Shock absorbers Rancho or KONI

I love my Koni yellows but I do drive them on their softest setting.

I struggled with the same decision for my 2002 325i, We've used Bilstein sports for many years but always for sportier cars +/or track use. On the E46 decided to go with Koni Sports (yellow) which are adjustable. Ride is less harsh the Bilsteins, more comfortable and well controlled - no regrets. I also installed H&R sport springs FYI.

I love my Koni active reds, swapped to them from bilstein b8s and won’t look back, smoother ride and 4 years on them they haven’t sagged or blown. I run them on my daily e92.

I installed it on my RF and there are no issues.

Everyone here will push Bilstein shocks. They're probably best for weight and wheelbase. I put Rancho on mine and leveled the truck by going 1.75" taller up front. Don't hate the ride.

I'd consider the KONI STRT if available for the 2012.

Some one already said it but I recently did koni yellows and HR OE sport springs for mine. On the koni "stock ride hight" setting it sits nice and is a very comfortable ride since the HR springs lower it to a classy level without bottoming out ever.

I did koni orange shocks with eibach pro springs - been dailying it for 5 or so years. It sits about 1in lower than stock.

I've been using Koni Orange's for nearly as long as I've had my FiST and I like them, but I don't think they are the best option if you plan to track or autox (Koni Yellows would be a better fit for that). I like them because they are more comfortable with the oem springs than the oem shocks.

I think it really depends what you pair them with though. I did try them with eibach springs but I didn't like them there (I found out later because eibachs are softer springs and seem to pair better with bilsteins B8s) . The oranges are intended for oem springs, however I've heard of others liking them lowered with swift springs (which are stiffer than the eibachs)...but I don't have personal experience with the swifts.

I went back to OEM after Koni Yellows with Eibach springs on both. The freeways in SoCal were too rough and it felt like I was crashing constantly