Bilstein b4 shock/gaiter

[satvir]

Replacing front shocks a 325i coupe, the previous shock had no sort of boot or protector in place. I'm assuming they're missing?!

Had a look on real oem and I'm confused as to what boot I need:



No.7 or No.8?!

I asked for a quote from cotsworld and also added that I need the boot etc. They came back with Part No. 31 33 1 134 314. Which is No.8 on the diagram and after doing a google image search looks like this:



The above doesn't look like anything from real oem. I was picturing this sort of boot/gaiter:



Can anyone put me in the right direction, as to weather my car needs a boot, and if so, which parts I need from the real oem diagram. The replacement shocks are Bilstein b4's.

Thanks,

Sat

[Buis]

You need 7 or 8, 325i is sport suspension. so need that one from ETK. ( it will say sports suspension)

in the lowest picture, the plastic ring goes on underneeth the big nut on the 51mm tube, and then the bleu boot over it.

[satvir]

You need 7 or 8, 325i is sport suspension. so need that one from ETK. ( it will say sports suspension)

in the lowest picture, the plastic ring goes on underneeth the big nut on the 51mm tube, and then the bleu boot over it.

So number 8 along with existing bump stop?

But how can I need either one? when the no8 looks totally different in the picture when compared to Real oem.

[Buis]

I did bought 4 years ago 31 32 1 128 548 for my 323i, and put it onto 325i shocks from an 87.

That was what you see like the blue boots. but they are black.

Now i have blue, they are on my bilstein b12 kit.

[satvir]

With the "blue" pictured boot, no bump stop is needed?

[Buis]

With the "blue" pictured boot, no bump stop is needed?

I didn't mount it. Also with the new bilstein B12 kit.

It is never going to bump together in the front.

[satvir]

With the "blue" pictured boot, no bump stop is needed?

I didn't mount it. Also with the new bilstein B12 kit.

It is never going to bump together in the front.

Thank Buis, but can anybody else clarify or help.

No. 8 appears as rear shock boot in some cases!? I'm just waiting on this, I have my shocks, just need to order these bits and I can finish the job off.

[Buis]

With the "blue" pictured boot, no bump stop is needed?

I didn't mount it. Also with the new bilstein B12 kit.

It is never going to bump together in the front.

Thank Buis, but can anybody else clarify or help.

No. 8 appears as rear shock boot in some cases!? I'm just waiting on this, I have my shocks, just need to order these bits and I can finish the job off.

I dont know, on the rear: http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E30-2 ... ing_strut/

and then take a look at nr 5 thats for the rear side. the hard plastic

Didnt you get anything with the shocks?

[satvir]

I didn't mount it. Also with the new bilstein B12 kit.

It is never going to bump together in the front.

Thank Buis, but can anybody else clarify or help.

No. 8 appears as rear shock boot in some cases!? I'm just waiting on this, I have my shocks, just need to order these bits and I can finish the job off.

I dont know, on the rear: http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E30-2 ... ing_strut/

and then take a look at nr 5 thats for the rear side. the hard plastic

Didnt you get anything with the shocks?

Shocks have come with new top nut and strut collar.

As mentioned, struts upon removal had no sort of boot/gaiter. Which surely can’t be right?!

I don’t want to fit them now to only have something potentially get in and cause damage etc. to then re do all my work over again.

It’s a job that many people have done, I don’t think I’m particularly asking a difficult or stupid question. Thought more than one Zoner would have replied to me.

[Buis]

Thank Buis, but can anybody else clarify or help.

No. 8 appears as rear shock boot in some cases!? I'm just waiting on this, I have my shocks, just need to order these bits and I can finish the job off.

I dont know, on the rear: http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E30-2 ... ing_strut/

and then take a look at nr 5 thats for the rear side. the hard plastic

Didnt you get anything with the shocks?

Shocks have come with new top nut and strut collar.

As mentioned, struts upon removal had no sort of boot/gaiter. Which surely can’t be right?!

I don’t want to fit them now to only have something potentially get in and cause damage etc. to then re do all my work over again.

It’s a job that many people have done, I don’t think I’m particularly asking a difficult or stupid question. Thought more than one Zoner would have replied to me.

I understand

Just order the parts i named. Doesnt need to be original bmw... it only makes it more expensive.

[satvir]

So no7 alone, without any bumpstop?

[Buis]

So no7 alone, without any bumpstop?

Yes, did it without in front indeed. Rear i ordered a protection kit, febi bilstein i believe.

Maybe wait for a reaction from another zoner? ;)

[blazed]

You can find them on ebay quite easily, lots of sellers and different prices. I think these are the last ones i bought:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FOR-BMW-3-SER ... xyUrZSxuPt

You 'can' leave the bump stops out but personally i would fit them. (you can always trim them if your car is that low??)

[Buis]

You can find them on ebay quite easily, lots of sellers and different prices. I think these are the last ones i bought:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FOR-BMW-3-SER ... xyUrZSxuPt

You 'can' leave the bump stops out but personally i would fit them. (you can always trim them if your car is that low??)

they only fit with the small "bicycle pump" shocks i think?

The rubber boot i mentioned goes from till under the locking collar.

[satvir]

No7 in the diagram (pictured blue style gaiter) is installed WITHOUT bump stop.

No8 in diagram (2nd picture down in original post) is small enough to be installed in conjunction WITH bump stop.

So next question is, do Bilstein B4's have built in bump stops?

Lots of conflicting information on various forums. I'm pretty sure the b6 and b8s have bump stops built into the shock, so the larger looking gaiter (No7) is used.


For a shock without built in bump stop, the black style boot is used along with external bump stop

I doubt I’m going to get any help here as my last few posts have been ignored, so I emailed bilstein themselves asking whether b4’s have built in bump stops and just got ”athey usually do”a as a reply. I thought they would have been able to give a bit more of a concrete answer. So I’m back here. Do Bilstein B4's have built in bump stops?

[Brianmoooore]

B4s need to be fitted with the same covers/stops as the original BMW dampers, front and rear. The dust cover and ESSENTIAL large washer can be reused from the original rear dampers.