[rothwem]

This car has B6's on it with sport package springs, I installed them before I even knew about the difference. It bumped the car up about a half inch, but then again, that might've been the new strut mounts.

[Ninpo1]

Originally Posted by gjm120

In this thread (and others) it's been mentioned that the longer damper will raise ride height. Maybe this is simplistic, but, I don't understand how a damper that I can compress with my hands will overcome the weight of the car and effectively increase the spring height.

Am I missing something?

I don't understand how the dampers could raise the car, either. I called a supplier of Bilstein and they said that I could use either the B6 or B8's on my 328i spoert package car with OEM Sport Springs. They did say that if you replaced other wearable components that the ride height might have returned to what it was when it was when the car was newer.

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by gjm120

In this thread (and others) it's been mentioned that the longer damper will raise ride height. Maybe this is simplistic, but, I don't understand how a damper that I can compress with my hands will overcome the weight of the car and effectively increase the spring height.

Am I missing something?

Should add my question is based on the assumption that the housings and shaft length on the B6 and B8 are the same. I saw this somewhere on a side by side comparison. This assumption may be wrong therefore there will be a difference in resultant ride height.

[tlow98]

Originally Posted by gjm120

In this thread (and others) it's been mentioned that the longer damper will raise ride height. Maybe this is simplistic, but, I don't understand how a damper that I can compress with my hands will overcome the weight of the car and effectively increase the spring height.

Am I missing something?

Which struts are you compressing with your hands? Just so we can get some clarification.

They raise your car bc the static nitrogen pressure within them is very high. Think about the amount of force it takes to push the shock down. Let's say that force is 100lbs per damper. This force is effectively the same as if you pulled up on your car's fender with 100lb of force. Multiply this by 4 and it's as if your car was "unburdened" by 400 pounds, which would raise the height all things being equal.

These bilsteins do settle, but will likely be slightly higher than a comparable, low pressure twin tube damper like a Koni.

[Mikibmwsm]

Originally Posted by Ninpo1

I don't understand how the dampers could raise the car, either. I called a supplier of Bilstein and they said that I could use either the B6 or B8's on my 328i spoert package car with OEM Sport Springs. They did say that if you replaced other wearable components that the ride height might have returned to what it was when it was when the car was newer.

Car is sitting on dampers when you have lower spring than standard oem. M suspension is 15mm lower than standard. Must go with b8 or car will be sitting on dampers and it will be stiffer or maybe higher. B6 on m suspension will be too much preloaded and compresed. You will have 70% expand space and 30% max compresion space

[Spitfire007]

B6 with Sport package springs is a bit rough at slow speeds.
But take those same roads at 60 or 80, and you understand why they works so well on the nordschleife

[steifan]

For future reference:

Here is a Bilstein B8 Sprint 24-120425 compared to an early M sport rear damper BMW 33528036026 / Sachs 814903001543 :


The B8 is slightly shorter than the original shock.

[B---WLF]

I want to install Bilstein B6 damper on my BMW E92 320d xdrive automatic 2011.
In the same time, i want to lower it just a little bit (2cm front, 1cm rear). Current gap is around 4cm front and 3cm rear.

Xdrive E92s are higher with 1cm vs reardrive E92; simplest solution would be to install M paket springs with B8 (or Bilstein B12 kit), but it is not available for xdrive (it seems there is no m sport suspension installed on e92 xdrive, either).

So i am thinking to improvise a little bit: to install standard springs (actually Eibach standard springs) + bilstein B6, but those codes suited for 320d automatic reardrive, not codes for 320d xdrive automatic.

codes are the following:
Bilstein B6 front left:
320d, 330d: 35-120377
320xd, 330xd: 35-142454

Bilstein B6 front right:
320d, 330d: 35-120384
320xd, 330xd: 35-142461

Bilstein B6 rear: 24-120395, same code for all 320d/320xd/330d/330xd

So what do you think? probably front spring from 320d reardrive will be compressed with further 0.5-1cm, and the damper will stay a little bit compressed.