Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

Which shocks

2003 - 2009, roadster, coupe, facelift
User avatar
Panta Rhei
Member
Member
Posts: 288
Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2015 6:48 pm

Which shocks

Post by Panta Rhei » Fri Nov 13, 2015 8:37 pm

Hello. I strongly need to buy new front shocks to my Z4. The thing is, I have the 704 option (M Sport Suspension) and one new OEM shock costs me 278 EUR. I thought about maybe buying Bilstein B4 shocks for 147 EUR both. What do you think? My car would not be much softer on such shocks? I want their work to be as OEM M Sport Suspension as they could.

User avatar
ben g
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 7858
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:20 pm
Location: Essex

Re: Which shocks

Post by ben g » Fri Nov 13, 2015 9:12 pm

You need the yellow bilstein shocks, rather than the black ones, so i've been told. B6.
Red Soft-top Sterling grey 3.0i - Z4M Front, Eibachs, Polybushed, Clear headlights, Triple clear spot rear lights, Shadow Chrome 107's, Sport MFSW, ZHP.

csl1973
Member
Member
Posts: 253
Joined: Mon Feb 03, 2014 8:06 pm
Location: telford shropshire

Re: Which shocks

Post by csl1973 » Fri Nov 13, 2015 9:35 pm

ben g wrote:You need the yellow bilstein shocks, rather than the black ones, so i've been told. B6.
B8's as the b6 is for standard ride height, but you can use them with the sport springs. I had an email from bilsten when I asked a similar question. Their answer was to use the b8's as these are designed for use with lowered springs like the sport ones fitted to the z with sport suspension.
2006 Silver-grey 3.0si coupe including miles of smiles.

User avatar
ben g
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 7858
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:20 pm
Location: Essex

Re: Which shocks

Post by ben g » Fri Nov 13, 2015 10:53 pm

Oh ok. I thought B8's were the kit comprising springs and shocks.
Red Soft-top Sterling grey 3.0i - Z4M Front, Eibachs, Polybushed, Clear headlights, Triple clear spot rear lights, Shadow Chrome 107's, Sport MFSW, ZHP.

Midhurstman
Member
Member
Posts: 264
Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2014 10:11 pm
Location: West Sussex

Re: Which shocks

Post by Midhurstman » Fri Nov 13, 2015 11:10 pm

As has been said the B8's are correct for the M-sport suspension. They are the only ones recommended as such on the Bilstein website. I have them on mine and they are as close a ride to the original Sachs as possible, whilst being maybe fractionally harder. B12's are the kits.

User avatar
Panta Rhei
Member
Member
Posts: 288
Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2015 6:48 pm

Re: Which shocks

Post by Panta Rhei » Sat Nov 14, 2015 12:40 pm

Thank you very much.

Scooba_Steve
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 5277
Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2014 3:01 pm
Location: NW London

Re: Which shocks

Post by Scooba_Steve » Sat Nov 14, 2015 2:09 pm

Might as well get a B12 set with non snapping eibachs, 700 eur on the bay and you'll not need to worry for a long time.
3.0si Sport: F10 Illuminated ZHP, Retrofit Cruise, OE Stubby, Gaptech RCH+, Kenwood BT73DAB + Handsfree, HIDs, LED Sidelights, OE LED Number Plate Lights, Custom LED strip bootlight.

User avatar
Panta Rhei
Member
Member
Posts: 288
Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2015 6:48 pm

Re: Which shocks

Post by Panta Rhei » Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:20 pm

700 EUR are you kidding? BMW OEM M Sport Suspension ones cost 525 EUR for both.

Scooba_Steve
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 5277
Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2014 3:01 pm
Location: NW London

Re: Which shocks

Post by Scooba_Steve » Sun Nov 15, 2015 11:14 am

Set of 4 with springs.
3.0si Sport: F10 Illuminated ZHP, Retrofit Cruise, OE Stubby, Gaptech RCH+, Kenwood BT73DAB + Handsfree, HIDs, LED Sidelights, OE LED Number Plate Lights, Custom LED strip bootlight.

User avatar
hopz121
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 3711
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2011 4:33 pm
Location: Guildford Surrey

Re: Which shocks

Post by hopz121 » Sun Nov 15, 2015 5:57 pm

B4's will be similar to OEM and are fine with the lower m sport springs.

B6 & 8's are an upgraded shock
2004 BMW E46 M3 Coupe - Manual - Silver Grey
2017 BMW F31 318d M-Sport - Auto - Glacier Silver
2007 Porsche Cayman 2.7 - Manual - Arctic Silver
2003 Renault Clio 172 Cup - Blue
2003 BMW E85 Z4 3.0i - Gone
2008 BMW E90 330i SE - Gone

User avatar
Panta Rhei
Member
Member
Posts: 288
Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2015 6:48 pm

Re: Which shocks

Post by Panta Rhei » Sun Nov 15, 2015 8:41 pm

Scooba_Steve wrote:Set of 4 with springs.
Oh, got you, mate. Thanks. :D

User avatar
Panta Rhei
Member
Member
Posts: 288
Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2015 6:48 pm

Re: Which shocks

Post by Panta Rhei » Sun Nov 15, 2015 8:50 pm

hopz121 wrote:B4's will be similar to OEM and are fine with the lower m sport springs.

B6 & 8's are an upgraded shock
Are you 100% sure I can install B4s to M Sport Suspension?

Midhurstman
Member
Member
Posts: 264
Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2014 10:11 pm
Location: West Sussex

Re: Which shocks

Post by Midhurstman » Sun Nov 15, 2015 9:54 pm

I telephoned Bilstein Technical Department and discussed B4's, B6'6 and B8's for Z4 E85 and was told categorically that B4's and B6's are designed with a slightly longer stroke and are not suitable for M-sport lowered suspension(which I believe is 15mm). This may be a complete load of guff but I wasn't willing to take a chance on fitting 4's or 6's and spoiling handling and/or early shock failure, bearing in mind that Bilsteins have built in bump stops making the stroke length critical.

User avatar
ben g
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 7858
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:20 pm
Location: Essex

Re: Which shocks

Post by ben g » Sun Nov 15, 2015 10:38 pm

The sport suspension has the same shock absorbers as se suspension as far as i'm aware. It's just the springs that are different.

So yes the standard ones will fit, but may not last or give as better ride as the better shock absorbers designed specifically with sport springs/eibachs etc in mind.

For the being ride/handling/longevity I would personally go with whatever Bilstein recommends for sport suspension equipped Z4's, which appears to be the B8's.
Red Soft-top Sterling grey 3.0i - Z4M Front, Eibachs, Polybushed, Clear headlights, Triple clear spot rear lights, Shadow Chrome 107's, Sport MFSW, ZHP.

User avatar
hopz121
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 3711
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2011 4:33 pm
Location: Guildford Surrey

Re: Which shocks

Post by hopz121 » Mon Nov 16, 2015 9:41 am

B4's are equivalent to OEM Shocks and are slightly better than the current OEM ones on your Zed and are also suitable for a small drop

B6's are uprated Sports shocks and suibale for a small drop

B8's are uprated sports lowering shocks for lowering cars more than 30mm+

The B12 kit includes B8 Shocks with eibach springs.
2004 BMW E46 M3 Coupe - Manual - Silver Grey
2017 BMW F31 318d M-Sport - Auto - Glacier Silver
2007 Porsche Cayman 2.7 - Manual - Arctic Silver
2003 Renault Clio 172 Cup - Blue
2003 BMW E85 Z4 3.0i - Gone
2008 BMW E90 330i SE - Gone

Post Reply