325ix Suspension

[ghatid]

Hey guys,

I know there's a lot of discussion about the suspension on 325ixs, but I can't really figure it all out.

I want to keep my stock springs, and upgrade my shocks/struts. Will having Bilstein HDs be too harsh for road driving? I don't plan to do any autocross/racing any time soon, but I would like a nice handling vehicle (because I have never had one:D).

Could I go for koni yellows (http://www.bavauto.com/shop.asp) with stock springs in the front and bilstein HDs in the back? I was just thinking it might be easier to install the yellows rather than removing the gland nut and damaging the strut housing.

Any input would be great. Thanks!

Currently my strut housing looks like this:

http://imgur.com/gL4X1ek

[Northern]

I have Billy HD's on my ix because I picked them up almost new for $300. I definitely would not say they're too harsh for the road.

Koni Single Adjustable struts/shocks are better, and if you wait until march, tirerack usually does a 20% off koni sale, which brings them down to the same price as a set of bilstein HD's.

You will need to remove the gland nut to replace the strut insert no matter which route you chose.

[spdracrm3]

my car came with bilstein HD's and H&R's lowering springs and found it handled much better but a little to harsh for a daily (i have an M3 on 45's for that ride quality), i removed them and put some other struts in with badly worn stock struts and now it handles like crap. (i did find the bump stops had not been removed on the billy's), i think im going to go with the HD,s on stock springs next as i like the Billy's but want/need the stock height as its my snowmobile...and will eventually build a set of coilovers on my spare struts

[ghatid]

Thanks for the responses. I think I'm going to give the HD Bilsteins a shot. I took a look at my strut housing and it looks decent (just as rusty as the rest of the car). I've never put performance parts in any of my cars, so this is a first for me. (Also, the 325ix is my first performance car..:D don't ask what my DD is). I ended up getting them from Bavauto for $430 for front and back. I'm keeping stock springs.

Do you guys know if I can just replace the bearing in the strut mount? Mine are a bit rusty, the rest of the mount seems okay, but I would feel better if I could get new bearings in there, but I don't want to spend $200 getting whole new housings.

[nando]

I bet you could press them out and replace, if you could find a replacement bearing. try one of the big bearing places like SKF or Timken.

[saurey]

I just went through this exact exercise but replaced my strut housings with used non-rusty ones. Do the HD's.

Billy's + Stock Springs FTW. Drives great, feels solid and takes bumps and potholes of this city's crappiest streets great. Also I like the look for IX non-lowered.

[ghatid]

Great! Thanks for the response. It makes me feel a lot better about my purchase. I've been de-rustifying my car, and it is dirty, loud, lengthy, but oh so satisfying work. So I'll try the same with the strut mounts.

http://imgur.com/PP24mXC,YTW3nrX#1 Before

http://imgur.com/PP24mXC,YTW3nrX#0 After