rear shocks doubt!!! Bilstein´s B6 sport VS B8 Sprint

[Moutinho]

hey, i own a 1979 euro 320/6 and i want to upgrade the suspension. My front shocks are bilstein b6 sport, and for the rears i´m thinking of the b8´s... is there any problem using b6 sport in front and b8 in rear? or should i get b6 sport all around? i thought on the b8´s because some day, i´ll exchange the front suspention for a set of gaz coilovers...
Which one is the best option for the near future?

[Jeroen]

Even though they say characteristics are quite similar, I did a test with unfitted shocks and the B8's were stiffer indeed. On top of that these are 4-way adjustable instead of 2 way for the B6. So if you're planning up to stiffen the suspension and not planning to fit coilovers at the back, B8 would be my choice.

[Moutinho]

Thanks jeroen for your gelo, só you're saying that the major difference between the B6 and b8 are the stiffness and the adjustable of the damper, right? The goal os Tô stifnees the suspension, só o Guess i'm going to get the b8's...

[Moutinho]

Jeroen, when you say 4-way adjustable instead of 2, you mean what? Adjustable in rebound or height?

[uwbuurman]

Height. It is adjusted by putting the clips in a different slot. Here are my b8 tubes (shocks taken apart, more pics in my topic on page 35)





B6 have only two slots.

[Moutinho]

Ohhhhh, nice!!! Didn't knew that! Is it possíble to put bilstein b8's in 45mm struts on front?

[Jeroen]

AFAIK there used to be 45mm B8 fronts but not sure if these are still available.

[Moutinho]

The large ones won't fit, the shocks are 45mm and the struts also have the same measure! So, i Guess they don't...

[Moutinho]

Jeroen, i bought 51mm struts and i cant find bilstein b8's for it... Bilstein are only producing 45mm shocks... What did you use in your car with the b8's in the rear? Did you use b6's on front? The b6's are the only ones available for 51mm struts! What should i do? Use the 51mm struts with b6's? My car is lowered and the b8's were made to that propose!

[gerrit323]

Hello

On my hartge I used b6 in front and b8 at the rear .. perfect setup

Rgds

[Moutinho]

51mm B6 front and b8 rear, right? And what do you think 45mm b8 front and b8 rear? What is the advantage of using 51mm struts due to 45mm? Any major difference?

[Jeroen]

Depends on the strut size mate, the wider ones are for the wider struts of the 323i (and the occasional other model with tropics or Motorsport suspension). Always measure first, who knows what struts have been fitter over the past decades.