E90Post
 


Coby Wheel
 
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Suspension | Brakes | Chassis > Bilstein HDs and suspension installs



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      10-24-2014, 08:35 AM   #1
rothwem
Major
United_States
472
Rep
1,189
Posts

Drives: 2009 BMW 328i Wagon
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Asheville, NC

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2009 BMW 328i  [0.00]
Bilstein HDs and suspension installs

All,

I just installed Bilstein HDs on my 145,000 mile E90 with OEM sport springs. I also replaced all the mounts too. I'm not in love with how it rides. It absorbs big hits really well, but the small-bump compliance is awful. I feel every single little ripple in the road. Will this break in?

I also used the bump stops that came with the rear shocks. Should I have used OEM bump stops? I have them still, and they fit just fine.
Appreciate 0
      10-24-2014, 09:14 AM   #2
Timujin
Major
Timujin's Avatar
352
Rep
1,005
Posts

Drives: GMC Sierra
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: California

iTrader: (9)

Garage List
2010 BMW M3  [0.00]
I've had HDs in the past and they are stiff when new. They will soften up some, but will remain firm.
__________________
We grow food to feed the animals so we can eat the animals
Appreciate 0
      10-24-2014, 09:48 AM   #3
Spitfire007
Captain
Spitfire007's Avatar
189
Rep
682
Posts

Drives: 09 328i Sport 6MT
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Baltimore, MD

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2009 BMW 328i  [0.00]
I had bilsteins on an e38. Was shocked at first at how I felt every little imperfection.
It got really really smooth after 3000 miles, not harsh at all, and that was with Eibach springs as well. Loved it, would do it again.

Considering doing this for the e90 but keeping the OEM sport springs like you
Appreciate 0
      10-24-2014, 03:45 PM   #4
cdgatti
Colonel
cdgatti's Avatar
254
Rep
2,547
Posts

Drives: e90 328i
Join Date: May 2011
Location: KY

iTrader: (4)

Yea give it a month it will really smooth out. I thought my HD's made my car feel almost brittle at first, now I love them. The car is invincible with these shocks. Also yes use the supplied bumpstops with the rear bilsteins. The front bumpstops are internal with the bilsteins. The rear bumpstops go underneath the blue dustcovers.

I am on non-run flats and recommend those that are still on run flats to get rid of them before switching to stiffer struts or springs.
Appreciate 0
      10-26-2014, 06:49 AM   #5
CSBM5
Brigadier General
CSBM5's Avatar
2666
Rep
3,303
Posts

Drives: 2019 M2 Comp, 2011 M3, etc
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Greenville, SC

iTrader: (2)

Have had the HDs on the 330i now for about 2k miles, and they're amazing over stuff you normally avoid but sometimes hit like depressed manhole covers. That would make the car *bang* across it with the stock ZSP shocks, but the Bilsteins just absorb it smoothly. I think a lot of the what the OP is referring to is that they feel a bit jiggly at times on "regular" pavement; conversely steering response (initial turn-in) is greatly improved as I think our stock shocks were shot in that range of damper movement. After 123k miles, the stockers were wasted.

I think a good bit of that jiggly feeling is related to the run flat tire sidewall stiffness vs the increased damping rate of the Bilsteins at slow shock piston velocities (i.e. 2-4 in/sec range). If this car had non-runflats on it, it would probably not exhibit that feeling with the Bilsteins (using Michelin PS2 ZP tires here).

FWIW, they raised the ride height by just over 1/4" all around (measured initially after install and then again after 2k miles, no change) on this 2006 330i with ZSP.
__________________
Current Stable:
2024 G20 M340i Melbourne Red/Cognac
2019 F87 M2 Competition 6MT, LBB, slicktop, exec pkg
2007 E91 328i Silver, slushbox, Eibach fr/E93 M3 rear sway bars, ARC-8
Appreciate 0
      10-28-2014, 09:11 AM   #6
rothwem
Major
United_States
472
Rep
1,189
Posts

Drives: 2009 BMW 328i Wagon
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Asheville, NC

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2009 BMW 328i  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by CSBM5 View Post
Have had the HDs on the 330i now for about 2k miles, and they're amazing over stuff you normally avoid but sometimes hit like depressed manhole covers. That would make the car *bang* across it with the stock ZSP shocks, but the Bilsteins just absorb it smoothly. I think a lot of the what the OP is referring to is that they feel a bit jiggly at times on "regular" pavement; conversely steering response (initial turn-in) is greatly improved as I think our stock shocks were shot in that range of damper movement. After 123k miles, the stockers were wasted.

I think a good bit of that jiggly feeling is related to the run flat tire sidewall stiffness vs the increased damping rate of the Bilsteins at slow shock piston velocities (i.e. 2-4 in/sec range). If this car had non-runflats on it, it would probably not exhibit that feeling with the Bilsteins (using Michelin PS2 ZP tires here).

FWIW, they raised the ride height by just over 1/4" all around (measured initially after install and then again after 2k miles, no change) on this 2006 330i with ZSP.
"Jiggly" is the best way to describe it, I've got no runflats though. Its weird, my dog gets carsick riding in the car now, she was fine before.

On large bumps though, it rides better than the old stock suspension. Soaks them right up. Its like there's stiction in the damper shaft or something.
Appreciate 0
      10-28-2014, 05:33 PM   #7
cdgatti
Colonel
cdgatti's Avatar
254
Rep
2,547
Posts

Drives: e90 328i
Join Date: May 2011
Location: KY

iTrader: (4)

Quote:
Originally Posted by msrothwell View Post
"Jiggly" is the best way to describe it, I've got no runflats though. Its weird, my dog gets carsick riding in the car now, she was fine before.

On large bumps though, it rides better than the old stock suspension. Soaks them right up. Its like there's stiction in the damper shaft or something.
Yes - a couple K miles more!
Appreciate 0
      10-29-2014, 02:32 PM   #8
bavarianx
Colonel
bavarianx's Avatar
United_States
219
Rep
2,103
Posts

Drives: 2006 X5 4.4i
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Orange County, CA

iTrader: (18)

HDs are very nice. If a softer ride is desired, the B4 series Bilstein is an option.
Appreciate 0
      10-29-2014, 03:40 PM   #9
TheSt|G
Resident Tamed Racing Driver
TheSt|G's Avatar
United_States
292
Rep
4,697
Posts

Drives: 911, 130is, E39 M5, E36 M3
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Outside Philly

iTrader: (2)

Welcome to Bilsteins. Arguably a better shock in every way compared to Koni yellows, except that small bump roughness.
__________________
2005 E46 M3 Interlagos/Cinnamon with Sunroof Delete
Appreciate 0
      11-01-2014, 07:01 AM   #10
CSBM5
Brigadier General
CSBM5's Avatar
2666
Rep
3,303
Posts

Drives: 2019 M2 Comp, 2011 M3, etc
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Greenville, SC

iTrader: (2)

Just a thought out of the blue...

You said you replaced all the mounts, so I assume this includes the rear upper mount that goes in from above?

The rear is a more likely source for ride harshness in any car as we're very sensitive to rear damping as humans and perhaps dogs too. When we put the shocks on (this is my wife's car), the new rear mounts I had ordered from BMW Morristown online site hadn't come in yet, so I reused the original mounts with 125k miles on them. Since they're easy to change out (especially with fold-down seats), I swapped in the new ones, and a lot of the jiggle issue abated.

Comparing the two mounts, the original ones were compressed, in the static state, by about 30% of the thickness of the material compared to the new ones. I was also very careful installing the new ones not to over-torque the mount.

Regards,
Chuck
__________________
Current Stable:
2024 G20 M340i Melbourne Red/Cognac
2019 F87 M2 Competition 6MT, LBB, slicktop, exec pkg
2007 E91 328i Silver, slushbox, Eibach fr/E93 M3 rear sway bars, ARC-8
Appreciate 0
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:13 AM.




e90post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST