[krhodes1]

Since getting my car out of summer storage (too hot for convertibles in FL in the summer, and I was mostly in Maine anyway), it's felt wallowy. Took the wheels off today to bleed the brakes and found that both rear shocks are blown - totally covered in shock oil. 128i non-sport convertible, and I just want it back to factory feel. Any strong opinions as to basic Sachs vs. Bilstein touring for about the same $$, or BMW OEM for 2X as much? Ordering all the mount stuff - do you really need to replace the lower shock mount bolts? Those suckers are $pendy for four bolts. This is a TX/FL car that has never seen salt, everything is nice and shiny underneath.

I'd really like to go with Koni FSDs but I am "building a new house" poor, so stock she shall stay.

The fronts are still fine, no leaks and feel fine, but the bump stops have certainly seen better days. But I don't think I feel like tackling that project this week, so that can wait until I have more ambition. And a garage big enough to do it indoors!

Of course, after tomorrow it's going to rain until the weekend, and I don't want to get the car down off the Quickjack so I guess it's going to sit out there in the rain until the parts come and it stops raining.

[StradaRedlands]

I'd go with Billy tourings, but maybe that's just marketing making me say that?

I think you're fine re-using the bolts. They're steel and not TTY ones.

Any extra installation drama with a cabrio?

[3PedalJake]

Agree with StradaRedlands it's fine to reuse the bolts. 2 reasons bolts get listed as 1 time use, either they're TTY or they come with pre-applied threadlocker. The shock mount bolts have this threadlocker on them, to re-use just apply your own loctite.

[mainbearing]

+1 Bilstein

I reused the rear lower mount bolts, blue locktite. Did not have the front pinch bolts at the time, so I reused those too.

[krhodes1]

Thanks guys!

Turns out, FCP didn't actually have any Bilstein Tourings for non-sport cars. So Sachs it is.

And I will happily reuse the bolts rather than pay $8ea for them.

Hoping it all gets here for Saturday, and the weather is good. The car is distinctly nautical feeling at the moment!