Shocks Advice

[heavymetalthunder]

I know there are a few recent threads regarding shocks, but after searching and reading up I am a bit confused and I didn't really want to take over somebody else's thread with my questions.

I have an ’04 E85 3.0i with sports suspension and need some new shocks. I don’t want to lower my car or make the ride any firmer, I have seen a few members have gone for the Bilstein B4 shocks, apparently this will be fine even though my car has sports suspension? If so are these the correct part numbers?

Rear - 19-158983
OSF - 22-164575
NSF - 22-164568

I guess it is fine to use the existing springs? I’ve checked my paperwork and they were replaced a few years back and from visual inspection they look to be still in good condition. Should I get new top mounts also?

I am also getting some bushes replaced (front arm rear bush & ARB) is there anything else maybe not too expensive that is worth getting replaced now whilst my car is in for work?

Many thanks in advance

 

[ben g]

Those are the correct part numbers

For top mounts, I went for Lemforder front and rear, from GSF. Apparently the Meyle rear mounts make a noise.

Springs will be fine to re-use. I'm re-using my eibach springs.

 

[heavymetalthunder]

Thanks for the response, did your top mounts need replacing or did you just change them anyway? I've found GSF on eBay are cheaper than their own site, rears for £11.52 each and fronts for £26.04 each.

I guess it's not worth changing things like drop links unless they need doing?

 

[philbo909]

Thanks for the response, did your top mounts need replacing or did you just change them anyway? I've found GSF on eBay are cheaper than their own site, rears for £11.52 each and fronts for £26.04 each.

I guess it's not worth changing things like drop links unless they need doing?

If your shocks are knackered there's a high chance the top mounts are too, or they will be soon.
Labour costs stay the same so it's a no-brainer for me

 

[MACK]

Most of the posts ive read folks seem to find when they do the shocks their existing top mounts are still ok and could really go back on. But that said I entirely agree with the post above, for the cost of them it's not worth taking the risk.
Judging from my experience back in december and Ben g's experience in a recent thread, the biggest issue you may have is actually getting your hands on the B4 shocks.

 

[patriot66]

Most of the posts ive read folks seem to find when they do the shocks their existing top mounts are still ok and could really go back on. But that said I entirely agree with the post above, for the cost of them it's not worth taking the risk.
Judging from my experience back in december and Ben g's experience in a recent thread, the biggest issue you may have is actually getting your hands on the B4 shocks.

1 set still left here...in Germany ! https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.de%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F232434075819
My set were dispatched yesterday !

 

[heavymetalthunder]

Thanks, I'll go for the top mounts too, may as well change them at the same time. My shocks aren't leaking and look in decent condition but as my car is on 143k miles I'm pretty sure they are worn out by now!

And Patriot66 I had actually come across that German eBay seller before, just ordered now and snapped up the last set! I did enquire with a local car parts company who was actually slightly cheaper and I was going to buy from them, but the NSF shocks are apparently on back order until July!

 

[DaveD]

Spoke to Bilstein and we’re looking at July or B4s. Think I might go for B6s now anyway as have been convinced by a few people in ge know (not lowering though so keep travel and hopefully tighter control)

 

[Jembo]

Been a bit of a gap... especially as presently have two estates

B6’s r perfect, really simple job, though the toughest part is removing the rear parcel shelf. I did a post with pictures many moons ago, just be brave

 

[ben g]

B4's are ideal if you don't want to have to declare a suspension modification to your insurance company, as they're a 'like for like' replacement.

B6's are the 'Sport suspension' replacement, but apparently are firmer than oem sport shocks anyway.

It's literally one of the most confusing things ever and I still don't understand it fully, despite hours of forum reading on the subject :lol:

We shall see if my B4's and eibachs combo does the job. I was happy with the handling of my Z4 before the shocks failed and they had 120k+ miles on them. I imagine new Bilstein B4 shocks will be a significant improvement over old tired sport shocks.

 

[ionofchios]

I think B8s are the closest Bilstein to M-Sport struts - at least that’s what I got, and the key dimensions look to be the same as what I took off the car.

Front strut mounts could be okay, and you can probably re-use unless they are cracked or really notchy. I went for OEM from BMW, and I could feel the difference in smoothness of the bearings in my hands, though the old ones were not really loose. BTW, I think OEM ones I got from BMW are expensive and pretty crap quality for the money - lots of variants, some mentioned above, look to be the same construction but much cheaper.

My spring pads were okay, and could have been re-used, but I got new. Spring top plates on the fronts were a bit rusty, but fine. If you go for a setup with external bump stops, they might need replacing - mine looked like s**t, but you don’t need them with B8s, so binned them. Also, if you are doing it yourself, go easy with the torque on the fronts for the nuts that screw onto the top mounts - they, and the mounts themselves, are alloy, and it’s easy to bend the mount, or strip the nuts or studs.

 

[ionofchios]

You could get them to check the other bushes/lollipops on the wishbones, the ‘dog bones’ and maybe also track-rod arm bushes. They all might be fine, but worth checking for play and replace if in the way out.

 

[heavymetalthunder]

I think the B4s should be fine, there are some speed bumps at the office car park where I scrape if I go any faster than a crawl over them so I definitely don't want to go any lower! And seeing as my Z4 is a daily driver, I don't want anything too firm - especially given the condition of some roads!

And I won't be doing the work myself (I don't have the space, skills or time!) I will get the parts and give to my mechanic to install at the same time as the service/MOT. I'll ask him to check the other components and if anything doesn't look like it has much life left I'll get them replaced too. Hopefully not too much extra will need doing though, as I am hoping to buy a new motorbike this spring and the shocks have already eaten a bit into my savings!

 

[MACK]

I think the B4s should be fine, there are some speed bumps at the office car park where I scrape if I go any faster than a crawl over them so I definitely don't want to go any lower! And seeing as my Z4 is a daily driver, I don't want anything too firm - especially given the condition of some roads!

And I won't be doing the work myself (I don't have the space, skills or time!) I will get the parts and give to my mechanic to install at the same time as the service/MOT. I'll ask him to check the other components and if anything doesn't look like it has much life left I'll get them replaced too. Hopefully not too much extra will need doing though, as I am hoping to buy a new motorbike this spring and the shocks have already eaten a bit into my savings!

You'll probably actually find with fresh dampeners that you'll bottom out less than you do currently. I found this on mine and I dropped another 15mm from m sport to eibachs. Can only be as a result of decent dampening from the new shocks.

 

[patriot66]

Look what DPD just delivered! Lovely !

How quick was that ?

 

[heavymetalthunder]

You'll probably actually find with fresh dampeners that you'll bottom out less than you do currently. I found this on mine and I dropped another 15mm from m sport to eibachs. Can only be as a result of decent dampening from the new shocks.

Fair point, I guess if I feel the need I could always replace the springs at a later date with a set of Eibachs.

Look what DPD just delivered! Lovely !

How quick was that ?

Wow that is impressive, there was me worrying that they may not arrive in time for when my car is booked in just over 2 weeks time! If anything that is too quick, I ordered to my parent's place as someone is more likely to be in during the day, but they are currently on holiday until next week!

 

[ben g]

Look what DPD just delivered! Lovely !
20180314_114736.jpg
How quick was that ?

Where's mine? much needed. My car feels and sounds like it's about to fall to pieces :lol:

 

[ionofchios]

Look what DPD just delivered! Lovely !
20180314_114736.jpg
How quick was that ?

Congrats!

 

[Tyreman]

I can't believe how quick the delivery was.........mine arrived on Tuesday, I've ordered stuff from London and Leeds but the stuff from Germany arrived days before.

Maybe there is some sort of comment around how efficient certain businesses could be lol

 

[ben g]

I can't believe how quick the delivery was.........mine arrived on Tuesday, I've ordered stuff from London and Leeds but the stuff from Germany arrived days before.

Maybe there is some sort of comment around how efficient certain businesses could be lol

Ok, now i'm worried :lol: no delivery as yet.