Shocks

[taz1966]

Hi all,
Can anyone recommend the best shocks to go with my new Eibach Pro kit spring.
Looked at the Bilstein B12 kit but as above i only need the shocks.
Can you still get the original Sachs shocks for the ZMR

Sean

 

[taz1966]

Hi all,
Can anyone recommend the best shocks to go with my new Eibach Pro kit spring.
Looked at the Bilstein B12 kit but as above i only need the shocks.
Can you still get the original Sachs shocks for the ZMR

Forgot to mention that i have all-ready got the springs on but they are a bit crashy so was hopping if i change the shocks it might not be as bad.
Car has done 49500 miles and of course they are now 16 years old.

Sean

 

[plenty]

The Bilstein kit comprises B6 dampers and Eibach Pro-Kit springs.

The dampers are available separately.

 

[taz1966]

Hi,
Ive had a look for the B6 be can only find the rears in stock.
If i use the B6 will it still retain the 20mm drop on the front and 10mm rear with the Eibach springs i have

 

[Bombardino]

Hi,
Ive had a look for the B6 be can only find the rears in stock.
If i use the B6 will it still retain the 20mm drop on the front and 10mm rear with the Eibach springs i have

I had the set up your planning on and I quickly reverted back to OEM springs, whilst the car looked better with the slight drop and drove far better on billiard smooth roads if you can find one, but in reality the roads in the UK are in a terrible state and I found myself concentrating way to much trying to dodge imperfections in the road surface than enjoying the journey.

 

[plenty]

Hi,
Ive had a look for the B6 be can only find the rears in stock.
If i use the B6 will it still retain the 20mm drop on the front and 10mm rear with the Eibach springs i have

Try the Bilstein store: https://www.bilsteinsuspensionstore.co.uk/info-parts_list?make=BMW&car_year=2006&model=Z4&car_id=3.2+E86+M%7C2006%7C2009

Ride height is mostly determined by springs, so you'll retain the drop regardless of which dampers are fitted.

 

[True-Blue]

EDIT - photos removed as it seems the B12 kit for M’s have B6 shocks but the Kits for non-M’s have shortened B8’s which makes the car sit lower.

 

[ShaunKC]

I purchased the B12 kit even though I already had Eibach springs; at the time, the price difference made it a no-brainer, but now there looks to be more of a saving to purchase without the springs.

While Plenty is correct about the dampers supposedly not affecting the ride height, my experience is that the B6 dampers make a big difference. I spent a lot of time with emails to and from Bilstein (via Larkspeed) because their dampers altered the ride height massively, and I didn't like the raised 4x4 look at all. In the end, I changed the rear tyres to 275/35/19 (from 265/30/19) to get the lowered look that I wanted, and similar to what I had before changing to Bilstein. Bilstein claimed the difference in ride height on the OEM dampers was lower due to their age, but as the ride height is supposed to be governed by the springs, I never really bought this explanation. What I would say is that the ride on the Bilstein was a big improvement, even more so when I changed the tyres, so I do not doubt that at 55k and 16 years, the OEM dampers on my car were knackered.

If I were purchasing again with the knowledge that I have now, I would probably be looking for OEM dampers, if they are still available.

The two pictures show the car on the same Eibach springs and Bilstein dampers but with different rear tyre sizes.

The front is also higher, but just acceptable; I will put on bigger tyres eventually to fill the arch better with the new dampers, but as the tyres are basically brand new, I have just added 12mm spacers to fill the arch for now. The pictures show the car without the spacers.

When I changed to Bilstein, I also had all the rubber mounts, etc., front and back, replaced by BMW OEM.

I hope this is some help.

 

[plenty]

Bilstein claimed the difference in ride height on the OEM dampers was lower due to their age, but as the ride height is supposed to be governed by the springs, I never really bought this explanation.

The correct explanation if you were on the original dampers. It would have been the same outcome had you purchased new OEM dampers, as while there are minimal differences in ride height between damper variants when new and paired with the same springs, the difference in ride height between old and new dampers is often noticeable.

Also bear in mind ride height takes time to settle.

 

[True-Blue]

That’s odd, I’ve seen several E85/E86’s with the B12 kit fitted and never seen a 4x4 effect?

Do the M’s run shorter Shocks than Non-M’s?

I think the E85 B12 Pro kit should come with B8’s which are shorter than B6’s ?

 

[plenty]

The B12 kit comes with B6s and the Eibach springs are same for E85 non-M and ///M. The front dampers are different as the ///M uses a different design and the rears are also different although presumably interchangeable.

 

[True-Blue]

Every day’s a school day - looks like the B12 kit for M’s comes with B6 shocks and for all other E85/86 B8 shocks.

OP please ignore my photos

 

[ShaunKC]

Bilstein claimed the difference in ride height on the OEM dampers was lower due to their age, but as the ride height is supposed to be governed by the springs, I never really bought this explanation.

The correct explanation if you were on the original dampers. It would have been the same outcome had you purchased new OEM dampers, as while there are minimal differences in ride height between damper variants when new and paired with the same springs, the difference in ride height between old and new dampers is often noticeable.

Also bear in mind ride height takes time to settle.

According to Bilstein, the height with dampers will not settle, although I thought the same!

But really, the point I made was that the Bilstein dampers do affect the ride height. The garage I use, who are pretty specialised and have obviously fitted many dampers over the years, were surprised how much of a difference the Bilsteins made to the height, and their opinion was that they were too stiff. However, the car's ride height exactly matched (within a few mm) Bilstein's expected height. I don't know what the OEM dampers would look like paired up with the Eibach springs, but the reason I went for the B12 kit was for a lower look, which I only got once I changed the tyres.

Your car does look good on them, though, and the height looks fine, I guess you are running 265/35/19's on the rear, I think what I had on (265/30/19's) made the problem look worse.

 

[plenty]

The garage I use, who are pretty specialised and have obviously fitted many dampers over the years, were surprised how much of a difference the Bilsteins made to the height, and their opinion was that they were too stiff. However, the car's ride height exactly matched (within a few mm) Bilstein's expected height.

Not surprising tbh that brand-new suspension rides higher than 16-year-old parts. Not only do worn dampers lose gas pressure, but springs settle as well. If you'd fitted brand-new OEM springs and shocks, your car would be higher still.

Out of interest, would you care to share your ride-height measurements (ideally measured from centre of wheel to arch lip)?

 

[ShaunKC]

The garage I use, who are pretty specialised and have obviously fitted many dampers over the years, were surprised how much of a difference the Bilsteins made to the height, and their opinion was that they were too stiff. However, the car's ride height exactly matched (within a few mm) Bilstein's expected height.

Not surprising tbh that brand-new suspension rides higher than 15-year-old parts. Not only do worn dampers lose gas pressure, but springs settle as well. If you'd fitted brand-new OEM springs and shocks, your car would be higher still.

Would you care to share your ride-height measurements (ideally measured from centre of wheel to arch lip)? Which can be compared vs OEM.

I went back to the Eibach springs that were on the car previously and put the new ones away for spares because I thought the springs would be at fault; there was no difference between the two.

Springs control the height; dampers control the ride. This is what I have always been led to understand.

It's a while ago now, but I have dug out this old picture I took when I fitted them and was having my discussions with Bilstein; it looks like 365mm from the centre to the arch. I'm not sure what OEM is, but I bet its not 375mm!

 

[maupineda]

B6 make the ride height higher, end.

Reason is the gas pressure, they typically have 40-60lb force of gas pressure, making the overall rate higher, so the car will sit higher.

Let’s assume the spring is 200lb/in, if you add the shock gas force, the same car weight will make the suspension travel less.

With time they settle, as some of that gas leaked away. My car is now lower compared to what it was 20k kms ago. My car has lost 7mm, which is noticeable to the eye.

I have H&R coils which are based on Bilstein mono tubes. I had set the height at factor (607mm), now my car is 600.

 

[plenty]

It's a while ago now, but I have dug out this old picture I took when I fitted them and was having my discussions with Bilstein; it looks like 365mm from the centre to the arch. I'm not sure what OEM is, but I bet its not 375mm!

That is indeed high. I'd have expected 340-350mm based on Eibach's claim of a 10mm drop at the rear. If it was taken shortly after fitting, I'd be interested in what it is today, after having had time to settle.

Reason is the gas pressure, they typically have 40-60lb force of gas pressure, making the overall rate higher, so the car will sit higher.

Surely that only makes sense if B6 gas pressure is 40-60 lbs higher than OEM dampers, which seems unlikely.

It does however nicely explain why a car on new dampers rides higher than on worn ones which have lost most of their gas pressure.

 

[maupineda]

Reason is the gas pressure, they typically have 40-60lb force of gas pressure, making the overall rate higher, so the car will sit higher.

Surely that only makes sense if B6 gas pressure is 40-60 lbs higher than OEM dampers, which seems unlikely.

It does however nicely explain why a car on new dampers rides higher than on worn ones which have lost most of their gas pressure.

You are missing the fact the architecture of the OEM and Bilstein are different, and typically the OEM gas pressure is much lower, around the 20lb. but that is not the main factor, the mono shock gas chamber is in series, stacking the gas and oil chambers, on the twin tube, the gas is on the outer tube, so the impact of it in the "spring rate" is much lesser, that is why twin tube dampers tend to be more compliant.

 

[plenty]

You could well be correct. To be convinced I'd want to see corrobation from Bilstein, or like-for-like comparisons of ride height from someone who's tried different and brand-new dampers with the same springs.

 

[taz1966]

Thanks for all the replies guys.
I can safely say that my car with the new Eibach springs defiantly runs lower than shaunKC's car.
for me i really want to retain the very slightly lowered look.
Not sure what to do know.

Sean