Who Knows Bilsteins?

KUTCH · 08-10-2003, 10:16 AM

Ok guys/ gals, whoever!
I just had Bilstein heavy duty shocks/ struts installed on my 98 328is. With them I included the 95 M3 strut mounts & reinforcment plates. In the rear I used e46 M3 convertible shock mounts with reinforcment plates as well. Lastly I went to 17" M5 style rims. (225/45-17 yokie AVS Sports)... ok, now the issue...
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THE FRONT ONLY IS ~2" TALLER!!!! I CALLED BAV AUTO WHO SAID THAT ITS NORMAL AND TAKES A MONTH FOR THEM TO SETTLE... HAS ANYONE EXPERIENCED THIS? REMEMBER I STUCK WITH OEM SPRINGS. NO INTENTIONAL LOWERING!
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If this is the case, and my front end drops 2" IN 30 DAYS, would I not need another alignment? where is that spelled out in any of the liturature? And for that matter, why is only the FRONT going to settle? Why not the rear as well?

ANYONE WITH EXPERIENCE WITH THIS OR RELATED PLEASE ADVISE HERE OR EMAIL ME AT KUTCH_L@JUNO.COM

THANKS!!!

stupenal · 08-10-2003, 08:25 PM

Hey Kutch,

It is a VERY VERY common problem for people to see the front end of their car actually RISE with installation of bilsteins. But here's the thing, ride height should not really decrease at all for just shocks. If you got these shocks expecting them to lower your car, you need to get springs. Also, you shouldn't really even get lowering springs to go with the bilstein HD shocks. You should match them with bilstein sports. It does take awhile for suspensions to settle, but here's a fix for the common problem.

http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e36/suspension/e36_trim_bilstein_bumpstop.html

Another reason why people see a rise is because their old suspensions were shot, giving a lower appearance. I know this is true for the rear shocks, not sure about the front struts. I doubt you will see it drop 2" in 30 days, maybe at best 2" over 6 month period. People have reported that it takes over 6 months for the suspension to fully settle.

I personally would've lowered the ride, 17" rims with stock suspension looks sorta off. It gives a 4x4 look to the car, making it look like the ghetto civics who slap on 18" chromies with stock suspension. But then again, that is just one person's opinion. Hope that link helps your raised bilstein look.

KUTCH · 08-11-2003, 08:37 AM

thanks for the reply...
i try to be the type that thinks things thru before just buying or installing. i really thought that using the OEM springs and installing bilstein HD would have at least kept the SAME hieght??
this raise, if and when the car comes back down, who pays for the alignment???!!! no where was that mentioned in bilsteins paperwork!

Jared at Pelican Parts · 08-11-2003, 11:56 AM

On my car, the ride height did in fact settle down after a little while. I would maybe suggest giving it a little time and see what happens. In the case of my car, it looked odd with the front higher than the rear, but it has since levelled out.

Step On It! · 08-11-2003, 05:56 PM

Stupenal has got it right about the Ghetto thang. I just put on some 17's with the stock springs and Bilstein Sports. I just got to save a few more ducats to get the lowering springs.

Any suggestions on which brand would work best on a 92 325is? Tire size is 235 40 17.

stupenal · 08-11-2003, 08:56 PM

Depends what kind of ride you want. If you just want a lowered look while keeping the stock ride, go ahead and get bavarian autosport springs.

www.************

If you want something a bit stiffer, but still very comfortable, go with eibach pro kit. HR Sports are a little bit stiffer, and HR Race slam the car and are really stiff. I bought myself a set of eibach pro kit, just awaiting shocks now....

Jared at Pelican Parts · 08-13-2003, 02:25 PM

I've heard from people that the bav auto springs have a tendency to crack. Any truth to this?

KUTCH · 08-14-2003, 09:19 AM

WELL I HAVE TO SAY BILSTEIN WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THERE STRUTS! THEY SAID THAT MORE THAN LIKELY I HAVE AN OVER TOLERENCED SET THAT HAS TOO MUCH "STICKTION". THEY'RE HANGING UP... SURVEY SAYS, BEAT EM'. TRACK THEM GOOD! ROCK THE CAR BACK AND FORTH FOR AWHILE TO WEAR THEM IN. GIVE IT ~1000 MILES, NO CHANGE THEN CALL BACK.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 08-14-2003, 09:22 AM

I agree. that will probably do the trick. I am debating wheter or not I want to switch to Koni's in the rear on my E30, as I've noticed the Bilstein Sports are a bit too soft, and seem to bounce quite a bit. I've heard that Konui Adjustables would solve this..

KUTCH · 08-14-2003, 09:24 AM

I REACHED THE TECH DEPARTMENT AT BILSTEIN. THEY TOLD ME THAT USING A MODERATLY LOWERED SPRING (1") WOULD NOT HAVE ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THE HEAVY DUTY STRUTS. ((THIS IS NOT WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD)) SPORT STRUTS WITH LOWERING SPRINGS, 1" LESS TRAVEL. "YOU VOID WARRENTY IF YOU USE HD WITH LOWERING SPRINGS"...THIS GUY SAID AS LONG AS THE BUMP STOPS ARE NOT REMOVED THERE SHOULD BE NO PROBLEMS...
MAYBE...OTHER THAN BLOWING THE LIFETIME WARRENTY?

Jared at Pelican Parts · 08-14-2003, 09:47 AM

I've heard the same thing, Kutch, using HD's with lowering springs is a bad idea. I've heard it will eventually damage the shocks and struts, due to the limited amount of travel it offers.

KUTCH · 08-19-2003, 10:15 AM

well its been ~1k miles and pleanty of tracking! still looked high, so i brought it to the dealer measure ride height. sure enough, its riding over 1-1/2" higher than it should. so NOW begins the real fun...whos responsible for what and who pays for bringing the front of my car back down to earth...

Jared at Pelican Parts · 08-19-2003, 11:37 AM

Who installed the struts?

This seems a little odd, as I think that the HD's are supposed to sit slightly shorter than stock height. Have yo confirmed that it does indeed have the HD's in there? I can check if you get a part number off the struts.

Roald · 08-23-2003, 07:37 AM

What about the ride?! How is the ride?!
I bought bilstein hd too, but I haven't installed them yet! The only lowering spring I would go is m-technic, the rest is crap! Stiff springs will not give you good traction on less than perfect roads!

stupenal · 08-23-2003, 08:38 PM

Roald - I would have to strongly disagree with you regarding aftermarket springs. Stock springs are definitely crap, aftermarket is so much better its unbelievable. Its pretty much one of the MUST HAVES in order to upgrade to a better handling suspension. Combined with shocks/struts, xbrace, strut brace, sways, you'll get an amazing ride (so I've heard).

KUTCH · 08-25-2003, 04:29 AM

yes, they are heavy dutys. installation was performed to the dealers approval by a very reputable garage that deals with nothing but MB BMW & Audi. and by they way, a guy in the R&D section of Bilstien told me to expect Bilstiens to INCREASE ride hieght by at least 1/4"!!! where is that written?

Jared at Pelican Parts · 08-25-2003, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Roald
What about the ride?! How is the ride?!
I bought bilstein hd too, but I haven't installed them yet! The only lowering spring I would go is m-technic, the rest is crap! Stiff springs will not give you good traction on less than perfect roads!

I second stupenal here. The stock springs are crap. I put Eibach springs on my car and the ride is MUCH better than wioth the stock springs, I have nothing but improved traction in all cases. Put it this, way I used to be able to throw out the rear end around corners. I cant now.

KUTCH · 08-26-2003, 09:03 AM

oh, the ride isn't bad...I went from the 15" OEM rims to 17" and new mounts front & rear so things are much stiffer but not too stiff. as some have mentioned, it does seem like the rear end floats over bumps. I think if I could do it all over agian I would have went with Konis and the Eibach lowered springs... If Dinan chooses to use them...its just the $$!

Roald · 08-26-2003, 11:12 AM

may be you should change sway bar bushings and links too! may be that will eliminate the floatiness! or may be it is the subframe ruber mounts that are at fault!

Roald · 08-28-2003, 01:50 PM

o.k. right now i'm gonna take my bilsteins hd and go to the garage to slap them on the car! may be tonight i'll be able to comment more on those...