[Lorcan]

Used for approx 4 weeks then removed from a customers car, so as new. Will fit any Rear Wheel Drive 3 or 4 series with adaptive damping. Part numbers 20-250744 and 23-250734.

RRP £1792.80 inc vat, looking for £1200.

[cfm56d7b]

When did Bilstein release these shocks for sale?

[Lorcan]

About a year ago I think?

[Watsey]

Why were they on the car for such a short period of time ?

Did you have a drive ? What were your impressions ?

[FarmerD]

Might be interested. I’ve got passive B6s on my z4 and they are very firm (good for that car and what I use it for) but I’d want a bit of compliance in comfort mode still. I’ve not seen any reviews on how the B6 damptronics ride in comfort and sport mode - this is an important point as my 330d s drive is mainly a mile muncher.

How much would fitting be, and how is the warranty affected?

Thanks

Dave

[Lorcan]

Originally Posted by Watsey

Why were they on the car for such a short period of time ?

Did you have a drive ? What were your impressions ?

The owner didn't like them, too firm even in comfort. To be fair though, he is a comfort junky. Drives an Alpina D3, small wheels etc. He's happy with the AC Schnitzer suspension, even though it's passive. I didn't drive it but Chris did if you want to give us a call next week.

[Lorcan]

Originally Posted by FarmerD

Might be interested. I’ve got passive B6s on my z4 and they are very firm (good for that car and what I use it for) but I’d want a bit of compliance in comfort mode still. I’ve not seen any reviews on how the B6 damptronics ride in comfort and sport mode - this is an important point as my 330d s drive is mainly a mile muncher.

How much would fitting be, and how is the warranty affected?

Thanks

Dave

I have B8s on my own car - also very firm running around locally, but acceptable on longer journeys as the speeds tend to be higher where they work better. As above, the buyer of these found them very firm too, even in comfort mode. My understanding is that B6 and B8 are valved the same, only the damper rod length is different, which doesn't actually affect anything. "Smoke and mirrors" as my Bilstein rep told me.

We would charge £387.00 for fitting and alignment. Warranty shouldn't be an issue but I'm guessing from your location that your dealer is Rybrook, they can be quite sniffy about anything aftermarket.

[Stainy]

Originally Posted by Lorcan

My understanding is that B6 and B8 are valved the same, only the damper rod length is different, which doesn't actually affect anything. "Smoke and mirrors" as my Bilstein rep told me.

Spot on - B8's are 20mm shorter fully extended, due to an internal droop limiter (for shorter springs). Aside from that, they are identical - or at least, that's what my research churned up

[Watsey]

Originally Posted by Lorcan

The owner didn't like them, too firm even in comfort. To be fair though, he is a comfort junky. Drives an Alpina D3, small wheels etc. He's happy with the AC Schnitzer suspension, even though it's passive. I didn't drive it but Chris did if you want to give us a call next week.

It was a general interest, as several people seemed to be interested in Damptronic units for the F3X.

Obviously I'm not going to be replacing my Ohlins seup

[FarmerD]

Thanks Lorcan.

If it’s much firmer in comfort they’re probably not for me. I was hoping then6 damptronics would be a bit firmer in both comfort and sport modes but with much more control. If comfort is like sport now and sport rock hard, probably too much for me.

The warranty point was more around the dampers. Would bilstien warranty on the shocks still apply? Conscious they’re essentially still new but will not be with the original owner.

D

[Lorcan]

Yes the Bilstein warranty will still apply. Bilstein say B6 damping is typically uprated 20% from stock but I understand it's difficult to translate that into a seat-of-the-pants" description. All I can say is that if you know your car is underdamped then it will be "less-underdamped" with the B6s fitted, if that makes sense.

It will certainly offer the control you are looking for but you're still binary switching from one comfort setting to another, and you may not like either (I feel a Brexit analogy coming on ). This is where our RS suspension, or any other premium coilover set, comes in. With 17 click adjustable compression damping, rebound damping and adjustable ride height you can set it pretty much how you like it. It's more money of course, but that's life.

[SteveChester]

@Lorcan have you got any M4 kit for sale off customers cars? Looking at some KW v3s at the moment (new).

[Lorcan]

Originally Posted by SteveChester

@Lorcan have you got any M4 kit for sale off customers cars? Looking at some KW v3s at the moment (new).

Not right now but I'll keep an eye out.

[Rudz]

Don't suppose this will fit a 335d?

[ZeroFx]

Lorcan

How does the AC setup offer more comfort than the damptronic above?

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by ZeroFx

Lorcan

How does the AC setup offer more comfort than the damptronic above?

By being more comfortable.

[ZeroFx]

Originally Posted by Wills2

By being more comfortable.

At the expense of?

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by ZeroFx

At the expense of?

Discomfort.

[Lorcan]

Originally Posted by Rudz

Don't suppose this will fit a 335d?

No, front dampers are different on xDrive.

[Lorcan]

Originally Posted by Wills2

Discomfort.

[Lorcan]

Originally Posted by ZeroFx

Lorcan

How does the AC setup offer more comfort than the damptronic above?

I think there are a number of factors to consider here. The customer in question used the damptronic dampers with his Alpina springs. AC Schnitzer develop their own springs and dampers to work harmoniously together, so the spring rate and damper rate are "matched". When he swapped to AC Schnitzer he used our whole sports kit, springs and dampers. AC are very good at this, I don't suppose Bilstein, who have to manufacture for dozens of brands, have the opportunity to test as thoroughly as AC Schnitzer do being a BMW-only brand.

It's also possible (I'm guessing here) that both the damptronic settings (comfort/sport) could be stiffer or less comfortable in some way than the single AC sports damper setting.

What people describe as "comfort" can also include things like body roll - I've had customers tell me that our spring kits are "more comfortable" than stock simply (even though they are a bit stiffer) simply because they body roll less. If the AC Schnitzer combination handles better this could be described by some as "more comfortable". As Highland Pete often reminds us, this is quite a subjective matter and one size does not fit all.

[ZeroFx]

I might pick up a 435d without adaptive.

what is the cost of AC shocks and springs for the F33 435d?