316 - 1977 - petroscf - Greece

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petroscf
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Re: 316 - 1977 - petroscf - Greece

Post by petroscf »

Well I heard varying opinions about the guy running the official Bilstein service, some say very good comments, some others no.

So would be interested to read some opinions on revalving vs new shocks, in order to decide how much of an option is revalving? I wouldn't like it to be just the cheaper alternative. The idea of going for revalving for me should be to do it if it is going to result in a better shock absorber.

I met the guy summer 2015, he seemed ok to me.

According to the him, revalving would be a better option, as he claimed he would use better "motorsport" pistons and better quality oil, and he would customize my shocks, he would balance them for my car's weight, and that the result would be softer at slow speeds (in town etc) and harder at high speeds. I am wodering, aren't new bilstein shocks for BMW E21 made for BMW E21, thus balanced for the car's weight, etc?
How much better can be revalved ones?

However, I have to mention here again, this guy is running the OFFICIAL Bilstein Service in Athens. And this: A friend of mine, some years ago, bought NEW Bilsteins (I think B6) for his Mini Cooper S, and took them to this guy even though they were new, to modify them, and he said he was very happy with the result


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Re: 316 - 1977 - petroscf - Greece

Post by petroscf »

Jeroen wrote: Wed Jan 30, 2019 11:07 amI hear raving reviews of Koni's new Special Active dampers (successors to FSD), but as of yet there are no plans to start producing these for the E21. Pity, as that would really make an improvement!
Well, Jeroen, I will keep looking for these, however in case you have any news, please inform us
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Re: 316 - 1977 - petroscf - Greece

Post by Jeroen »

Don't count on it. Currently Koni have no shocks for the E21, at all.
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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Re: 316 - 1977 - petroscf - Greece

Post by petroscf »

:cry:
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Re: 316 - 1977 - petroscf - Greece

Post by petroscf »

Well then, guess I am going for B6/Eibach and the new ARB at the rear
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Re: 316 - 1977 - petroscf - Greece

Post by petroscf »

I don't know if this opens:

https://www.bilstein.com/int/en/blog/lo ... -your-car/

they almost clearly state (or so I understand) that the stiffness between B6 and B8 is the same, but B8 is better for a lowered car because it is lower and that B6 should not be used with lower than normal height. Of course they say that because it is lower it feels harder
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Re: 316 - 1977 - petroscf - Greece

Post by Jeroen »

Well that is correct, and recently someone had issues fitting H&R lowering springs comnined with B6 front dampers, it could be the tube of the B6 is slightly longer than it used to be. So B8 is recommended.
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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Re: 316 - 1977 - petroscf - Greece

Post by petroscf »

I just had a look into Koni's catalogue, indeed they have nothing for E21, so weird they supply 02s however
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Re: 316 - 1977 - petroscf - Greece

Post by petroscf »

Here is the reply from Bilstein when I asked them which shocks they do recommend with lower springs:

". We recommend for the BMW E21 the BILSTEIN B8 shock absorbers, because this shocks are
shorten in the rebound and gives the pretension of the lowering springs. The setting of the
BILSTEIN B6 & B8 shock absorbers is identical. "
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Re: 316 - 1977 - petroscf - Greece

Post by petroscf »

At the mechanic with a quite long checklist today
I left the car there and it is going to take some time before I drive it again, as the guy is (almost) one man show (better for his clients, of course) and he always has 4-5 cars he is working on: Today that was a racing 911, a Ferrari 308 gts (u.s. specs car), a Honda s600 roadster (on which I noticed a nice detail, the tacho has the red line starting at 10k !!) and some more
Hopefully when I take the car, the following issues will have been sorted:
1) MOT
2) Fully refreshed rear quarter windows with fresh rubbers and new open/closing handles-screws-nuts and washers
3) New EZ power steering column installed at last
4) Rear ARB 19mm
5) Fresh shocks and springs (I guess B8 and Eibach, Jeroen I hope I do not regret this decision for B8)
6) Brakes checked
7) New Alpina Steering wheel
plus a couple of other small things
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Re: 316 - 1977 - petroscf - Greece

Post by Jeroen »

You'll be fine!
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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Re: 316 - 1977 - petroscf - Greece

Post by Nick1984 »

Nice to do list :)
The EZ power steering column is also installed on my car, but i couldn't really test it because there is no engine in my car so far...
[img]https://i.imgur.com/NwLeGXT.jpg[/img]
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Re: 316 - 1977 - petroscf - Greece

Post by petroscf »

Thanks guys :boogie
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Re: 316 - 1977 - petroscf - Greece

Post by petroscf »

Jeroen wrote: Wed May 08, 2019 5:16 pmYou'll be fine!
I hope so as I guess this is going be the set up for another15 years :loll
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Re: 316 - 1977 - petroscf - Greece

Post by petroscf »

Nick1984 wrote: Wed May 08, 2019 10:39 pm Nice to do list :)
The EZ power steering column is also installed on my car, but i couldn't really test it because there is no engine in my car so far...
I hope this proves to be a nice add-on
My mechanic started laughing when he heard its price
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