Why are Bilstein Sports so ROUGH!?

[rturbo 930]

Well, I finally got to take my car for a drive. Konis are in, and they are a massive, massive improvement. My springs don't come loose when I jack the car up now either, which is nice.

My setup is H&R Race springs, stock hats (vs E90 hats I had in), and of course Koni SA. Highly recommend it. I can't believe such stiff springs can ride so well. Railroad tracks, potholes, manhole covers, you name it. It's no Cadillac, but at no point would I say the ride was bone jarring. Really happy with it.

This might be the first mod I've done that actually made my E30 better lol.

[jeffnhiscars]

They don't on my cabrio with H&R cabrio springs. You shouldn't be riding on your bump stops in any event

[kidneylover]

So without the bumps stops on Konis it won't cause it to bottom out with lowering springs?

[jeffnhiscars]

I haven't opened the front boxes yet and don't recall off hand how they go together. There should be a pictogram in there but I can always reference my cabrio if neither of us can figure this out :)

[kidneylover]

Thanks for the help! But for the front struts there is like a metal collar (non threaded), and a larger white plast washer. Not sure if the metal collar goes before the locking screw and then the white plastic washer. But I tried to place the metal collar before the locking screw but it seems to interfere. Not sure if the metal collar is suppose to slide over the top strut itself

[jeffnhiscars]

The plastic washer on the rear shocks comes out to adjust them. I assume it's a stop to prevent inadvertant adjusting although I have no idea how that could happen

[kidneylover]

So what's the deal with the white plastic washer and like the metal ring that comes in bag with Konis? Can't really figure it out from the pics.

[jeffnhiscars]

No fluid and I don't install bump stops w Konis.

[rturbo 930]

On that note, do Konis come with bumpstops or no? I don't think my OE shocks had bump stops when I took them out. Strongly considering ditching my Billies for some Konis in the near future. It rides okay now on decent roads, but it's horrific over bumps. I always thought it was my springs (H&R Race) but it sounds like it's probably the shocks.

[kidneylover]

Anyone know when installing koni yellow Adjustables if I should put the oem bump shock and if I need to fill the stut housing with a type of fluid??

[jeffnhiscars]

Remember that "ideal" damping takes the spring rate in to account so there is a dialing in process which the SA's can do (to a degree) whereas the BS is what it is. Buy a shock valved to a specific car change the springs and you can throw the math out the window. Having said that, both BS and Koni mention "for lowered cars" but they dont say anything about what spring rate they are designed for. Then you change the springs and it becomes a crap shoot. Put someone else behind the wheel and the game changes again.

Bottom line is..there is no right answer. Do what makes sense to you and then change it...again :-)

[nrubenstein]

If you run the Bilsteins too low, they are very harsh because of the internal bump stop.

My wife's iX with shortened front bump stops is positively gooshy on Bilsteins.

[TrentW]

I'm glad this thread got bumped. I was JUST about to pull the trigger on Bilstein B8's but now I'm having second thoughts. Obviously up here in Canada most of our roads are not glass smooth, but my E30 is only a summer / weekend fun car and not daily driven.

I looked on Tire Rack and they have Koni's on special now too. So I think now I am going to go Koni's with H&R super sports. Thoughts? My 318is is bone stock with the original OEM shocks and springs...well beyond blown to say the least.

I think you'll be very happy with your choice. Switched from Bilstein/H&R Sports on my 325is and am wishing I'd made the switch long ago.

[1843lamp]

I replaced the worn out Bilstein front shocks a short time ago with Koni SA .My car is an ES which I believe has stiffer springs than the standard ETA.I have adjusted the shocks several times but you can feel every small part of the road and the interior has noises in the sunroof ,seat and else ware ,annoying wiggles and jiggles.MY worn out shock less standard ETA car rides smoother than this with none of these issues .I am now thinking to change the springs in the ES to stock ETA type to see if this will solve these issues ,any other ideas?

[agent]

Was looking to get H&R sport springs with koni adjustables or h&r touring cup kit. Both seem to lower the car the about the same amount. Car will be daily but you know occasionally spirited drive. Anyone have experience with either. Is the koni adjustbles worth the extra fiddling with adjustments?

H&R Sports + Koni SAs is arguably the best static setup you can put on a DD. That's what I have on Klaus and I could easily daily that car if I had to. There's very little fiddling. Unless you're a suspension nerd, set them in the middle (of the 5, I believe) settings and off you go.