Bilstein Sport Question

[619E30]

My friend just bought a 89 325i and he plans to go with ground controls coilover conversion kit. He spoke with someone from gc and he was told that if he were to lower his car any more than 1 1/2 inches that he would be riding on the internal bump stops on the bilstein sports. Can anyone confirm this because it kinda seems like bs. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[DRTSRFR]

...not BS. When billys are used on lowered platforms there is very little available bump travel.

[M-technik-3]

The alternative is to remove the sleeve and shorten the bump stop BUT Bilstein will not warranty self modified units.

[619E30]

The alternative is to remove the sleeve and shorten the bump stop BUT Bilstein will not warranty self modified units.

How do you remove the sleeve? (sorry don't have much experience with them)

[M-technik-3]

The basic slider off the bottom, you might need a drift punch and hammer to force the external yellow tube off the valve body then it's very simple.

[619E30]

The basic slider off the bottom, you might need a drift punch and hammer to force the external yellow tube off the valve body then it's very simple.

Any chance of damaging it?

[M-technik-3]

Only if you go nuts on it. The shiny part that you see on Bilstein's are actually the valve body not the piston. Some one else might have another method of removing the tube.

[KVF]

The basic slider off the bottom, you might need a drift punch and hammer to force the external yellow tube off the valve body then it's very simple.

I have to imagine that the "internal" bump stop is present for protection. If you remove or shorten that and get into a situation where you bottom hard what are the ramifications?

[619E30]

Could you ruin the bilstein's by sitting on the bump stops?

[M-technik-3]

Yes but it why? The stops compress some and why do so as they get older They are just hard rubber.

Many here have cut their bump stops shorter. It was fairly common practice 5-6 years ago when everyone was scrapping.

[619E30]

I see. I guess we'll just remove one bump stop

[Stephen]

I cut my bumps, i would recomend it if youre short on travel. Just use common sense and dont go nuts on the shock. 1- 1/2 inches of travel sounds a bit pessisimistic though

[619E30]

I cut my bumps, i would recomend it if youre short on travel. Just use common sense and dont go nuts on the shock. 1- 1/2 inches of travel sounds a bit pessisimistic though

Well 2 inches doesn't sound like too much does it?

[Jean]

Or you can have bilstein re-valve the shocks and shorten the bumpstops ;) Or even shorten the shocks.