Evolve/Bilstein B6 Damptronic released

[valve float]

For months now, i've been hounding the Evolve guys every few weeks for updates on these struts....finally got word they are shipping next week...
needless to say, i ordered immediately....

here is their release page...

https://www.evolveautomotive.co.uk/p...e90-e92-e93-m3

i hope i'm not out of line posting this but i'm sure there are others keen on the release...

cheers...

[M3SQRD]

The Evolve/Bilstein B6 on the F8x has had mixed success. One common criticism is they’ll raise your ride height by 0.25-0.40”. Some find them to be too harsh on bumpy/undulating sections of road as well as no major differences in damping in different edc modes. However, handling in smoother corners has definitely improved over stock.

[OmairK]

Waited so long for these. Now waiting on a review prior to finally pulling the trigger!

[nah dude]

Why not just get the B16s?

[valve float]

Originally Posted by nah dude

Why not just get the B16s?

the damptronic version..?....backordered for months if not more....

[fengrr]

After reading about EDC I will skip this since Tractive EDC coilovers look like the only true solution. I will probably just get KW v3 next time there is a rebate.

[Racer-X]

Ordered mine last night - and shipped this morning. What backorder are you speaking about?

Or are the B16 on backorder?

Originally Posted by valve float

the damptronic version..?....backordered for months if not more....

[valve float]

mine shipped out too this AM....

i was referring to the b16's being on backorder....

[OmairK]

Share pics when you receive them. Let us know what springs and top hats you’ll be going with.

[Imran@Evolve]

We have fixed Bilstein issue with raised ride height on both E9X from the get go and on the F8X Platform with the latest batch of dampers.

Part of the reason why the E9X Dampers took so long to come to the market was that we changed so much from Bilsteins own design they had to run them through internal compliance testing before they would produce them for us.

Please read the reviews on the F8X forum yourself. The reviews are mostly positive. Of course you can't please everyone!

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1936238

[valve float]

Imran, thanks for chiming in....

is there any need for shaved top mounts anymore...?



edit:
received my set yesterday, in probably the best packed box in recent memory,
DHL, half way around the globe for $80cad in one week...

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by Imran@Evolve

We have fixed Bilstein issue with raised ride height on both E9X from the get go and on the F8X Platform with the latest batch of dampers.

Part of the reason why the E9X Dampers took so long to come to the market was that we changed so much from Bilsteins own design they had to run them through internal compliance testing before they would produce them for us.

Please read the reviews on the F8X forum yourself. The reviews are mostly positive. Of course you can't please everyone!

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1936238

How did you address the small increase in ride height from a high gas pressure monotube damper?

[Oscar_Call]

Originally Posted by OmairK

Share pics when you receive them. Let us know what springs and top hats you’ll be going with.

+1 wants to know exactly this !

[Imran@Evolve]

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

How did you address the small increase in ride height from a high gas pressure monotube damper?

Change in body design.

[Imran@Evolve]

Originally Posted by valve float

Imran, thanks for chiming in....

is there any need for shaved top mounts anymore...?



edit:
received my set yesterday, in probably the best packed box in recent memory,
DHL, half way around the globe for $80cad in one week...

No need to shave top mounts with these and lowering springs.

Glad to hear it!

Looking forward to your feedback.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by Imran@Evolve

Change in body design.

What does that even mean? Did you shorten the outer damper body or was the body of the oil separating piston changed or was the body of the internal pressure reservoir changed or…?

Was the reservoir pressure changed/reduced from Bilstein’s standard or recommended

[valve float]

Originally Posted by Oscar_Call

+1 wants to know exactly this !

these will going in with new oem top mounts and dinan camber plates...

other suspension enhancements "while i'm in there"...

-034 trans mounts
-BW/Precision LCA monoballs
-PF purple diff bushings
-BW solid rear subframe bushings
-BW adj rear toe arms

[OmairK]

Hmm want to know your thoughts on the trans bushings as well. Excited to hear back!

[relevante]

Are these roughly the same as OEM in terms of clearance? Need new struts and also planning to go to 275/30/19 up front soon. What about with the MSS adjustable springs?

[Racer-X]

Got these installed over the weekend. Wow, what a difference they’ve made to the car.

How long do you think the settling period will take - car does seem to be riding a bit heighten that before. (ZCP)

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by Racer-X

Got these installed over the weekend. Wow, what a difference they’ve made to the car.

How long do you think the settling period will take - car does seem to be riding a bit heighten that before. (ZCP)

Did you install new springs or the MSS HAS kit? If not, then there’s no “settling period”. Depending on the spring manufacturer, you may get a little bit of spring settling with time; however, dampers don’t settle and, if they did, you wouldn’t see a change in ride height. Higher-end dampers use parts with much tighter clearances so there may be a small change in stiction after 100-200 miles BUT that doesn’t affect ride height. The Evolve/Bilstein B6, as well as the Bilstein B6, is a monotube damper with an internal nitrogen gas pressure chamber and a floating piston that separates the damper fluid from the gas. The chamber is necessary because as the piston rod moves into the damper, the internal volume of the piston rod increases and, therefore, the floating piston moves to accommodate this change in internal volume. Also, the gas pressure is required to reduce the possibility of cavitation (small air bubbles that form in front of the moving piston valve stack, minimizing/eliminating the damping force). The gas pressure is significant and creates a lifting force on the damper valve stack. This lifting force acts like a preloaded spring in parallel to the main spring. Your increase in ride height is due to the internal nitrogen gas lifting force which doesn’t change/settle with mileage (unless it fails). Additionally, the piston rod does not start to move/compress until the gas lifting force is exceeded, causing the damper to skip over (ride on top of) bumps rather than absorbing them.

TL;DR Ride height is increased because the B6 damper has significant internal nitrogen gas pressure but the gas pressure is required to allow the damper to consistently develop damping force. Putting mileage on the damper will not reduce the internal pressure or settle/reduce the ride height.

[a5m]

Originally Posted by Imran@Evolve

No need to shave top mounts with these and lowering springs.

Is that specific to your damper only, or any inverted one?