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Bilstein HDs and suspension installs
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10-24-2014, 08:35 AM | #1 |
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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. |
10-24-2014, 09:14 AM | #2 |
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I've had HDs in the past and they are stiff when new. They will soften up some, but will remain firm.
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10-24-2014, 09:48 AM | #3 |
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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 |
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10-24-2014, 03:45 PM | #4 |
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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. |
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10-26-2014, 06:49 AM | #5 |
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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.
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10-28-2014, 09:11 AM | #6 | |
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Quote:
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. |
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10-28-2014, 05:33 PM | #7 | |
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10-29-2014, 03:40 PM | #9 |
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Welcome to Bilsteins. Arguably a better shock in every way compared to Koni yellows, except that small bump roughness.
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11-01-2014, 07:01 AM | #10 |
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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
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