As some of you remember I went with the Koni strut/GR2 shock setup first--BEFORE installing the AGX's.

Since I had the rear GR2's before the AGX's I consider the AGX's to be a nice upgrade but feel I got more benefit from the Konis over the front GR2's. I contribute this to the 2 inch drop in the front and the fact that Konis just plain rock.

At about a setting of (5) the AGX's are similar to the GR2's. They have a slightly better feel than the GR2's for the same dampening. The wonderful thing is you can go stiffer or softer depending on your mood and your lady's mood (no jokes please). Say you want to get rid of your bad date...set the Konis for 2 turns and the AGX's for 8 and pull .9's G's on a couple of left turns. On a great date? Set the konis for 1/4 turn and the AGX's at 1 chill, and listen for comments on how smooth your car rides. Yes now you've got the second date for sure. I can go from soft to hard in 52.3 seconds on all (4) corners. Just call me the minute man.

The Maxima is a great handling and riding car when set up properly.
I think the "Active Tuning" two punch combo goes along ways twords this effort.

I checked out the prices if you bought these items and modded them yourselves. I can tell you that "Active Tuning" has a very small markup- making it a outstanding deal knowing all you have to do is bolt them on.

I am very excited and satisfied with my purchase of both the shocks and the struts. You would/will be too!!!

 

Good review. I'll keep this in mind when I change my struts

 

+1 ON it being a good write up ... cant wait to get your "Handmedowns"

I will send ya hte cash soon

 

Great write up. I couldnt agree more. This set up helped me get 3rd top time of day in high speed time trial competition, so it works!!

 

How does this compare to the smoothness of the OEM ride on a smooth, straight road- not taking exit ramps at 70MPH or autocrossing? I would guess it is a little stiffer with the Progress springs but not that much, correct?

 

On a smooth road there is no difference. It's when you deal with potholes and other major road irregularities that there is only a small difference. Some of it has to do with the lowering springs. A little has to do with the struts/shocks. The tradeoff I imagine in the vast majority (99.5%) of cases will be well worth it. I can't emphasize enough how much better the car handles and how much safer the car is.

To tell you the truth, I have the Konis set to 1+3/4 turn and the rears at 5 and the ride is superb. The car is very re"active". I love going down the road and just turning the the wheel left and right because the accuracy and control inspire confidence. I drove a friends brand new 2007 BMW328 that came with the sport handling package and I prefer the handling and ride quality of the Maxima on "Active Tuning" dampeners along with Progress springs. Also, I can smoke her 39,000 car in the 1/4.

Trust me when I tell you I get happy when I find "S" turns, hairpins, and anything unaturally curvy--especially with bumps on the turns because she stays planted.

She is now smooth, stable, talks to ya, and most importantly-FUN!!!

 

Thanks for the info. I am in the market to upgrade my suspention and I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted. I had Tokico's and Eibach on my 3rd gen and I knew they wouldn't work for the 6th gen. SO i think I will seriously looking into the Koni's and Progress for my next suspention set up.

 

That would be the 328 sedan and not the coupe. The 328 coupe uses the same 3 litre engine as the 335i only the 335 is a turbo. There are guys up here that are getting 0 - 60 times of 4.7 secs with stock 335's! I wonder what upgrading would do to that!

 

Both the Coupe and Sedan 328's have the same 3 liter, 230 HP engine.

 

They are twin turbos and I have raced them at the Spartanburg, SC plant. Very smooth and they do have great pickup with little lag. Doubtful on the 4.7 0-60 though, but im sure close.

 

Once my Koni/AGXs settled I pretty much run the Konis full stiff and the AGXs on 6. During slow/city driving you won't notice a big difference. But when you push the Max on the highway, especially overtaking, the suspension tightens up wonderfully.

 

I have a question on the install of the konis. Does it fit the stock front strut housing or do you have to do they goofy exchange ?

 

I read on the progress website they hold a depoist and you have to swap the front strut assembly for thr konis!

 

soft setting for highway cruising.
hard setting for track heavy use.

Thease things rock, however now I'm wishing I had shorter springs for the car. Maybe its time to try Eibach.........

Kamski

 

You aint neva lied...I run the same settings and it's a very sweet combo.
Suspension is tight, but smooooooth. Always planted, and a heck of a lot of fun!

At "7" the AGX's gets a little bit bumpy. The Konis at full stiffness just don't care...they remain smooth but taught.

The front GR2's are vastly inferior to the Konis.
The rear AGX's rule the GR2's altho by a smaller margin. The immense amount of adjustability on the AGX's is pretty darn nice. But for the vast majority of drving situations I'll be at "6".

The GR2's only in the rear combined with stock fronts is a smooth combination and...a nice boost in handling. Adding the front GR2's with the rear GR2's will take out a fair amount of comfort while vastly improving the handling.

I said it before, I'll say it again-"Konis+AGX's allow you to get your cake, and eat it too". The cake is pricy tho.

If your wallet can do it, you should do it.

 

I agree- I run mine at 1/2 turn from full hard on Konis, and 4 AGX highway, and 6-7 AGX competition. I wish Progress made stiffer springs because the shocks/struts are clicked up a notch (pardon the pun) and the springs need to go up a notch as well. Ill try to contact Jeff at Progress and see what he says. Maybe they will wind me custom springs about 50% stiffer. Yee haaa!!!!

 

coolmax what about a gr2 struts and agx shocks in the back as a combo?

 

You can't compare handling of FWD Maxima even upgraded with RWD BMW, which sticks to the road like there is no tomorrow especiallt with sport package.

I'm saying that as a former BMW owner.

 

My friends BMW rode rough. It was also noisy. Do you think that because it is a rear wheel drive BMW that automatically it's a better handling, more fun to drive, better riding vehicle than lets say...a highly modified Maxima?

If you feel that way why are you here...hear?

Granted the tires were new (no break in yet), but my car had WAY better feel of the road, better turn in response, greater control, better ride characteristics, and better acceleration. The BMW stomps on me BIG time in braking but I'm just trying to go faster anyway.

Also just in...I AGAIN, just compared the Maxima to a BMW!

Overpriced, and just can't hang...with my Max (maybe yours too if you own one). If not, PM me on how to beat up on 328's.

 

coolmax what u think on what i said?? (#17)

 

I don't want to say that RWD is automatically better, BUT as I said as a former BMW owner (98 540iA and 01 330i 5Speed, last week I got my 04 6speed) I can tell You that BMW Handles better and more fun to drive especially when You have to floor it and don't have to worry about front wheels break loose and trying to catch Your car all over the road - I just can't afford 2004 530i/330i with 6speed.

Beating 328 from a dig - no problem, try to do it from 80mph and up - in the best case You'll be able to hang on(stock for stock). I have a feeling that Maxima is kinda running out of steam after 4500rpm(may be just me?), when BMW - pulls all the way to the redline. My 98 540iA was head to head with G35c from a dig, but 80-140 G35 doesn't stand a chance - that's Y I can say that our engines run out of steam after 4500.

Don't get me wrong - I love my maxima, but when it comes to performance/handling, it sucks, G35c is pretty close to 330ci (old ones)

 

[QUOTE=Don't get me wrong - I love my maxima, but when it comes to performance/handling, it sucks, G35c is pretty close to 330ci (old ones)[/QUOTE]

I hear ya bro. I whole-heartedly agree with you stock for stock. And I LOVE RWD.

Obviously the Maxima was optimized for other things like " space " and keeping the cost down.

I will stand by this statement though, "for about two thousand dollars the Maxima can be modded to outhandle and out corner a 328, this includes tires".

AGX shocks (the rear) + GR2 struts (the front) is a very nice-more economical way of really improving the handling of the Maxima.

If you have just $200 get the Progress springs.

If you have $290 get the springs and rear GR2's.

If you have $400 get the springs and (4) GR2's if comfort is not to much of a worry.

If you have $475 get the springs and the rear AGX's (stock struts).

If you have $575 get the springs, rear AGX's and GR2 struts.

If you have $900 get the springs, AGX's and Konis.

If you have $1000 and don't mind a stiff ride, and want the absolute best handling get coilovers.

What do I consider to be the best performance to cost scenario? Progress springs with GR2 rear shocks. By the time your OEM struts die hopefully the Tokico struts will be out for the 6th Gen Maxima.

For a mere $290 (Progress + rear GR2's) you can be low, comfortable and handle much better. Just be sure to use shorter bump stops for the struts. It will make a big difference in terms of bottoming out.

 

Per the BMW USA Website. The "Sport Package" on the 328 coupe consists of what is listed below. I don't see what the big deal is about it that it will make the car stick to the road so much better than with out the "sport package".

Cross Spoke (Styling# 197) light-alloy wheels, 18 x 8.0 front, 18x 8.5 rear; 225/40R-18 front, 255/35R-18 rear performance run-flat performance tires*
***** STANDARD EQUIPMENT-- 17 x 8.0 Star Spoke (Styling 157) light-alloy wheels, 225/45R-17 run-flat1 all-season tires *********

8-way manual adjustable front sport seats with adjustable side bolsters, and 2-way headrests and thigh support
8-way power front sport seats with adjustable side bolsters, 2-way manual headrests and thigh support; driver memory for seat and exterior mirror positions**

 

Now you are comparing the top end of a 540 BMW to that of a Max? That doesn't make sense. The top end of the Max is pretty good. This summer, on a Saturday, a modded (Exhaust, rims, body kit- don't know about engine mods) Honda S2000 tried to leave me from 60 MPH. Twice we ran it from 60 to 110 and he couldn't pull an inch on me... I am a bone stock 5AT. Now, I love the look of the BMWs but for the money, over $45,000 for the basic 5 Series, I'll take my Max everytime.

Oh, welcome to the Org. I think you will like the info you can learn here.

 

Get yourself a full exhaust (I/H/C), throw in a tuned AFC and your Max WILL pull to redline. I know mine does.

*edit* oh yeah, get yourself some Eibachs, Koni/AGX combo, RSB w/ endlinks and your car WILL be up to the task when you hit the corners hard. I also vouch for the Dunlop Direzzas I run. They're a soft compound so they grip+no noise.

 

I strongly beat a well-driven M3 last year at Lone Pine Time Trials and my car was MUCH less-modded than it is now.

 

How much did you pay for the koni setup? They have like 3 different prices on there.

 

What do you guys think about the tein coilover kit for the max? yey or ney

 

Anyone figure out a way to adjust the front Konis without having to remove the plastic covers? Maybe drill a hole and put a plug of some type in there?