E46 330ci Sport - which dampers / shocks?

[dhutch]

I have a E46 330ci Sport that needs dampers all round and I am having a right mare trying to work out what to fit.
- Various options, no clarity about version fits which car.
- Lots of talk about x makes the ride height wrong, y it no good.


ECP (C4L) which my local BMW breakers/garage us have:
Front Rear and Left for 'standard chassis' Sachs or Kayaba for £100 each (presumably no these)
Then the same again with no fitting detailed (maybe for the sports?) for Sach, photo of a blue label.*
Plus a rear one that fits both sides and suspension types, but only Anschler brand at £40. (sounds shi te?)
*I have head blue label is std, red was for sports, but they no longer make it?
£280 total

GSF have a full set of Boge, but I would have to buy them mail order for the guy to fit, pita, if they are wrong.
Front sports spec at £200 each 'for vehicles with sports suspension' 'for vehicles with off-road suspension' (?)
For the rear list for both Std and for Sports, for £70 and also a Bilstein option for the sports version at £90.
Should be able to get them around half price if over a weekend.
£340 (with 45% off, £190?)

My other local normal garage uses GT who supply KYB dampers and quote as below.
Front, sports £71
Rear, universal £48
Which is temping, but I know think about KYB as a brand?
£236

Else I seem to be able to get a set of Bilstein B4 for £330 on ebay, but can't make head nor of where else I can get these from that isn't ebay!

What would you do?


Daniel

[Rsdop]

I had the same problem last year, E46 shock absorbers are a minefield. I gave up with ECP/GSF and went with Bilstein B8s and they’re excellent. Bilstein is good gear so no doubt the B4/B6 would be fine.

[dhutch]

And where did you get them from?

B4 are about OEM spec I understand, the car is used for normal daily driving so I am not after too firm or expensive!

Daniel

[twokcc]

My 2003 330ci cabrio may need some soon and been looking at this set of Bilstein B4

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x-Bilstein-B4-Front-Re...

£205 delivered for full set not sure if they are ok for M sport chassis. Main reason for looking at Bilsteins is that Alpina use them for modified cars which nearly always get rave reviews for ccmpliance of chassis although could be more than just a change of shockers to achieve this.
Seems a good starting point to do more research

[helix402]

If you want to get the exact match go to the damper manufacturers part no section of their website. Get the correct no and pop it into eBay.

Also try looking up the correct no on realoem and pop that into eBay or some damper manufacturers have a matching system for oe numbers.

[Rsdop]

dhutch said:

And where did you get them from?

B4 are about OEM spec I understand, the car is used for normal daily driving so I am not after too firm or expensive!

Daniel

Mine were purchased online and I fitted myself, but a decent garage should fit customer supplied parts for 2-3 hours labour. I reckon B4s would be fine, I don’t find the B8s too firm and they were a massive improvement in comfort/ride over knackered standard stuff!

[dhutch]

twokcc said:

My 2003 330ci cabrio may need some soon and been looking at this set of Bilstein B4
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x-Bilstein-B4-Front-Re...

£205 delivered for full set not sure if they are ok for M sport chassis.

That seems a very good price given most far more like £300 set or £100 for each front.

helix402 said:

If you want to get the exact match go to the damper manufacturers part no section of their website. Get the correct no and pop it into eBay.

Couldn't make head or tail of Bilsteins website, no way to sort one range from another and several B4's listed for the car, no mention of what's front rear left right. Maybe a phonecall in the morning.

Rsdop said:

Mine were purchased online ...

Do you have a website in mind?


Daniel

[Rsdop]

Mine were eBay, have a look at Demon Tweeks though they have some good deals on Bilstein.

[twokcc]

This is direct link to Ebay seller TDC Automotive for B4 mentioned above

https://www.tdcautomotive.com/bilstein-b4-full-kit...

Compatible chart lists that they are right ones for 200- 2007 e46 330ci convertible but on first opening page get an offer for 5% discount.

Whatever you decide on update thread when youve got fitted.

[dhutch]

Yes. Will do.

Thanks for the link.

[SebringMan]

If it were me I'd get the following:

-Sachs but in the Sports specification
-Bilstein B6s if staying at the stock height.
-Genuine (my preference).

I've tried most of those choices and on one car I tried almost everything, including B4s that people rave about. I myself don't rate the B4s but I can see why people do : Anything would have felt better than what came off and they are a fancy name at a lower price point.

Ultimately, the genuine stuff was better and really give that as new feeling ; When ECP say one damper fits your car but BMW list around 4 depending on engine size, spec, wheel size etc. it says alot. However, I'd ring up Cotswolds for a price first before trying any dealer. If your local one is any good they'll match or beat Cotswolds.

Edited by SebringMan on Tuesday 30th January 07:17

[dhutch]

SebringMan said:

If it were me I'd get the following:

-Sachs but in the Sports specification
-Bilstein B6s if staying at the stock height.
-Genuine (my preference).

I've tried most of those choices and on one car I tried almost everything, including B4s that people rave about. I myself don't rate the B4s but I can see why people do : Anything would have felt better than what came off and they are a fancy name at a lower price point.

Ultimately, the genuine stuff was better and really give that as new feeling ; When ECP say one damper fits your car but BMW list around 4 depending on engine size, spec, wheel size etc. it says alot. However, I'd ring up Cotswolds for a price first before trying any dealer. If your local one is any good they'll match or beat Cotswolds.

Edited by SebringMan on Tuesday 30th January 07:17

Fair. Not expecting the B4 to be any better than standard, just a reasonable shock at a reasonable price. Its just a cheap but fun run about at the end of the day.

I can't seem to find the 'sports spec' sachs people talk about, although the car currently has bmw stickered sachs one at the moment.
The B6 are I am sure nice, but they are quite a bit more than the B4 which while maybe more basic should still be reasonable?
Will give Cotswolds a ring in the morning, because when I spoke to TDC Automotive about the B4's sadly the 'm sport' version are on back order from bilstein a not due for a fortnight.

The right ones for my car, 330ci sport, are these at £262.08 :
https://www.tdcautomotive.com/bilstein-b4-full-kit...

Front L/H 22-139931
Front R/H 22-139948
Rear 19-103150


Daniel

[SebringMan]

dhutch said:

Fair. Not expecting the B4 to be any better than standard, just a reasonable shock at a reasonable price. Its just a cheap but fun run about at the end of the day.

I can't seem to find the 'sports spec' sachs people talk about, although the car currently has bmw stickered sachs one at the moment.
The B6 are I am sure nice, but they are quite a bit more than the B4 which while maybe more basic should still be reasonable?
Will give Cotswolds a ring in the morning, because when I spoke to TDC Automotive about the B4's sadly the 'm sport' version are on back order from bilstein a not due for a fortnight.

The right ones for my car, 330ci sport, are these at £262.08 :
https://www.tdcautomotive.com/bilstein-b4-full-kit...

Front L/H 22-139931
Front R/H 22-139948
Rear 19-103150


Daniel

In that case your expectations are alot more realistic than other people's . Marketing blurb from suppliers doesn't help here mind you.

The B6s are better but that's down to them being a monotube damper.

Sachs may have stopped making the Sport damper. It may be worth checking their catalogue.

[helix402]

The Sachs sport dampers are the ones with a red label, normal have a blue label. I think they have discontinued the red label ones for the E46 and now list the blue for all.

[daniel-5zjw7]

Have you considered a Koni Street kit? Comes as a complete kit with H&R springs and the dampers have a lifetime warranty, not much more than the other options your looking at either;

http://www.larkspeed.com/shopper/i/285L11204841/BM...

[Pearcy]

Fitted a Bilstein B12 kit to mine and really rate it. The kit essentially uses Eibach springs combined with B6 shocks. They do two versions, 'pro' and 'sport' - I went with the pro version as it's a daily driver (Pro is lowered a little, Sport is lowered further).

Whilst the ride is definitely stiffer than the original M sport suspension it's not harsh in my opinion. The stiffer ride is more than compensated by greater body control and reduce roll.

It's the second time I have had the B12 kit as I went that way with the previous 328i sport and was impressed.

This time around I took the opportunity to fit new top mounts, anti-roll bar bushes along with Powerflex rear trailing arm bushes.

[twokcc]

I'm with Dhutch here,mines only used as a sunshine cruiser and would be looking at replacement that's either EOM or other well known brand that are to similar specification.

BUT if i could pick up some E46 Koni FSD's at same price as those recently fitted to my 2011 Cooper S.
Paid less than £300 (normally about £650ish) for brand new set(plus £125 for fitting)

So although approx £100 more than a OEM spec damper would consider it money well spent. Not in a hurry so just keep looking on ebay.

[helix402]

I have one new B4 if anyone wants to pm me an offer for it. Correct part no for ops car. I have no need for it as my new E46 has 4 new dampers.

[helix402]

helix402 said:

I have one new B4 if anyone wants to pm me an offer for it. Correct part no for ops car. I have no need for it as my new E46 has 4 new dampers.

Damper now sold.