Honda built this roadster for ten model years, and picking Honda S2000 coilovers for it is easy. You do not need to sort kits by year: every kit on this page fits the whole run, early AP1 and later AP2 cars alike. So what matters most is how you drive the car.
Tell us how you use yours. Call 1-800-460-9106 and we will help you pick.
Lowering your roadster
2000 to 2009
Animated illustration. It shows where coilovers sit on a car, not your exact kit. Depending on the car and the kit, coilovers can lean forward or back or stand straight up, and some cars use a separate spring and shock in the rear. Your ride height depends on the kit and how it is set up.
What changed on later cars, and what did not
Honda updated the car for 2004, but the same kits still fit early and late cars. Here is what that means for you.
The 2004 update
Honda fitted a larger 2.2-liter engine and moved to 17-inch wheels and tires. It also retuned the suspension: front springs up about 6.7 percent, rears down 10 percent.
The same kits fit both
Every S2000 kit we carry is listed for 1999 or 2000 through 2009. No kit is made only for early or only for late cars, so the kits below fit your car either way.
Your ride height may still differ
Wheel and tire size change how a car sits at the same setting. Plan your drop around the wheels and tires on your car, then adjust from there.
BC Racing on the S2000
One BC kit for the S2000, in four series
BC Racing makes four series for the S2000: BR, DS, ER and ZX, all on one 2000 to 2009 kit. BC names that kit "Extreme by Default," so talk to us about ride height first. From there, the series you pick sets how much you can tune. Free shipping on BC Racing kits in the continental US.
All four series come on the same kit. Here is how they differ.
BR and DS
BR has one 30-click knob that sets compression and rebound together. DS uses the same knob plus a digressive piston, firmer on small movements and softer over sharp bumps. Either one is a good pick if your car sees more back roads than racetracks.
ER
ER uses an upright shock with an external reservoir (a separate oil canister) and 30 clicks each for compression and rebound, set separately.
ZX
BC calls ZX its "most track-tested" system. It is the series to ask about when your S2000 spends its weekends at the track.
Want Swift Springs on a BR, DS, ER or ZX kit? Order them through the Custom Build for BC Coilovers page, and ask us which spring rates suit how you drive.
Eight more brands for the S2000
Each kit below fits the whole run. Questions about any of them? Call 1-800-460-9106.
Swift makes Sport Spec-R springs for the 2000 to 2009 S2000, if you only want to change springs.
Kits for back roads, autocross and track days
Back roads
For fun drives on back roads, a modest drop and soft-to-medium damping keep the car calm over broken pavement.
Kits to look at: BC Racing BR or DS, TEIN Flex Z, Bilstein B14, Ksport
Autocross
Autocross courses are tight, so quick response matters. A kit you can tune lets you set how the car turns in and settles. Ask us which kits adjust what.
Kits to look at: BC Racing ER, KW, Fortune Auto, Feal, TEIN Mono Sport
Track day
Long sessions and hot tires are hard on the dampers. Pick a kit built to be tuned, and set the height for your track.
Kits to look at: BC Racing ZX, Öhlins Road & Track, KW, Fortune Auto
Before you install your coilovers
A few checks now save trouble on the first drive.
Write down your stock ride height
Measure fender height at all four corners. With a starting point on paper, it is easy to judge the new height.
Check the clearance
Check tire clearance at full steering lock and over bumps, front and rear. Do it before the first long drive.
Get an alignment once it settles
Drive a few hundred miles, measure again, then book an alignment. Ask your installer about camber (wheel tilt) for how you drive.
Not sure what BC's "Extreme by Default" kit name means? Call us first. We would rather talk height before the order than after the install.
Every S2000 kit we carry
We carry ten kits for this roadster. Open any card to see its price and details.
Notes in BC kit names: "Extreme by Default" means the kit ships as BC's Extreme Low version as standard, built shorter for a lower drop.
S2000 coilovers, AP1 and AP2, 2000 to 2009
Codes: AP1, AP2
BC Racing kitThe BC Racing coilover kit listed for the 2000 to 2009 Honda S2000. Photo: BC Racing.
Good to know: Every kit here fits the full run, so AP1 and AP2 cars use the same kits. BC names its kit "Extreme by Default," so call us about ride height before you order.
Here is what S2000 owners run into most, from owner forums, recalls and service bulletins, and what it means for your coilovers.
Bump steer once lowered
AP1 2000 to 2003 most reported, also AP2 2004 to 2009
MotoIQ says lowering an S2000 misaligns the front steering rack geometry and rear toe arms, causing bump steer at both ends. On S2KI, owners call it very severe on the AP1, milder on the AP2, and debate bump steer kits. A big drop can make the car twitchy over bumps.
Before you install: Keep the drop modest on a street car, and talk to an alignment shop about rear toe settings or bump steer parts before track use.
Front tire rub at fender, liner or flaps
AP1 and AP2, 2000 to 2009
S2KI owners lowered only about 0.75 inches report front tire contact on rough pavement, under braking or near full lock. One suspects the mud flaps. Another kept rubbing the fender after rolling it, pulling the liner and adding front camber. Even a small drop can bring the tire into the liner under load.
Before you install: After setting height, turn lock to lock and compress the suspension to check liner and flap clearance, then align with sensible front camber.
S2000 history
Ten model years of one roadster
Honda introduced the S2000 in 1999 for the 2000 model year. Honda describes it as a commemoration of the company's 50th anniversary.
1999
The debutIt came out for the 2000 model year. Ksport and Öhlins list their kits from 1999.
2004
The 2.2-liter carIt got a 2.2-liter engine with 240 horsepower, 17-inch wheels and retuned suspension.
2008
The CRA trim inspired by club racing joined the lineup for 2008.
2009
The last yearHonda made 2009 the final model year. Worldwide sales passed 110,000, with over 65,000 in the US.
Honda kept one chassis for all ten model years, so the same kits fit every year. Pick your setup from the cards above.
Questions about Honda S2000 coilovers
Do AP1 and AP2 cars take different coilovers?
No. Every S2000 kit we carry is made for the whole run, 1999 or 2000 through 2009, so the same kits fit both.
Which BC Racing series fit the S2000?
BC Racing coilovers for the S2000 come in four series: BR, DS, ER and ZX. All four come on the same S2000 kit.
What does "Extreme by Default" mean on the BC kit?
That is the name BC gives its S2000 kit. Call us before you order and we will go over the ride height range for your car.
Does Öhlins make coilovers for the S2000?
Yes. Our S2000 Öhlins coilovers are the Road & Track kit, for 1999 to 2009.
Can I change only the springs?
Swift sells Sport Spec-R lowering springs for the 2000 to 2009 S2000. For Swift Springs on a BC kit, order through the Custom Build for BC Coilovers page.
Will a lowered S2000 still work as a daily driver?
It can. Keep the drop modest, check tire clearance at full lock, and get an alignment once the car settles.
Is there a warranty on the BC Racing S2000 kit?
BC Racing North America currently lists a two-year limited warranty on full kit orders, subject to its warranty terms. Each of the other brands sets its own warranty terms.
