KONI vs BILSTEIN

[Mystikal]

which is the shorter of the 2 shocks in question? do they both offer the same amount of travel?

i know on older vw's (mk2 mk3) the bilstein sport is considerably shorter than stock. i am assuming this is the same for our application?

Bilstein Sports have very little travel on E30s.

I have covered this topic in detail many times over the past 4 years. Search people.

Jay

[errol]

which is the shorter of the 2 shocks in question? do they both offer the same amount of travel?

i know on older vw's (mk2 mk3) the bilstein sport is considerably shorter than stock. i am assuming this is the same for our application?

[romkasponka]

I'm not saying that its the inverted design that changes the dampening. I'm saying as a fact that Bilstein shocks dampen on the compression stroke while Koni's dampen durring rebound.

All shocks have bigger dampening force during rebound or even to bump but not less. Or I cant understand what do you want to say?

Add to this the fact that it is inverted, which means the oil will flow downward and collect. The bump stop is internal on the Bilstein (you can add what bump stop you want on a koni), and this bump stop will become soaked over time and completely change its dampening rate vs a dry one.

You can replace bump stop if you want, it is not so dificult. How often you hit bump stop, twice in a year? :)

I work for a Distributor (not just a retailer) of aftermarket suspension components. so I'm not just speaking from my own experience. I'm talking about what I know and see from selling thousands of koni, tokico, bilstein, kyb shocks... Our Koni sales for performance appilcations hands down kills that of other shocks, which includes specialty use and custom valving.[/quote]

Adjustability of course is very handy, but you wont get that you nead for race, with adjustability what koni sport have. I bought bilstein M3 dampers (perfectly fits 51 mm struts, travel about 100mm) with race valving 300/300 front and 200/200 rear.

[PaintPro21]

Do not agree with you PaintPro21. Nothing depends in damping because of inverted or traditional shock. Bilstein adds 1% to spring ratio or even less because of nitrogen pressure. Bilstein has two seals and to damage it is not so easy.

I'm not saying that its the inverted design that changes the dampening. I'm saying as a fact that Bilstein shocks dampen on the compression stroke while Koni's dampen durring rebound.

My gripe with Bilsteins being inverted is the problems they cause as they wear. A koni shock will have visible seapage when it has a problem because the oil will come out around the seal. A bilstein will fail the very same way, BUT you will not see it because it is incased in a second body. Add to this the fact that it is inverted, which means the oil will flow downward and collect. The bump stop is internal on the Bilstein (you can add what bump stop you want on a koni), and this bump stop will become soaked over time and completely change its dampening rate vs a dry one.

I work for a Distributor (not just a retailer) of aftermarket suspension components. so I'm not just speaking from my own experience. I'm talking about what I know and see from selling thousands of koni, tokico, bilstein, kyb shocks... Our Koni sales for performance appilcations hands down kills that of other shocks, which includes specialty use and custom valving.

[romkasponka]

Do not agree with you PaintPro21. Nothing depends in damping because of inverted or traditional shock. Bilstein adds 1% to spring ratio or even less because of nitrogen pressure. Bilstein has two seals and to damage it is not so easy.

[PaintPro21]

The complaints we here rutinely is that bilsteins are too stiff in comparison to koni shocks.

Bilstein's use an inverted shock body and do their dampening on the compression stroke. This means that the shock is actually adding to the spring rate. and the inverted shock body means that the shocks is sealed in its own housing and you can't see when it's leaking. The bump stop is contained in this housing and it gets soaked with hydraulic fluid which then makes the shock hit an extremely ridged bump stop.

Koni's do their dampening on the rebound stroke. This allows the spring to do it's dampening at the rate it was designed for. (if you want a soft ride you install soft springs, if you want a stiff ride you install stiff springs) then on the rebound stroke it controls the spring and prevents it from bouncing back too fast giving the car a springy feeling.

I run a koni/GC setup and sold off my Grp.N suspension that used bilstein shocks.

[1990m3]

Bilstein > Koni. I have a set on each car and I hate the Koni's. Bili sports all the way for me. I had them revalved this winter to match my J-stock springs I bought and it is fantastic. Car is on rails at the track and feels great. BTW, it was $60 per shock for revalving.

[Jon325i]

It's actually $60 a shock, so $240.

Yep - sounds right. I have revalved B-Sports paired up with IE Stage 3s. I also have TreeHouse Racing CABs. The sways are stock and no camber plates installed either. Ride quality is firm by livable for DD usage (at least I think they are.....opinions may vary). I've tracked this set up a few times while rolling on Azenis Sports and it was decent for what it is. Bigger bars would dial out some body roll and some other tweaks would improve things for sure.

As for the B-Sports themselves? Good product - not a single problem. If my car were more of a dedicated track car then adjustable Koni's would be the way to go - but for a car that's mainly used on the streets, B-Sports are more than up to the task.

Jon

[boom-monkey]

I was quoted about $300 for all 4.

It's actually $60 a shock, so $240.

[e30polak]

konis are only better if u order the ones that are rear top adjustable as well

[Apex381]

ok maybe not

[StereoInstaller1]

yeah and I hear revalving them is actually pretty cheap

I was quoted about $300 for all 4.

[Apex381]

Bilstiens are better shocks, konis are better setup for our cars.

Revalved bilsteins are really the way to go.

yeah and I hear revalving them is actually pretty cheap

[egk2]

I've always believed Konis were softer than Bilsteins.

[asubimmer]

bilstein > koni