e30 DD shocks - Bilstein HD or Yellow Konis?

Given that the ix is wobbling down the road in 60s landyacht style, one of the items that is very high on the list of "needs fixing" are new shocks. Preferably before I need to buy seasickness medication.

The car is unlikely to see track or Auto-X use - as the wife pointed out, it's supposed to be my DD - so it's main use is reasonably spirited driving over mountain roads. I'm also not planning to lower the car as I'd rather have a bit more ground clearance.

My normal go-to shocks for a sporty car would be Koni Sports, but given that they're substantially more expensive than the Bilsteins, what does the font of all knowledge say?

I wanted to put konis on my mercedes but they cost like 3x as much as bilstein HD. I have HDs all around on my mercedes and I guess they work good, I don't really know.

The price difference is roughly $160 for both fronts, the rears are almost the same price.

I'd go with the Bilsteins. Do you really need an adjustable?

I'd go with Koni's, they always seemed to ride better. (Fair point in my cars it was always Koni's with GC setup)

My wife didn't even find 750/550 spring rates on 17s with 40 series tires offensive in my E30.

I thought the Konis were closer to the (stiffer) Bilstein Sports than the Bilstein HDs?

For a not-too-sporty DD, that would have had me looking at the HDs, but then I don't know much about the Konis, so I could be out in left field...

Bilstiens seem to last longer, and I prefer the ride over konis. Konis dont have enough rebound damping in my opinion either, at least on most of the cars I have driven with them. I had them on my milano and they were alright though, but they were used ones I paid like $25 for so i wasn't expecting much.

Koni, Koni, Koni. Did I say Koni?

ransom wrote: I thought the Konis were closer to the (stiffer) Bilstein Sports than the Bilstein HDs?

Sports and HD's are the same valving, but with different lengths for lowered vs stock height.

At least that's what I've been lead to understand.

ReverendDexter wrote: I'd go with the Bilsteins. Do you really need an adjustable?

No, that's what brought out the question. I might ignore the adjustability if the Konis were substantially better/longer lived.

I have Bilsteins on one of my 325ix's, the other 325iX has OEM Boge shocks. I think the Bilsteins are fine, I wouldn't go any stiffer. In fact, for my purposes I like the OEM shocks better; when it's -20F outside they're plenty stiff already.

Bilstiens should last quite a bit longer.

Dude you are high if you choose Yellows over Bilstein SPORT or RACE. Forget HD. Some cars (all cars?) they raise the ride height. There was a LOT of hate from the E46 community about this, and they appear to be the only ones smart enough to pick up on it, as I have seen the same complaints from the Charger guys trying to replicate SRT feel on the cheap.

My Yellers handled well enough but man that car seemed so stiff.

Bilstein will be my go-to shock for every vehicle I have for the rest of my life unless something ridiculous develops. Non HD, of course.

On the plus, Bilsteins can be rebuilt by Bilstein West for $65 per. Buy two used sets and get them rebuilt, put one on the shelf for spares!

Some bilstein applications are terrible...the E36 comes to mind. That said, the bilsteins have a great rep for E30's, and are incredibly long lived. Koni's do tend to ride a bit better, FWIW.

In reply to J308:

Well...

I can get Bilstein HDs from the usual suspects for all four corners of the ix. I haven't seen any of the other types for the ix front suspension.

I would say Konis.

Koni reds on my Jetta DD and they feel great

BoxheadTim wrote: In reply to J308: Well... I can get Bilstein HDs from the usual suspects for all four corners of the ix. I haven't seen any of the other types for the ix front suspension.

Isn't that due to the front design of the knuckle being the strut housing? I think the reason you can find HDs but nothing else is probably due to a catalog error. But really, I'm not sure on the IX to be honest.

Some time on the e30 forums will yield the Bilstein Race/Sport applications that you seek. Honestly though, I'd consider the e36 component swap due to the tiny wheel bearings on the e30 if it were a project and not a DD.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1864970

You're right, ix front struts are completely different from the other e30 front struts as they also hold the driveshafts, so I'm not surprised that you can't get all permutations of shocks for these.

I'm not sure it's cattle dog error as pretty much all the suppliers of e30 parts I checked only show the HDs.

I'd lean toward Bilstein. I've used Konis, HDs, Bilstein Cups, Sports.....for DD I think the HD is superior assuming you're on stock springs. They're a great match for the stock e30 suspension.

Konis are great too, but I've always felt they were more comparable to the Billie Sports, not the HDs. Firmer.

Hrm, maybe I've just wasted your time then.

You could always call Bilstein West tomorrow.

1-858-386-5900

That sounds like a good idea, I'll try to remember to do that.

I run Koni Yellows on my E30, and Bilstein HDs on my Trooper. Both have stiffer suspensions and modified ride heights.

Obviously this is comparing apples to oranges in a few different ways, but I like the Konis better.

Is there anyone in this thread besides myself that has actually driven an E30 with both setups mentioned?

In other words, springs/konis and HR Race/Billie sports?

Just curious, since this application is what he is asking about, and everything else is really conjecture.

As others have mentioned, Bilstein HDs can be hit or miss depending on the specific application. I'd recommend checking out a BMW forum, and see what the recommendations are for a E30 325ix that's going to be used how yours will be. I personally had a great experience with Bilstein HDs on my Chevy truck, but when I did a bunch of research on them for my E36, the reviews from E36 owners were horrific.

stuart in mn offered some good points in his feedback specific to the ix.