Bilstein Touring Shocks With Eibach Pro-Kit Springs ?
- Thread starter anxious
- Start date
Couple of real quick notes and points to make...
1. Bilstein Sports are not shorter than the stock shocks when they are fully compressed. they are the same.
2. The H&R Cup kit is a pretty well matched setup and is stiffer than the Bilstein/Eibach ProKit setup, though still comfortable enough for a daily driver. I know, I've been in both and I bought the cup kit.
3. A good choice for shocks are Konis (if you can afford them) or Tokicos Illuminas. Both shocks are adjustable for firmness. Stay away from Tokico HPs.
4. H&R Springs are stiffer than the Eibachs. By how much is anyone's guess (unless you work for H&R - they won't divulge their spring rates). Though they will say that the sport springs are 30% stiffer than stock, and the cup kit's are 40% stiffer than stock.
5. All e30's shocks are interchangable except for the 85-85 318i's. The early 318i's had 42mm tube diameters and all other model until the end of e30 production used 51mm. If you have a 318i (M42 engine) you can upgrade to 325i/M3 shocks/struts because of the heavier 6 cyl. engine. However, if you have a 325e/i/M3 do NOT downgrade to 318i shocks.
6. If you lower your car, be prepared for a couple of things...
- Increased camber (look into camber/caster plates for the front and eccentric bushings for the rear)
- Increased tire wear (in case you missed the last point)
- bottoming out on speed bumps and deep potholes and the like (depends on how low you go)
Sorry to be such a post whore. There a lot more than a lot of people realize is involved. There are a lot of choices out there. Bottom line...do your homework before buying something. making a switch later on just eats up your time and money.
If you are going to install, it's a very simple job. I did my entire suspension in about 2 hours. You will need the following tools to do this properly and SAFELY:
Impact gun (air or electric)
MacPhearson strut compressor. Do NOT use a coil spring compressor unless you really know what you're doing.
Assorted sockets (metric of course)
10/12/15/17/19mm wrenches.
Hope this info helps!
1. Bilstein Sports are not shorter than the stock shocks when they are fully compressed. they are the same.
2. The H&R Cup kit is a pretty well matched setup and is stiffer than the Bilstein/Eibach ProKit setup, though still comfortable enough for a daily driver. I know, I've been in both and I bought the cup kit.
3. A good choice for shocks are Konis (if you can afford them) or Tokicos Illuminas. Both shocks are adjustable for firmness. Stay away from Tokico HPs.
4. H&R Springs are stiffer than the Eibachs. By how much is anyone's guess (unless you work for H&R - they won't divulge their spring rates). Though they will say that the sport springs are 30% stiffer than stock, and the cup kit's are 40% stiffer than stock.
5. All e30's shocks are interchangable except for the 85-85 318i's. The early 318i's had 42mm tube diameters and all other model until the end of e30 production used 51mm. If you have a 318i (M42 engine) you can upgrade to 325i/M3 shocks/struts because of the heavier 6 cyl. engine. However, if you have a 325e/i/M3 do NOT downgrade to 318i shocks.
6. If you lower your car, be prepared for a couple of things...
- Increased camber (look into camber/caster plates for the front and eccentric bushings for the rear)
- Increased tire wear (in case you missed the last point)
- bottoming out on speed bumps and deep potholes and the like (depends on how low you go)
Sorry to be such a post whore. There a lot more than a lot of people realize is involved. There are a lot of choices out there. Bottom line...do your homework before buying something. making a switch later on just eats up your time and money.
If you are going to install, it's a very simple job. I did my entire suspension in about 2 hours. You will need the following tools to do this properly and SAFELY:
Impact gun (air or electric)
MacPhearson strut compressor. Do NOT use a coil spring compressor unless you really know what you're doing.
Assorted sockets (metric of course)
10/12/15/17/19mm wrenches.
Hope this info helps!
![[pray]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_pray.gif "Pray [pray]"){kind=icon}
<-means good post![[:I]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_blush.gif "Blush [:I]"){kind=icon}
awww shucks ![[wiggle]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_wiggle.gif "Wiggle [wiggle]"){kind=icon}
The HPs do not last very long unless you baby your car. The HPs are not really designed to be autoX'd, tracked or abused. I've heard quite a few people complain about excessive nose-dive, an almost bouncy ride on rough roads, and blown shocks at autocrosses. Although I've never had them on my own car, the number of complaints that I've heard about them are more than enough to keep me away from them. They are a fairly cheap shock, and most of the time you get what you pay for.
I don't know how you aquired them, but perhaps if you bought them locally you might be able to trade them in on a set of the illuminas. If that's not an option, just be wary of your shocks and don't abuse them until you can get a better set.
Edit: I don't want to come across like I'm trying to scare you. Rather I just wouldn't want you to be surprised if the shocks only really last you about 6months to a year based on the way that most e30 drivers drive.![[:D]](/images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin [:D]")
I don't know how you aquired them, but perhaps if you bought them locally you might be able to trade them in on a set of the illuminas. If that's not an option, just be wary of your shocks and don't abuse them until you can get a better set.
Edit: I don't want to come across like I'm trying to scare you. Rather I just wouldn't want you to be surprised if the shocks only really last you about 6months to a year based on the way that most e30 drivers drive.
No, i really appericiate the input. I certainly was going cheap so i know they aren't the best... i just was hoping they didn't suck BAD. you know?
They are supposed to have a lifetime warranty and i don't mind changing them out from time to time if they will really honor the warrenty.... we'll see what happens. I can't return them. Least i didn't spend all that much money on them. $338 shocks and springs, shipped, new. Can't say i'll baby them, maybe i'll get an unusually long lasting set, haha.
They are supposed to have a lifetime warranty and i don't mind changing them out from time to time if they will really honor the warrenty.... we'll see what happens. I can't return them. Least i didn't spend all that much money on them. $338 shocks and springs, shipped, new. Can't say i'll baby them, maybe i'll get an unusually long lasting set, haha.