Why are Bilstein Sports so ROUGH!?

[six2midnight]

I have had quite a few e30s now. Ive had stock suspension, springs, custom coilovers (stock shock tower height and cut), stock bushings, condor bushings etc etc.

Ive tried many different set ups.

I know this forums LOVESSSSS bil sport shocks, but every time I use them, they are ROUGH on the street. I run them in the rear on my race car and its fine on the track, but I cannot stand these shocks on the street.

Does anyone else find the damping of these shocks rough for non smooth roads?

anyone have other options for a better ride? I don't need stance life on my street e30, I want a lowered look with a comfortable ride.

I guess im getting old and rather not put up with crap suspension anymore just to get likes.

[nando]

High rebound stiffness. I know where you're coming from - I had custom built Bilsteins for a year. It handled well but the ride was simply terrible to the point of embarrassment.

I would recommend Koni SA. Adjust the rebound to the minimum required to control your springs - much more comfortable.

[six2midnight]

I am thinking about koni adjustables.


Anyone recommend any bushings for a good ride on street use? full delrin is a little hard, and installing the OEM rubber ones suck.

I know revshift makes different hardness in mounts. anyone try these for subframe or rcabs?

[nando]

I would go for a relatively soft poly. stiffer than stock rubber but no real additional NVH. I think I got the ones currently in my car from AKG and they're not bad at all.

you can go a little stiffer on the trailing arms, they'll be dampened by the subframe and the bushings are small anyway. The diff I recommend leaving stock, if not just an upgraded OEM rubber bushing - poly in the diff sucks big time.

[six2midnight]

Thanks for the info.

I agree, im keeping oem rubber for diff, motor and trans

[Alaska Ted]

poly diff

I would go for a relatively soft poly. stiffer than stock rubber but no real additional NVH. I think I got the ones currently in my car from AKG and they're not bad at all.

you can go a little stiffer on the trailing arms, they'll be dampened by the subframe and the bushings are small anyway. The diff I recommend leaving stock, if not just an upgraded OEM rubber bushing - poly in the diff sucks big time.

Need to replace every bushing in the car and I was think soft poly. Why does a poly diff bushing suck?

[ccarey3]

I like my Powerflex Purple (80A) FCAB bushings, much stiffer than stock with no noticeable NVH. I hate the bushings that came with my UUC sway bars, they squeak and rattle like crazy. Now I just need to drop rear subframe and do those in Powerflex too. And I absolutely agree that Bilstein Sports ride like shit, I've been running those with H&R race springs (Spec E30 setup) and they are god awful on shitty pothole ridden Boston streets.

[Rob Daman]

I have a set I was going to install in my E. We don't have that too rough of roads in So Cal, is it that bad on smoother roads?

[six2midnight]

Ive had them on numerous e30s with stock bushings, and with upgraded poly or delrin bushings, and I cant stand the bil sports on the street.


don't let these kids on here fool you that they are tough and cant take a rough ride.

if its a street car, or a daily driver, youre going to hate yourself after a week.

I sold one of my e30s because I had bil sports with ply bushings. I didn't enjoy driving it anymore and sold the car haha. too much work to take it all out and I got a sweet offer on the car.

everyone who says bil sports and hr race ride good are trying to play mr. tough guy. that is a track set up, not street.

I will be looking for new dampers with my new build.

[jeffnhiscars]

I am so over Bilstein sports for just this reason. I just need to get past a couple of dash swaps then the 731 on the ETA so IT can have my sports and I get koni SAs on my cabrio

[six2midnight]

Dang! im glad im not the only one. I only see people praising the bil sports on this forum

[reelizmpro]

Too stiff for the street is subjective. A younger person might think stiff coilovers or Race springs are perfectly fine on the street. I still think they are even though I'm pushing 40. However, I only drive my E30's for leisure so I'm fine with it. If you don't like Bilstein's, there's always low pressure Boge/Sachs and Koni SA.

[FredK]

In my opinion, H&R Race are too soft for their fairly significant drop, especially when paired with Konis turned way down low in damping force.

I think E30 M3 stock springs or thereabouts is a good "old man" suspension. Plenty of travel, mild lowering, soft initial rate to match soft damping rates.

[Bearmw]

I like the M3 springs on my 2800 lb. cabrio but the KYB struts do not have enough rebound control so when I have some money I am upgrading to Koni SA. I think with that change my suspension will be close to perfect for me.

[noahsense]

I really wish there was a thread like this when I installed Bilstein HDs on my car a few years ago. The rebound damping really is harsh.

I should have spent the extra money for Koni's or saved money on Bilstein Tourings or stock.