[W37V]

Originally Posted by ednyc2nc

I called bilstein and they told me that if I have sports package on my bmw 335i, I need the B8, but now I'm in doubt because I have sports package but no M package, I guess I will call them again to clarify.

It is a same suspension. Sport, M sport, m tech, same thing. I wish I knew it before. If you have sport suspension, you need B8, unless you want to raise your car by almost 1/2 inch.

My car is being listed as having option: 704 M SPORT SUSPENSION

[ednyc2nc]

appreciate your help!!!

[techwhiz]

Originally Posted by ednyc2nc

I called bilstein and they told me that if I have sports package on my bmw 335i, I need the B8, but now I'm in doubt because I have sports package but no M package, I guess I will call them again to clarify.

Sport suspension, M-Sport, M-Technic all the same.

Search for the application guide on the WEB.
You will get different answers from different people and forget about asking re-sellers.

From the application guide here are the part numbers for B6 and B8 with the applications.

From the Bilstein Application Guide Page 104.
2011-2007 B6 (HD)
Front Left 35-120377
Front Right 35-120384
Rear Suspension 24-120395
Excludes M-Technics Sport Suspension


2011-2007 B8 (SP)
Front Left 35-120407
Front Right 35-120414
Rear Suspension 24-120425
With M-Technics Sport Suspension

[Spitfire007]

Originally Posted by W37V

It is a same suspension. Sport, M sport, m tech, same thing. I wish I knew it before. If you have sport suspension, you need B8, unless you want to raise your car by almost 1/2 inch.

My car is being listed as having option: 704 M SPORT SUSPENSION

B6s did not raise my car at all. It's composed and just about perfect, it's just a loud and somewhat hard suspension for NYC streets.
Smooth roads or undulating country roads it's amazing.

Just drove a 2013 S4, and it was smoother but not as composed and a little crashy as well on the NYC roads.

[I-4]

Got the B6's installed, mounts, and alignment. -5deg neg camber up front, -1.5 neg camber out back. Turner did the alignment, and install. What a difference! The bounce and soft wallow is gone. The car is just planted now, and at highway speeds it is just superb, soaking up the road undulations with much less movement. It really inspires confidence now. This is how they should come from the factory, and I wish that I had done it sooner. The car has 121k on it, and the stock dampers were worn out, the right rear had just leaked it fluid out. Stock springs, ride height unchanged.

[W37V]

Originally Posted by I-4

Got the B6's installed, mounts, and alignment. -5deg neg camber up front, -1.5 neg camber out back. Turner did the alignment, and install. What a difference! The bounce and soft wallow is gone. The car is just planted now, and at highway speeds it is just superb, soaking up the road undulations with much less movement. It really inspires confidence now. This is how they should come from the factory, and I wish that I had done it sooner. The car has 121k on it, and the stock dampers were worn out, the right rear had just leaked it fluid out. Stock springs, ride height unchanged.

Glad to hear man.

Your height wouldn't be affected by this since you have xi model.

-5 deg? lol sure about that?

Agreed though. Upgraded dampers should be done ASAP on these cars.

[rothwem]

Originally Posted by W37V

Glad to hear man.

Your height wouldn't be affected by this since you have xi model.

What's the logic there?

[W37V]

Originally Posted by rothwem

What's the logic there?

You don't have sport suspension. B6's are meant for your car.

[rothwem]

Originally Posted by W37V

You don't have sport suspension. B6's are meant for your car.

The reason the B6s raise the car is the nitrogen pressure adding spring rate, not the shaft length or sport/standard springs.

Its odd that they didn't raise I-4's car.

[W37V]

Originally Posted by rothwem

The reason the B6s raise the car is the nitrogen pressure adding spring rate, not the shaft length or sport/standard springs.

Its odd that they didn't raise I-4's car.

True! However, there is less pressure if the shock is extended vs. more compressed. So, if the shock is compressed by 1 inch, there is more pressure then if it was fully relaxed.

Or maybe my understanding is wrong. If it is, in that case I blame Friday.

[rothwem]

Originally Posted by W37V

True! However, there is less pressure if the shock is extended vs. more compressed. So, if the shock is compressed by 1 inch, there is more pressure then if it was fully relaxed.

Or maybe my understanding is wrong. If it is, in that case I blame Friday.

Hmm. So the shorter spring pre-loads the "air spring".

I hadn't thought about that, but I'll buy it.

[Yangorang]

I had B6s installed a few months ago - raised the car about an inch like you said at first but later settled back down to the same ride height as stock. Handling feels amazing with these shocks - not harsh at all in my opinion like I was afraid of. Main complaint is just the noise - any sort of road noise just feels like it's getting amplified by these shocks. I have Continental DW tires which are pretty quiet too. I'll probably just stick with B4s if these ever go.

[I-4]

Originally Posted by FCobra94

-5 deg? lol sure about that?

Agreed though. Upgraded dampers should be done ASAP on these cars.

My bad. Typo, should have read 0.5 deg neg camber up front. lol

[CSBM5]

Originally Posted by Yangorang

I had B6s installed a few months ago - raised the car about an inch like you said at first but later settled back down to the same ride height as stock. Handling feels amazing with these shocks - not harsh at all in my opinion like I was afraid of. Main complaint is just the noise - any sort of road noise just feels like it's getting amplified by these shocks. I have Continental DW tires which are pretty quiet too. I'll probably just stick with B4s if these ever go.

I wouldn't be too quick to blame the shocks for your increased road noise. Most likely a noticeable change like that is due to a spring pad incorrectly installed (allowed metal to metal contact), a worn out upper or lower rear shock mount, over-torqued rear shock mounts, etc,etc.

The B6s on my 330i didn't change road noise at all. The only thing I'd like to change about them is to reduce their initial gas charge by about 1/2, especially in the rear shocks.

Regards,
Chuck

[Yangorang]

Dunno - on smooth roads there's no difference but on rough ones there is quite a bit of growl. I used all new hardware for everything, new spring pads, shock mounts, bolts, even the upper hat. Did the rears by myself and only noticed a tiny bit of increased noise. Had the fronts done at a shop and that's when it got quite a bit louder. Everything up front looks put together well and the alignment checks out too. No clunks or any sort of loose feeling. Pretty sure stiffer monotube shocks are just going to be a bit louder - especially with the B6 which remove the OE bump stops that used to provide an added layer of isolation as well.

[335togo]

Originally Posted by Spitfire007

With OEM sport suspension, you want the B6s.

B8s are for aftermarket lowering springs.


I have B6s on my OEM sport 328, with OEM sport springs,and it's great. A little firm, yes, but solid and composed.
The car itself just rides hard. The subframe design and overall architecture is just not as smooth as the e46 chassis.

That is accurate!

[mxchris727]

B4 is Bilstein's OEM replacement for stock shocks. They come in sport and non-sport variants. I have had every Bilstein shock on my BMWs...

OEM sport/non-sport - B4
Upgrade non-sport - B6
Upgrade sport/M3 - B8

The difference between the B6 and B8 is only ride high/bump stop placement; valving is exactly the same. Spring height dictates which shock to get.

I have the sport version B4s on my sport packaged E93 and they are awesome. I feel like they are 15% or so firmer than the originals (as many websites have stated).

[Ninpo1]

I have the same question. I have a 2009 328i sedan with sports package with 60,000 miles.

I want a better shock / strut, but was torn between the Bilatein B6 or B8.

I actually ordered the B6, but this post and the Bilstein application guide make me believe that I should have a B8.

Any thoughts? I do not want an increased ride height.

Originally Posted by Ninpo1

I have the same question. I have a 2009 328i sedan with sports package with 60,000 miles.

I want a better shock / strut, but was torn between the Bilatein B6 or B8.

I actually ordered the B6, but this post and the Bilstein application guide make me believe that I should have a B8.

Any thoughts? I do not want an increased ride height.

I'd be interested in seeing a sports package spring next to a b6 and b8 unisntalled while at static height.

Curious to see if there is any preload added to the spring in order to get it installed on the shorter shaft of the b8.

[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?

[r4dr]

You're missing the springs...