Personally I hate(ed) the V3's out of the box. I know full well that they are capable if customized, but again, I was doing a direct 1:1 comparison with real world results. The coilovers where literally the only thing that changed at the time.
I was mearly stating a perfect 1:1 comparison of the two coilovers from my own personal experience. The Apexi's allowed lower lap times out of the box compared to the KW V3's out of the box, for me. This was in my personal Evo, that at the time, had at least 40+ track days under the car and driver. I also instructed at the time. I wasn't a track spring chicken.
Personally I hate(ed) the V3's out of the box. I know full well that they are capable if customized, but again, I was doing a direct 1:1 comparison with real world results. The coilovers where literally the only thing that changed at the time.
Aug 16, 2011, 09:22 AM
#15
Yup I am fully aware of that. I didn't say the KW V3's are inferior in any way to the Apexi's. I know full well what the V3's are capable of as I've tuned some record breaking Nasa Time Trial evos that used "custom" V3's (not straight out of the box).
I was mearly stating a perfect 1:1 comparison of the two coilovers from my own personal experience. The Apexi's allowed lower lap times out of the box compared to the KW V3's out of the box, for me. This was in my personal Evo, that at the time, had at least 40+ track days under the car and driver. I also instructed at the time. I wasn't a track spring chicken.
Personally I hate(ed) the V3's out of the box. I know full well that they are capable if customized, but again, I was doing a direct 1:1 comparison with real world results. The coilovers where literally the only thing that changed at the time.
I was mearly stating a perfect 1:1 comparison of the two coilovers from my own personal experience. The Apexi's allowed lower lap times out of the box compared to the KW V3's out of the box, for me. This was in my personal Evo, that at the time, had at least 40+ track days under the car and driver. I also instructed at the time. I wasn't a track spring chicken.
Personally I hate(ed) the V3's out of the box. I know full well that they are capable if customized, but again, I was doing a direct 1:1 comparison with real world results. The coilovers where literally the only thing that changed at the time.
http://www.maxrev.net/site/index.php...sion&Itemid=58