M TEC SUSPENSION, BOGE OR BILSTIEN???

[al325i]

Hi All

My rear shocks are knackered on my 1989 325i sport so I am going to renew front and rear shocks and also fit a set of Eibach springs.

Now I've long been aware there is some debate of what dampers are fitted as standard to sport, some say bilstien, some say boge. Since I have a copy of the BMW parts cd rom I checked it out. Apparantley up until 1988 sports came with bilstien dampers and then after that they were fitted with boge, but what I can't understand on 88 onwards cars the part number of the dampers is the same whether its a sport or not. The cd rom does list "cars with m-technic" and "cars with standard suspension" but as I said both part numbers are the same??

Anyone know why BMW changed from bilstien to boge and/or why on 88 onwards the dampers are the same on sport and standard?

Can I fit bilstien with no other changes?

Can anyone advise any other suspension I should consider, the car is still on standard 15" BBS wheels and 205/60R15 tyres but I am always looking to change to either 16" or 17" wheels - but thats another debate

TIA cheers

[Simon]

Yeah you're right there, when I changed the dampers on the rear of my sport they had original BMW Boge ones fitted, you'll probably find that if you ordered that part number you'd get BOGE dampers because they probably stopped supplying Bilstein, it just shows the original make on the etk.

[Simon]

Sorry forgot to add that fitting either won't be a problem mounting fitments will be the same, just make sure the fronts are of the correct 51mm diameter ones.

[Jos]

If you are replacing dampers(shock absorber is wrong!) and springs, get a sports kit instead of mixing and matching dampers and springs.

Apex do a kit for about Ԛ£250 that will lower 60mm, they do another one that lowers 35mm.

Bilstein do 4 kits, cheapest one is Ԛ£200 or so, lowers 40mm.

All these kits will replace your dampers and springs directly, simple case of unbolt old ones, bolt in new ones.

Only thing to be aware of is if you lower your car loads it will upset the camber on the wheels resulting is funny tyre wear.

[Simon]

If you want to stick with standard M-technic, GSF sell the BOGE M-tech ones, and there's no need to buy springs to go with them then as you'd be replacing like for like.

[Jhonno]

I got Billy dampers with my M-tech kit..

[al325i]

Can I still buy the bilstien m-tech dampers or will they supercede to boge m-tech

Apex do a kit for about Ԛ£250 that will lower 60mm, they do another one that lowers 35mm.

Jos have you fitted Apex or has anyone? How is the ride compared to standard (I like the standard ride oooer ) but think the car looks better just a little bit lower, hence the Eibachs, sorry not just the looks I like how they ride aswell

Cheers

[Simon]

I don't think (not 100%) you can get 'standard' bilstein anymore, but they do supply dampers for the E30 though.