new bilstein sports with stock springs

[dmw]

I just got the new bilstein sports and plan to use them with stock springs. Questions:

1. Good or bad idea to keep stock springs and why? I want to reduce body roll in corners.

2. I hear the new bilstein sports do not raise the car and may actually lower it slightly. True? Anyone have pictures of this setup?

Thanks!

[NakNak]

I bought my car with everything stock except it had Bilstein sports in it. As far as the ride goes the car feels pretty tight and you can very easily feel every bump in the road. The hight of the car seems like its the same as stock if not a very small amount lower. Heres a pic of my car with just the Bilsteins in it, hope it helps.


http://www.pix8.net/pro/pic.php?u=1649t9WXt&i=27170

[dmw]

Nice car. Thanks for the reply. I assume you have the old bilsteins (unless you just bought your car).

Anyone else on the board have experience with the new bilsteins and stock M3 springs?

[jeebus]

bump. I'm curious as well. Not trying to threadjack but does anyone know how bad it would be to only put rear bilstein sports in with stock fronts for a while?

[///M3CosmosJoe]

bump. I'm curious as well. Not trying to threadjack but does anyone know how bad it would be to only put rear bilstein sports in with stock fronts for a while?

My car had Bilsteins in the back when I got it. Struts were stock and so were springs. It felt fine to me, a little tight and bumpy...but not real bad. Once I added Eibachs and front Bilsteins though, the car was transformed. It actually felt smoother and not as bumpy. Matching your spring rate with your shocks/struts is key, if you don't it will just make the ride suck.

BTW...I have the older Bilsteins FWIW. The new ones are suppose to address reflex a little more. Curious to see how people like them. I love my setup.

[Bernanke]

I can chime in here. I have the new bilstein with stock springs. car DID drop, not too much but you can tell a diffference. car rides great and looks pretty good, i'm still gonna go for eibach springs if i can.

[edboc]

I've had Bilstein Sports in the rear and stock springs and stock struts in the front for a while. A bit of a rough ride. I emailed Bimmerzone about this, and they said it was a bad idea to run Bilstein Sports on stock springs. I'm trying to get more info on this. If this is true, what other options are there? Boges? It seems like Bilstein Sports are recommended over Boges for M3s, and Boges are more for non-M cars for replacements.

[dmw]

Fortunately, I was able to pick up a used set of H&R sports for $125 shipped. I am installing all of this in a couple of weeks and am very interested to see how it all works out.

[edboc]

So, what's the deal here? Chris from Zygmont is telling me that the new Bilstein Sports fix the ride height problem with cut bump stops and are revalved.

[dmw]

That is where I got my new Bilsteins and I had heard the same thing. The new bilsteins are not supposed to jack up the car like the old ones did. They may be revalved, but I have heard the new bilsteins are still plenty stiff. I was planning to keep my stock springs (which Zygmunt suggested) but for the extra $125 for the H&R sports I thought what the heck.

I did a bunch of searches on here before pulling the trigger on the new bilsteins. The reviews were positive.

[cielo]

can anyone provide the part numbers for the new bilsteins? i think the ones on their site are the old ones. thanks in advance!

*edit*

i spoke with someone at bilstein and got the new part numbers. however, he stated the rear shocks are the same. i assume he is right, but has anyone gone from the old bilsteins to the new ones? i currently have the "old" rears (with stock springs and stock struts); if they are the same, i'll plan on just getting new struts. thanks...

[DarkArtist]

Interesting thread indeed.

I just had new Bilstein Sports and Eibach Pros installed last week and am having fun with the greatly improved handling of the new set up, but am also trying to adapt to the much firmer ride.

I kept the stock springs and may consider replacing the Eibachs with them sometime in the future. Interesting to hear that the Bilsteins might lower the car a bit compared to the stock struts and shocks, and that the Eibachs actually felt smooth than the stock springs.

BTW, during the install it was discovered that my right rear shock mount bushing had completely collapsed. I was hearing a jiggling back there for a few months prior to having the car in shop, so I knew it was time to change them. I have 67,000 miles on the car and never track it and rarely drive it hard, but still replaced both sides with Ground Control RSMs.

[cielo]

just received an email from chris (bimmer parts) and he stated that the rears are in fact the same. now i have to decide whether or not to switch completely to konis or to just get the new bilsteins (have h&r oe springs in the closet).

[edboc]

Is heavy duty or touring bilsteins even an option on M3s? Vincent at Bimmerzone is recommending heavy duty, but on BMPD's website, they don't exist for M3s, and Chris at Bimmerparts is saying that they don't exist.

[edboc]

Does anyone know the part number differences between heavy duty and sport? I need to double check my rears to make sure they are sport.

[mgambini]

I have the older Bilsteins with stock springs and cut down bumpstops. Ride is firm, but not noticeably worse than stock. The M3 stock numbers are all Sports as best I can see. I've had Koni's and Bilsteins on a number of cars and prefer the Bilsteins. More controlled ride and don't have cut up your old struts.
MikeG

[edboc]

What are the negatives if I didn't replace my stock springs?