Bilstein PSS9? who has used them and thoughts

[M-technik-3]

I just picked up a set of used ones for one of my E36's, not sure what one yet. Thinking the Ti will get them as it needs a suspension bad. It's sloppy and loose.

This should make the car more fun to drive. It's this years winter beater.

Looking to save some cash.

[priapism]

Buddy of mine has a set for his Boxster. Jesus is it stiff. Even in full soft it rattles your teeth out. But man, does it handle now.

[M-technik-3]

Guess it depends on what setting you have them on. I know quite a few guys that Daily them on E46 around here.

[Hellabad]

Buddy of mine has a set for his Boxster. Jesus is it stiff. Even in full soft it rattles your teeth out. But man, does it handle now.

I hate to sound like a broken record, but the struts are not stiff, the springs are not stiff, it's the Bilstein bumpstops that are stiff. Your friends Boxster is riding on the bumpstops. The same thing happens with e36, and most off the shelf Bilstein kits.

In order to be relevant, I have attached a pic of an e36 PSS9, bottomed out on our "bottomed out test jig"

[Hellabad]

For comparison, a completely stock e36 strut. (the coilover kit in pic neither adds nor subtracts from suspension travel, so this pic would be the same as stock too.

But look, if you have blown struts on your car, anything you have laying around will be better. As I always say, there is nothing that cost less than using what you have laying around the garage.

[M-technik-3]

I don't plan to run this car on the ground, i'm planning to spin them down a bit but not slammed. I like have some suspension travel.

[Hellabad]

I don't plan to run this car on the ground, i'm planning to spin them down a bit but not slammed. I like have some suspension travel.

That's what I figured when you said "winter beater"

[priapism]

I hate to sound like a broken record, but the struts are not stiff, the springs are not stiff, it's the Bilstein bumpstops that are stiff. Your friends Boxster is riding on the bumpstops. The same thing happens with e36, and most off the shelf Bilstein kits.

In order to be relevant, I have attached a pic of an e36 PSS9, bottomed out on our "bottomed out test jig"

What are you getting at? What exactly are you trying to correct me on? They're coilovers btw.

[einstein57]

I think he's saying bilstein kinda screwed up the length of the springs. Kinda silly to make a coilover system that can be adjusted to the point of non-functionality. If your buddy raises his car a hair then it will be a much more compliant ride.

[glnr13]

i ran pss9's on my MINI for a few years and they bottomed out when the car was nearly at it's lowest position. they did not come with bumpstops, had to reuse the OEM and we cut them in half. after raising it up quite a bit they were great and lasted quite a long time with a few track days, quite a bit of autox and lots of canyon runs. i really liked the ability to change the damping according to my driving conditions for the day.

they felt firmer than the OEM suspension when on 17's but when i switched out to 16's and 15's the ride was perfect. MINI's already have crap for stroke. apples to oranges but it gives you another opinion.