Thanks to rockauto, my suspension choice is now harder

[Spark365]

Hi guys, here I come with another suspension thread

Recently, I was settled on a b12 pro kit for my 128i which is absolutely stock in every way. But, rockauto is selling b14 for almost the same price as b12, so
I'm very debating on which one to get. I understand that b14 is the best value, but I would like to be able to use my car as a daily driver and also run my car in canadian winter. I don't care to slam my car, I would probably run these coilovers on the highest setting or near it. Is the highest setting higher than b12? How well do either of these hold up in winter ?

Thank you !

[asbrr]

Sounds like the highest setting of the B14 is about what the B12 is. That is a good deal but if you're never going to use the height adjustment, not sure you want the extra complication.

I have a B12 on my 128i, with dinan camber plates up front it sits even and is not too low....

I'm not sure if the spring rates and dampening are different between the B12 and B14. I would reach out to Bilstein to ask and see what fits you best. The $16 in price isn't significant.

[Spark365]

Originally Posted by asbrr

Sounds like the highest setting of the B14 is about what the B12 is. That is a good deal but if you're never going to use the height adjustment, not sure you want the extra complication.

I have a B12 on my 128i, with dinan camber plates up front it sits even and is not too low....

I'm not sure if the spring rates and dampening are different between the B12 and B14. I would reach out to Bilstein to ask and see what fits you best. The $16 in price isn't significant.

Thank for your reply! Actually I forgot to say that I would lower the car a bit more in the summer but raise it in winter. I will reach bilstein I think.

[PleaseFix]

Please keep us updated. I'm looking into my suspension too!

[Spark365]

This is the answer I got! I think I will go with b14 because they are ridiculously cheap. [IMG][/IMG]

[machine4321]

Another canadian here that grabbed up the b14 from rock auto. I was thinking b12 but for the price b14 it was. Im not getting the height inwas hoping for in the front. Its a bit to low for my taste. Id like a finger and a bit but its near tucking. I also have camber plates that add 5-6mm and still to low. Just a heads up that they wont get you near stock height.

Other wise they ride amazing and happy with the performance.

[gorilla]

Originally Posted by machine4321

Another canadian here that grabbed up the b14 from rock auto. I was thinking b12 but for the price b14 it was. Im not getting the height inwas hoping for in the front. Its a bit to low for my taste. Id like a finger and a bit but its near tucking. I also have camber plates that add 5-6mm and still to low. Just a heads up that they wont get you near stock height.

Other wise they ride amazing and happy with the performance.

With the fronts at the highest setting? can you post a pic please?
how's the ride comfort?

[machine4321]

So I took 5mm out of it today and it rides amazing. With the 5mm added yesterday it felt like a stanceboi car. Pitched alot

I lowered the rear 5mm today as well to take some rake out and hopefully take some weight of the front. Its riding like butter but just to low.

It could be the amount of camber im running up front thats making it look like its tucking as the top of the tire is in the fender and not flush.

1st pic is at 15mm of threads showing below locking collar

2nd is at 20mm but that ground was a bit un even and actually looks lower for some reason🤷🏻*♂️

[machine4321]

Originally Posted by gorilla

With the fronts at the highest setting? can you post a pic please?
how's the ride comfort?

Technically I could go up on the spring perch a lot more but after the change in ride quality from yesterday, im not willing to add height with spring tension. Ill find some way to space it up.

I was concerned about this before buying them But wanted to stay away from the jdm style coilovers with separate height and pre load.

[asbrr]

Originally Posted by machine4321

Technically I could go up on the spring perch a lot more but after the change in ride quality from yesterday, im not willing to add height with spring tension. Ill find some way to space it up.

I was concerned about this before buying them But wanted to stay away from the jdm style coilovers with separate height and pre load.

May I ask why you wanted to stay away from coilovers that have height and pre-load separated? Just curious....I have Ohlins on my 987.2 Cayman S and they are set up this way (with separate height+pre-load). I feel like having independant adjustment allows for better fine tuning without compromises...

[machine4321]

In my price range I felt more comfortable with Bilstein in that regard. BC coilovers and other tiawan/china in my experience are not as good quality.

If I had the budget for ohlins That would have been my only choice!

The R&T has a seperate height andbpre load adjustment?

[asbrr]

Originally Posted by machine4321

In my price range I felt more comfortable with Bilstein in that regard. BC coilovers and other tiawan/china in my experience are not as good quality.

If I had the budget for ohlins That would have been my only choice!

The R&T has a seperate height andbpre load adjustment?

Ah gotcha...that's clear.

No for the E82, I don't think the Ohlins R&T has independent height / pre-load adjustments although I may be wrong, I can only speak for the Ohlins setup for my Cayman.

[machine4321]

Originally Posted by asbrr

Ah gotcha...that's clear.

No for the E82, I don't think the Ohlins R&T has independent height / pre-load adjustments although I may be wrong, I can only speak for the Ohlins setup for my Cayman.

I think you are correct.

I really wish I could get another 1/4”-1/2” out of the b14. Far to low in my opinion. Looks ok but I prefer to see the top of my tire a bit for some reason.

Also not thrilled that it relies on the bump stops so much. Its nasically on them all the time. Ride is good and better the faster you go. Slow speed rough roads arent its forte lol.

[asbrr]

Originally Posted by machine4321

I think you are correct.

I really wish I could get another 1/4”-1/2” out of the b14. Far to low in my opinion. Looks ok but I prefer to see the top of my tire a bit for some reason.

Also not thrilled that it relies on the bump stops so much. Its nasically on them all the time. Ride is good and better the faster you go. Slow speed rough roads arent its forte lol.

Do you know if the B14 is compatible with stock upper mounts? If so you could add fixed Dinan camber plates up front, that will give you another 5mm of height. It's not going to help shock travel (and hence the bumpstop issue), but the height is a nice gain.

For the rear - again, not sure the B14 is compatible (I think it is), you can use Dinan rear upper shock mounts which supposedly add another 10mm of travel which may help your situation.

I have a similar experience with my B12 kit, the Bilsteins are great, but IMO developed for smoother european roads. On beat up/broken surfaces, they can feel harsh.

The Ohlins kit on my other car however, is "magic" it has a pretty impressive ability to just "deal with" bumps despite a massive increase in spring rate.

[machine4321]

I already have turner fixed plates on the car. Im shocked (bad pun) that these are so low. Inwas only looking for 10mm les than m-sport but it is what it is. If I can confirm Fortune autos can go higher I might switch out.

[machine4321]

Just update to those concerned about the ride height. I added a 5/8” spacer I had kicking around in between the bottom of the tab on the strutbody and the knuckle and lowered the perch 5mm (very top of threads are flush with perch) And its perfect now. Rides better with less preload amd no more tuck.

Bilstein really should lower the tab a bit on the body as many complain about how low they are.

[wootloops]

Any chance you could elaborate on the spacer you used? Thinking about going b14 as well and would like to be prepared.

[sizablepants]

What wheel and tire specs do you have right now?

[machine4321]

Originally Posted by wootloops

Any chance you could elaborate on the spacer you used? Thinking about going b14 as well and would like to be prepared.

It was literally a plastic spacer (5/8th tall) I had left over from my tv wall bracket lol. I wasnt sure it was going to work so I just put it in to test. The idea of plastic was that of it was taking a lot of the weight it would have deformed and there would be evidence of it. The knuckle keeps the strut body in place and the spacer hasn’t deformed.

The tab on the strut body bottoms out on the knuckle. I just added the spacer in between the tap and knuckle, put a jack under neath and tightened the knuckle to spec and its held on. Ill try to get a pic some time.

[machine4321]

Originally Posted by sizablepants

What wheel and tire specs do you have right now?

Me or OP?

If me, 255/35-18 square
18x8.5 et 45 vmr 710