bmwe21.net forums

Hi,
I am about to change my suspention and I am after some lowering springs (40-45 mm - any suggestions?). Now, I see that there are B6 and B8 shocks from Bilstein, but what is the difference and do I need 45 or 48 mm for a 323i?

You need the wider ones for your 323.

B6 is what most go for, B8 hard to come I thought. B4 more like OEM standard.

Where did you find the B8?

I have bought several spring sets from KAW in Germany, i have found that the quality is very good and prices are affordable. www.fahrwerke.de

They ship to Denmark (i know i am from Denmark too )

Thanks a lot!

How much did you lower your car(s)?

What I can't figure is if I need 45 og 48 mm shocks. Many listings of 45 mm allso mentions that they fit 323i?

As standard 320 and lower take 45mm strut inserts and 323 take 48mm inserts that is if you have standard hubs and have not been replaced with ones from a diff. Model

Hello… Brand-new member and I hope I'm not too late. The difference between B6 and B8 is fairly significant. The B6 is a heavy duty shock. It's only to be used with the regular ride height… And it makes the car very firm at that stock height
The B8, is a sport shock it makes your ride nice and firm. But it's specifically for a lower car the stroke length on the shaft is different. Hope this helps… I just purchased a set yesterday for my build

hi, from where did you purchase B8 shocks for your bmw?

Over in Europe the B6 is not sold as HD but I'm pretty sure they're the same spec dampers as what is supplied in the US, they are just more rugged than the average stock damper from Sachs or Boge. We have B6 'sport' for cars with a standard or slightly lowered suspension, and the stiffer B8 'sprint' for sports suspension. B6 F/R are still available, believe B8 fronts are still available as well but the rears have been nla for a couple of years already.

Friend of mine pointed out that it appears the B8 rears are being produced again, part no 24-184618. Where the B6 rears only have two positions, these are 4-way height adjustable which gives you more options with lowering springs.

I was just looking at this after one of my friends (who works in a large parts distribution organisation in the UK) posted up about the recent availability of Bilsteins and low and behold the B8 for the E21 were among them!

Jep, but only rears

they have both the front and the rears (B8):

34-186350 (Fr)
24-184618 (Rr)

listed as single units on the HendyShop.co.uk site. I ask him explicitly if they we selling both rather than just rears, he also gave me a 10% discount code which is valid for a few moths:

ZZ17MM9ERF10

cool. think it must be www.hendyeshop.co.uk

E21noob wrote:cool. think it must be http://www.hendyeshop.co.uk

you are correct, thanks for spotting my typo