i have a couple of blown Bilstein HD shocks and want to get some new ones. i like the Bilsteins, so i figure ill stick with em. i checked shox.com, and they have Bilstein HDs, or, for $10 more, i can get Bilstein Sports. should i get the Sports or stick with HDs? what is the difference in ride between the two? an suggestions would be much appreciated, thanks.

can someone just tell me the difference between the two?

I think theyre the same

I have been informed that the sports have a shorter travel and are designed for cars using persormance/lowering springs and the HD's are for the factory spring height -

I have been informed that the sports have a shorter travel and are designed for cars using persormance/lowering springs and the HD's are for the factory spring height -

thank you

HD raises the car if you run stock non sport springs

thank you

That is true, Sport shocks are made for sport springs. However, if your car has a "sport package" or anything like that, Bilstein Sports would work good with that; they may even make your car sit slightly lower. I would say that Bilstein HDs are like stock, and Bilstein sports are slightly more agressive.

i believe that they both have the same valving ie. same pressure and ride. HD are longer so they work with stock spring heights and sports work with lowered spring heights.

i believe that they both have the same valving ie. same pressure and ride. HD are longer so they work with stock spring heights and sports work with lowered spring heights.

Do you have information backing that up? Or are you just guessing.

Do you have information backing that up? Or are you just guessing.


Where is the info that backs up your claim?

http://www.bilstein.com/ProductDescriptions.pdf

why not sprint ?? i never heard people using it

Get Koni's and be done with it.

Do you have information backing that up? Or are you just guessing.

I researched these when I went to get them for my 540 and found this information, but i can't remember if i got it directly from bilstien, so i wrote "I believe"
-btw i went with eibach pro kit springs, bilstien sports, eibach sways front/rear and 265/35/18's on all four corners.

I had did been in direct contact with bilstien earlier when I got thier sport dampers for my vw mk4 gti and the valving was exactly the same, the only difference was in length.

I just contacted shox.com because bilstien is not open now and they responded:

"Usually the valving is the same. You should contact Bilstein on Tuesday the18th. when they open."
Bilstein 800-537-1085

they also said the length of shaft difference was 20mm.

edit: just contacted bilstien and this information is correct, see my post on the next page.

i believe that they both have the same valving ie. same pressure and ride. HD are longer so they work with stock spring heights and sports work with lowered spring heights.

Wrong. The HDs and SPs are the same lgth. Only the valving is changed. Bilstein makes a Touring TR, the HD and the SP, 3 different valving getting progressively stiffer. Length is the same on all.

Go to Bilstein site and read up.

I researched these when I went to get them for my 540 and found this information, but i can't remember if i got it directly from bilstien, so i wrote "I believe"
-btw i went with eibach pro kit springs, bilstien sports, eibach sways front/rear and 265/35/18's on all four corners.

I had did been in direct contact with bilstien earlier when I got thier sport dampers for my vw mk4 gti and the valving was exactly the same, the only difference was in length.

I just contacted shox.com because bilstien is not open now and they responded:

"Usually the valving is the same. You should contact Bilstein on Tuesday the18th. when they open."
Bilstein 800-537-1085

they also said the length of shaft difference was 20mm.



See my earlier post. The length doesn't change on the E39. It does on some other cars/models but not this one. Only the valving changes, TR, HD, SP.
Call Bilstein and find out for yourself.

the e34's do have a shorter stroke.. and my HD's tend to bottom out from time to time with my lowering springs.


Honestly if you can afford it, buy the Koni's, they are soooo much better and they are even adjustable.

I've got Bilstein HDs on my E39 540 now and a set of new Konis in the box waiting for my Eibach springs to get here. The Bilsteins are a good shock but the gas pressure is high and they will raise your car about 0.5 to 0.7" above any other shock so I'm getting rid of them.

They have about 8-10K miles on them and are for sale as soon as I get them off. Price will be 50% of the best retail price you can find. Bilstein has a lifetime warranty no matter who bought them that's because they never wear out.

Did you know that the Koni rears are ride ht adjustable too, up or down 0.6" from stock? The snap ring that supports the spring perch can be put in any of 3 grooves with the middle groove for factory ride ht.

Wrong. The HDs and SPs are the same lgth. Only the valving is changed. Bilstein makes a Touring TR, the HD and the SP, 3 different valving getting progressively stiffer. Length is the same on all.

Go to Bilstein site and read up.

Thanks for clearing that up.

What kind of shocks would be good for some 18 inch beryan wheels on a 92 525i

http://www.bavauto.com/assets/imglib500/beyern_type5_chrome.jpg

What kind of shocks would be good for some 18 inch beryan wheels on a 92 525i

It depends on the car. But I would get Bilstein sports no matter what. As long as you dont mind the stiffness.

? - stiffness.?? define that?

-Bryan

the e34's do have a shorter stroke.. and my HD's tend to bottom out from time to time with my lowering springs.


Honestly if you can afford it, buy the Koni's, they are soooo much better and they are even adjustable.

hmmm, say i decided to go with the Koni's. are the Eibach or H&R springs a better complement? also, is there a better price than the $800 on shox.com

? - stiffness.?? define that?

-Bryan

Basically the car will be tighter to the ground. You will feel more bumps and other road imperfections. Basically the car wont feel like its floating like a cadillac for example.

The stiffer the shock the harder the car will ride. The Bilstein SPs will ride quite (very) hard. You will feel most of the bumps in the road. Your wife will complain. You will spill your latte. Your grandma won't like it. When its time to sell the beast you will lose buyers when they test drive it.

The stiffer the shock the harder the car will ride. The Bilstein SPs will ride quite (very) hard. You will feel most of the bumps in the road. Your wife will complain. You will spill your latte. Your grandma won't like it. When its time to sell the beast you will lose buyers when they test drive it.

The difference between my old (Boge I believe) stock struts/shocks and the bilstein sports was noticeably stiffer - however this is comparing suspension with almost 100k miles on it, with almost new shocks/struts, so it's not really a fair comparo. I've found the ride quality to be quite acceptable - I don't agree that the ride with the Bilstein Sports is "very hard".

The difference between my old (Boge I believe) stock struts/shocks and the bilstein sports was noticeably stiffer - however this is comparing suspension with almost 100k miles on it, with almost new shocks/struts, so it's not really a fair comparo. I've found the ride quality to be quite acceptable - I don't agree that the ride with the Bilstein Sports is "very hard".

Its the hardest of the 3 shocks Bilstein makes which are the TR for Touring, HD for Heavy Duty and SP for Sport, like in racing sport.

Keep in mind that the HDs are stiffer than the factory Sport shocks by a noticable margin (I have the HDs on my 540 Sport). And the SPs take another large step in the direction of stiffer.

One man's "quite acceptable" is another man's "unacceptable". Still, it's true that each one has to judge for themselves.

Wrong. The HDs and SPs are the same lgth. Only the valving is changed. Bilstein makes a Touring TR, the HD and the SP, 3 different valving getting progressively stiffer. Length is the same on all.

Go to Bilstein site and read up.

um actually, I don't seem to be wrong according to bilstien.

this is for the e39 540. sorry i can't help with the e34 question.

Well I just got off the phone with bilstien (1 800 537 1085) and they said that the sports are shorter length and the valving is the same.

They said this is usually the case and definitely the case in this application.

VN3 4440 (heavy duty) VN3 4441 (sport) BES 2828 (heavy duty) BES 2829
(these numbers have been superceeded but still bring you to the results)

where did you get your information from?

um actually, I don't seem to be wrong according to bilstien.

this is for the e39 540. sorry i can't help with the e34 question.

Well I just got off the phone with bilstien (1 800 537 1085) and they said that the sports are shorter length and the valving is the same.

They said this is usually the case and definitely the case in this application.

VN3 4440 (heavy duty) VN3 4441 (sport) BES 2828 (heavy duty) BES 2829
(these numbers have been superceeded but still bring you to the results)

where did you get your information from?

What chassis and model vehicle are we speaking about?

I have Bilstein Sports on my '97 540i and the ride is decent. I regularly drive my friends stock '05 E500 and the 540i rides just a bit stiffer. I did take my grandma to the store and she actually mentioned how well it rode. She drives a '97 Buick (rides VERY soft) with 32k.

hmmm, say i decided to go with the Koni's. are the Eibach or H&R springs a better complement? also, is there a better price than the $800 on shox.com


on fleabay there is almost always a set for e34, always the same seller, they're something like $530 shipped. new in box, but hey it's the 'bay so there's always risks.

http://www.bilstein.com/ProductDescriptions.pdf

I cannot speak for E39, but in almost all cases, the Sport is a shorter bodies shock to accomodate lowering springs. I have had them side by side on more than one occasion and this has been the case. The argument as to wether the valving is different on the SP vs HD has been going on for years. It seems to depend on whihc Bilstein rep you talk to on which day. I will say for myself, that I pulled the rears off an E28, both used sets, one HD and one SP and the SP were notable stiffer. Not conclusive, just my observation.

on fleabay there is almost always a set for e34, always the same seller, they're something like $530 shipped. new in box, but hey it's the 'bay so there's always risks.

thanks, i saw those. they are $560 shipped, but without springs. the ebay H&R's are $260 shipped, so i'm once again at $800+

http://www.bilstein.com/ProductDescriptions.pdf

this is advertising copy that they write to give general descriptions.
there is no real technical information here. it is easy to see how you can be mislead by the information in their write up.

call them and ask about actual applications and you will get more technical information.

I am talking specifically about the e39 1996-2003 v8

I think that the car with bilstein sports, eibach pro kit springs and eibach sways front and back is still very comfortable and handles well. (for such a big heavy car)
I went with eibachs because it was more of a linear rate spring than the h&r's.
the 265 rubber on all four corners helps to make the car feel more neutral, if not a little loose.

my wife hated the ride in my gti (that car ran on rails) but really likes the ride of the bmw. this is with 18's.

i have the bilstein sports on my e28, previously having the hd. ride is noticeably sitffer, and a little uncomfortable at first, but cornering is improved

Thanks. I've got 275/35-18s all around and Bilstein HDs on my 540 Sport. I'm getting rid of the Bilsteins because the gas pressure raises the car ~ 0.5 - 0.7". I'm going to Koni sports with Eibachs. The Koni's are already here but I'm still waiting on the Eibach. When they get here I'm doing the shocks/springs and front wheel bearings because the bearings are easier to do when you already have the front end all apart.


When I bought the HD about a year ago I called Bistein and asked to speak to their BMW specialist. I think his name was Jim. I wanted to know how hard the HDs and SPs were when compared to the factory sport shock that were on the car. I wanted to go a bit stiffer but not too much so he suggested the HDs and said they definately were stiffer than the factory sports and that the SPs were quite a bit harder and that he wouldn't go that way for street use. I asked about the length thing and he said they would both (HD and SP)work on a standard car, a sport or a lowered car. So I belived him and got the HDs. Their damping is fine but I can't stand the 0.7" they raised the front.

They will be for sale as soon as I get them off the car. I'm asking 50% off of retail for the set of 4, for an E39, 540

Tirerack matched shox.com's pricing for me. Shox.com couldn't get the front shocks for my car, but tirerack had them in stock, so I called up Jim and he hooked me up.

Thanks. I've got 275/35-18s all around and Bilstein HDs on my 540 Sport. I'm getting rid of the Bilsteins because the gas pressure raises the car ~ 0.5 - 0.7". I'm going to Koni sports with Eibachs. The Koni's are already here but I'm still waiting on the Eibach. When they get here I'm doing the shocks/springs and front wheel bearings because the bearings are easier to do when you already have the front end all apart.


When I bought the HD about a year ago I called Bistein and asked to speak to their BMW specialist. I think his name was Jim. I wanted to know how hard the HDs and SPs were when compared to the factory sport shock that were on the car. I wanted to go a bit stiffer but not too much so he suggested the HDs and said they definately were stiffer than the factory sports and that the SPs were quite a bit harder and that he wouldn't go that way for street use. I asked about the length thing and he said they would both (HD and SP)work on a standard car, a sport or a lowered car. So I belived him and got the HDs. Their damping is fine but I can't stand the 0.7" they raised the front.

They will be for sale as soon as I get them off the car. I'm asking 50% off of retail for the set of 4, for an E39, 540


Were these ever sold?

Were these ever sold?

I put them back on the car. Sorry. The Koni's were terrible. No compression damping so even small bumps would crash/bottom the front end. I don't see how anyone can like the Konis.

I cut my OEM sport springs to lower the car further than the Eibachs and put them back on with the Bilstein HDs.

I put them back on the car. Sorry. The Koni's were terrible. No compression damping so even small bumps would crash/bottom the front end. I don't see how anyone can like the Konis.

I cut my OEM sport springs to lower the car further than the Eibachs and put them back on with the Bilstein HDs.

Thanks for the reply. Konis meaning FSDs?

Thanks for the reply. Konis meaning FSDs?

No. Koni Sport shocks, they are yellow and adjustable in rebound only.

The FSDs are a completely different shock, also made by Koni.

bilstein

This Thanksgiving, I replaced my stock BMW shocks at 73k with Bilstein Sport shocks on my 2003 BMW 530i sport suspension. The original shocks got softer all of a sudden while I was driving on the freeway. I can now tell you from experience that the Bilstein sport shocks are definitely stiffer than the stock BMW shocks. I would compare their stiffness to Koni (yellow) adjustable shocks on the stiffest setting.