My experience with cheap ebay coilovers

[fuzzymonkey]

Anyone looking for a cheap handling upgrade - hopefully this information is useful to you.

Obviously I didn't go into this expecting much and if I had more money to spend I'd go for a more expensive set.

Pros:
Handling is improved. No more wallowy boatmobile! No excessive body roll!

Cons:
Supposedly spring preload is set from factory. This is a lie - one rear spring had the preload far looser than the other.
One front spring is longer than the other. Stock springs are not like this. Makes me think the coilovers are just general design for multiple cars - not specific for the MX5.
Ride is bouncier than expected. I have minimised this by adjusting damper settings, but the problem remains.

Conclusion:
You get what you pay for! I'm enjoying them at the moment and I should be able to improve them by playing with the settings.
...but i'm still holding onto my old worn out dampers and springs - just in case.

[Apu]

The question is how cheap is "cheap eBay"?

[project.r.racing]

$800/$1300/$1800?

Of the many coilovers I've purchased. I only had one were the spring feet was locked into the wrong position. Only takes a minute to fix.

[Dan]

You get what you pay for in coilovers at the lower end in terms of comfort and the adjusters are pretty sh*t in terms of authority.

It's pretty much - Cheap, fast, comfortable, pick two.

The only <1k coilovers that seem to be ok are the Tein Flex Z Series but with them it's clear how they made them cheap.

[Mr Morlock]

It's a familiar story. Quality of products revolves around a proper manufacturing process, trained and expert personnel at all levels, selection of the right materials the right specs and of course a formal Quality system. Most of us amateurs have no chance to assess an unknown supplier i.e. one that is not already with known reputation or a serious genuine Quality system and independently audited. We don't visit the manufacturing process and we would not get access anyway and of course thats not realistic for the many products people buy regularly. Standards are dropping in Australia because the checks are not being done here and some of the suppliers just don't care if they get rejects or make variable or poor products.
Some of the suppliers just make uncontestable claims and their real ability is sub standard. Even price is sometimes not a good gauge i.e. if a supplier just charges a higher price does the customer assume it must be good?
Maybe anyone buying aftermarket coil overs might want to pass judgement after how long or how far. ?