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Best shocks for OE sport feel
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01-24-2012, 09:13 PM | #1 |
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Best shocks for OE sport feel
At 101k miles on stock suspension and it feels like new shocks are not too far away. Id love to get something that just replicates the stock OE sport suspension. 2007 e92 335i. Sounds loke bilstein and konis are good options? Thanks guys
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01-24-2012, 10:32 PM | #3 |
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A lightly used set of sport shocks will give you the exact same feel and cost you a lot less.
Konis and bilsteins will give a significant upgrade from stock.
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01-24-2012, 10:40 PM | #4 |
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Yes, used shocks are the best deal. 2nd best deal: Sachs OEM replacement shocks, or Bilstein B4 "Touring Class" shocks. These are all aimed at people who just want to replace their shocks with the same thing.
Bilstein HD or Koni Sport are much better made, last longer, and will give you a slightly stiffer and better ride.
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2007 328i ZSP. M3 suspension: custom valved Bilstein shocks, Hyperco race springs, M3 lower control arms front and rear, M3 sway bars, and M3 subframe bushings. E46 front guide supports. Euro tail lights.
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01-25-2012, 08:48 AM | #5 |
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I went with Koni FSDs from HP AutoWerkes after talking with Harold. As my car isn't tracked, I kept the OEM sport springs, and didn't see the need to go to Koni Yellows.
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01-25-2012, 12:34 PM | #6 |
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Good choice. I'n not a fan of Bilsteins - too harsh especially on bumpy roads. They use a LOT of gas pressure and compression damping. They're more suited to smooth roads or for people who don't care about the harsh performance over bumps. I've had customers put them on and then ask us to take them back off after just a few months.
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01-25-2012, 02:51 PM | #7 | |
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I want to caution people from drawing conclusions from a few customers' experiences. When customers install HDs they often combine with lowering springs, and when they do that they often slam the car and combine that with ultra low sidewall tires and extremely heavy wheels. It's not a good recipe for a suspension. But, I have no idea if that explains these customers' experiences. Maybe they're just used to softer suspensions, who knows. There are, I don't know, maybe a hundred reviews on Tire Rack where people are perfectly happy after installing HDs on their car, some of them BMWs and some of them not. Many of these people have no real expectation or desire for performance, and they are perfectly happy with HDs. These shocks are designed to be, and are, high quality replacements for original equipment. Bilstein makes bones about high performance but the difference is small. HDs have been the go-to shock for BMWs for decades. They are almost universally liked as a replacement for OE. Check out Roundel magazine. I have HDs intended for the M3, so that's *two* steps up in bump damping from OE sport, and it's softer than my E36 non-sport. Finally, the high gas pressure adds maybe 2# to the spring rate, and has a negligible effect on bump resistance. The gas has nothing to do with the resistance properties of the shock; resistance is effected by forcing oil through small holes. The gas serves to keep the oil under pressure so that it doesn't foam up, and the only side effect is the 2# air spring, which as I said you're not going to feel. -Luckyu, resident Bilstein apologist P.S. I do not sell Bilstein or Koni or any other shock.
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2007 328i ZSP. M3 suspension: custom valved Bilstein shocks, Hyperco race springs, M3 lower control arms front and rear, M3 sway bars, and M3 subframe bushings. E46 front guide supports. Euro tail lights.
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01-25-2012, 03:05 PM | #8 | |
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And if I were to go with the new BMW perf. suspn. including front sway on Tischer, how would you compare it to HD's? From me coming from a non-sport, 18inch squared non-RFT's, 40 profile all around. Then eventually going to 19s staggered, non-RFT's 35 front, 30 rear, about 25lbs per wheel.
This is ultimately my first and last susp. set up for my E90. And I'm at 50,100 miles. At this rate should I be replacing any other stock parts, end links, arms, bushings, anything that is potentially worn and could be worn out faster with newer parts installed. I just came from an indy shop to inspect my susp., it "looks" tip top, handles the same as it ever did. Quote:
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01-25-2012, 05:03 PM | #9 | |
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What springs do you propose using with the HDs... sport springs? HDs with sport springs would be analogous to what I have, maybe 15% less stiff. I think it will feel very good. The new perf kit, shocks + springs, will also be good. I don't think you can go wrong with either of these options. If I have to guess, the HDs with sport springs will be better damped. I don't have direct experience with the new performance kit. Front tension struts and rear shock mounts (upper) may be worth changing now. At 50K they're not worn out, but it saves you going back at 80K. RSMs especially are cheap and you save 100% labor by doing it now. This is based on data from others, not my personal experience. You probably don't want to know about all the other rubber stuff that's wearing out down there!
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2007 328i ZSP. M3 suspension: custom valved Bilstein shocks, Hyperco race springs, M3 lower control arms front and rear, M3 sway bars, and M3 subframe bushings. E46 front guide supports. Euro tail lights.
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01-25-2012, 07:12 PM | #10 |
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Ok...decided to go with bilstein hd. Thanks for the responses guys.
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01-26-2012, 12:31 PM | #11 |
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Good choice! I put HDs in my E91(Xi) last summer and could not be more pleased. When I ordered in April there were no HDs available and I had to wait until around August to finally get a complete set. Bilstein was pretty much the only option for an aftermarket shock/strut (for an Xi Wagon) that maintained factory ride height. With high mileage ( I was at ~100K) I would recommend replacing all the mount components as well just to make the install bullet proof. I've got about 5K miles, an autocross and a winter road rally on the HDs since the install and no clunks, thumps etc...
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01-26-2012, 12:35 PM | #12 |
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+1 on Koni FSD's on stock sport springs. If you still want a close stock feel but more performance, go with Koni Yellow + Eibach springs.
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01-27-2012, 07:53 AM | #13 | |
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We have some pretty crappy, poorly maintained roads here in Northern VA, and YMMV. Gas pressure absolutely increases harshness on a damper. Gas force is (relatively) constant and requires a bump to exceed the gas force to get the suspension moving, which is why we tune dampers with proper compression characteristics to reduce gas pressure yet prevent cavitation. This is also why the most expensive dampers are "through-rod" where gas pressure has no effect on gas force - it is zero. I'm a soft damper / soft spring guy, even for full out race cars. I've used Bilsteins in the past for many years, but I have not been happy with them lately. They have toned it down in the past, but still not to my liking.
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01-27-2012, 01:24 PM | #14 | |||
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2007 328i ZSP. M3 suspension: custom valved Bilstein shocks, Hyperco race springs, M3 lower control arms front and rear, M3 sway bars, and M3 subframe bushings. E46 front guide supports. Euro tail lights.
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01-27-2012, 02:07 PM | #15 | |
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I wouldn't mind you telling me what should be replaced, as long as I can change it and keep it rideable for the long haul and it keeps the wife and baby happy in the backseat.
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01-27-2012, 04:09 PM | #16 | |
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But they might not. And, they're very expensive to change (at least $800), unless you're already installing a rear sway bar. So I would leave them be. If you do change them, switch to the M3 bushings. So I would recommend the tension strut and the rear shock mount, and I would upgrade to the Meyle HD tension strut. That will be a little better and the baby can still experience a smooth ride...
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2007 328i ZSP. M3 suspension: custom valved Bilstein shocks, Hyperco race springs, M3 lower control arms front and rear, M3 sway bars, and M3 subframe bushings. E46 front guide supports. Euro tail lights.
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01-27-2012, 04:30 PM | #17 | |
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10-19-2018, 06:20 PM | #18 | |
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10-19-2018, 06:46 PM | #19 | |
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10-19-2018, 09:58 PM | #20 | ||
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10-21-2018, 04:55 AM | #21 |
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I'm on my 4th car with Bilstein HDs and 3rd BMW with them.
Thy are amazing at high speed. They are terrible around town. I've had HDs on my e90 now for 4 years, and can tell you they ride HARD. NOT good for a family car. I've been driving all over the Northeast with them, living in NYC the last 4 years with them, and now Philly. Wife hates my car. Open road: great and durable In town: harsh, unforgiving, but durable Oh yeah, great performance from a shock, but don't kid yourselves. They ride hard. Period. The 4 cars that had them: 2000 TransAm 6 Speed 1974 2002 Tii 1998 740iL 2009 328i 6 speed (original sport springs) |
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02-13-2019, 07:19 PM | #22 | ||
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