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Handling
- Sgr74
- Member
- Posts: 728
- Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2017 9:56 pm
- Location: Sunny Fife, Scotland
Handling
I recently changed my shocks. I just went for Bilstein b4’s and changed my tyres to Rainsports. The handling is better but not as good as I was hoping for. Seems to wallow a bit. Should I have changed the springs at the same time? Would poly bushes help?
E85 Black 2.5 Roadie.
E89 Black 3.0 Tin top.
E89 Black 3.0 Tin top.
- Sgr74
- Member
- Posts: 728
- Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2017 9:56 pm
- Location: Sunny Fife, Scotland
Handling
Are you still on the original shocks? My car had done 119,000 miles on its original shocks. The handling was abysmal, I even thought about selling it. My e85 handled much better. Having changed them it is much better. Can you let me know how you get on with the B6's?nikijack wrote: Sat Jun 21, 2025 6:48 pm I'm about to bite the financial bullet on Bilstein B6. They've worked well on 8 BMWs.
E85 Black 2.5 Roadie.
E89 Black 3.0 Tin top.
E89 Black 3.0 Tin top.
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- Lifer
- Posts: 11385
- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2015 10:27 pm
Handling
B4’s are quite similar to OEM shocks, so if your springs are original, which is hard to believe at 119k miles as they snap like carrots, there’s your problem Sgr. Bushes will be worn too, but imho springs are your next port of call. 

Black M roady
Black E85 3.0 si manual
Mineral grey E89 35is
Black E89 35i manual
2 red MR2 mk 2 T bars
Black E85 3.0 si manual
Mineral grey E89 35is
Black E89 35i manual
2 red MR2 mk 2 T bars
- B21
- Lifer
- Posts: 7581
- Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2021 7:15 pm
- Location: In my Banana Yellow Space Shuttle...somewhere over Southern Caledonia
Handling
I used B8s..the MSport version of the B6..same damping profile as B6…ing big improvement..I used stock MSport springs but at that time the springs were 6 years old and 35k miles
“We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard”….
One of 258 Atacama Yellow 35is…165 modifications and updates…and counting..
One of 258 Atacama Yellow 35is…165 modifications and updates…and counting..

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- Newbie
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2025 5:11 pm
- Location: Markdale, Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Handling
Had B4 on my M435i. Not stiff enough. Changing to B6. Chacun a son gout. Had B6 on 1600, 2002, 320i, 535i, 318ti, 135i, 235i, now 435i.soon Z4. My local wrench swears by Konis, but, I don't agree.
- B21
- Lifer
- Posts: 7581
- Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2021 7:15 pm
- Location: In my Banana Yellow Space Shuttle...somewhere over Southern Caledonia
Handling
I always spend extra…flybobbie wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 5:19 pm Had B6 and B4, didn't think the 6 worth the extra cash.
Cars are a bit of a tank anyway.




“We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard”….
One of 258 Atacama Yellow 35is…165 modifications and updates…and counting..
One of 258 Atacama Yellow 35is…165 modifications and updates…and counting..

- Jollyjoiner
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2059
- Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2014 9:32 am
- Location: Chesterfield
Handling
I went for the Bilstein B8 dampers as they are designed for lower springs the springs I've got are the Eibach pro, felt less crashy with this set up and a little stiffer
2009 35i DCT silver
SLT mapped to 365bhp

SLT mapped to 365bhp
