The Best Coilovers For Your Honda S2000
Suspension guide
The S2000 is a car people come to us knowing what they want. They either want the arch gap sorted and the worn factory dampers replaced, or they want the car to stop falling apart on a trackday after the first session. Both are reasonable things to want.
Cameron's observation about the car is that it was well balanced from the factory: front engine, rear drive, double wishbone at every corner, close to 50/50. Coilovers work with that balance. Garreth's is about the range: four brands list the S2000 with us, TEIN treats the AP1 and AP2 as different setups, and BC Racing tops out at ZX on this car rather than the ZR you get on the E46 or the EP3. The three-way route is European kit only.
Below is our pick at every level, cheapest first, with the price and who each one is for.
- TEIN FLEX Z covers the AP1 only; for an AP2 the entry options are BC Racing BR or TEIN MONO SPORT
- TEIN recommends a bigger drop on the AP1 than the AP2: the two cars have different reference settings
- BC Racing runs equal 10 kg/mm springs front and rear on both cars
- AST 5100 Street keeps the factory divorced rear; Street Performance and above go full coilover at both ends
- BC Racing tops out at ZX for the S2000: three-way adjustment is AST 5300 or MOTON 3-Way only
TEIN recommends different settings for the AP1 and AP2
Most kits cover the AP1 and AP2 on a single listing. TEIN is the exception: FLEX Z covers the AP1 only, and MONO SPORT covers both but specifies noticeably different ride height figures for each car.
| Car | TEIN FLEX Z | TEIN drop: front (reference) | TEIN drop: rear (reference) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AP1, 2000 to 2003 (2.0L F20C) | Yes (VSH64-C1SA3) | -35 to -15mm (-25mm) | -45 to -25mm (-35mm) |
| AP2, 2003 to 2009 (2.2L) | Not listed | -25 to -5mm (-15mm) | -25 to -5mm (-15mm) |
From TEIN's application and ride-height tables on the MONO SPORT listing. Spring rates on the MONO SPORT are 12 kgf/mm front and 10 rear on both cars.
BC Racing, AST and MOTON cover both cars on one listing without the AP1/AP2 distinction.
The other split worth knowing is at the rear. AST 5100 Street keeps the factory divorced rear, where the spring sits separately from the damper. From the Street Performance upward, AST uses a full coilover at both ends, with the spring on the damper. Cameron’s view on it is the same as the E46: keep the factory rear layout for a road car; go full coilover when you want to change the rear spring rate or set corner weights on a track car.
On coverage: Bilstein, Eibach and H&R do not list an S2000 kit with us. The four brands we do list cover both cars at every level in this guide, with the single exception of TEIN FLEX Z on the AP1.
The ladder at a glance
Five levels, cheapest first. TEIN FLEX Z is AP1 only; everything else covers both cars.
| Level | Our pick | Price inc VAT | What you can adjust |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry coilover | BC Racing BR | £999 | Height, 30 click damping |
| Fast road coilover | TEIN MONO SPORT | £1,500 | Full-length height, 16 positions with ADVANCE M.S.V. |
| Club and trackday 1-way | AST 5100 Clubracing | £3,312 | Height, 12 click rebound |
| 2-way | BC Racing ER | £1,799 | Height, rebound and compression separately |
| 3-way | AST 5300 3-Way Motorsport | £5,208 | Height, rebound, low and high speed compression |
Prices read from the site on the day this guide was built, inc VAT. The product cards below show prices before VAT, as the rest of the site does; the Inc/Exc VAT switch changes them.
1. BC Racing BR: the entry coilover for both cars
BC Racing BR covers the AP1 and AP2 on one listing. Default spring rates are 10 kg/mm front and rear, 30 clicks of rebound on one knob, and the listing offers three top mount configurations. Ride height adjusts on the lower bracket independently of spring preload. The dampers are rebuildable, and the same listing gives you the ER two-way or ZX later without changing the kit.
If you have the AP1 (2000 to 2003), TEIN FLEX Z (VSH64-C1SA3) is the cheapest option in this guide. Twin-tube, 16 damping positions, full-length ride height adjustment, rubber mounts at both ends. TEIN’s reference drop is -25mm front and -35mm rear. The price is a little under the BC BR. Cameron’s preference for most AP1 buyers is still BC Racing: the series upgrade path on the same listing has real value, and the TEIN FLEX Z is the right answer only if the AP1 budget is genuinely tight.
- Price. £999 inc VAT, BR
- Adjustment. Height, 30 click damping
- In the box. Coilovers with springs; the top mount options are on the listing
- Buy it if. You want height and damping adjustment for both AP1 and AP2
2. TEIN MONO SPORT or AST 5100 Street: a better damper
TEIN MONO SPORT is the first monotube step for both cars. 16 damping positions, full-length ride height adjustment, rubber top mounts at both ends, spring rates 12 kgf/mm front and 10 rear. TEIN’s reference drop is -25mm front and -35mm rear on the AP1; -15mm at both ends on the AP2. The listing is for UK-market cars. If the S2000 is a JDM import, confirm the fitment before ordering.
AST 5100 Street (ACS-H1301S) is the step up in damper quality. Made in the Netherlands, 12 clicks of rebound, non-inverted monotube, and it keeps the factory divorced rear on the S2000. Street Performance (ACT-H1301S) adds camber-adjustable front top mounts and goes full coilover at both ends. Garreth’s view is that if you are spending AST money, the Street Performance is worth the extra: the camber adjustment comes into the alignment job one way or another, and having it in the kit is the right way to do it. For a road S2000 that never goes near a circuit, the Street is the lower-cost entry to that quality of damper.
- Price. £1,500 inc VAT
- Adjustment. Full-length height, 16 positions with ADVANCE M.S.V.
- In the box. Monotube coilovers, springs, upper mounts per car
- Buy it if. You want a monotube step up at TEIN money, or the quality European option for both cars
3. AST 5100 Clubracing or MOTON 1-Way: the trackday kit
For a car that goes on track regularly, both of these use a coilover at every corner with the spring on the damper front and rear. AST 5100 Clubracing (ACC-H1301S) adds camber-adjustable front mounts and solid rear top mounts to the same 12-click rebound damper. MOTON 1-Way Clubracer (M 504 190S) is a non-inverted monotube with 15 clicks of rebound; springs are in the kit.
Garreth’s take on choosing between them: AST has a UK rebuild network and the part code sits in the same family as the Street and Street Performance, so the upgrade path is straightforward. Cameron would point an owner at MOTON if they want the MOTON damper without paying for reservoirs yet. Both are proper trackday kits.
- Price. £3,312 inc VAT
- Adjustment. Height, 12 click rebound
- In the box. Coilover rear, camber front and solid rear top mounts
- Buy it if. The car goes on track often and you want a coilover rear and camber adjustment at the front
4. Two way: BC Racing ER, AST 5200 or MOTON 2-Way
Separate rebound and compression lets you tune the car session to session. BC Racing ER is the same listing as the BR with a second dial and external reservoirs, at a fraction of AST or MOTON money. Cameron’s view: ER is the cheapest way to find out what a second dial does on this car before committing to more.
AST 5200 and MOTON 2-Way are the European options for both cars. Both use remote reservoirs, custom spring rates and a UK rebuild centre. Garreth’s position for a car that actually races is AST or MOTON: built and valved to the car, with a rebuild centre that can change the valving as the setup develops. For a road S2000 with occasional trackdays, ER does the job at a sensibly lower price.
- Price. £1,799 inc VAT, ER
- Adjustment. Height, rebound and compression separately
- In the box. Coilovers with external reservoirs and springs
- Buy it if. You tune the car session to session and want compression and rebound on separate dials
5. Three way: AST 5300 or MOTON 3-Way
The top rung splits compression into high speed and low speed, and the S2000 gets two options: AST 5300 (RAC-H1301S) and MOTON 3-Way (M 504 011S). BC Racing does not list a ZR for the S2000, so three-way adjustment on this car is European kit only.
AST 5300 is the same damper as the 5200 with a second compression circuit: rebound, high speed compression, low speed compression on the one reservoir. MOTON 3-Way gives you 15 high speed and 6 low speed compression positions over 15 clicks of rebound, built for cars run hard over long stints.
Buy one when somebody is going to write the settings down.
- Price. £5,208 inc VAT
- Adjustment. Height, rebound, low and high speed compression
- In the box. Springs, reservoirs, top mounts where applicable
- Buy it if. It is a race car, or a trackday car with somebody setting it up properly
Every option we list for the S2000
| Range | Part number | Listed for | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEIN FLEX Z | VSH64-C1SA3 | Honda S2000 AP1 | £924 |
| BC Racing | BCR-A-09 | Honda S2000 (00-09) [AP1/AP2] | ZX £1,964, ER £1,799, BR £999 |
| TEIN MONO SPORT | GSH64-71SS3 | Honda S2000 AP1, AP2 | £1,500 |
| AST 5100 Street | ACS-H1301S | Honda AP1 / AP2 | £2,652 |
| AST 5100 Street Performance | ACT-H1301S | Honda AP1 / AP2 | £3,000 |
| AST 5100 Clubracing | ACC-H1301S | Honda AP1 / AP2 | £3,312 |
| MOTON 1-Way Clubracer | M 504 190S | Honda AP1 / AP2 | £3,600 |
| AST 5200 2-Way Motorsport | RIV-H1301S | Honda AP1 / AP2 | £4,908 |
| MOTON 2-Way Motorsport | M 504 090S | Honda AP1 / AP2 | £5,016 |
| AST 5300 3-Way Motorsport | RAC-H1301S | Honda AP1 / AP2 | £5,208 |
| MOTON 3-Way Motorsport | M 504 011S | Honda AP1 / AP2 | £5,796 |
Every coilover and spring listing that names the S2000 today. BC Racing prices are per series.
Before you order
- AP1 or AP2. TEIN FLEX Z covers the AP1 only (2000 to 2003). For an AP2, start on BC Racing BR or TEIN MONO SPORT
- TEIN ride height. TEIN recommends a smaller drop for the AP2 than the AP1. Use the figure for your car from the application table
- Import or UK spec. TEIN MONO SPORT is listed for UK-market cars. A JDM import needs confirmation before ordering
- Rear layout. AST 5100 Street keeps the factory divorced rear; Street Performance and Clubracing go full coilover at both ends
- Alignment. Any change of ride height changes camber and toe. Book an alignment as part of the job
Common questions
What are the best coilovers for an S2000 on a budget?
BC Racing BR covers both AP1 and AP2 with height and damping adjustment, and the series upgrade path to ER or ZX on the same listing is a useful option to have later. If you have an AP1 and the budget is genuinely tight, TEIN FLEX Z is the cheapest kit in this guide.
Does TEIN FLEX Z fit the AP2?
No. FLEX Z (VSH64-C1SA3) is listed for the AP1 only (2000 to 2003). For the AP2 the entry options are BC Racing BR or TEIN MONO SPORT.
Why does TEIN recommend less drop on the AP2?
TEIN specifies the kit to the car. The AP2 reference setting is -15mm at both ends against the AP1’s -25mm front and -35mm rear. The figures come from TEIN’s application table on the MONO SPORT listing.
Do I need a full coilover rear on an S2000?
Not for the road. AST 5100 Street keeps the factory divorced rear and works as a road kit. Go full coilover rear (Street Performance upward) when you want to change the rear spring rate or set corner weights on a track car.
Is there a BC Racing ZR three-way for the S2000?
No. BC Racing tops out at ZX and ER for the S2000. Three-way adjustment is AST 5300 or MOTON 3-Way only.
What we would fit
Cameron fits BC Racing BR on a road S2000 and spends what is left on an alignment and tyres. The spring rates work with the car, the height knob does what it says, and the ER upgrade path is there on the same listing if the car goes racing.
Garreth’s pick for a car that gets properly used is AST 5100 Street Performance: the better damper, camber adjustment in the kit, full coilover at both ends. They disagree on the AP1 entry question. Cameron thinks TEIN FLEX Z is fine if the AP1 budget is tight. Garreth thinks the BC ER upgrade path is worth the small price difference from day one. For a car that races, both agree: AST 5200 or MOTON, with the option to revalve as the car develops.
Our TEIN suspension guide covers the full TEIN coilover range, and the AST guide and MOTON guide go deeper on those two ranges. The BC Racing Honda guide covers every BC fitment for Honda.
Send the registration or year and tell us whether the car is for the road, trackdays or something more serious. We will confirm the right part and go through the ride height figures before you order.
Tell us the year and what the car is used for. We will confirm the right part number at the level that suits it, and go through the ride height figures with you before anything is ordered. Call us on 0115 9893488, drop us an email or click to open a chat.
