Bilstein B6, B8 or MTEC

[Chief_Misfire]

Time to renew the 318iS suspensionisms.

I don't want to lower the ride height and I don't want a stiffer ride.

Logic dictates I just renew with MTEC dampers and springs but even though MTEC dampers are cheaper than Bilstein B6 (the equivalent) they are deemed inferior and BMW MTEC springs are truly extortionate at almost twice the cost of a set of -30mm Eibach.

My preferred option are the B6's on Eibach springs. This only lowers the a car another 15mm and is a more modern set-up to boot, with the larger diameter Bilsteins being a bit more rigid (in tension/deflection not compression). I have no experience with these but would like to hear from you.

Thoughts comments etc...

[Bob_S]

If you are going to be using anything above and beyond a bilstein b4 expect the ride to get harsher than your used to. A fresh shock will tighten up the car no end though as the originals will have sagged

[E30BeemerLad]

B6's are shortened dampers and so not really worth the outlay for your intentions old mucker.

If you want to stick nearer to the stock setup yet have it feeling nice & taught & fresh then maybe worth looking at GSF for the supply of the Boge Mtec dampers as they'll be a damn bit cheaper than buying from BMW

[Bob_S]

ECP deal with bilstein shocks and arent badly priced either with a touch of a haggle worth a call atleast

[Jhonno]

Hello Ratch..

Eibach with B8's will do you well

[DHFiS]

Got Boge springs and dampers on mine - they were the OE manufacturers of the iS suspension parts when new. The Boge springs were sold as -35mm lowering springs but its not noticable, probably would be on a 318i but the iS is 20mm lower as standard so the springs drop the car by 15mm.

[Raw_Wheel_Drive]

If you are going to be using anything above and beyond a bilstein b4 expect the ride to get harsher than your used to. A fresh shock will tighten up the car no end though as the originals will have sagged

See now that's interesting.

Bilstein bill the B6 Sport as damper for people that want to retain their ride quality but tighten up control a little.

evo-s have also said that the B6 is the best match for MTEC. They also said MTECH is kinda old now and not worth using anymore.

Jhonno - won't B8's be overkill?

I'm thinking from this I could go new MTEC and then Eibach -30mm Springs?

[Simon13]

B6's where fitted to tech 1's as standard Ratch.

If she's everyday the B4 damper gives a good ride. Looks like an m-tech damper but with a thicker damper rod. I imagine on eibachs it would be a good setup

Personnaly B8's work best on 35/40mm drops and the B6 with 60mm springs

All the bilsteins bar the B4 are much stiffer than boge/mtech damper

[WilliamBMW]

So confusing when people give totally different info, literally 3 places and Bilstein themselves all say different things but with the B6 being the recurring choice.

So would the B4 be considered an upgrade over MTEC?

It is an everyday car with a few 'spirited' weekends per month thrown in.

Have all new steering, rollbar and control arms to add in as well so anything will be better than the 20 year old stuff on there at the mo.

[bss325i]

Hello Ratch..

Eibach with B8's will do you well

+1. This is what i use on my sport and it is very simiar in ride to the boge Mtech i had on it before. Also my boge Mtech stuff was in fine fettle due to the low mileage.

[Simon13]

B4's are an upgrade over m-tech.

The B4 is a standard type damper where as the B6/8 are the inverted ones

B8 standard fit for Hartge/Alpina cars. up to you won't got wrong with any of them tbh

[WilliamBMW]

Another look on Bilstein's website states theB6 as a direct replacement for E30 MTEC dampers for drivers not wanting to lower ride height or ride quality but with 'superior' handling. Watch this space.

I think I'll go for B6.

I wanted to buy from evo-s but because of the Euro situation, their prices went from £320 a set to £470 in a week!

German supplier can get them here shipped for £395. A lesser margin I would support the locals but £70 difference...

[e30bmlover]

Hello Ratch..

Eibach with B8's will do you well

+1

+2

[WilliamBMW]

I think B8's are too low and harsh for my needs.

Is anyone running B6's on here? Swapped from an MTEC car?

ECP suck. They've never got what I need in stock and only sell the B4.

[Simon13]

Bought my B6 dampers off the shelf at ECP wembley no problem



This picture here lies all the dampers in question

top boge mtech, it's f**ked and the damper rod isn't fully extented

middle B6 ala tech 1 sport

bottom B8 ala Alpina/hartge

B6's give the hardest ride with any spring, B8's are better, mtechs only good on stock or 40mm springs.

As you can see the B6 is the shortest shock by some way

[DanThe]

Is there a relevance to part numbers? Like P36?

[WilliamBMW]

Hmmm. How can the B6 be the harshest? I thought they got progressively harder and lower as the numbers go up.

I'm not doubting you but what you're saying is contrary to everything that Bilstein say...?

From Bilstein website:

BILSTEIN B6® Sport
The BILSTEIN B6 Sport is the perfect solution for all those seeking to optimize their suspension in conjunction with the standard spring wanting a perfect setting with ”acomfort & sport”a.

BILSTEIN B8® Sprint
Shortened high-performance gas pressure shock absorber in mono-tube/inverted technology - specially designed for lowered sport vehicles. It’s a must when sports springs are used
demanding a rebound of 30-40 mm.

How would standard MTEC go with -30mm Eibachs springs (so an additional drop of 15mm which I can live with)

I thought this was going to be easy...

[DanThe]

Ive just looked at mine, part number P36-0335, Sprint, which are B8's according to Evolve's website

Same as Simon's B8

[Simon13]

The B6 has the shortest amount of damper travel, hence why they work very well with 60mm springs. Are there any pictures on the bilstein website?

B8's work on 60mm too. They have a longer damper travel than a B6 like an m-tech shock. They are designed for 40mm drops and only came about because of the tuners of the era is my guess because no E30 came with them fitted as standard as far as i can tell. All the tuners offered around a 40mm drop in their kits

I've tried all 3 shocks with standard,40mm and 60mm drops. Mucked about round the ring on various setups each trip i've done and speak as how i've found they work best

B6 Dampers with H&R cupkit springs fookin rock round the ring but rides no worse than a new Mini cooper on runflats. It only real draw back being it's very low.

Eibachs ride slightly better than H&R 35mm, the H&R's are wound progressively (sp) so you can feel the spring load up to it's limit in a bend until your on tyre grip alone. I prefer H&R. The eibachs are the same as stock and handle in the same way but with a much higher limit.

It's the shocks though that really determine the ride comfort more than the springs used.

[WilliamBMW]

These are the part numbers I have gleaned as the correct part numbers for an E30 318iS.

They differ from Evolve and Bilstein's site.

2 x Front Shocks Part No: P36-0136 (also P36-0335 )
2 x Rear Shocks Part Part No: B36-9738 (also B36-2027 )

[DHFiS]

How would standard MTEC go with -30mm Eibachs springs (so an additional drop of 15mm which I can live with)

I thought this was going to be easy...

Fine. Thats like my set up. No complaints.

[On_a_Roll]

Still dwelling on what to do here as the car is in bits and now is the time to go for it. I was going to do it, then got depressed at the confusion and decided to leave it and now I'm thinking I don't want to work on the car anymore after this so I should do it.

It's deffo out of B6 and B8 as far as I can tell - I know I don;t want the car any lower so that defines the spring. Probably Eicbach -35mm.

Bilstein B8 is more comfy than B6 correct?

End the misery!

[Morat]

I run B8s on Eibach Pro springs (-35mm ish) with Eibach rollbars. It is great for my needs which is daily commuting at high speed on badly maintained country roads. I love the handling.

btw, springs determine ride height. You should decide what springs you're going to use then match the shocks so that their damping stroke is matched to the travel of the springs. If you put standard dampers on -60mm springs the dampers will spend their time compressed out of their correct travel (and the other way round).

So if you go 60/40 get the B6s. If you go -35mm get the B8s. If you stay at standard height, get the B4s. I think that is the correct order - but wait until Simon13 sees this before you order anything!

Best of luck.

[jonny323i]

i have some good bilstien shocks for the rear not sure what code they are though will have to check they came of my h27 that i stripped

[wheelie_lv]

will this setup works ok for 325i sport?

shocks: shortened Bilstein B8 Sprint (Front P36-0335
Rear B36-2027)

springs: H&R 29664-1 (-35 mm).

Or do i need more lowered springs for the shortened B8?

tnx.!