Re: Koni vs Bilstein for street E36

["Ron Buchalski" <rbuchals@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Alex,

I think the issue with Bilstein Sports riding on their bumpstops in the 
E36M3 only occurs when they are combined with shorter sport springs (like 
H&R Sports).  When used with stock springs (or even H&R OE Sports), they 
stay off the bumpstops.


Ron Buchalski
BMWCCA #76387
1995 E36 M3
1993 E34 525iT
1999 Mazda Miata


>
>Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 16:44:53 -0600
>From: alex.fadeev@domain.elided
>Subject: Re: Koni vs Bilstein for street E36
>
>"Greg Steinke" <GSTEINKE@domain.elided> wrote:
> > I have a 1992 BMW 325i into which I have transplanted the
> > shocks/springs/antiroll bars from a 95 or 96 M3. (forgot which). After
> > 80k miles or so of use, the shocks are feeling a bit floaty, more
> > floaty than on my wife's new 2002 325iT w/o sport suspension.
> > So I want to get new shocks/struts. The main choices are Bilstein
> > and Koni. I want to keep the M3 springs and antiroll bars, so this
> > dictates use of M3-oriented replacement parts due to the difference
> > in the way the anti roll bar mounts.
> > Bilstein: Sport option is what is available for M3. No comfort or HD.
> > For what it is worth, some of the columnists in Roundel were recently
> > singing the praises of Bilstein.
>
>Bilstein really screwed up the E36M3 shock design.
>The strut is too long and you will be riding, or more like pogo stick
>bouncing, on Bilstein bumps stops most of the time. That is unless you
>disassemble the Bilstein cartridge and trim the bumps stops. By which time
>you had voided Bilstein's lifetime warranty.
>Don't get me wrong - I had put 120+K miles on Bilstein HDs with my E30 and
>they were as good as new when I sold the car. But Bilstein really missed
>the boat on E36M3 Sport shocks.
>

<snip>


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