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12-11-2017, 10:48 AM | #1 |
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Installed Bilstein B8 shocks/struts & BMW Performance Springs (With DIY)
I was extremely fortunate to find a fantastic deal on a full Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit with Eibach springs as well as a full set of genuine BMW Performance Springs. I sold the Eibachs since I cannot run a drop that aggressive with my setup (1.2" drop from stock) and the roads here are such garbage I was worried about damaging something. So I went with the BMW Perf springs, T2 front, T3 rear.
Parts used:
I also purchased all new mounting hardware, but only ended up using some of it since the Bilstein kit came with some components and others were completely fine. I suggest doing the same, as you should replace whatever is damaged or old and you can always return what you don't use. It took me a very long time to settle on this configuration but it seemed to offer the characteristics I was looking for:
First impressions: I'm going to give my conclusion/first impression here, and then below you can find DIY info and an install video.
Overall Conclusion: For the money, the B12 kit cannot be beat. However, I am also glad that I opted for the BMW Performance Springs as the drop with the Eibachs would have been way too extreme for local roads and my tire/wheel setup. The BMW Perf springs with the Bilstein shocks is a match made in heaven and the car feels much more confident overall. The car handles bumps and potholes well, with no increased stiffness that I can tell. The OEM shocks do not handle bumper roads well so this has been a great improvement. I have not found any downsides, and there's nothing I would do differently at this time. Some suggested camber plates, but with the BMW springs you do not need them. If you stick with the Eibachs, that is likely a different story. I am extremely satisfied and highly suggest this combination to anyone looking for a better-than-stock ride without breaking the $1k mark or jumping to coilovers. Crappy cell-phone pics at my work garage until I can get some better ones: 20171211_095131 by Matt Steele, on Flickr 20171211_095152 by Matt Steele, on Flickr 20171211_095118 by Matt Steele, on Flickr 20171211_095104 by Matt Steele, on Flickr The install: I was nervous about the installation process because a few threads I had dug up made it seem like a very difficult task for the weekend garage warrior, and some suggested to just bring it to a shop as it took them 6+hrs to complete. Nevertheless, a good friend of mine helped me do some research and convinced me it was worth it trying to do this ourselves, and I'm very glad we did! We got it done in about 5 hours, and that included my friend having to drive around for 45mins for me to find a couple sockets we needed. I won't go into too much detail simply because the DIY/How-To video we used from ECS Tuning covered nearly everything you'll need to know, I'll link that at the bottom of this post (also click here for link) so it doesn't take up the whole screen. Please note: You will NEED to get a 4-wheel alignment after this. Do not try to install a full suspension, especially one that lowers the car at all, and then drive normally. Let it settle for a few miles and then get it to an alignment shop. Tools you'll need:
As I said before I used the linked video from ECS tuning and it did an incredible job of walking us through this project. I'll just add a few notes here on things that gave us trouble or things that are different from the e90 platform that they used in the video (everything is 99% the same, really). e82 Platform Suspension Install Tips (video time-stamp links included): [Video] Have a friend help, even if you're a veteran. There's a few parts that are just damn near impossible to do solo, and it's always safer to work with a friend. Get the car on 4 jackstands, set the e-brake and put the car in gear, lift the front first, then the back. The first setting on my jack stands was plenty of height to do everything we needed to do. If you're using a lift, you're a lucky SOB, ignore this tip. [Video] When doing the front shocks, make sure you take off the calipers and rotors and zip tie the calipers out of the way so there is no strain on the lines. This will make life much easier, especially when re-installing. Loosen the control arms as little as possible to prevent too much adjustment to your alignment. When pulling the front struts, do not push too hard on the suspension to get them out, you can damage components this way. When removing the front struts, take a picture of the lines and wires so you know how they go back together, it's not always easy to remember! USE THE SPRING COMPRESSORS if you need to dissemble the struts. They are under load and trying to remove the top nut can get you seriously injured. [Video] When lining up the lower control arm bolt near the hub for the rear suspension (on re-assembly), use a jack to help you out. The spring will be compressed and this will make things difficult. Take your time and be careful. Get that bolt in before doing the rear shock as you can insert the shock into the bottom, compress it down, and then guide it into the top mount. [Video] Removing the trunk liner is different from the e90, you will need to put the rear seats forward, remove some pins, and then wrestle each side completely out of the car. It's annoying, but you can do it. Some other pics: 20171210_125659 by Matt Steele, on Flickr 20171210_125730 by Matt Steele, on Flickr 20171210_125742 by Matt Steele, on Flickr Update: Got the car aligned yesterday, didn't take the pins out of the front shock mounts so front camber was limited but so far the car feels fantastic. Way more confident around corners than before, much better turn in, and way more responsive. The reduction in body roll is nothing short of astounding, it really feels like a sports car now and not some mushy sedan! Spec sheet from the alignment is attached, and here's some bonus pics and the final product. 20171213_130751 by Matt Steele, on Flickr 20171213_134325 by Matt Steele, on Flickr 20171214_143432 by Matt Steele, on Flickr
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12-11-2017, 10:55 AM | #2 |
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Thanks for the write up! Keep us updated on your thoughts after getting an alignment and really taking her through some curvy roads! But so far I'm sold
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12-11-2017, 11:19 AM | #3 |
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Good deal. What you did is my wish list - next major modification.
Did you find the springs used or go new?
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12-11-2017, 11:42 AM | #4 | |
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Quote:
I got the Bilstein kit new, and the springs were used with barely any mileage.
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12-11-2017, 12:15 PM | #5 |
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Looks great! Helpful tips. Did you have any trouble separating the strut with the oval socket?
Now I've had Swift's for a year, kinda wish I went BMW Perf. I don't track it, and it's just a bit lower than I need for the street. Happy with the Koni Sports, though. Hope you're just as happy with the B12's!
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12-11-2017, 01:18 PM | #6 |
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Finally! Lol. Hope they'll still be as good in a few years. Enjoy.
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12-11-2017, 01:49 PM | #7 | |
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Yeah took me way too long to get going on this, big thanks to my buddy for helping me out and motivating me to get it done haha. I'm going to keep the stock shocks as a backup in case I have any issues with the Bilsteins. I can swap one out and send the Bilestein in for warranty work if needed. It's not ideal but it'll get the job done.
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12-11-2017, 04:11 PM | #8 | |
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Glad it wasn't just me. Same problem. Unfortunately my assistant was a 10 year old girl who was already up past bedtime. 1 man pry bar attempts just made me mad. So I bolted it all back together and paid an arm and a leg to have a pro do it. Sorry I guess I'm still dwelling on it because if it was "simple" DIY I'd source some BMWP springs, swap 'em out in the garage, and try to recoup a little by selling the Swifts. But if I've gotta pay a shop, it costs just as much to swap front springs as to R&R the entire strut. Rears should be fairly straightforward, at least. But at this point I just don't have the courage to try again.
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COBB CP, ZHP Knob, E60 SSK Lever, E92 M3 FSB, RSFB inserts, Koni Sport, Eibach Pro, UCP, MPSS, AP axle-back, MHD Stage1+ 91 <(O0=[][]=0O)> Last edited by tjswarbrick; 12-11-2017 at 07:47 PM.. |
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12-11-2017, 06:22 PM | #9 |
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@Matticus91 glad you were able to finally install these! Looks good!
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12-11-2017, 06:56 PM | #10 |
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I got the same tool, it was also too small. Just carefully used a crow bar, spread the knuckle gently, and removed the old strut. Easy peasy.
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12-13-2017, 11:02 AM | #11 |
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Glad you went with the DIY. Struts and shocks aren't too hard but seem intimidating. Only a few potential sticking points.
For the strut clamp, I'm pretty sure I just put a large flathead screwdriver in the gap and tapped it with a hammer to drive it into the gap. I did the same thing on my E46. BTW, the B12 Pro Kit is B8 shocks with Eibach springs. So maybe a better post title would be B8 Shocks and Perf Springs. I have the B12 kit installed, though I sourced the springs and shocks separately. It's a great pairing.
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12-13-2017, 12:00 PM | #12 |
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I assume you all are referring to separating the steering knuckle clamp. A tool is around $25 and makes it very easy and no chance of damaging the clamp.
I'm impressed you were able to get this done with the spring compressors in your pictures. I gave up and took the parts somewhere to have it all assembled. I was trying to compress sport springs so maybe they were a bit longer, but, it made me nervous.
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12-13-2017, 01:25 PM | #13 | |||||
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
And yeah I linked the tool in my post, the one I got was too small to be of any help sadly. Quote:
Like I mentioned before I have the tool but it was too small. When turned to the position that should spread the knuckle open it was still completely loose. The spring compressors were fine, a little sketchy when tightening since they kept sliding around on me but nothing too bad at all. Had to compress both the stock Msport springs and then the BMW Perf springs since I used some of the stock hardware off the original struts.
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12-13-2017, 01:53 PM | #14 |
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Or free with next to zero chance of damaging anything. The surface that matters is the cylindrical surface. Scratching the surfaces that form the gap for the bolt wouldn't do anything. And you'd have to really mess up to damage the threads.
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12-13-2017, 03:29 PM | #15 |
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True. I was thinking more risk of overspreading the clamp but one would have to get really aggressive to do that. Not the first $25 I've wasted on the car!
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12-13-2017, 05:36 PM | #16 |
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Great write up Matt! Thanks for sharing such detailed info and your experience plus feedback! I'm glad to see you are so happy with the new setup!!
Wait 'till you see what I go with very soon for suspension There will be an install video of course and your spring tips may just come in very handy! On that note, did you film your own video or were you only referencing the ECS vid in what you said?
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12-13-2017, 07:47 PM | #17 |
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Matt...are those 18" or 19" vmr's ..? I'm very close to getting the same set up, but afraid even the BMWPS Are going to be rubbing on my summer 19". Might just go with stock M-sport springs instead on B8, but from the pics it looks pretty close to my current ride height
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12-13-2017, 09:30 PM | #18 |
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Good job! Glad you got it done. Aren't you sorry now you waited so long?
A tight suspension really makes a difference with the amount of power these cars have. Next move, if you'll permit me to make a suggestion, should be the Whiteline bushing inserts. Also, sorry to hear the spreader socket from ECS didn't work. Here's a (cheaper) possible alternative. Don't know if it's any better, but if the socket is known to be too small... I ordered one but haven't had the opportunity to use it on my strut mount project yet. https://www.ecstuning.com/b-autotech.../10012411~aut/ ianc |
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12-14-2017, 08:09 AM | #19 | |||
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There should be a warning before purchasing any BMW, about the copious amount of cash that you'll inevitably spend on the car lol
Quote:
Didn't bother making my own vid/DIY because the ECS one did a better job than I ever could. The e90 install is identical to the e82 install, save a few trim differences that I mentioned in the tips. Quote:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1263786 Quote:
The whiteline bushings are high on my list, and have been in my Amazon "wishlist" for about a year now, LOL. I think they might be out of my list of willing DIY projects though so I may wait till I can get a shop to install them at a decent rate.
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12-14-2017, 08:37 AM | #20 |
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Looks incredible!
Bookmarked all of this so when the time comes I can buy all these upgrades I really appreciate the lack of a drop - I like low but I also like whipping my car into parking lots and not having to worry if I'll scrape.
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12-14-2017, 08:51 AM | #21 |
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Thanks man! With the roads in this area and the amount of speed bumps I deal with, any lower than this would drive me insane.
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12-14-2017, 10:06 AM | #22 | |
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This gives me the confidence to drive most anywhere without worrying about scraping, but lessens the wheel gap some and gives a little more of an aggressive look. At times I wish I would've gone lower but all said and done I'm glad I didn't. |
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