When upgrading your car’s suspension, the first big decision is often: coilovers or lowering springs? While both can lower your ride height and improve handling, the differences in performance, adjustability, and price are significant. In this guide, we’ll break down every factor to help you make the right choice for your build—whether you're daily driving, canyon carving, or setting up for track or drift.
🔧 What Are Coilovers?
Coilovers are suspension units that combine a spring and a damper into a single adjustable system. Most coilovers offer:
- Ride height adjustability
- Damper (shock) adjustability – often compression and rebound
- Custom spring rates
- Camber plate options for alignment tuning
This makes coilovers a top choice for enthusiasts who want to fine-tune their car’s balance, stiffness, and stance. Brands like SLRspeed specialize in drift-spec coilovers that are track-ready and street-tolerant.
🔩 What Are Lowering Springs?
Lowering springs replace your factory springs and are designed to reduce ride height and increase stiffness. They’re used with OEM or upgraded shocks. While they improve looks and handling over stock, they’re typically non-adjustable.
👍 Pros of Lowering Springs:
- More affordable
- Simple installation
- Improves appearance and reduces body roll
👎 Cons of Lowering Springs:
- No adjustability
- May mismatch with factory shocks
- Limited performance gains for serious driving
🏁 Coilovers vs Springs: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Coilovers | Lowering Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Adjustability | Full (height, damping, camber) | None |
| Performance | Track-ready handling | Moderate improvement |
| Ride Comfort | Customizable with damper settings | Depends on spring rate and stock shock |
| Cost | $$–$$$ | $ |
| Best For | Track, drift, aggressive street | Budget street and show cars |
🔍 When to Choose Coilovers
If you’re serious about cornering grip, tuning your ride height, or dialing in camber/caster for drifting or time attack, coilovers are the clear winner. A set of SLR Drift Spec Coilovers gives you the stiffness and adjustment range needed for both tandem drifting and daily comfort.
💰 When to Choose Lowering Springs
Lowering springs make sense if you’re on a tighter budget and just want a sportier look and feel. For example, if you drive an E46 on weekends and only want subtle improvement in handling and aesthetics, progressive springs with upgraded shocks can do the trick.
🔧 Bonus: What About Coilover Sleeve Kits?
Sleeve kits are budget coilover-style setups where you install adjustable sleeves over your factory shocks. These are not recommended for serious performance builds. Stick with full-bodied coilovers or quality matched springs/shocks.
⚖️ Final Verdict: Coilovers vs Springs
If your goal is performance, adjustability, and a suspension that evolves with your driving style, coilovers win every time. Lowering springs are only suitable for drivers focused on cosmetics or mild improvement.
🎯 Our Recommendation:
- Go with Coilovers if you drift, race, or want full control over your setup.
- Choose Springs if you want a better look on a tighter budget.
Still unsure? Reach out to the SLRspeed team. We can help you find the ideal suspension solution for your chassis and goals—especially if you drive a BMW, 350Z, 370Z, or similar platform.
