Installed Bilstein B8 shocks/struts & BMW Performance Springs (With DIY)

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by gjm120

Yep and I had been given the same part no's by a local dealer previously so I know it's correct for my car.

I'm probably overthinking this, but, my car may be at the edge of needing the next step up so I'll end up with more drop than most people have experienced.

That's what I did before I ordered; checked with a few places to make sure I was getting the correct springs for my car.

[Luftmeister]

Originally Posted by tjswarbrick

Koni kit for 135i E82: 1145-1018

http://www.koni-na.com/en-US/NorthAm...=521&mk=6&mt=1

(They also have kits for E88, and with Street dampers.)

I can't speak to rub on that one, but I run the Koni Sport struts & shocks with Swift Spec-R springs, Dinan camber plates, and 12mm spacers up front (which I don't believe are necessary with this setup, but I like the additional front track.)
You don't mention the aspect ratio on your 17" tires.
With 225/40-18 F and 245/35-18 Rear MPSS (stock wheels) clearance is not an issue. (With 12mm spacers on the rear, it was. Had some fender-well rubbing over bumps and in turns.)

245/40-17.

To adjust the rears you take them out and turn them? Aieeeee

[Barefoot-335is]

Doing this right now to my 335is, thanks for the DYI.
I will tell you doing it by yourself is a long day spilling into tomorrow, didn't start till 1pm though and no Impact Wrench so LMAO!

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by Barefoot-335is

Do this right now to my 335is, thanks for the DYI.
I will tell you doing it by yourself is a long day spilling into tomorrow, didn't start till 1pm though and no Impact Wrench so LMAO!

Read the thread about my car not starting after suspension work. It's in this same section.

[Barefoot-335is]

Originally Posted by gjm120

Read the thread about my car not starting after suspension work. It's in this same section.

Thanks for the heads up, I always keep the keys away from the car because I had noticed before that it wakes up if they get close.
I keep the doors shut while working on it but the hood and trunk were both open.
So you just put the car on a charger and it fixed it?
Maybe I will try to start it tomorrow but it is still on jacks, wonder what that will do to it?
Could pull the negative off the battery.
We will see I guess, LOL, but thanks again for the heads up!

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by Barefoot-335is

Thanks for the heads up, I always keep the keys away from the car because I had noticed before that it wakes up if they get close.
I keep the doors shut while working on it but the hood and trunk were both open.
So you just put the car on a charger and it fixed it?
Maybe I will try to start it tomorrow but it is still on jacks, wonder what that will do to it?
Could pull the negative off the battery.
We will see I guess, LOL, but thanks again for the heads up!

Honestly just pull the neg every time you work on it for an extended period/mess with electronics. These cars are finicky with power and if you have comfort access it's that much more annoying.

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by Barefoot-335is

Thanks for the heads up, I always keep the keys away from the car because I had noticed before that it wakes up if they get close.
I keep the doors shut while working on it but the hood and trunk were both open.
So you just put the car on a charger and it fixed it?
Maybe I will try to start it tomorrow but it is still on jacks, wonder what that will do to it?
Could pull the negative off the battery.
We will see I guess, LOL, but thanks again for the heads up!

I put it on a charger and let it sit overnight. Not certain if it would have been ok without the charger but I think so. My understanding is this shut down is in case a module keeps waking the car. I guess by opening and closing the doors and trunk the system thought a module was acting up.

[gjm120]

.... and if you decide to pull the negative terminal, make sure the car is sound asleep. I've read some bad stories about disconnecting the battery on a car still not in sleep mode.

[Barefoot-335is]

I don't know if I mentioned it but as I am doing Shocks/Strut and Springs, I am also doing the M3 Control Arms and M3 Thrust Arms Upgrade.
I spent last weekend doing the Rear Shocks and Springs and installing M3 Rear Arms with Bimmerworld Adjustable Toe Arms.
This has been quite the project for being by yourself, No Lift, Jack Stands and hard concrete and No Impact Wrench.....
I'm getting too old for this sh*T!!!
LMAO!

[rowsdower]

Damn, got another update from TireRack... B8 struts now expected in June and shocks in September! Guess I am going with Konis? Anything else out there similar to B8s/Koni yellows that I should be considering? Already have the Eibach springs. I probably missed out on the Koni sale waiting for the B8s too. Bummer.

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by rowsdower

Damn, got another update from TireRack... B8 struts now expected in June and shocks in September! Guess I am going with Konis? Anything else out there similar to B8s/Koni yellows that I should be considering? Already have the Eibach springs. I probably missed out on the Koni sale waiting for the B8s too. Bummer.

There really isn't much else, every non-coilover alternative is usually just a painted Koni. You could go with the BMW Perf. struts, but even those (according to ECS) won't ship until late June, a week later than the Koni Yellows.

[rowsdower]

Originally Posted by chris_flies

There really isn't much else, every non-coilover alternative is usually just a painted Koni. You could go with the BMW Perf. struts, but even those (according to ECS) won't ship until late June, a week later than the Koni Yellows.

Yeah. It'll be yellows, then. I wanted the Bilsteins but I also am not waiting 4 months for them to "hopefully" come in. It's annoying to spend $700 and not get what you were hoping for. But I suppose anything is better than my current struts, right?

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by rowsdower

Yeah. It'll be yellows, then. I wanted the Bilsteins but I also am not waiting 4 months for them to "hopefully" come in. It's annoying to spend $700 and not get what you were hoping for. But I suppose anything is better than my current struts, right?

Uhhh that looks like motor oil not shock oil which should be clear. You sure it's not engine oil leaking from the sides of the undertray?

[rowsdower]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

Uhhh that looks like motor oil not shock oil which should be clear. You sure it's not engine oil leaking from the sides of the undertray?

My first reaction was engine oil too, but the undertray is not installed and the engine has a new oil pan gasket, valve cover gasket, and OFHG. If the rear main seal were leaking I’d see it. Also both struts are clearly leaking all over the front suspension. Not sure why the oil is that color. Could be age or maybe it’s got rust particles in it. Salty NJ winters took their toll on my car...

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by rowsdower

My first reaction was engine oil too, but the undertray is not installed and the engine has a new oil pan gasket, valve cover gasket, and OFHG. If the rear main seal were leaking I’d see it. Also both struts are clearly leaking all over the front suspension. Not sure why the oil is that color. Could be age or maybe it’s got rust particles in it. Salty NJ winters took their toll on my car...

Wow that's pretty terrible then lol

[Cavpilot2k]

I just ordered Koni yellows yesterday. They are available lots of places and should be delivered by Thursday.
Buy them before the end of the month to qualify for the rebate ($50 on a set of 4 struts).

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by Cavpilot2k

I just ordered Koni yellows yesterday. They are available lots of places and should be delivered by Thursday.
Buy them before the end of the month to qualify for the rebate ($50 on a set of 4 struts).

Congrats! I think you'll like them. 150m-times better than stock...

[rowsdower]

Originally Posted by Cavpilot2k

I just ordered Koni yellows yesterday. They are available lots of places and should be delivered by Thursday.
Buy them before the end of the month to qualify for the rebate ($50 on a set of 4 struts).

I got an order for Koni Yellows in ~3 minutes before the Koni sale ended last night. Have a good project for the 4th of July week now.

[Cavpilot2k]

Originally Posted by rowsdower

I got an order for Koni Yellows in ~3 minutes before the Koni sale ended last night. Have a good project for the 4th of July week now.

Thanks for the reminder - forgot to do my rebate!

[Happy Jose]

Originally Posted by tock172

B6's aren't designed for lowering springs. For anyone wanting to run Bilstein dampers with factory M Sport, BMW Performance, Eibach lowering springs or anything lower, you want to run the B8 Performance Plus which was built to cope with less travel.

Since you appear to knowledgeable about everything concerning the One, I'm hoping you might answer my question.

Have you ever compared the B8 to the stock strut from the M-Sport?

I've been told that all Ones have the M-Sport suspension. If that is true, then the stock suspension isn't lowered! Using the idea that the B6 is for the OEM or unlowered suspension while the B8 is used with lowering springs, then the B6 is the correct strut for all Ones?

I know this is BS, but the logic holds! What I'm thinking is the B8 and the B6 struts don't really differ in function or specifications except the B8 strut is slightly shorter to accommodate the dimensions of the OEM strut.

My Mercedes has the Sport Pkg, and I checked with Bilstein and was told the B8 is the correct strut. Just a guess that the Sport Pkg Springs and the stock height springs are the same with the lowering accomplished with a shorter strut body?

It's amazing the amount of detail that some people are willing to go into regarding this subject. On a Porsche site some of the discussions are worth of a very fine paper from an engineering student!

[desertman123]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

Wow that's pretty terrible then lol

Happy birthday!

Originally Posted by rowsdower

My first reaction was engine oil too, but the undertray is not installed and the engine has a new oil pan gasket, valve cover gasket, and OFHG. If the rear main seal were leaking I’d see it. Also both struts are clearly leaking all over the front suspension. Not sure why the oil is that color. Could be age or maybe it’s got rust particles in it. Salty NJ winters took their toll on my car...

lol 100% think youre right in that it's rust and dirt. Those seals are blown wide open and anything and anyone is camping out inside those shocks. Mainly moisture. Gross.

[tock172]

Originally Posted by Happy Jose

Since you appear to be knowledgeable about everything concerning the One, I'm hoping you might answer my question.

Have you ever compared the B8 to the stock strut from the M-Sport?

Not on the E82 1 Series specifically, but I have done so on various other BMWs of mine, some of which came from the factory optioned with sport suspension.

Originally Posted by Happy Jose

I've been told that all Ones have the M-Sport suspension. If that is true, then the stock suspension isn't lowered! Using the idea that the B6 is for the OEM or unlowered suspension while the B8 is used with lowering springs, then the B6 is the correct strut for all Ones?

I know this is BS, but the logic holds! What I'm thinking is the B8 and the B6 struts don't really differ in function or specifications except the B8 strut is slightly shorter to accommodate the dimensions of the OEM strut.

The bolded statement is incorrect. It's the 135i that came with sport suspension as standard for the US market. The US-spec 135i came lowered from the factory on M-Sport suspension, just like how the model came with big Brembo standard. The 135i was the precursor to BMW's modern M Performance offerings like the M235i, M240i, M550i, etc.

Originally Posted by Happy Jose

My Mercedes has the Sport Pkg, and I checked with Bilstein and was told the B8 is the correct strut. Just a guess that the Sport Pkg Springs and the stock height springs are the same with the lowering accomplished with a shorter strut body?

Sport suspension springs, no matter the manufacturer, are almost always lower than the standard or rough road-package equipment. The fact that Bilstein says to use their B8 Performance Plus damper signifies that the springs are shorter than standard design, because the B8 is specifically designed to cope with the extra force of a lowered suspension.