E30 Zone

Hey.

So I read many threads about suspension setups and to be fair Im still rather confused about how the hell do I work out the height of my ride...
But I have other question - which Im sure will be rather silly!

I looked for the Bilstein shocks and Im getting slightly confused by the images.
Do I actually replace the strut housing?
Bilstein images of B6 and B8 seem to have a yellow strut housing on...???



Does anyone have a pic of their shocks when fitted?

Cheers,
M.

The shocks are just the inserts that you need to fit into your front suspension legs.

awesome - that all I needed to know

Are Bilsteins B4 / B6 / B8 actually different high?
Im running a 325i on 15x8 BBS wheels I want it fairly low but NOT un-drivable.

Any recommendations?
Would B6/B8 front and B4 rear make sense?

Thanks,
M.

Yep, here is one I did for a mate last year. Straightforward job really.

B4 is pretty much a standard damper
B6 has the shortest damper rod and was standard issue on Mtech 1 sports, very good damper
B8 is more heavy duty, fitted to Alpina and Hartge cars but longer stroke/taller damper rod so you cant fit as short a spring that you would be able to with B6 dampers

DanThe wrote:B4 is pretty much a standard damper
B6 has the shortest damper rod and was standard issue on Mtech 1 sports, very good damper
B8 is more heavy duty, fitted to Alpina and Hartge cars but longer stroke/taller damper rod so you cant fit as short a spring that you would be able to with B6 dampers

Sorry mate, don't mean to tread on anyone's toes but It's the other way round. The B4's are standard twin tube. The B6 is a monotube strut with standard travel but uprated and suitable for up to 30mm lowering. The B8 is the shortened version of the B6 which is suitable for big drops. I have B6's fitted to my VW as I didn't want to lower it. Fitted B8's to the e30 as it was on a 50mm drop iirc.

steve325i wrote:

DanThe wrote:B4 is pretty much a standard damper
B6 has the shortest damper rod and was standard issue on Mtech 1 sports, very good damper
B8 is more heavy duty, fitted to Alpina and Hartge cars but longer stroke/taller damper rod so you cant fit as short a spring that you would be able to with B6 dampers

Sorry mate, don't mean to tread on anyone's toes but It's the other way round. The B4's are standard twin tube. The B6 is a monotube strut with standard travel but uprated and suitable for up to 30mm lowering. The B8 is the shortened version of the B6 which is suitable for big drops. I have B6's fitted to my VW as I didn't want to lower it. Fitted B8's to the e30 as it was on a 50mm drop iirc.

Have you fitted all of the above to E30's?

DanThe wrote:

steve325i wrote:

DanThe wrote:B4 is pretty much a standard damper
B6 has the shortest damper rod and was standard issue on Mtech 1 sports, very good damper
B8 is more heavy duty, fitted to Alpina and Hartge cars but longer stroke/taller damper rod so you cant fit as short a spring that you would be able to with B6 dampers

Sorry mate, don't mean to tread on anyone's toes but It's the other way round. The B4's are standard twin tube. The B6 is a monotube strut with standard travel but uprated and suitable for up to 30mm lowering. The B8 is the shortened version of the B6 which is suitable for big drops. I have B6's fitted to my VW as I didn't want to lower it. Fitted B8's to the e30 as it was on a 50mm drop iirc.

Have you fitted all of the above to E30's?

Fitted b8s to the last e30 sport my friend had which I rebuilt.
numerous b6s to e36s and have always run bilsteins on my own cars. Plus i supply them to customers at work. I'm not trying to be funny but all the info is available from bilstein.

B6 not good for big drops, i have these

Im not trying to funny either, but you are wrong, and obviously have not had them side by side or driven an E30 with each damper

DanThe wrote:Im not trying to funny either, but you are wrong, and obviously have not had them side by side or driven an E30 with each damper

It seem like you are because the noob is questioning you? You are telling me im wrong but all the info you need is on the Bilstein website so is that wrong too?
http://www.bilstein.de/en-uk/products/h ... lstein-b6/
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performan ... -absorbers


http://www.bilstein.de/en-uk/products/h ... lstein-b8/
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performan ... ont-insert
On the info it even says that the B8 is the shortened one for lowering. I dont think Bilstien would change that or their designs just for E30 fitment.

Im not getting into a war but I live, eat and breath bilstein. Even my daily derv Passat runs B6's and like I said I sell them to my customers at work.

How much is the lowest price for b8's ?

Any chance of a group buy?

I guess my issue is that I have 'some' lowering springs on my car now (have no idea what they are or how much its lowered, see pic below)



The shocks on the car are pretty much dead and i want a good ride but i want it to be sporty.
All Bilstein shocks sound really good, but it still doesnt help me to narrow down what i need
Can you run B4 with a lowered car and still have suspension?

Thanks,
M.

NoTurbo wrote:How much is the lowest price for b8's ?

Any chance of a group buy?

I can sort something out but dont want to tread on any traders toes or break any forum rules

Arsen_Design wrote:I guess my issue is that I have 'some' lowering springs on my car now (have no idea what they are or how much its lowered, see pic below)

The shocks on the car are pretty much dead and i want a good ride but i want it to be sporty.
All Bilstein shocks sound really good, but it still doesnt help me to narrow down what i need
Can you run B4 with a lowered car and still have suspension?

Thanks,
M.

Well, if you are keeping your existing springs they look low I recon they must be 60mm springs so the B8's would be the proper ones for the job. Generally the B4's are fine for lowering up to 30mm. anything over 30mm the dampers dont have enough travel and bottom out giving a harsh crashy ride. B4's and Eibach pro springs are a good combo as they are not too harsh or too low. All depends on what kind of budget you have Tbh.

How much would the full set F+R cost me for the B8s?
Do you recommend anywhere specific to buy them?

steve325i I am also interested in this price. I found a set of GMAX that I was going to use until a GB for b8's pop's up.

if there is a group but i would be in... (depending on price)

steve325i wrote:

DanThe wrote:Im not trying to funny either, but you are wrong, and obviously have not had them side by side or driven an E30 with each damper

It seem like you are because the noob is questioning you? You are telling me im wrong but all the info you need is on the Bilstein website so is that wrong too?
http://www.bilstein.de/en-uk/products/h ... lstein-b6/
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performan ... -absorbers


http://www.bilstein.de/en-uk/products/h ... lstein-b8/
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performan ... ont-insert
On the info it even says that the B8 is the shortened one for lowering. I dont think Bilstien would change that or their designs just for E30 fitment.

Im not getting into a war but I live, eat and breath bilstein. Even my daily derv Passat runs B6's and like I said I sell them to my customers at work.

Yes, the website is wrong! Where is the E30 specific info? Does it exist?
The deamon tweaks site is showing a completely different damper than whats fitted to an e30 even.
What has a passat or any other brand or model got to do with the E30 BTW?
If you do "live, eat and breath bilstein" then your not very good at it

Just search the forum, you will find this topic has been covered many times before and your not the first to get it wrong.

Has anyone got photos of their cars lowered on B6 or B8s ???

There is too many mixed messages on what is the right choice!

DanThe wrote:

steve325i wrote:

DanThe wrote:Im not trying to funny either, but you are wrong, and obviously have not had them side by side or driven an E30 with each damper

It seem like you are because the noob is questioning you? You are telling me im wrong but all the info you need is on the Bilstein website so is that wrong too?
http://www.bilstein.de/en-uk/products/h ... lstein-b6/
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performan ... -absorbers


http://www.bilstein.de/en-uk/products/h ... lstein-b8/
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performan ... ont-insert
On the info it even says that the B8 is the shortened one for lowering. I dont think Bilstien would change that or their designs just for E30 fitment.

Im not getting into a war but I live, eat and breath bilstein. Even my daily derv Passat runs B6's and like I said I sell them to my customers at work.

Yes, the website is wrong! Where is the E30 specific info? Does it exist?
The deamon tweaks site is showing a completely different damper than whats fitted to an e30 even.
What has a passat or any other brand or model got to do with the E30 BTW?
If you do "live, eat and breath bilstein" then your not very good at it

Just search the forum, you will find this topic has been covered many times before and your not the first to get it wrong.

The VW and other brand do make a difference as the E30 aftermarket shocks are no different to any other a B4, B6 and B8 is the same type of shock regardless of model. What you are saying is the manufacturer that makes the dampers are wrong, the catalogue from the manufacturer is wrong even though its there in black and white with no specific notes saying otherwise. Because the E30 is something special? Maybe the dampers that bilstien make for BMW may have different specs but Bilstein themselves dont list anything special.
http://web1.carparts-cat.com/default.as ... 004&12=130
Sorry, you are the wrong one and I would rather trust the manufactures own data and catalogues in black and white than anyother source or hearsay from a forum.

Arsen_Design wrote:Has anyone got photos of their cars lowered on B6 or B8s ???

There is too many mixed messages on what is the right choice!

Shock absorbers don't affect stationary ride height.

Arsen_Design wrote:Has anyone got photos of their cars lowered on B6 or B8s ???

There is too many mixed messages on what is the right choice!

Fitted B6's and Eibach pros to this one on 16's

steve325i wrote:

DanThe wrote:

steve325i wrote: It seem like you are because the noob is questioning you? You are telling me im wrong but all the info you need is on the Bilstein website so is that wrong too?
http://www.bilstein.de/en-uk/products/h ... lstein-b6/
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performan ... -absorbers


http://www.bilstein.de/en-uk/products/h ... lstein-b8/
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performan ... ont-insert
On the info it even says that the B8 is the shortened one for lowering. I dont think Bilstien would change that or their designs just for E30 fitment.

Im not getting into a war but I live, eat and breath bilstein. Even my daily derv Passat runs B6's and like I said I sell them to my customers at work.

Yes, the website is wrong! Where is the E30 specific info? Does it exist?
The deamon tweaks site is showing a completely different damper than whats fitted to an e30 even.
What has a passat or any other brand or model got to do with the E30 BTW?
If you do "live, eat and breath bilstein" then your not very good at it

Just search the forum, you will find this topic has been covered many times before and your not the first to get it wrong.

So the manufacturer that makes the dampers are wrong, the catalogue from the manufacturer is wrong even though its there in black and white with no specific notes saying otherwise. Because the E30 is something special? Maybe the dampers that bilstien make for BMW may have different specs but Bilstein themselves dont list anything special.
http://web1.carparts-cat.com/default.as ... 004&12=130
Sorry, you are the wrong one and I would rather trust the manufactures own data and catalogues in black and white than anyother source or hearsay from a forum.

Its very possible BMW specified custom droop and travel values for their B6 damper fitted to early sports and some other models with 51mm and smaller struts (lets not even discuss valving).

I have two B8's at home, one set is short, the other is not. One pair are from BMW MS and other from Bilstein direct. Granted they were bought a very long time ago, its very possible that Bilstein have standardised their product offering.

Andrew

Apologies about the crap photo. But its all I could find on my computer.

Ignore the fact both dampers are not in proportion to each other, simply look at the piston shaft extension on both fronts.



Andrew

Demlotcrew wrote:
Its very possible BMW specified custom droop and travel values for their B6 damper fitted to early sports and some other models with 51mm and smaller struts (lets not even discuss valving).

I have two B8's at home, one set is short, the other is not. One pair are from BMW MS and other from Bilstein direct. Granted they were bought a very long time ago, its very possible that Bilstein have standardised their product offering.

Andrew

Spot on, you seem to get what im saying. You now cannot buy a shortened upgraded B6 for an E30 from Bilstein.
The whole topic just seems to have got complicated as they only do B2, B4 B6 and B8 for an E30. What they are Bilstein clearly say on their own website. What you buy from BMW may be different, but thats not what was being asked by the OP.
Im not trying to be pedantic or cause trouble as I like it here but all the info is out there and I dont like being dismissed out of hand.

The interesting thing is, my photo on the last page shows dampers not bought from BMW, but were sources from the Bilstein reseller network.

Andrew

Arsen_Design wrote:Has anyone got photos of their cars lowered on B6 or B8s ???

There is too many mixed messages on what is the right choice!

Here's a thread with my Touring, with some pics of it on B6s, if it helps you:

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... te&start=0

Demlotcrew wrote:The interesting thing is, my photo on the last page shows dampers not bought from BMW, but were sources from the Bilstein reseller network.

Andrew

Like you said, they have simplified the range. I can see they are aftermarket as the ones from BMW dont have any stickers on them.

Hi All,

Yes I understand that shocks dont affect the ride height, I just assume that if people put new shocks they putting them to still have suspension ;) (even when car is lowered)
Idea was to see how low are the cars running B6/B8 shocks, I could sort of work out then what would be a good choice.

@Demlotcrew and DanThe, do you say that B6 are better for a lowered cars then?

As you can see my car isnt 'slammed', but I want to be sure I dont ride on the bumpstops.

Michal

High Pressure Mono Tube Gas Dampers actually raise the car and add to the over all spring rate. So dampers do affect the ride height, you are not too far off asking to see photos.

I think that the shorter 45mm Bilstein inverted dampers are best suited for a lowered road E30. For track you want a larger body damper, so the 51mm short travel inverted damper is better suited.

Bare in mind of the road surface conditions in the UK.

Andrew

@Andrew - as its a 325i I have larger diameter struts, which mean Im looking at 51mm.
All I need to work out is what will allow me to ride comfy with car being at the same height as it is.

Heres another image:



Thanks,
m.

The thinner B6's will also fit the 51mm strut.

I really cant help with ride quality, but with those large profile tyres you could get away with the inverted B6's/B8's.

I would also investigate Sachs Sport Gas dampers.

Andrew

Front tyres will match rears in next 2 weeks
So they will be 195/50/15...

Excellent set of used B6's for sale here