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      05-30-2015, 10:07 PM   #243
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I got a question for everyone that has installed new shocks.
Do you guys also install new front strut & rear shock mounts when you put new shocks on your cars? I thought the OEM rubber in the strut/shock mounts don't last too long and need to be replaced, usually when the shocks are blown. No?

Are most of you installing just the struts/shocks with the old mounts? My neighbor had a clunking sounds in his '10 328i and it was 1 of the the front upper shock mounts and he only has 45k mi. on his car. Wouldn't it be a good idea to replace the mounts at the time the new shocks are installed?

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      05-31-2015, 12:13 PM   #244
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The front and rear shock mounts should not need to be replaced. The reason some people like me did, is the XI tophats don't work with the lowering perches. The I tophat works on our cars and are made the same as XI, the difference is the I tophat is narrower. The ride issue is not the tophat, but the lower perch taking away 1/2" of travel. This will keep you on your bump stops.
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      02-23-2016, 07:22 PM   #245
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Planning to do this upgrade. What is the consensus on bump stops with eibach+bilstein B8 on e90 xdrive 335? I have read a bunch of other articles with cut/don't cut, stock/e36M3 replacement. You guys seem to be on the same page as me. AWD addict, what did you use/do for your bump stops? Ajsalida, what do you think?
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      03-02-2016, 11:20 AM   #246
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jezzy View Post
Well..
Here's my review of my bilstein sport and eibach pros after 3 days of driving. Mind you I only have the fronts installed at the moment. The stance is great. I'll take pictures once I wash the car. But yes..indeed much firmer. You do feel every crack in the road. A good jarring ride with bad roads here in Montreal. I've had coilovers before (white line g4's) and ground control with tokico adjustables etc.. This is indeed the firmest I've run. Perphaps next step would be Koni adjustable. We'll see. I think the drop is perfect. I wouldn't want lower. Hence coilovers are out of the question. . and I want something durable!

Can I live with it now? Hmm.. I cringe at every bad spot on the road. Not sure that's what I want at 38 years of age with 2 boys in the back. Maybe I'll just run stock shocks and lowering springs!

My car : 2006 325 xi wagon
Bilstein sports
Eibach pro for e93 2099-140 1.8" front and 0.6" rear
I top hats
I supreme lowering perches
18" staggered Fast wheels. Nothing special but doesFalcob.
Falken azenis 235 / 40 / 18 front and 265 / 35 / 18 rear
Running 50psi
Just my $0.02:

You're running a setup not made for your car, different top hats, lowering perches that remove piston travel, 50 psi in your rubber, and you've only done the fronts. Dude. Did you expect to just get lucky and have that setup make sense or feel good? This isn't a honda civic. It's a tightly engineered machine.

If you want good results, you have to be a bit more thoughtful, and most importantly, complete the job before you decide if it's working!

Also, because you only did half a lowering, you probably altered the drivetrain alignment, which is causing your AWD issues.
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      03-02-2016, 07:02 PM   #247
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AWD Addict View Post
Just my $0.02:

You're running a setup not made for your car, different top hats, lowering perches that remove piston travel, 50 psi in your rubber, and you've only done the fronts. Dude. Did you expect to just get lucky and have that setup make sense or feel good? This isn't a honda civic. It's a tightly engineered machine.

If you want good results, you have to be a bit more thoughtful, and most importantly, complete the job before you decide if it's working!

Also, because you only did half a lowering, you probably altered the drivetrain alignment, which is causing your AWD issues.
You check the date on that post?
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      03-04-2016, 08:17 AM   #248
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      03-07-2016, 07:43 PM   #249
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I have a 2011 335 xdrive msport... I think I would like also to plant it better do it's flatter around curves

So what's the verdict? Eibach and Bilstein?

If only shocks upgrade then what? ..

I did Bilstein and Eibach on my ls1 TA.. That thing hanflef awesome.. I was 10 years younger though lol
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      03-08-2016, 02:42 PM   #250
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If you're sticking with stock ride-height, just upgrade the shocks/struts. Bilstein HD.

If you're going to lower, You'll want the Bilstein sports, and springs. Eibach are reviewed as softer, and less harsh. Both will give a nice sport feel, and even though it's a fat pig, I thought it felt pretty good on the autox course, all else considered.

Even with Eibachs, however, you'll become pretty adept at avoiding potholes. But I daily drive mine around Boston, where the roads are trash, and I haven't ditched them.
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      03-08-2016, 04:01 PM   #251
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AWD Addict
If you're sticking with stock ride-height, just upgrade the shocks/struts. Bilstein HD.

If you're going to lower, You'll want the Bilstein sports, and springs. Eibach are reviewed as softer, and less harsh. Both will give a nice sport feel, and even though it's a fat pig, I thought it felt pretty good on the autox course, all else considered.

Even with Eibachs, however, you'll become pretty adept at avoiding potholes. But I daily drive mine around Boston, where the roads are trash, and I haven't ditched them.
I agree completely. I'm three weeks in with my B12 kit (Bilstein B8/Eibach prokit) and I love it. We have awful roads up here in Edmonton, especially in springtime, and it handles them well. Much more adept at avoiding potholes, but maybe even more adept at handling those I can't avoid.
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      03-10-2016, 08:06 AM   #252
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AWD Addict - thanks for your posts and experience/comments about the new suspension setup. My car is '11 335xi sedan with a 6 speed and Dinan S/W and about 55K miles, plenty of motor and awesome traction even with the POS run flats, but it drives like a Buick... My other car is E46 M3, so probably unfair to compare the two.

I live up on the North Shore and work in Lynn - so same lousy roads you have to deal with and I also need this car to be my "company" car when I have to take folks out to dinner, etc so it needs to be reasonable ride - but hoping to make it more fun along the way - and drive like a BMW should!

Just to understand your setup - you purchased the Eibach Pro Spring Kit for a 335i and the Bilstein Sport struts and shocks for the 335xi?

My plans are to pickup some decent non-run flat tires (staying with stock 245/45-17 sizes), change out the shocks to Bilsteins (and now maybe springs too) and put in a set of UUC swaybars for the xi. I've found the Bilstein xi shocks at Bav Auto and it looks like they have the Eibach Pro-kit for the base 335i too, Turner Motorsport has the UUC bars for the xi.

I appreciate your feedback - thx

Dan
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      03-10-2016, 11:09 AM   #253
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nosewheelie View Post
AWD Addict - thanks for your posts and experience/comments about the new suspension setup. My car is '11 335xi sedan with a 6 speed and Dinan S/W and about 55K miles, plenty of motor and awesome traction even with the POS run flats, but it drives like a Buick... My other car is E46 M3, so probably unfair to compare the two.

I live up on the North Shore and work in Lynn - so same lousy roads you have to deal with and I also need this car to be my "company" car when I have to take folks out to dinner, etc so it needs to be reasonable ride - but hoping to make it more fun along the way - and drive like a BMW should!

Just to understand your setup - you purchased the Eibach Pro Spring Kit for a 335i and the Bilstein Sport struts and shocks for the 335xi?

My plans are to pickup some decent non-run flat tires (staying with stock 245/45-17 sizes), change out the shocks to Bilsteins (and now maybe springs too) and put in a set of UUC swaybars for the xi. I've found the Bilstein xi shocks at Bav Auto and it looks like they have the Eibach Pro-kit for the base 335i too, Turner Motorsport has the UUC bars for the xi.

I appreciate your feedback - thx

Dan
Rwd 335i springs with xi bilstein b8's.

This setup with non-runflats tires, rides better than stock suspension and runflat tires.
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      03-10-2016, 11:22 AM   #254
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Heel Toe View Post
Rwd 335i springs with xi bilstein b8's.

This setup with non-runflats tires, rides better than stock suspension and runflat tires.
Perfect - thanks!!

My car has 55K miles, I was planning to just replace rubber items for rear shocks and leave front end hardware alone.

I see (Bav Auto) sells different rear shock install kits for stock vs sport suspension. Does anyone know the difference?
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      03-10-2016, 12:02 PM   #255
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nosewheelie View Post
Perfect - thanks!!

My car has 55K miles, I was planning to just replace rubber items for rear shocks and leave front end hardware alone.

I see (Bav Auto) sells different rear shock install kits for stock vs sport suspension. Does anyone know the difference?
You really shouldn't need an install kit, especially at 55k. I installed mine at 90k miles and used the old mounting parts. The rear shocks come with new bump stops, boot, washers, and the other things that mount on the shaft. The front have internal bump stop so the old ones aren't reused either.
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      03-10-2016, 12:30 PM   #256
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Apparently can't delete post, just edit it. If you saw my previous, ignore it. Obviously I didn't read your previous lost well enough.
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      03-10-2016, 06:13 PM   #257
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AWD Addict View Post
If you're sticking with stock ride-height, just upgrade the shocks/struts. Bilstein HD.

If you're going to lower, You'll want the Bilstein sports, and springs. Eibach are reviewed as softer, and less harsh. Both will give a nice sport feel, and even though it's a fat pig, I thought it felt pretty good on the autox course, all else considered.

Even with Eibachs, however, you'll become pretty adept at avoiding potholes. But I daily drive mine around Boston, where the roads are trash, and I haven't ditched them.

Where did you buy your setup? Right now it looks like Bav Auto for springs & shocks - would be great to find a kit price... Thx
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      03-11-2016, 10:56 AM   #258
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Turner or Bav Auto. Forget.
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      03-21-2016, 08:28 PM   #259
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So if i went with the bildtein HD for my 2011 Xdrive 335, would i be happy with a vastly improved planted, flatter ride?

I was cooking on the way home from work today, you know how quick you get up there lets just say between 60 and 100- and i was so annoyed how floaty the damn car feels at higher speed!

I had KONI yellows and eibach pros on my trans am a decade ago- was insane on the highway at high speed- i remember when i first got in it after the swap, i was upset because it felt so damn firm and low- but i got use to it quick and loved the firmer feeling.

As for my 335- im not too bent over the ride height- so im seriously contemplating just the Bilsteins HD- but wondering if I should just do eibach pros and bilsteins...
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      04-01-2016, 08:35 PM   #260
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Herakles View Post
So if i went with the bildtein HD for my 2011 Xdrive 335, would i be happy with a vastly improved planted, flatter ride?

I was cooking on the way home from work today, you know how quick you get up there lets just say between 60 and 100- and i was so annoyed how floaty the damn car feels at higher speed!

I had KONI yellows and eibach pros on my trans am a decade ago- was insane on the highway at high speed- i remember when i first got in it after the swap, i was upset because it felt so damn firm and low- but i got use to it quick and loved the firmer feeling.

As for my 335- im not too bent over the ride height- so im seriously contemplating just the Bilsteins HD- but wondering if I should just do eibach pros and bilsteins...

So I pulled the trigger and jumped on recent Koni 20% off sale and bought Koni sports for xi, 335i eibach springs and UUC F&R swaybars for xi. I am still a few weeks away from install (working though bugs on my E46 M3 suspension upgrade) but will report back on setup when done.
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      04-01-2016, 08:39 PM   #261
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Agree with your comment on floaty! Just changed to Michelin Pilot Super Sports and that solved a lot of the problem, but car is WAY under damped. I think BMW over compensated with dampers match to run flats. Today was first ride in my M3 in a while and totally forgot how fast I was going when in 335 there is so much torque (I have Dinan S/W) but feels like Buick at speed - don't enjoy driving it over 80 MPH...
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      04-02-2016, 08:17 AM   #262
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nosewheelie View Post
Agree with your comment on floaty! Just changed to Michelin Pilot Super Sports and that solved a lot of the problem, but car is WAY under damped. I think BMW over compensated with dampers match to run flats. Today was first ride in my M3 in a while and totally forgot how fast I was going when in 335 there is so much torque (I have Dinan S/W) but feels like Buick at speed - don't enjoy driving it over 80 MPH...
Yeah I researched and shopped extensively for my 335 - and really missed the fine print on how these drives feel at speed -

This is a great thread - I'm either doing eibach and bilstein or just bilstein hd
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      04-02-2016, 08:38 AM   #263
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Just my 2 cents, I had Bilstein's for a year and never liked how they felt. They did not have enough rebound dampening. I ended up buying the Koni adjustable's and love them. I highly recommend getting the Koni's.
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      04-02-2016, 03:34 PM   #264
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Just curious do you have your konis adjusted to full soft ?

The fronts are adjustable but the tears from what I remember you adjust but can't adjust without taking them off again right ?

I kinda didn't want to bother with the adjustable ones I had them on my trans am and just had them set I. The middle
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