Re: terrible bilstein touring shocks

[hutch555]

Ok, Here goes. I wanted an oem shock that was probably better than the boge replacements. I have had bilsteins on my other sport utility and they were great. However, I decided to go for the bilstein tourings. What is so weird is that the ride is bumpy and cadillac like. The car drives like it is on a magic carpet. It's terrible. I literally think there is something wrong with the shocks. I actually liked the ride better with my blown boges. I should of went with the bilstein HD's as I want to keep the original springs. I heared that they are a totally a better shock. Patrick from BMA gave me a good deal but still, I had someone I know put them in for a great price, but now it all was a waste of money. I guess i'll have to wait to Christmas to get HD's and have someone put em in again.

[Binjammin]

Aren't the tourings stock replacement?

[Dexm]

Ok, Here goes. I wanted an oem shock that was probably better than the boge replacements. I have had bilsteins on my other sport utility and they were great. However, I decided to go for the bilstein tourings. What is so weird is that the ride is bumpy and cadillac like. The car drives like it is on a magic carpet. It's terrible. I literally think there is something wrong with the shocks. I actually liked the ride better with my blown boges. I should of went with the bilstein HD's as I want to keep the original springs. I heared that they are a totally a better shock. Patrick from BMA gave me a good deal but still, I had someone I know put them in for a great price, but now it all was a waste of money. I guess i'll have to wait to Christmas to get HD's and have someone put em in again.


A little thread resurrection if you don't mind :D

I'm rebuilding almost the entire front end and have been talking to local guys about going either Touring or HD. The only other non-E34 stock modification I'd like to make is the 750il bushings in the control arms.

I've liked HD in a heavier car (Mercedes 500SEL) that I've taken on freeways mainly. I've found them really nice at higher speeds, esp. lane changing, braking, etc.

My mechanic reckons that the HD in a E34 on LA streets is going to ride considerably more rough than I'd want. I'm doing a lot of freeway driving (thankfully at times when it's light traffic), and more city street driving than I'd like (I think it's getting as bad as parts of Boston and the majority NYC used to be).

But I definitely don't want a Caddy-like suspension, if that's anything like the ride the Bilstein Tourings give.

I guess these matters are subjective, personal decisions, but I'm still trying to make up my mind between HD and Touring. I can see HD being fun for a while, and then tiresome after that, if it's a really stiff ride.

Any useful insights appreciated:thumbup:

[M Quick]

I think it sounds like the OP got screwed.


As good price and bilstein touring installed in the car doesn't sound right if the car drives like shit. Maybe his indy gave him some other shit instead and installed it? Just a thought if he never double checked if they where real bilsteins. However, that is quite hard to see in the front as there is inserts.

[bill7611]

i think your problem is keep on going for aftermarket shocks! just install oem boge.

[WolfStrong]

i think your problem is keep on going for aftermarket shocks! just install oem boge.

:shifty
Nothing wrong with aftermarket.

Does seem strange, though I have never ran Tourings. Love my sports when it comes to enthusiastic driving and are smooth enough to not kill me as a DD, however they are defiantly much more firm than a stock suspension. Always wanted to find out how the Tourings ran though.

[moroza]

I think I have Tourings in the front of my Touring (hah), and the ride is definitely floatier than the HD's I had on my previous 535i. HD's are awesome, by the way; for outright handling the Sports are still better, but the HD's are an excellent compromise. They do ride a little rougher than stock, but it won't be like one bad road is ok with stock shocks and intolerable with HD's. The highway ride is about as smooth and more stable. You know that feeling of an E34 "hunkering down" at about 80? HD's do that more, starting at a lower speed (60ish), and maintain better composture at high speed (120).