Eibach/Koni vs. Bilstein PSS10 for a street setup

[SQ13]

Are we sure the kit includes B8 struts? I thought Bilstein didn't make B8’s for the m3

No idea. Most vendors state that they’re B8s in the description.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...t-m3-46-000613

Edit: Per post #27, they might be B6s. But if the B12 kit includes B6s, I’m sure they’ll work fine.

https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threads/bilstein-b12.41187/page-2

[GreyM340i]

https://www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/pages/confused-bilstein-buying-guide

The B12 kit that ECS sells are B8 shocks/struts (shorter B6s) with Eibach springs.

Are we sure the kit includes B8 struts? I thought Bilstein didn't make B8’s for the m3

[SQ13]

Do you know why ECS says the B6 are for stock springs? I currently have Eibach springs.

https://www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/pages/confused-bilstein-buying-guide

The B12 kit that ECS sells are B8 shocks/struts (shorter B6s) with Eibach springs.

[GreyM340i]

B6 all day erryday
with eibachs, but stock is fine, especially if the car is lighter than average.

Do you know why ECS says the B6 are for stock springs? I currently have Eibach springs.

[SQ13]

I shouldn’t have opened this thread. Now I’m looking at replacing my PSS10s with B6s or Koni Yellows + Eibach springs.

[Tbonem3]

B6 all day erryday
with eibachs, but stock is fine, especially if the car is lighter than average.

[bullet0770]

I am in the same boat and looking to change my shocks. My car is street only and currently on OEM setup with 80K miles. I don't drive in city, live in suburbs with twisty road which are in decent shape (NC state)

Options: which one should I buy?

1. B6 with stock springs
2. KONI with Stock springs (Rear SA TCK KONI)
3. KONI with Dinan springs (Rear SA TCK KONI)

Thanks in Advance.

[cobra]

I notice the KW V3 don't come up much in these conversations. Is there a reason why? I run them on one of my other cars and really like them in that particular application. Good range of adjustability and not too firm IMO. But curious as to thoughts on our e46 m3s.

KW V3 have been around for a long time. In this conversation it's about Eibach/Koni/Bilstein per the thread title.

In general when picking suspension we consider a few things:
1. Brand. Is it a reputable brand? Knowing if the proper engineering has been done will tell you if the strength, durability, and tuning work has been put into it. Some lesser brands might purchase a damper "insert" and then package it for a lot of cars without actually tuning it specifically for a vehicle.
2. Architecture. The KW V3 is a hybrid shock - it has a bladder and pressurized reservoir so the air never mixes with the oil like with a twin tube. It will perform more consistently for that reason. But.. it is at its heart a twin tube.
3. Tune. This is the huge variable. You can have a poorly tuned race shock perform worse than a basic, simple emulsion shock if the tune isn't right. Bigger brands tend to put more effort into tuning. Aftermarket tuners can also tweak stuff for a given vehicle use case.

I personally think the KW V3 are a fine shock. Better than most others discussed in this thread due to independent compression and rebound adjustment and preload adjust. But not as good as a more specialized race shock. The PSS10 is a nice design from an architecture point of view because it's an inverted strut, but the adjuster is a bidirectional bleed so it changes compression and rebound at the same time, so you have less control than the V3. If they would put a dual adjuster on it, that would probably be the best shock on the market for this car at that price point.

[oceansize]

I notice the KW V3 don't come up much in these conversations. Is there a reason why? I run them on one of my other cars and really like them in that particular application. Good range of adjustability and not too firm IMO. But curious as to thoughts on our e46 m3s.

[old///MFanatic]

How do you know?

Well since no one else yet has posted to confirm. I’ll play.
I’ve worked in the past for a company and sold both brands, used both for decades, it’s pretty much explained in the link I posted above and it’s all over the tuning sites.
If that’s not enough just look at the pricing and decide. The Bilstein B4/Tourings retail for half the price of the B6/HDs, B8/Sports and Koni SportAdj (“Yellows”).

Billy B4
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bilstein.../22-199508kt1/
Billy B6
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bilstein.../24-143998kt1/
Koni Sport
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-koni-par...kit/e46m3koni/

[K-Dawg]

No. Switching from the Koni’s to b4 Bilstein’s will add comfort, and at zero loss in performance

How do you know?

Bilstein Tourings are a decent step down from Koni Sports performance wise.

How do you know?

[cobra]

Oh wow that was confusing. Now I see it says the B4's are monotubes OR twin tubes.

[Obioban]

I am pretty sure B4's are monotubes which are better than old school koni twin tubes in all areas. The marketing name touring vs sport means little.

Mono tubes aren’t just better than twin tubes, and the B4s are twin tubes anyway.

[old///MFanatic]

I am pretty sure B4's are monotubes which are better than old school koni twin tubes in all areas. The marketing name touring vs sport means little.

B4/Tourings are not as good as the B6/HDs or B8/Sport. The B6 and B8 are well known as being more equivalent to the Koni Sport Adj(Yellows) performance wise.
https://www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/bl...shock-absorber

[cobra]

Unless I’m mistaken he said he had Koni Yellows(SportAdj). Bilstein B4 are their old named Touring line damper. Bilstein Tourings are a decent step down from Koni Sports performance wise.

I am pretty sure B4's are monotubes which are better than old school koni twin tubes in all areas. The marketing name touring vs sport means little.