Bilstein OEM Replacements??

[cornercarver]

Thanks for the info...

So just to clarify; when you say 'if your car is lowered, go with the Bilstein Sport' you mean if it's lowered more than a stock ZHP? I assume I should be looking at the Bilstein HD for a ZHP w/ OE springs. It seems Bimmerworld has a better price than Bavauto.

Those Rogue Engineering upper strut mounts look good. Only $100, and I'd have to buy two of the OE replacements at $50+ each anyway... Plus they come with all the necessary hardware.

Is there any truth to the comment about Bilstein HD's raising the car? I don't see why they would. After all - it's a shock, not a spring.

[fw_fw]

Is there any truth to the comment about Bilstein HD's raising the car? I don't see why they would. After all - it's a shock, not a spring.

When first installed: yes, Bilstein HDs are so tight they will raise the car a bit, but it comes back to normal with 500-1000 miles once they loosen up.....

[Vas]

Thanks for the info...

So just to clarify; when you say 'if your car is lowered, go with the Bilstein Sport' you mean if it's lowered more than a stock ZHP? I assume I should be looking at the Bilstein HD for a ZHP w/ OE springs. It seems Bimmerworld has a better price than Bavauto.

Those Rogue Engineering upper strut mounts look good. Only $100, and I'd have to buy two of the OE replacements at $50+ each anyway... Plus they come with all the necessary hardware.

Is there any truth to the comment about Bilstein HD's raising the car? I don't see why they would. After all - it's a shock, not a spring.

Correct.

Imo go with the bilstein HD shocks and Rouge shock mounts. They come with the hardware and gaskets too.

[Jon D]

FWIW I have installed Koni Sports on the ZHP and previously installed Bilstein Sport equivalent on our A4 Avant 3.0 Sport. My opinion is that the Bilsteins out of the box offer a stiffer ride and if I was pushing the car hard all the time would be my choice. The Koni's set at 3/4 turn harder from soft offer great road obstacles and bump compliance but still offer a very controlled feel when pushing hard. For a non coil over solution the Konis would be my choice. Especially as they are adjustable where the Bilsteins are not.

[ZHPizza]

How hard do you drive the car? I think that Koni FSD's are magical for a DD.

[cornercarver]

How hard do you drive the car? I think that Koni FSD's are magical for a DD.

It's my DD, and I'm a pretty hard-core enthusiast (I raced locally with COMSCC for 6 years) but the roads around here SUCK, so honestly I think I may end up going with the OE Sachs shock (I'm fine with this car's handling as-is...it's actually quite good for a non-race car) or the Bilstein B4. I'm on a budget and can't see spending $100+ per shock when I'm not really going to have much opportunity to drive the car that aggressively except on maybe a monthly occasion. There are a number of other things that need attention, like the shift linkage and some rust, so I need to be frugal.

[Sockethead]

If the roads suck, I'd go with an OEM equivalent or something like a Koni adjustable, trust me, I was from Jersey.
Besides, you said it yourself (and I agree) "I'm fine with this cars's handling as-is...it's actually quite good for a non-race car"

[John in VA]

It seems Bimmerworld has a better price than Bavauto.

BavAuto's prices can almost always be beaten - that catalog ain't free! Supposedly they will price-match, so if their location helps you, be sure to ask for the better pricing.

[cornercarver]

If the roads suck, I'd go with an OEM equivalent or something like a Koni adjustable, trust me, I was from Jersey.
Besides, you said it yourself (and I agree) "I'm fine with this cars's handling as-is...it's actually quite good for a non-race car"

LOL - oops - did I type that? (Fixed)

[cornercarver]

BavAuto's prices can almost always be beaten - that catalog ain't free! Supposedly they will price-match, so if their location helps you, be sure to ask for the better pricing.

I'm willing to give Bimmerworld a shot. I honestly don't like the way the bavauto site works, and I don't think they have the Rogue Engineering mounts which, by the way, look very similar to the M3 mounts (if I'm not mistaken?)