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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Suspension | Brakes | Chassis > Would you make the suspension upgrade or stick with stock?



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      10-11-2018, 05:25 PM   #1
RiderOTStorm
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Would you make the suspension upgrade or stick with stock?

I have a 2009 328xi with 86k Miles. Rear shocks are leaking so I am going to replace all four corners plus wear components.
I am deciding between bilstein B4 with stock springs or
Making the investment to get eibach pro from Europe paired with KONI yellows.

The price difference is about $500.
Plus links $160 front and $160 rear.
Plus alignment $130

The car is a DD and I am planning on keeping another 3-4 years and probably passing to my son who will be in college and he'll keep for 3 years. I only drive around 10k miles per year. Mostly in a snowy New England town with shit roads.

Other mitigating facts I need to replace the oil pan gasket and rear brakes. I have a clicking right front CV joint. I don’t have time to do this all myself so it’s going to cost.

tried this in the xi forum, but no responses.. Not enough traffic I guess
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      10-11-2018, 06:15 PM   #2
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+1 for the Eibach Pro Kit, lowers just enough and maintains ride quality.
Had it on both my BMW's
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      10-11-2018, 10:59 PM   #3
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I’d say go Koni yellows either way. Hard to go wrong there. Springs prolly aren’t necessary and could take your ride to the firmer side. Those shocks, however, are zero downsides.
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      10-12-2018, 05:41 AM   #4
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I put high quality, highly rated, aftermarket springs on my STi which was driven in winter. One of the springs got eaten and broke. Since then I tend to shy away from expensive aftermarket bits underneath winter driven cars.

I'm new to E90s. Does your car have sport suspension? If not is it a practical option?
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      10-12-2018, 06:15 AM   #5
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upgrade for sure. stock is pretty floaty. upgrade is very planted.
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      10-12-2018, 06:20 AM   #6
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Dinan springs & supplemental ride kit, Koni Yellows and new mounting bits - transformed the car.
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      10-12-2018, 06:39 AM   #7
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Being in New England I think your choice of B4 shocks with stock springs is solid. That is what I would recommend if its your daily driver. Given the roads and conditions here in NE harder riding suspensions just beat you up needlessly. I have put more sport oriented suspensions and regretted every time. Hit a bunch of potholes with stiff springs and shocks and your whole car shutters and can send you off the road. I literally replaced my stock suspension in a BMW 535 to a lowered sport suspension only to have to go back and bring it back to stock which was the biggest waste of time and effort. NE secondary and city roads are horrible. Just my opinion.
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      10-12-2018, 06:58 AM   #8
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Another combo to look into would be Eibach Pro-Kit springs paired with Koni FSD shocks.

I have this combo on my Audi B6 and love it. It lowers the car just right, but those shocks are a great compromise for a street car and the ride is sporty, but never jarring.
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      10-12-2018, 07:22 AM   #9
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i have b4 HD was pain to install stock sports front springs as the shocks are 1-2 in shorter. handle well high speeds but bumpy low speeds but i have low profile tires might be cause. if i had to redo it agian would go with Eibach Pro-Kit springs and B4 kit
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      10-12-2018, 08:08 AM   #10
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Hello RomKaN54

Are the Bilstein B4 shocks a different height ? I thought this was their version of a stock OEM replacement. Or is that a different one ? Thanks

https://www.bilstein.com/int/en/product/bilstein-b4/
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      10-12-2018, 08:25 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wdb View Post
I put high quality, highly rated, aftermarket springs on my STi which was driven in winter. One of the springs got eaten and broke. Since then I tend to shy away from expensive aftermarket bits underneath winter driven cars.

I'm new to E90s. Does your car have sport suspension? If not is it a practical option?
thanks for getting back.. i hadn't considered corrosion for AM parts.

Xi models don't have sport suspension options.. Only aftermarket options are available. Even the M Sport option does not upgrade suspension parts in the AWD e90 models.
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      10-12-2018, 08:27 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RomKaN54 View Post
i have b4 HD was pain to install stock sports front springs as the shocks are 1-2 in shorter. handle well high speeds but bumpy low speeds but i have low profile tires might be cause. if i had to redo it agian would go with Eibach Pro-Kit springs and B4 kit

Careful, I've been researching this alot... if you lower the springs, then the Bilstein B8s are the right dampers to pair
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      10-12-2018, 08:56 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skiwhmts View Post
Hello RomKaN54

Are the Bilstein B4 shocks a different height ? I thought this was their version of a stock OEM replacement. Or is that a different one ? Thanks

https://www.bilstein.com/int/en/product/bilstein-b4/
Mine were bought it from here:
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bilstein...t/22-135049kt/
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      10-12-2018, 08:58 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RiderOTStorm View Post
Careful, I've been researching this alot... if you lower the springs, then the Bilstein B8s are the right dampers to pair
yep u are correct i was going to get b8 but they were on back order...
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      10-12-2018, 09:38 AM   #15
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RomKaN54

The price you listed here seems like a great price.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bilstein...t/22-135049kt/

Big savings specially compared to the stock Sachs OEM shocks.
Lastly I work on only simple car mechanic stuff when needed but one thing I would add is that the backs are easy to do and go way faster than the fronts... the front shocks, mounts, springs etc took me forever in comparison.
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      10-12-2018, 02:35 PM   #16
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+1 eibach pro kit
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      10-12-2018, 06:20 PM   #17
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On my previous e90 I had bilstein pss10 and I hated them, went to eibach/Koni yellow and it was fantastic. This time around I'm likely sticking with stock sport springs but regardless of spring choice, definitely koni yellows again. I'm in New England as well if that helps. FWIW, last car had m3 front arms and H&R sway bars.
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      10-13-2018, 11:35 AM   #18
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Thanks everyone pulling the trigger on the pro kit and KONI yellows. If it gets me to keep and love the car another 3 years then it’s money saved.
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