Bilstein Sport -rear shocks continually FAIL - Replace with E36 M3 shock??!

@Kubica: Wow, those are some blown shocks! Thanks for the pictures and notations.

Did those E36 M3 rear shocks come with those bump stops?

They definitely look heavier duty than the regular non-M one.

Originally Posted by genuity

Did those E36 M3 rear shocks come with those bump stops?

They definitely look heavier duty than the regular non-M one.

Yes. Bump stops included. Just drop the lower cup, RSM, and upper cup on, and secure with included nut. I still need to confirm that it's correct not to transfer the tiny washer used below the lower cup on the OEM and HD setups.

Originally Posted by ferngreen 325xi

BMW's shock geometry causes undo strain on the shock tower area, therefore causing the seal in the upper shock portion to leak.

What do you/they mean by "undo strain"?

Originally Posted by ega2081

I had the HR sports and Bilstein sports all ready to go on my 330xi. Read this post, drove to BAV AUTO and exchanged the Bilstein sports for the the E36 M-3 shocks and picked up some new mounts as well. It will be all done on Monday, hopefully along with new front axles.

This is all new suspension for me, so I want be able to compare, however I will keep everyone updated on how they are performing in general. Ill post some before and after pics as well.

Called Sharkman right up and chatted about this set up. I feel better about the purchase and I think the extra money for the M3 rears will pay off.

Im thinking this "experimental" shock they are talking about is probably the M3 shock, unless he said otherwise?

Well they are on, doesn't look low as I expected, but hopefully that will change when it settles some. Ill post pics soon and give everyone updates. Havent driven it yet....

kubica, any updates on the ride quality of the rear shocks? I got my replacement rear shock and haven't installed yet. Curious if i should just call Keith and get the e36m3 ones instead.

Just spoke with Bilstein, they are sending me a set of m3 ones in exchange for my old ones. they are aware of the issues with the hd ones, but still keep selling them...oh well, i'll keep you guys posted when i get them

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

kubica, any updates on the ride quality of the rear shocks? I got my replacement rear shock and haven't installed yet. Curious if i should just call Keith and get the e36m3 ones instead.

Ride quality is good, possibly a tad better. Now that I have these on, I think the HDs may have been slightly over-dampening the rear. It's a tough feeling to describe- they are still nice and firm, but they seem a bit more supple than the HDs. They are firm, just maybe not as taught as the HDs. This may have something to do with the decrease in extended length on the M3 rears.

Tough call what to do- the M3 rears are about twice the price as xi rears.

Originally Posted by Kubica

Ride quality is good, possibly a tad better. Now that I have these on, I think the HDs may have been slightly over-dampening the rear. It's a tough feeling to describe- they are still nice and firm, but they seem a bit more supple than the HDs. They are firm, just maybe not as taught as the HDs. This may have something to do with the decrease in extended length on the M3 rears.

Tough call what to do- the M3 rears are about twice the price as xi rears.

Thanks for the update. Yea i saw that the price on the m3s were at 130 vs 70. Ill probably just put these on and warranty as i need since its lifetime.

Kubica & Sharkman: Are both of you still running the 15mm upper spring pads in the rear? Also what springs are being used with this E36 M3 setup, factory sport springs?

H&R, yes, 15mm pad.
I assume if you want the rear a bit lower, you could swap it for the thin one.

In my car, the M3 shocks changed it from unpleasant to drive on bad roads to "normal BMW" feel. It is te feel I have come to expect from my bimmers.

Originally Posted by genuity

Kubica & Sharkman: Are both of you still running the 15mm upper spring pads in the rear? Also what springs are being used with this E36 M3 setup, factory sport springs?

I'm on stock springs with factory springs pads, but that doesn't matter- I'll explain. In the rear, we have a shock/spring setup (obviously). So the car actually sits on the springs- the shocks really don't have anything to do with the ride height. When a bump forces the wheel up, it compresses the spring, and the shock is there to get the spring back to it's uncompressed height without oscillating up and down.

When you have the car in the air, the length of the fully extended shocks will determine how far the rear wheels drop, but don't figure into the static ride height.

Say you have stock shocks and some really, really low springs- if you did some WRC style rallying jumps, the rear springs could literally fall right out of their perches. Same with the front springs- but they'd just rotate around the strut. That's why Bilstein makes the shorter "Sport" model shocks, so the rear wheels don't drop as much when they become unloaded. Prior to speaking with Keith at Bilstein, I had incorrectly assumed the height difference between Sport vs. HD was to better zero in on the dampening sweet spot of the shock. It seems like the Bilstein Sports are the answer to the question none of us had. There's not really going to be a discernible difference between the two models paired with stock, Eibach, or H&R springs.

I don't have access to the Bilstein Sports to measure, but Keith mentioned they are 20mm shorter than the HD model. That puts the height of the e36 M3 shocks exactly halfway between the height of the Sports and HDs.

Originally Posted by Kubica

So the car actually sits on the springs- the shocks really don't have anything to do with the ride height..

I know all too well about this...after removing my original Sachs shocks at 106k (with one leaking and one without leaks), they were both shot. You can compress them with one hand and it takes forever to expand to full length (if at all), so all this time I have been riding purely on springs. I am wondering how trashed the front struts are...I guess I will find out soon enough

Originally Posted by Kubica

It seems like the Bilstein Sports are the answer to the question none of us had. There's not really going to be a discernible difference between the two models paired with stock, Eibach, or H&R springs.

This is good to know. I just read about some people using "lowering" springs where the rear looked too low, so they upgraded to the 15mm upper spring pads. At first I bought two factory sport springs, then quickly realized it was not cost efficient so I sold those off and got all four Eibach pro kits, after reading up on how H&R are a bit more harsher ride. The drop on those is supposedly more by specs. I am not looking for any drops, considering the ride height of the back on pure springs is short enough...still do not know about the front, but it is really low enough. My 3.5 ton floor jack (Arcan XL35 barely makes it under both front factory jack pads). I am also not looking for the "raked" look.

Originally Posted by Kubica

I don't have access to the Bilstein Sports to measure, but Keith mentioned they are 20mm shorter than the HD model. That puts the height of the e36 M3 shocks exactly halfway between the height of the Sports and HDs.

Bilstein Sports (BE3-2698) are slightly over 26" end to end. I made sure I got a measurement before I sent it off. I should be getting the E36 M3 ones later this week

As I've posted before;
I'm on my third set of blown rear Bilstein shocks in two years... but last night I was feed up with the "clunking" noise from the back, so I installed some used M3 E46 dampers till I get my KW's.
Works like a charm!

Originally Posted by Tele

As I've posted before;
I'm on my third set of blown rear Bilstein shocks in two years... but last night I was feed up with the "clunking" noise from the back, so I installed some used M3 E46 dampers till I get my KW's.
Works like a charm!

If you installed E46 M3 shocks and it works as you say, then I would suspect the E36 M3 & the E46 M3 shocks are the same, but they ship us the E36 simply because it is older & less likely they will sell them. Less of a hit on Bilstein financially & inventory wise. Just a guess LOL

new rear sport shock installed. No more clunks....for now. the old one lasted 10k, lets see how this one does. The ride is so much better now, no more harshness.

Originally Posted by ega2081

Well they are on, doesn't look low as I expected, but hopefully that will change when it settles some. Ill post pics soon and give everyone updates. Havent driven it yet....

Here it is....... I haven't driven it much, still more settling I hope. Drives real nice though!

Originally Posted by ega2081

Here it is....... I haven't driven it much, still more settling I hope. Drives real nice though!

Looks great, wheel gap looks good, the front looks a tiny bit higher than mine, but not much. Could be that the 18" wheels that give that effect, I have 17".
Sweet looking ride

Originally Posted by SharkmanBMW

Looks great, wheel gap looks good, the front looks a tiny bit higher than mine, but not much. Could be that the 18" wheels that give that effect, I have 17".
Sweet looking ride

Thanks Man! I'm hoping the front will settle a little more....Just a tad bit

Originally Posted by SharkmanBMW

The 330Xi part is "36mm", these M3 shocks are 46mm, will that even fit?! Same length?! (I can't find specs)

So, is the stock M3 rear shock the same length as the e46 xi rear? I got that the additional width was OK; and the length was OK with lowered suspension. I could break my "no mods" rule for M3 parts.