Bilstein sports with stock 325is springs

[e30_lover_CT]

Anyone ever put this combo on their car? If so, how did it ride? I can't decide if I should transplant my H&R's onto my new ride or just keep the stock springs.

[3bvert]

I dont thnk the sports fit wth stock springs, the rear sport shocks are nearly 3 inches shorter
at least tath was my justification to get new springs

[nando]

I dont thnk the sports fit wth stock springs, the rear sport shocks are nearly 3 inches shorter

no they aren't

they will be just fine with stock springs, a bit firmer than the OE boges but nothing to be scared of.

[e30_lover_CT]

Cool, good to know. I'll be hanging onto my H&R's just in case :)

[3bvert]

no they aren't

they will be just fine with stock springs, a bit firmer than the OE boges but nothing to be scared of.

months ago I bought a set of sprots for the back,on this forum, and noticed that they were shorter, when fully extended next to the boge fully extended. I put it on the forum, thinking I had gotten the wrong shocks and was told that the sports are shorter and have to use the short springs
I was told that the HD's were the same as stock.

that is why I posted the asnwer I did

if indeed the sports are supposed to be the same length as stock , then I must have the wrong shocks

( mines a 318 dont think that makes a diff tho)

[nando]

they aren't 3 inches shorter than HDs, which can be used with stock springs

that was my point

having a 318 may make a small diff. some of those really sit like 4x4s!

[Wh33lhop]

Just don't jump the car and you should be okay.

Let me tell you though, there's nothing worse than having a strut that's too short for your spring. You think bottoming out is bad for your shocks? Try topping out--there's no bump stop to protect it from that. With my old short-bodied konis (I tried them out because some forum whores were jocking them) I topped out a few times over sharp crests and all of a sudden I had no rebound damping. Helloooo oscillation.

Considering these were actually designed for the E30 though, I think you will be okay.

[3bvert]

ok
so your telling me that the sports that I bought used here, that are 3" shorter are not the correct shock for my car

I was told they were shorter because they were sports to be used with short springs and that they came off a 318

but it sure looks good

[Wh33lhop]

Err.... struts have nothing to do with how low your car sits or how good it looks.

Unless you count how stupid you look bouncing around every time you hit a bump.

[3bvert]

true, I was just thinking if they were the way wrong shock in the back, and 3 inches shorter, maybe they would not allow the car to sit right, like compressing the spring or something

[87e30]

Well since you have both, how about you rip all the stock stuff out put it all next to each other and tell us what you find?

[3bvert]

as I stated earlier, the bilsteins were shorter then the stock. I measured them. I know my springs are, they are eibach pro tht I just put in wiht the shocks. the struts are new, the rears I bought used here
so I just climbed underneath and looked at numbers.
these must be way older then what I was told
the bilstein shock number I wrote down, and then went to the bi9lstein site. it came up no number found
the number is 0450726 H

guess maybe I got burned on the used shocks

[3bvert]

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1141639

this is one of the many threads thta says the sprot shocks are shorter

and here is one on this forum that says the sports are shorter

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=90664&highlight=bilstein+sport+shocks+shorter

[3bvert]

no they aren't

they will be just fine with stock springs, a bit firmer than the OE boges but nothing to be scared of.

so Ive been concerned wiht what I was reading so today I called bilstein in poway ca, talked to sales rep victor
yes I have the correct shock, just older then I was told

and YES sport shocks are shorter by several inches depending on application, and yes for my 318...3 inches is about correct

glad to know I do indeed have the correct "shorter" shocks

HD's are stock length for use with stock springs, but the original post was about sports

[e30_lover_CT]

After reading through these replies I think I'm just gonna go with a full transplant of Bilstein sports and H&R's. I feel like I'd be safer with a stiffer setup. My 89 skips all over the road right now if there's rain, but my 84 was a lot more stable in the rain with the HR/Bilstein setup.