B6 or B8 dampers for a 325i

[eta]

http://www.dcperformance.co.uk/cheap/18 ... -0332.html

This link says otherwise. I have found the same on balance motorsport and also from evolve. Therefore I wnat to know who is right to avoid spreading mis information.

[Simon13]

they must be right then eta

[DanThe]

'spam'

[Royalratch]

The reason this is confusing is because the Bilstein model names are set up to denote progressively harder / more performance based product.

B4 = Stock.
B6 = Performance.
B8 = More Performance.
B10/12 - Race/Track.
Then Coilovers etc.

So why would the B6 randomly be shorter / harder in the low/middle of the range?

Bilsteins own website B6 text does not concur with the posts here:

'If you expect more damping power from your shock absorber ”“ even under loads ”“ but don’t want to opt for an all-out sports model, the BILSTEIN B6 is the ideal solution.'



And B8:


'What lowering or sport springs are to aesthetics, BILSTEIN B8 is to performance!
Shortened high-performance shock absorbers for virtually every lowering spring set and series production sport vehicles

[eta]

Royalratch, that what I thought which is why it needs clarifying. B6's for stock springs (but it copes well with small drops) and B8's for lowered cars.

[Morat]

B12 is the kit containing Eibach -35mm springs and Bilstein B8s

Here

[Royalratch]

The B6 B8 thing is not cleared up here in my mind.

To confuse things further, there are 3 flavours of B6

[magpie]

how do you tell b8 from b6? i've had b4's and know they are the blackuns.and most comfy.

the rear ones i have are yellow with a blue oblong logo and black dust covers.also say bmw..?

[DanThe]

Just incase Barrys post is invisible.......

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

[magpie]

rears?^

[Royalratch]

DanThe.

Did you read my extract from the Bilstein site?

[sweep]

Where is the best place for me to get some b8's from?

[E30BeemerLad]

Eurocarparts are the UK importers for Bilstein stuff, so worth a punt there Pete

[Andyboy]

M Technic dampers are either yellow Bilsteins or Boge gas. Both have shorter damper rods than the standard shocks because they are mated to shorter springs.
Bilstein B4's aren't a bad damper at all but not as good as Boge M Technic. But they are cheap and cheerful and work well enough. The best damper would be the short Bilstein B6 for serious use, but as an everyday car in Sheffield - which has the worst roads in the Universe - B4's or Boge would be better.
The B6's are indeed inverted meaning they have the big thick damper rods and internal bump stops. These have no damper rod flex whereas the standard damper rods can flex a tad under very hard use. If you use B4's, also use E36 Coupe bump stops as these are slightly shorter meaning less contacting the bump stops and a better ride.
To sharpen up the handling, invest in a pair of Eibach anti roll bars which are much more beneficial than silly hard springs and shocks.

[DanThe]

DanThe.

Did you read my extract from the Bilstein site?

No..

[e30topless]

I had standard mtec on the IS before going for B4's which are a hell of a lot stiffer so i would have thought the B8's would be stiffer still.

aren't B4's standard M'tech spec ?

[Kos]

Firmer than stock but how does a B8 compare to MTEC???

I had standard mtec on the IS before going for B4's which are a hell of a lot stiffer so i would have thought the B8's would be stiffer still.

Out of intrest whats the going rate for B8's if they are alot more expensive than B4's surely coil overs would be a better bet

good coilovers will cost a lot more than B6&B8's

[bss325i]

I had standard mtec on the IS before going for B4's which are a hell of a lot stiffer so i would have thought the B8's would be stiffer still.

aren't B4's standard M'tech spec ?

Nope.

Pre '88 M technic suspension uses yellow Bilstein B6's

Post '88 M technic suspension uses yellow Boge gas shocks.

[eta]

Well those b6's are shorter than the B8's but the b6's I have in my car are longer than the B8's by information available to use from the bilstein website and their dealers.

[Simon13]

and your car in question is an e28 not an e30?

[bss325i]

This is a pic of a brand new front B8 compared to a used front BOGE M technic damper.

The BOGE damper is compressed in this pic but when it was fully extended it was near engough the same length.

On my car now are B8's front and rear and Eibach 35mm springs. The ride is not much stiffer than the original M technic suspension.

[eta]

The point I am making is that the bilstein site and other say that B6's are for standard ride height. It doesnot matter what car. I find it difficult to reconcile the pictures above with what bilstein say.

http://www.bilstein.de/products/high-pe ... in-b6.html
"If you expect more damping power from your shock absorber ”“ even under loads ”“ but don’t want to opt for an all-out sports model, the BILSTEIN B6 is the ideal solution.
The product benefits at a glance:

* Increased power reserves and service life, even when pulling transporters and trailers or during frequent journeys with loads
* Optimum adhesion and enhanced lane change stability in both day-to-day and extreme situations
* Marked improvement in safety and sportiness without additional spring changes (lowering)
* Gas pressure technology
* BILSTEIN mono-tube/Upside-Down technology, made in Germany
* Road-tested by BILSTEIN and fine-tuned
* No German TÃaV registration required"
Not designed to take lowering springs (although they will accept a small drop)

http://www.bilstein.de/products/high-pe ... in-b8.html
"What lowering or sport springs are to aesthetics, BILSTEIN B8 is to performance!
The product benefits at a glance:

* Shortened high-performance shock absorbers for virtually every lowering spring set and series production sport vehicles
* Sporty approach with high level of comfort
* Precision handling and optimised vehicle control
* Gas pressure technology
* BILSTEIN mono-tube/Upside-Down technology, made in Germany
* Road-tested by BILSTEIN and fine-tuned"

Designed for lowering springs so are shorter than B6's.

[DanThe]

Are saying we are all wrong?

[CaesarBob]

Are saying we are all wrong?

Surely Bilstein are the most reliable source of information?

[DanThe]

You would like to think that, but they are wrong.

If you still dont believe the facts all I can say is order yourself a pair of B8's, a pair of B6's and then post your results/have a moan about how wrong bistein are, get ratch to chip in with some top notch slander etc..

[magpie]

I had standard mtec on the IS before going for B4's which are a hell of a lot stiffer so i would have thought the B8's would be stiffer still.

aren't B4's standard M'tech spec ?

Nope.

Pre '88 M technic suspension uses yellow Bilstein B6's

Post '88 M technic suspension uses yellow Boge gas shocks.

i have bought some b6 then

[Ziggy]

I'm sure I remember mention of a full-length B6 as well as the more common shorter one? Ring any bells with anyone?

[Ziggy]

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=78768

[Blitz]

What Bilsteins are most suited to a cabby?

[Ziggy]

What Bilsteins are most suited to a cabby?

Depends on what ride height you want & what your preferences are as to comfort vs handling. Same as for a tin-top! Only additional factor is that harder shocks will probably mean more scuttle shake.

[Blitz]

What Bilsteins are most suited to a cabby?

Depends on what ride height you want & what your preferences are as to comfort vs handling. Same as for a tin-top! Only additional factor is that harder shocks will probably mean more scuttle shake.

35mm. Maybe the softer shock is better.

[CaesarBob]

You would like to think that, but they are wrong.

If you still dont believe the facts all I can say is order yourself a pair of B8's, a pair of B6's and then post your results/have a moan about how wrong bistein are, get ratch to chip in with some top notch slander etc..

Fair enough. I have no experience on the subject yet and on that basis i'll watch this thread until it's resolved, by someone else.

You can understand the confusion tho if the manufacturers aren't to be believed.

[eta]

I am now begining to understand they offer short and long versions of their dampers after re reading the thread and other threads. I must have bought the short fat B6's for mine (as mine have internal bump stops). Its a shame the bilstein site does not make this clear.

[magpie]

all this shorter shox and - 60mm springs looks good but it'll rattle your fillings out on a daily basis.

boge turbo are good for every day driving maybe even better than b4's if i dare to say

[MattTheHat325]

got to say i've also been confused by all this, i replaced all the suspension and most of the components related to it not long back. bilstein told me that for a lowered car the b8 is the weapon of choice because its designed for such applications. following the advice of one of the biggest and long standing manufacturers of suspension in the world, i bought a set of b8's. i fitted them along with weitec 60mm lowering springs, new front top mounts, new e46 m3 cab rears with z3 plates, new wishbones, wishbone bushes, anti roll bar bushes and lollipops and a pair of 15mm drop hats on the front. so my car is effectively 75mm down on the front and 60mm on the back. ok shoot me, but i use it every day for work which is a 50 mile round trip on not so well kept B roads. yeah its stiff but its smooth as you like and is absolutely planted in the twisties at pretty high speed. my billies and my weitecs get on like a house on fire and i don't think the drive has lost any of its BMWness.
my point is, i'm not saying anybody is right or wrong but i'm running a substantial drop using b8's and have had no problems whatsoever! I guess its down to personal taste and how you want you're car to feel, but both my mum and my nana go in my e30 regularly and neither have complained about the ride! (just the angle of the car on a roundabout )