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Thread: Help me pick my E36 suspension?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    CA
    Posts
    1,018
    My Cars
    E36

    Help me pick my E36 suspension?

    Ok I am looking for something new for my E36 that's not super fancy track type suspension. Im moving somewhere where I don't think there is a track anywhere but lots of mountain back roads. On this car I don't want to go crazy expensive but I don't want junk ether.

    My choices so far are.

    H&R with koni yellow
    or
    Bilstein B14

    Both have pros and cons, Koni are adjustable dampening but ride height is fixed.
    Bilstein are not adjustable but you can make the ride height perfect and corner balance if you really wanted to.

    Anyone with real word use with ether or both? I can't find much or any info on the B14's

    Or something else in the price range give me ideas?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    San Antonio, TX
    Posts
    720
    My Cars
    1995 BMW M3 Coupe
    While the Konis are rebound adjustable, the rear shock damping is not externally adjustable. It’s such a PITA that you’ll probably set them once and leave them.

    For the Bilstein, the B14 are the non-adjustable dampers, but the same package with adjustment is the B16 (PSS9 for the E36).

    https://www.bimmerworld.com/Suspensi...48-115766.html

    Of the two, the Bilstein kit (either B14 or B16) would be better.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    CA
    Posts
    1,018
    My Cars
    E36
    Quote Originally Posted by RBNetEngr View Post
    While the Konis are rebound adjustable, the rear shock damping is not externally adjustable. It’s such a PITA that you’ll probably set them once and leave them.

    For the Bilstein, the B14 are the non-adjustable dampers, but the same package with adjustment is the B16 (PSS9 for the E36).

    https://www.bimmerworld.com/Suspensi...48-115766.html

    Of the two, the Bilstein kit (either B14 or B16) would be better.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Yes I kind of figured the Koni rear were about useless being compress to adjust or whatever they call it. As for the Bilstein b16 they are a little out of what I want to sped on this car and at that point then I would also start looking at KW Ect and so on. Anyone with any real world use I really can't find any reviews on the B14 kit ??

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2020
    Location
    Maitland, FL
    Posts
    106
    My Cars
    2001 330Ci, 1998 328is
    On average, most commentary suggests Bilsteins are the stiffer-valved of the two. If all your driving is mountain roads, you wouldn’t need adjustment if you nail the setup with tires, bars, and alignment. It’s like racing at the same track all the time.

    I’m looking at the TC Kline adjustable Konis too. The rears are modified with external adjustment capability.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    New England
    Posts
    25,402
    My Cars
    F90 M5; E36 M3 Turbo
    I don’t track. Have had my 99M3 for 17 years. 1 year stock suspension, 3-4 years used Koni with H&R Sport, and 12 years with used TCK SA - first with 400/450 and gradually moved to 600/700 (new shocks/struts along the way), but plan to move back down to maybe 450/500. I rarely adjust the rude height or shock/strut rebound. I don’t think most people need to.

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