bennno2005 Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 Am I right in thinking that the shock absorbers are the same for the M Sport as they are for the normal model and the only different part is the springs? The O/S front shock is weeping on my Clubsport so I'm thinking of replacing all four as its on the originals and is now 13 years / 105k miles old. I've seen these which seems like a very good price: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-3er-E46-TOURING-COMBI-330d-4x-BILSTEIN-B4-Shock-absorber-VA-HA-COMPLETE-SET/331545904643?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D30989%26meid%3D8e0c215de52b42e29d4ba65cc260c961%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D391111308783&rt=nc Will they be suitable for my car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennno2005 Posted May 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 Oh and my car is and always will be on standard springs. Rears were replaced a couple of months ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Streek Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 No M-sport shocks and standard shocks are different. OEM Sachs have different coloured stickers for each type. As far as I know anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennno2005 Posted May 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 No M-sport shocks and standard shocks are different. OEM Sachs have different coloured stickers for each type. As far as I know anyway Oh that's a shame. I was thinking it was just the springs that were different. Can anyone recommend a good alternative to BMW? I can get Sachs from Eurocarparts for about £100 a corner and £100 for both rears. Cheers Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Streek Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 The blistein B4s are good shocks tho, I believe mine uses them, mine is a sport as opposed to M-sport, and I have read a thread on here that BMW spec the B4s for my car, so they may not be as stiff as the full m-sport version need to be. The B4s are reputedly about 20% stiffer than a standard shock. bennno2005 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennno2005 Posted May 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 Looks like these are the correct Bilsteins for my car. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bilstein-B4-Front-Rear-Shock-Damper-Kit-BMW-E46-330d-330i-M-Sport-/331295287109?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&fits=Plat_Gen%3AE46&hash=item4d22bce745 You were right - different part numbers for the front shocks. Rears are the same however. I'm only after OEM quality so I'll go for Bilstein or Sachs, just see which is cheapest. Thanks for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Streek Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 They are still B4s tho so won't necessarily be as stiff as m-sport variant of the oem Sachs for example. I would double check with BMW first, or a parts supplier you trust before ordering. I'm sure some more guys on here will have some good advice on the matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Streek Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 Not sure but I think the blistein b6 might be the shock for an msport, again someone on here I'm sure will clarify that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennno2005 Posted May 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 Not sure but I think the blistein b6 might be the shock for an msport, again someone on here I'm sure will clarify that I always thought B6's / B8's were for use with lowering springs / track cars. CharlE46 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Streek Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 I think B6 is stiffer, then you go to B8 which are shorter and probably stiffer, then B12 stiffer again, not sure if they are shorter still. CharlE46 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Streek Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 Again, I think this is right. Google would be your friend for a definitive answer bennno2005 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dooge Posted May 14, 2015 Report Share Posted May 14, 2015 I have B4's and love them, I could only compare them to 10 year old weaping shocks but they state they are designed for lowering springs which the M sport technically is over standard. I have had no problems with ride quality, being too soft or crashiness, Id highly recommend them for the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennno2005 Posted May 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2015 I have B4's and love them, I could only compare them to 10 year old weaping shocks but they state they are designed for lowering springs which the M sport technically is over standard. I have had no problems with ride quality, being too soft or crashiness, Id highly recommend them for the price. Thanks for the feedback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlE46 Posted May 14, 2015 Report Share Posted May 14, 2015 Not sure but I think the blistein b6 might be the shock for an msport, again someone on here I'm sure will clarify that Don't think so mate, the B6 is a much stiffer setup more suited to fast road or even track use, B8's are a shortened version for more extreme lowering. B4's are generally seen as a good alternative to standard BMW sport suspension and come highly recommended. bennno2005 and StuBeeDoo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennno2005 Posted May 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2015 (edited) OK thats cool. I seem to be finding two different part numbers for the B4 front shocks - can't see why there would be a difference TBH. The rears are all the same. Edited May 14, 2015 by ben.embrey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich330ci Posted May 14, 2015 Report Share Posted May 14, 2015 I have B4's and love them, I could only compare them to 10 year old weaping shocks but they state they are designed for lowering springs which the M sport technically is over standard. I have had no problems with ride quality, being too soft or crashiness, Id highly recommend them for the price. Agree with dooge! i have been running the B4's for a while now and cannot fault them at all! running mine in combo with Eibach Pro springs. the B4's can be used up with lowering springs up to 40mm iirc, the B6's are stiffer and def more track focused cars! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Streek Posted May 15, 2015 Report Share Posted May 15, 2015 Just had a look on the Blistein website and the B4's come in two different versions, one for M-tech suspension and one for standard suspension, hence why you see two part numbers for the same shock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blakeya1975 Posted May 15, 2015 Report Share Posted May 15, 2015 I am in the same boat here. Two different B4's on the website and not sure which to go for. could i fit the sport B4 on my 320i SE loon or do i really need the standard chassis B4?. I will be fitting these with Eibach Sportline springs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlE46 Posted May 15, 2015 Report Share Posted May 15, 2015 I am in the same boat here. Two different B4's on the website and not sure which to go for. could i fit the sport B4 on my 320i SE loon or do i really need the standard chassis B4?. I will be fitting these with Eibach Sportline springs. You can fit the sport version with the Eibach, fitment is identical just the dampening that's up-rated slightly over non sport suspension. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig_09 Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 I've got B4 shocks with Eibach sportlines on my 320cd (car previously had TA technic coilivers). The ride and handling are much better now and sit at a perfect height.. Quite low! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Posted December 6, 2020 Report Share Posted December 6, 2020 Hi I've an e46 320d se its sat on the floor at the rear can anybod tell me if the springs and dampners on a non se are longer or are they all the same length thank you 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 You've probably got cracked springs mate, no way should it be sat on the floor if it's all working as it should. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 only the springs affect the ride height, they come in different ride heights with sport being the lowest of the OEM springs, they frequently break with a corresponding drop in ride height, replace in pairs same with the shocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
