Bilstein help!

[Brianmoooore]

Just trying to fit a nice set of new B4s to some 51mm front struts, and it won't go together. The threaded retaining ring that holds the inserts in place won't fit down over the end of the B4.
Comparing old with new, the old Boge inserts have a reduced diameter at the top end, whereas the Bilsteins are the same diameter all the way up.
Bilsteins came from Eurocarparts under their part number 625110305, and the number on the inserts is PNE3050.
Can't remember having this problem before!

[daimlerman]

Strange that there is no new locking ring with the new dampers.

[Brianmoooore]

Strange that there is no new locking ring with the new dampers.

It would have to be extremely thin walled if there was.

[StuBeeDoo]

Strange that there is no new locking ring with the new dampers.

It would have to be extremely thin walled if there was.

My B4s came with new lock rings, and IIRC they were pretty flimsy.

[Brianmoooore]

My B4s came with new lock rings, and IIRC they were pretty flimsy.

Came from where?

[StuBeeDoo]

My B4s came with new lock rings, and IIRC they were pretty flimsy.

Came from where?

Was over a year ago now Brian, and IIRC I got them off eBay. They were BNIB though.

[Brianmoooore]

Just dismantled a 51mm strut from another E30, and the lock rings are the same! The smaller E30 struts and E36 51mm struts all have external threads on the struts and an internally threaded lock ring, so the problem doesn't occur with them!

[Brianmoooore]

Must be someone on here other than StuBeeDoo who has fitted B4's!
I've got a car stuck on the ramp with no front suspension, and I need it off ASAP!

[StuBeeDoo]

Must be someone on here other than StuBeeDoo who has fitted B4's!
I've got a car stuck on the ramp with no front suspension, and I need it off ASAP!

I'm sorry it's not really any help Brian, but the new lockrings that came with my new B4s were definitely different to the ones that came off with the old inserts.

[Bob_S]

I put some B8's in my struts and they were supplied with new lock rings aswell..

[Brianmoooore]

I'm sorry it's not really any help Brian, but the new lockrings that came with my new B4s were definitely different to the ones that came off with the old inserts.

There's no way the originals will fit over the B4s, so what I'm trying to establish is whether the new caps should have been in the boxes, or whether they have to be obtained elsewhere, and if so, from where.
The other possibility is that the inserts are the wrong ones, but everything I've researched on the subject suggests the part numbers are correct, and you've said they need different caps as well.

[StuBeeDoo]

so what I'm trying to establish is whether the new caps should have been in the boxes

From my previous experience, I'd say yes they should have been in the boxes.

[Simon13]

Brian i've fitted these shocks before and they use the same style collar nut but have a larger hole for the B4's slightly thicker damper rod.

They should be supplied with the shocks end of

I've fitted various new bilstein dampers before in the past and they always come with a new collar nut for each damper

[e301988325i]

My B8's came with new collars, but s I'm sure you're aware the damper rods are much larger. . .

[Brianmoooore]

The collar nuts will fit over the damper rod of the B4s OK; it's just the threaded part won't fit over the end of the damper!
So the consensus is that new collars should have come with the dampers? Looks like I'll be on the phone to Eurocarparts in the morning.
The rear dampers weren't straightforward, either! The B4s came without the dust cover, and the dampers I removed were non OE, with non removable covers. The covers from a pair of original Boge dampers on one of my scrappers solved this problem though.
All in all, having spent £200 on dampers, I'm more than a little pi**ed off!

[Simon13]

well they're the wrong collar nuts then it sounds to me or the wrong shocks

[e301988325i]

Have a look at ebay item number, 230404141344

[StuBeeDoo]

Have a look at ebay item number, 230404141344

Isn't that B8s?? The upside-down ones?? The rods are almost at thick as the barrels.

It's not a very good picture, but this is from Bilstein's website and the top nut looks exactly the same as the ones on mine.

[Brianmoooore]

The yellow ones are B6 or B8. B4s have a 22mm damper rod, which is only marginally greater than the 20mm of the OE Boge rod.
StuBeeDoo's link above confirms that the part number is correct, and shows the collars that I don't have!
Next step is a call to Eurocarparts to begin the "banging head against a brick wall" process!
Thanks for the replies so far.

[Spike121]

Hi Brian, I my got B4's from ecp the other day, same part numbers as yours and they came supplied with the locking collars, the collars were packed in separate bags inside the shock box.

[Brianmoooore]

^^^^ That's the reply I was looking for!^^^ Thanks very much!
I've phoned ECP, and they've checked a box in the warehouse, and confirmed what you've said.
Replacement dampers are being dispatched as I type, and should be with me tomorrow.

[e301988325i]

Have a look at ebay item number, 230404141344

Isn't that B8s?? The upside-down ones?? The rods are almost at thick as the barrels.

It's not a very good picture, but this is from Bilstein's website and the top nut looks exactly the same as the ones on mine.

Perhaps I should have explained, it shows shocks that aren't reduced in diameter at the top, and when you enlarge the photo you can see the thin walled nuts that were being discussed earlier.

[StuBeeDoo]

Replacement dampers are being dispatched as I type, and should be with me tomorrow.

Glad you're finally getting sorted Brian.
Prepare to be shocked at the flimsiness of those lockrings!

[Brianmoooore]

I know from the measurements of the internal diameter of the strut tube and the external diameter of the B4 insert that they have to be wafer thin at the bottom of the threads.
I need to get this car off my ramp urgently, to get another one on, and it's very difficult to do so with no front struts!
I've spent today assembling the rear suspension and brake lines, etc., and can fill the day tomorrow putting the fuel system back, including the LPG one, so as long as the struts DO turn up tomorrow, there will be no harm done. Front suspension back on Wednesday, and it will be movable.

[e30topless]

this is typical of ECP lately , sending only half the parts needed ...

[Brianmoooore]

I now have one externally threaded collar nut, that fits, and one internally threaded one, that's probably for an E36!
Progress of a kind, I suppose. I can now have a three wheeled E30, instead of a two wheeled one!

[Brianmoooore]

Latest is that I now have a three wheeled E30, and ECP have told me they have no more E30 collar nuts until they get some from Bilstein!
Anyone know anywhere else that supplies B4s?

[e301988325i]

The old zone shop may do them, evo-s.co.uk or similar. Sal, 'M5pilot' on here.

[gareth]

if it's simply a larger bore that's needed, drop a spare in the post and i can turn the bore out a bit to make it fit if that helps?

[gareth]

that's what i was thinking. boring out a standard retainer to accept the larger shock casing. should be easy enough

[Brianmoooore]

The old zone shop may do them, evo-s.co.uk or similar. Sal, 'M5pilot' on here.

Evo-S doesn't have them, but Balance Motorsport and Demon Tweaks do.
Balance want £12 more for each one, possibly plus carriage as well, and I think Demon Tweaks' ones must be gold plated!
I've found an old leg from a scrapper now and put it on as a temporary measure - at least I can get the car off of the ramp now, and do some other urgent work on it.
Hopefully, by the time I finish the other work on the car, the collar nut will have turned up, and I can just build up the leg and swap it in!
Thanks for the offer, Gareth, but the urgency is over now!

[Brianmoooore]

One and a half weeks later, and I now have collar nuts to spare - the one I needed, plus another E30 one, and an E36 version!