Hartge H27 shocks advice

[elan]

My car is now at Birds getting a thorough check and some updates. One of the thing they found was that the rear shocks has a slight leak. Is it better to get the Hartge specific Bilstein shocks sent back for repair or purchasing a similar set of new Bilstein shocks?

Thanks for your advice


Here she is outside the garage:

[SilverShadow]

If you want to keep the car as original as possible I would get the Hartge shocks repaired.

All depend how money you are winning to spend on the car.

[elan]

If you want to keep the car as original as possible I would get the Hartge shocks repaired.

All depend how money you are winning to spend on the car.

Thanks. They will check to see if they have any original new Bilstein shocks in stock. If not then it will be back to Bilstein for repair.

I thought Hartge used a standard Bilstein shocks? Does anyone know?

[pacerpete]

Hartge used Bilstein dampers allegedly revalved to their specification. With a price to match. On a wobbly / rattly old convertible, even Kevin Bird would be unable to tell the difference !
Bear in mind your 25 year old E30 is a corpse on a stretcher to the boys at Birds so expect a really long list of issues, unless it is a real hound, most will be best noted and ignored !

[elan]

I think they found four or five items that needed attention. These being rear shocks, engine mount, handbrake shoes, bulbs and couple items that needed fastening. He said it was in decent condition with body being solid so not a real hound

The cam belt is also being checked to see if it needs replacing. The rear shock actually felt ok and the ride was surprisingly good so maybe a very light leak?

He did say it was first H27 to be back to them for a long time!

[HairyScreech]

No point checking a cam belt on an e30, to get access to the belt to check it is about 50% of the job of replacing it.
At less than £50 in parts and this being a super critical item it makes no sense to check.

Bear in mind I have found several cam belts with slack tensioners at 35k even though the recommended interval is 40-60k.

The tensioner is a poor design with a peg crimped into a plate, these come loose and can throw the belt against the covers.

Bilstien shock are rebuildable right? Do Bilstien not offer a rebuild service at less than the cost of new shocks?

[bss325i]

Yes they do offer a rebuild service and Bilstein UK can now offer rebuilds to Alpina and Hartge spec.

The original Alpina or Hartge ones have the name stamped into them.

[elan]

Well the car is back with with a dent in the wallet

Short shift kit is lovely

Should air flow meter not be opened? Apparently the one on mine is not sealed!

[bss325i]

There is a round hole where you can adjust the AFM and they are set from factory and have a blue plastic cap over the hole. The replacement ones are red, quite often neither are fitted.

[Simon13]

alpina bilsteins don't have alpina stamped on them just the alpina 6 digit part numbers

i'd consider do you want the hard ride that the bisteins will over in cabs? They're hardly the most dynamic of E30's more of a cruiser

[pony]

OP
Get the Hartage Bilsteins rebuilt IMO
Keep it original spec
Hopefully will be cheaper than a new set of Bilsteins
Anyway Hartage Bilsteins will be perfectly tuned for your e30 where newer spec ones may not ?

[elan]

Interestingly the Bilsteins on my Alpina B3 touring is fairly firm where as on the E30 it feels softer.

I may just put a standard rear shocks while the originals are sent back to be repaired. It would make sense to keep it all original.

Still not sure if I need to replace airflow meter as it's not sealed?

[bss325i]

Your B3 would not have come with bilsteins when new.

They would have been Sachs shocks.

[elan]

Your B3 would not have come with bilsteins when new.

They would have been Sachs shocks.

You are quite right, the previous owner replaced the Alpina items with Bilsteins shocks.

[elan]

On a separate note, I may need to create a new thread. What should I use for the valuation of the car for insurance?