[wahooooman]

Hey all looked through maybe 100 threads with seemingly conflicting information.

I know suspension is based on preference and people have different opinions ect.

Background: Just picked up a 207 335xi with 30k and looking to revamp the suspension a bit. It will be a daily driver so dont want to go crazy looking for stability and comfort as i live in MA and there are potholes everywhere. and i already have a race car lol

So if you want to chime in that would be great! I also understand that the b12 is non adjustable and the b14 is.

so Far it looks like there is no XI specific b12 kit (but can make it work), and some say it has b6 shocks (i think they are b8 ?). I also find it strange that the b12 kit is more $ than the B14.

I would just buy the b14 kit but many have said that the height on the highest setting is a bit low.

Looking to potentially avoid KW, Koni ect as I keep seeing rebuild threads ect on them ..... Sorry for the long thread but what are your thoughts ? Should i just avoid all of this and get Sport Springs and some b6s ?

[DoJu3]

I have the B12 kit on my 2010 with xdrive.

This is the kit I have.

https://www.bimmerworld.com/Suspensi...46-180605.html

Would that not fit your car?

The reason the xi kit is more expensive is probably due to the fact that there are more RWD than xi cars so "scarcity" is a factor. I did not pay that much though, my kit was under $800 but that was like 3 years ago.

If this is for a daily driver I'd just get the more comfortable shocks available and keep the stock springs. I live in Louisiana which is like 2 steps above Massachusetts in quality of roads, but that's not all that great considering both are in the top 10 states with the worst roads in America.

Mine is my daily if I had a choice of doing this again I would go with a different set up, don't get me wrong it looks good and has great handling but it does ride a bit harsh, it probably doesn't help I'm running 19" wheels so with a smaller wheels and taller sidewall it could be more bearable.

My next step is actually getting 18" wheels and see the difference.

Also with the B12 kit I had to get adjustable end links which added like $200 to the total cost.

[TitanLH8]

On the same boat as OP. I was looking into BC coilovers for my E91 xDrive however FCP has B14 kit back in stock so now I'm reconsidering Bilstein. Are adjustable endlinks recommended or necessary?

[hi rpm]

I've had the B14s for half a year. With small diameter tires max height will be "low" in the front, but I wanted a little lower anyway, and mine's set a few mm below max. The stiffness halfway makes up for the lower height w/driveways, but heavy snow isn't good of course.

After break in, I think the heavy springs in back are what I like least about the set. I did the install in two stages, front a few days before rear, and during that the ride was hardly harsher than before, but the front was completely locked down and the rear was loose. After doing the rears, handling was incredible all around but the ride got pitchy and bouncy. Like an onboard camera at LeMans, up-down all day. Since it's a road car and I don't know if I'll ever get around to tracking it, I'd probably try to find marginally lighter rear springs if doing it again, and may someday. I really didn't like the floaty stock suspension though, so it's still better.

[hi rpm]

I decided to measure the front height I have with B14s, and it's 34.5cm average from hub center to fender. The wheel rim curvature about matches the fender. I wouldn't stake my life on it but I'm pretty sure I set the lower ring at 18mm from the base. Bilstein says 20mm is max, but I'm sure that's CYA, as you can get to 25ish before anything stops overlapping (Check before you install), and "preload" doesn't matter if the car's weight is compressing the springs, which it will be if it's threaded at all. You just won't get as much drop below normal load (like potholes), because you're extending the tube relative to the piston.

Long story short, it's low but not low low near Bilstein's "maximum" height, at least on my car.

[wahooooman]

Originally Posted by hi rpm

I decided to measure the front height I have with B14s, and it's 34.5cm average from hub center to fender. The wheel rim curvature about matches the fender. I wouldn't stake my life on it but I'm pretty sure I set the lower ring at 18mm from the base. Bilstein says 20mm is max, but I'm sure that's CYA, as you can get to 25ish before anything stops overlapping (Check before you install), and "preload" doesn't matter if the car's weight is compressing the springs, which it will be if it's threaded at all. You just won't get as much drop below normal load (like potholes), because you're extending the tube relative to the piston.

Long story short, it's low but not low low near Bilstein's "maximum" height, at least on my car.

thanks for this, with snow and such being a daily driver i would like lower than where it sits but not crazy low.

[whyzee125]

I agree KW's tend to leak a lot, but I haven't found that to be the case with Koni's.

If i lived in a heavily pothole'd area I'd look more closely at Koni's vs Bilstein as they do offer a more compliant ride.

[colorado.e9x]

I have the B12 ProKit on my E90 330xi currently. Will either be putting it in the shed or selling it soon though. Switching to BCs. The B12 kit rides great though especially on backroads and highways. Just not low enough for me

They're a bit stiff at low speeds <40mph

[Homarr]

I just picked up H&R street performance for my '11 xdrive, however I'm waiting for the bump-stops and strut mounts from FCP. I'll add another opinion in a couple days after install and drive!

[Raptor04]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

I have the B12 ProKit on my E90 330xi currently. Will either be putting it in the shed or selling it soon though. Switching to BCs. The B12 kit rides great though especially on backroads and highways. Just not low enough for me

They're a bit stiff at low speeds <40mph

I tried BCs and hated them. Rebound adjustment crossed over to compression dampening too much and made for a really stiff ride.

[Raptor04]

Originally Posted by Homarr

I just picked up H&R street performance for my '11 xdrive, however I'm waiting for the bump-stops and strut mounts from FCP. I'll add another opinion in a couple days after install and drive!

This is the way.

[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by Raptor04

I tried BCs and hated them. Rebound adjustment crossed over to compression dampening too much and made for a really stiff ride.

Good thing I went with BCs for my first coilover setup lol

[Raptor04]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

Good thing I went with BCs for my first coilover setup lol

Lol....you might love them....so much of the feel depends on your personal preferences and individual car setup like tire and wheel setup.

[Soden82]

OP, I know you installed the B14 kit..how do you like them?

[TitanLH8]

Just pulled the trigger on B14 kit as well. Coming in next week

[Homarr]

Originally Posted by Raptor04

This is the way.

This IS the way. Install was easy, I pre-measured (guessed!) the adjustment rings, and made a minor adjustment to the rear after 100 miles of driving. I've driven a little over 200 more miles since the adjustment, ride height is very much to my liking.
Ride quality is +1 to the "bumpy" side.

[wahooooman]

Originally Posted by Soden82

OP, I know you installed the B14 kit..how do you like them?

Quick update for the Thread have had the b14 kit on for a little bit now, thing rides great! the only problem i had was with the rear cranked all the way up the car was way to low and squatted. I bought 15m spring spacers and adjusted and now its perfect!

[jimmer411]

Originally Posted by wahooooman

Quick update for the Thread have had the b14 kit on for a little bit now, thing rides great! the only problem i had was with the rear cranked all the way up the car was way to low and squatted. I bought 15m spring spacers and adjusted and now its perfect!

where did you find the spring spacers?

[etai43]

Would anyone happen to have pictures of B14 on the car? pot hole took out my front right strut on my B12. I love the B12 height and ride, but if i can get the b14 for around 900 i wouldn't mind upgrading. very curious how much lower the b14 (highest setting) to b12

[wahooooman]

Originally Posted by jimmer411

where did you find the spring spacers?

ECS actually 15mm they have this strange thing if you order 2 at once that delays the order. your almost better ordering 1 then another day or two ordering another

[wahooooman]

Originally Posted by etai43

Would anyone happen to have pictures of B14 on the car? pot hole took out my front right strut on my B12. I love the B12 height and ride, but if i can get the b14 for around 900 i wouldn't mind upgrading. very curious how much lower the b14 (highest setting) to b12

Excuse the terrible rims and the dirt (it's my daily lol) this is before I added the spacer almost maxed out on the rear.

[TitanLH8]

Just had b14s installed last week. I dialed the rears up almost to the highest setting and I'm sitting at 25.25" from middle of fender down to bottom lip of the wheel