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      09-08-2020, 09:59 PM   #1
akkando
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Bilstein B6 Damptrnic installed e90 M3 ZCP springs

So I finally had a shop install the Bilstein B6 (HD) damptronic (EDC) struts and shocks I got on my ZCP M3. I also had new strut mounts put on the front, and upper and lower shock mounts in the rear. I decided to reuse the ZCP springs because..... cost, it sounded like maybe it would be fine, and for science. I'm not generally a "stance" person and knew that it would likely raise the height of the car, but no one seemed to know by how much. Turns out a lot, in the front.

Also of note is the previous owner installed Apex wheels 19x10 front and 19x10.5 rear. I put MP4S 255/35 front and 275/35 rear which is a bit stretched, not ideal for this wheel size, and probably makes the appearance of fender gap worse. No spacers or anything like. I had to make a new tire choice quickly so maybe next time a different size and or different wheel size.

Unknown if the struts/shocks will settle at all since the springs are already broke in.


Before




After

Last edited by akkando; 09-10-2020 at 02:11 PM..
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      09-08-2020, 10:25 PM   #2
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Thanks for sharing. The ride height is surprisingly tall for springs that are already broken in, and with 35 profile tires.... Maybe the shocks will come down a bit after some driving. Please keep us posted on the handling part, before/after
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      09-08-2020, 10:38 PM   #3
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Yup, these definitely raise the car. I saw another member's car with these struts and Eibach springs and it looked like stock height considering it had lowering springs.
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      09-08-2020, 11:21 PM   #4
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Also I noticed that driver side front appeared to have more gap than the passenger side. Quickly measuring seems about a half inch difference. What's that about?
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      09-08-2020, 11:34 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by akkando View Post
Also I noticed that driver side front appeared to have more gap than the passenger side. Quickly measuring seems about a half inch difference. What's that about?
I recall reading somewhere that is deliberate to compensate for driver only weight in the car or something like that.
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      09-09-2020, 01:36 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4130 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by akkando View Post
Also I noticed that driver side front appeared to have more gap than the passenger side. Quickly measuring seems about a half inch difference. What's that about?
I recall reading somewhere that is deliberate to compensate for driver only weight in the car or something like that.
I've read that but it just seemed like people speculating.
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      09-09-2020, 01:43 AM   #7
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my b12 prokit and the kwV3(when all 4 side perch are at the same height) both had the similar height difference.
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      09-09-2020, 11:40 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by akkando View Post
Also I noticed that driver side front appeared to have more gap than the passenger side. Quickly measuring seems about a half inch difference. What's that about?
That seems excessive. How many miles on the new dampers? I would imagine they will "break in" a little bit after a few hundred miles.
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      09-09-2020, 01:27 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Johal E32 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by akkando View Post
Also I noticed that driver side front appeared to have more gap than the passenger side. Quickly measuring seems about a half inch difference. What's that about?
That seems excessive. How many miles on the new dampers? I would imagine they will "break in" a little bit after a few hundred miles.
I think about 175 miles now. It was installed at a quality shop that is mostly focused on track prep and alignment. They did the install on the Friday before memorial day weekend but I assume they did a good job. They said they didn't notice anything strange with the suspension bits.
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      09-09-2020, 08:57 PM   #10
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Yup, I had the b6 paired with Eibach. Ride height was at 3 fingers for about 2-3 weeks and eventually dropped down to 2 finger gap. I contacted Bilstein and they don't recommend going any lower than 20mm with the B6 shocks (front and rear)..
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      09-10-2020, 12:25 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AceBeezy View Post
Yup, I had the b6 paired with Eibach. Ride height was at 3 fingers for about 2-3 weeks and eventually dropped down to 2 finger gap. I contacted Bilstein and they don't recommend going any lower than 20mm with the B6 shocks (front and rear)..
right now it's 3 fingers easy on driver side and 3 fingers tight on passenger side.

I have an m2 on stock suspension and it's easy two fingers driver and a tight two fingers on passenger.

Hopefully the b6 settles to 2 fingers, if not I guess there's always eibach springs...
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      09-10-2020, 01:18 PM   #12
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I want to love these dampers as ZCP replacements but that height is no joke, especially with my Dinan plates which add stack height.
How do the different EDC modes feel/compare otherwise?
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      09-10-2020, 01:55 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wyatth View Post
I want to love these dampers as ZCP replacements but that height is no joke, especially with my Dinan plates which add stack height.
How do the different EDC modes feel/compare otherwise?
Agree. I think even with lowering springs, the front end will sit higher than I like. Almost like a reverse rake look to it.
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      09-10-2020, 03:08 PM   #14
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I have B6 EDC with Swift Spec R on my E90. I can measure the height of you like.
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      09-10-2020, 03:59 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4130 View Post
I have B6 EDC with Swift Spec R on my E90. I can measure the height of you like.
That would be helpful thank you. Also any pics? Notice any down sides to those springs?
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      09-10-2020, 04:49 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by akkando View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4130 View Post
I have B6 EDC with Swift Spec R on my E90. I can measure the height of you like.
That would be helpful thank you. Also any pics? Notice any down sides to those springs?
Not sure how helpful these photos will be. Driver side front, rear, passenger front, rear. I'm on 15mm front, 12mm rear spacers. I really like the Swift springs but I also don't have any reference other than OEM. They are low and stuff enough but still comfortable for wife and family and long highway trips. I get a little run in the rear on big depressions when in Comfort mode.
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      09-22-2020, 07:16 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by akkando View Post
So I finally had a shop install the Bilstein B6 (HD) damptronic (EDC) struts and shocks I got on my ZCP M3. I also had new strut mounts put on the front, and upper and lower shock mounts in the rear. I decided to reuse the ZCP springs because..... cost, it sounded like maybe it would be fine, and for science. I'm not generally a "stance" person and knew that it would likely raise the height of the car, but no one seemed to know by how much. Turns out a lot, in the front.
Hi. How have the shocks settled since? I have a set of B6 EDCs sitting around and debating whether to put these on (w/ stock springs) or to go with Dinan.

Curious to see what your specs are (measuring from the top of the fender well to the bottom of the wheel rim).

Mine on a stock EDC E90 M3 (w/ 100K shocks):

Front Wheels (623 mm BMW spec for 19" wheels)
616 mm (left F)
620 mm (right F)

Rear Wheels (607 mm BMW spec for 19" Wheels)
610 mm (left R)
600 mm (right R)
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      09-22-2020, 11:33 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kimiraikkonen View Post
Hi. How have the shocks settled since? I have a set of B6 EDCs sitting around and debating whether to put these on (w/ stock springs) or to go with Dinan.

Curious to see what your specs are (measuring from the top of the fender well to the bottom of the wheel rim).

Mine on a stock EDC E90 M3 (w/ 100K shocks):

Front Wheels (623 mm BMW spec for 19" wheels)
616 mm (left F)
620 mm (right F)

Rear Wheels (607 mm BMW spec for 19" Wheels)
610 mm (left R)
600 mm (right R)
I feel like it has settled very slightly, like a few milimeters just based on finger feel over 450 miles, so not much. My advice is get springs that will lower it more if you want a reduced gap or sell it and buy their EDC coil over kit instead. I am buying a used Eibach pro spring set this week, not sure when it will go on the car though, not for a couple weeks at least.

I can't measure for you today because I parked the car at my office parking garage upper level and they are stripping the first floor of the garage tomorrow and I won't be able to get the car out for a week. I only have covered parking for one car where I am and the M3 is my second M car lol.

Took these pics today. Apex 19 wheels 10 front 10.5 rear 255/35 275/35 (a bit stretched makes gap worse)





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      09-23-2020, 01:39 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by akkando View Post
I feel like it has settled very slightly, like a few milimeters just based on finger feel over 450 miles, so not much. My advice is get springs that will lower it more if you want a reduced gap or sell it and buy their EDC coil over kit instead. I am buying a used Eibach pro spring set this week, not sure when it will go on the car though, not for a couple weeks at least.

I can't measure for you today because I parked the car at my office parking garage upper level and they are stripping the first floor of the garage tomorrow and I won't be able to get the car out for a week. I only have covered parking for one car where I am and the M3 is my second M car lol.

Took these pics today. Apex 19 wheels 10 front 10.5 rear 255/35 275/35 (a bit stretched makes gap worse)
Hi. Thanks a bunch for the additional pics. I agree with you, I think I'll want to throw on a pair of mild springs when I install the B6 EDCs.

For kicks, I took your side by side pics and did a rough measurement from a common reference point (sideskirt parting line) and compared it to where it intersects with the wheel rim. See the yellow lines below.

As I don't have photoshop, I did some manipulations within PPT to measure the lines (using the wheel roundel cap as a baseline, which I believe is ~70 mm).

So rough estimation based on this method, I'm seeing ~12.3mm increase with the B6 (after comparison). Obviously some measurement error with this digital eyeballing, but definitely a measureable gap on the after. Hope this helps and let me know your measurements when you get around to it.
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      09-23-2020, 09:16 PM   #20
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damn, that looks tall. lol
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      09-23-2020, 11:02 PM   #21
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I think these will pair well with H&R springs. Since the H&R has more of a rake look because of the lower front drop, and these B6 raises the front, it might level out.

This was my E90 with B8 shocks (I'm guessing they're similar to B6 without damptronic) paired with H&R sport springs.

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      09-24-2020, 12:19 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DanMpower View Post
I think these will pair well with H&R springs. Since the H&R has more of a rake look because of the lower front drop, and these B6 raises the front, it might level out.

This was my E90 with B8 shocks (I'm guessing they're similar to B6 without damptronic) paired with H&R sport springs.

It would end up still looking higher because the B6 is taller than the b8.

https://www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/bl...nd-bilstein-b8

Apparently you don't want to go to a spring that is too low on the b6 or it will ruin the handeling. Hopefully Eibach Pro springs will be okay. People seem to like that combo on the f80 M3s.
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