Will early e30 bilsteins work with late model housings?

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  • Jb325is
    R3VLimited
    • Oct 2003
    • 2137
    #1

    Will early e30 bilsteins work with late model housings?

    I read a post somewhere on here that said bilsteins are interchangeable between the 45mm and 51mm strut housings. The only difference was in the mounting nut. Can anyone confirm this (or tell me it won't work)? I was thinking about just swapping the entire housings, but then I'd be stuck with smaller brakes and I'd lose the option of using GC sleeves.. So that's not happening. Anyone know?

    Found it:
    Originally posted by Rocla
    The same sport bilsteins can be used in both 45mm and 51mm strut, the mounting nut is only difference. 45mm strut has outernal thread and 51mm has internal.

    I believe that bilsteins are the only front shocks that are interchangaable between small and big strut.

    In europe 323i, 324td, 325i(all years),325e(all years) and 318is had the bigger strut.

    316, 316i, 318i, 320i, 324d had the small one.

    All cars with ABS had big struts.

    All late models(like 89->) with sport suspension(actualy called m-suspension in here) had big struts.

    These facts apply to Finland spec e30's.
    - '88 m54 coupe

    <3
    Tags: None
    • Danny
      Moderator
      • Feb 2008
      • 14216
      #2
      I dunno.

      But I have the smaller housings on my late car, I switched them out.

      Maybe that helps?

        Comment

        • Jb325is
          R3VLimited
          • Oct 2003
          • 2137
          #3
          So the late model brakes bolt up to the early housings?
          - '88 m54 coupe

          <3

            Comment

            • Danny
              Moderator
              • Feb 2008
              • 14216
              #4
              I pulled the early housing brake disc and all.

              The calipers bolt up though.

                Comment

                • napabavarian
                  E30 Modder
                  • Jun 2008
                  • 834
                  #5
                  NO
                  I ordered the wrong bilstiens once and it was cheaper to pick-n-pull new housings than exchange dampeners, so that is what I did, I had an '88 325is and went to housings from an older car with all my newer hardware...I believe there was a bit more camber on the older housing, stock sport springs, big anti roll bars, and stickey 205-14 tires, that thing was fast on the twisties!

                  This place is like catholic school, 2/3 of the students smoke weed on a daily basis, but the faculty seems to convince the outside world that drugs are just in the other schools, the resident pot dealer thinks he's cool because he has the originality to call anyone he doesn't like a homosexual, and most of the little children follow him like sheep, then there's the few with brains, you hardly ever hear from them, perhaps don't even know they exist, but they get all the sh!t done.

                    Comment

                    • sactownbimmer
                      Noobie
                      • Feb 2008
                      • 4
                      #6
                      sorry to Hijack the thread

                      I bought a set of used Racing Dynamics lowering springs front/back for my 85e. I want to upgrade to a Bilstein Sport (short) so do I have to replaced the stock strut housing to a later type? Please advise me to what else I need to buy and replace in other word give me a shoping list. thanks in advance. RC

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