[tawia]

Hi,
I'm changing the shocks on my SE 320d (re-mapped). Its lowered 30mm with 19" alloys (see my pics). The suspension is fine 50% of the time, but when driving a little spirited, I find when riding a bad section of road (at speed) the rebound is very slow and the car ends up going 'boooinngg, booinnng' from trying to dampen the load.

I have the option of fitting Bilstein O.E 'Standard Chassis' or 'Sports Chassis' dampers.

I would like some advise as to what I should go for. The thing that throws me is that Bilstein O.E are usually 20% stiffer than factory dampers. Would that be enough if i got the 'Standard Chassis' dampers? Would the 'Sport Chassis' dampers be overkill and leave the car as hard as the road?

Cheers guys

[tawia]

Ok. Lots of interest on this subject (joke)

I have went all out and ordered Bilstein's B12 Kit, specificaly fine-tuned for the 320, comes with Bilstein/Eibach springs again specific to complement the dampers.

Below is the Bilstein blog about them

"If you’re looking for the perfect combination of sporty dynamics, a superior appearance and high performance, you’re on exactly the right track with this sport suspension.
The product benefits at a glance:

* Precise responses, excellent driving dynamics and added safety
* Uniform lowering of approx. 30 mm
* Quality sport springs made from highly durable material
* Springs and absorbers road-tested by BILSTEIN engineers and fine-tuned to complement one another perfectly
* Gas pressure technology
* BILSTEIN mono-tube/Upside-Down technology, made in Germany
* German TÜV certificate

These will replace the original S.E spec dampers riding with eibach lowering springs

Will post up the results once fitted and ran-in

[zltm089]

keep us posted!

[CoopersE90]

Yes please, let us know how you get on!

[tawia]

OK, so i got the B12 kit today but im a little worried?

The kit came in a blank box with shocks in small bilstein boxes and eibach springs in an eibach box?

The springs do not say eibach/bilstein and im thinking they (Euro performance) have just gave me B8 shocks and eibach springs NOT the fine tuned Bilstein kit with matching springs!?

I have emailed Bilstein to ask them if this is normal.

Will not be fitting until i hear from Bilstein and get a yay or nay from them

I will be more than miffed if EP have tried to palm me off...

[JaySTee]

Probably the same thing just sold together as a kit...

[m1bjr]

Hartge revalve the Bilstein monotubes and add Eibach springs, they label the springs as Hartge as they do the the billies

I run a set, a bit harsh on the low speed damping, but at track speed the control is excellent. Really excellent.

[tawia]

OK so Bilstein say Yay!

Kit goes in Saturday morning along with Tarox F2000 brakes and LCI headlights

[giotecno]

Please keep us posted on this mate I was also looking into this kit. good luck.

[tawia]

Picked up the car today after having the Bilstein B12 kit installed by a BMW technician.

Amazing.. simple stunning.

Coming from SE dampers to this kit has completely transformed the car.

On smooth roads I forget it's even installed.
On rough roads it's taut, responsive, confident without the crashiness of m-tec suspension.
Much more controlled over those crests and "long bumps"

In the twisties it's mind blowing! I fired it into a tight falling sweeper, the car laughed at me as if to say 'is that it?'

I would recommend this kit to anyone and everyone. It has made the car feel 3 years younger.

[AlphaJulietGolf]

Tawia, how much did it set you back if you don't mind me asking?

[tawia]

£740 for the kit and roughly £60 to fit.

[tawia]

So now i have a few hundred miles on since putting the kit in i took her down a locally well know B road for a bit of a test.

I must say this is where the B12 excels! Amazing! Corners with bad bumps, the car stayed solid and settled. Short sharp rises where before the car would have bottomed out and been dangerously unsettled... Not a problem

Im literally amazed!

Worth every penny! Different car

[CoopersE90]

Thank you mate for taking a punt on these and reviewing for us too. I would have bought myself if the 4cyl engine woes hadn't cropped up so it may be going back to the dealers.

[JaySTee]

Originally Posted by tawia

So now i have a few hundred miles on since putting the kit in i took her down a locally well know B road for a bit of a test.

I must say this is where the B12 excels! Amazing! Corners with bad bumps, the car stayed solid and settled. Short sharp rises where before the car would have bottomed out and been dangerously unsettled... Not a problem

Im literally amazed!

Worth every penny! Different car

Sounds good, what are they like on poor roads at regular speeds i.e. potholes and the like?

[Butch]

If ever I ever drop mine I think the Bilstein kit sounds good - Thanks for the update !!!

[m1bjr]

Originally Posted by tawia

£740 for the kit and roughly £60 to fit.

Jesus, thats a cheap labour rate.
Must be a good couple hours work?

And if you havent already - lose the RFT next for another quantum leap

[tawia]

Run flats are long gone. Running F1 Asymmetric

Regular speed poor roads also much improved. It's no Baghdad carpet ride but much better than m sport suspension (my bro has one) It absorbs potholes much better but there is only so much you can do with a 35/19" tyre!

Yeah cheap labour! I'm glad I met him! He works at BMW garage and knows the E90 inside out.
He serviced it for me for £190
Oil filter
Air filter
Fuel filter
Castrol SLX Pro oil + 1 litre top up
Brake fluid change
New engine breather
Inspected bushings/bearings etc
All genuine BMW parts

Removed Suspension/fitted B12
Removed Discs/pads - fitted F2000+redstuff with new wear cable
Removed headlights (front bumper off) fitted lci then adjusted alignment
£115 (including wear cable)

I'm well happy!

[tawia]

Forgot to mention how low the car sits now.

Before with SE dampers/Eibach springs just before I pulled them out you could not have got two fingers between the arches front or back (spring/shock sag)

Now the car sits a good inch higher (two fingers easy, may more at the rear) but is still lower than E90 msport.

I can actually feel the lift when sitting it the car. But to be honest it was too low before. Just right now and would not trade the handling for the sake of an inch. Will look to see if I have any 'before' pics and get a few afters up

[tawia]

Before



After

[JaySTee]

Looks good, thanks for the info. Would like to do the same to my E91 but not sure if I'll ever get round to it!

[Pwalo]

Has there been any wheel/wheelarch interface at the back or the front - I have the Eibach Pro Kit Springs and B6 Dampers in a box from Europerformance ready to fit but concerned about ride height becoming an issue - I have an SE E91 which seems to sit pretty darned low anyway - its the 6 cylinder diesel and for some reason sits lower on standard srpings than my mates E91 320 Sport