Bilstein B14 E90 330D SE (UK)

AidanN335iDCT · 12-23-2022, 08:19 AM

Hi guys.
My first real post here so thought I'd try make something useful.
I recently got fed up of my stock suspension around the 100k miles mark as it was soggy and the rear shocks were pretty dead which was picked up on MOT. Decided to just bite the bullet and buy some Bilstein B14's rather than cheaping out.

Managed to pick them up for under £1000 on Black Friday which I thought was a good price for full suspension.
And having had these on for just over a week, I have to say the difference was amazing. The ride is fairly comfortable and only suffers from low speed big bumps (such as those fat potholes where the whole wheel falls in.). Before the Coilovers the car had the issue where if I hit multiple fast undulations in the road it wouldn't rebound in time and this would cause the rear wheels to hit the arch which would destabilise the car.
I currently have the ride height maxed out which is still quite low but still functional, can still do all speed bumps and get off the drive.
Haven't been able to test much faster driving as the weather and I have brand new tyres.

For anyone wandering, I do plan to lower the front a bit more once I've done the M sport conversion and added a front splitter. But this probably won't be until the summer.

The change from RFT to non-RFT has bought back some of the comfort at low speed, even though I changed from 225/45/18+255/40/18 to 225/40/18+255/35/18.

I'll add some photos too!
Overall:
Ride quality low speed: 3.5/5
Ride quality high speed 4.5/5
Handling: 4.5/5
Value: 4.5/5

First two images are before, second are after
20mm spacer aft, 12mm spacer fwd.

AidanN335iDCT · 12-23-2022, 08:21 AM

View post on imgur.com

AidanN335iDCT · 12-23-2022, 08:22 AM

View post on imgur.com

wrevilo · 02-16-2023, 05:03 AM

Mega informative post, thanks!

With hindsight I should have used a height adjustable setup as part of my recent suspension overhaul.

AidanN335iDCT · 07-28-2023, 03:29 PM

After changing to an e92 335i on stock M sport suspension, its made me appreciate this kit even more. Handles better and more comfortable by far than the stock M sport suspension. So much so, I will be removing these coils and taking them to my e92

machine4321 · 09-18-2023, 11:03 AM

How much higher can front go?

Badwolf1970 · 09-18-2023, 11:46 AM

225/40 R18 and 255/35 R18 are the standard sizes

AidanN335iDCT · 09-27-2023, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by machine4321

How much higher can front go?

that's basically max height could probs get a few mm extra.

12-23-2022, 08:19 AM	#1
AidanN335iDCT car's probably broken again 8 Rep 21 Posts Drives: E92 335i DCT N54 Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Nottingham, England iTrader: (0)	Bilstein B14 E90 330D SE (UK) Hi guys. My first real post here so thought I'd try make something useful. I recently got fed up of my stock suspension around the 100k miles mark as it was soggy and the rear shocks were pretty dead which was picked up on MOT. Decided to just bite the bullet and buy some Bilstein B14's rather than cheaping out. Managed to pick them up for under £1000 on Black Friday which I thought was a good price for full suspension. And having had these on for just over a week, I have to say the difference was amazing. The ride is fairly comfortable and only suffers from low speed big bumps (such as those fat potholes where the whole wheel falls in.). Before the Coilovers the car had the issue where if I hit multiple fast undulations in the road it wouldn't rebound in time and this would cause the rear wheels to hit the arch which would destabilise the car. I currently have the ride height maxed out which is still quite low but still functional, can still do all speed bumps and get off the drive. Haven't been able to test much faster driving as the weather and I have brand new tyres. For anyone wandering, I do plan to lower the front a bit more once I've done the M sport conversion and added a front splitter. But this probably won't be until the summer. The change from RFT to non-RFT has bought back some of the comfort at low speed, even though I changed from 225/45/18+255/40/18 to 225/40/18+255/35/18. I'll add some photos too! Overall: Ride quality low speed: 3.5/5 Ride quality high speed 4.5/5 Handling: 4.5/5 Value: 4.5/5 First two images are before, second are after 20mm spacer aft, 12mm spacer fwd.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

12-23-2022, 08:21 AM	#2
AidanN335iDCT car's probably broken again 8 Rep 21 Posts Drives: E92 335i DCT N54 Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Nottingham, England iTrader: (0)	View post on imgur.com View post on imgur.com View post on imgur.com View post on imgur.com
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-23-2022, 08:22 AM	#3
AidanN335iDCT car's probably broken again 8 Rep 21 Posts Drives: E92 335i DCT N54 Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Nottingham, England iTrader: (0)	View post on imgur.com View post on imgur.com
	Appreciate 2 vester8692.00 Jaronbwall284.50 Quote

02-16-2023, 05:03 AM	#4
wrevilo Private 26 Rep 60 Posts Drives: 2010 E92 335i N55 6MT Join Date: Feb 2023 Location: Wiltshire, UK iTrader: (0)	Mega informative post, thanks! With hindsight I should have used a height adjustable setup as part of my recent suspension overhaul.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-28-2023, 03:29 PM	#5
AidanN335iDCT car's probably broken again 8 Rep 21 Posts Drives: E92 335i DCT N54 Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Nottingham, England iTrader: (0)	After changing to an e92 335i on stock M sport suspension, its made me appreciate this kit even more. Handles better and more comfortable by far than the stock M sport suspension. So much so, I will be removing these coils and taking them to my e92
	Appreciate 1 Jaronbwall284.50 Quote

09-18-2023, 11:03 AM	#6
machine4321 Private 25 Rep 67 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	How much higher can front go?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-18-2023, 11:46 AM	#7
Badwolf1970 New Member 44 Rep 19 Posts Drives: E91 330d msport Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: Gloucester iTrader: (0)	225/40 R18 and 255/35 R18 are the standard sizes
	Appreciate 0 Quote