Bilstein B4 dampers fitted - The Difference!!

Welton · Jul 9th, 2015, 07:02

Had 4 x Bilstein B4 gas dampers fitted yesturday and the difference to the car is staggering to say the least.

The car drives like new, it is much quieter, the wheels don't crash and skip over bumps anymore, it steers better, brakes better and the ride and handling is superb.

This is easily the most noticeable difference per-pound of anything I've done to any car I've owned. So happy with it now, it feels like the car it always should have been and I can't believe I put up with it for so long before.

For reference the car had covered 80K miles on the original factory dampers.

Excuse the oil/grease, I also had the inner CV boot changed:

Gearbox oil was changed for Fewks [sic] Sintofluid too after having the driveshaft out.

Overall I can thoroughly recommend these dampers as an OE replacement.

dme123 · Jul 9th, 2015, 10:28

I've been thinking of doing similar with my 80K C70, along with a change of any bushes that look past it. Can't decide between B4 and B8 dampers though, I'm not looking for anything particularly sporty from it but a bit more body control would be useful.

GazzR · Jul 9th, 2015, 18:06

This is great to hear thanks for the review, they are on my shopping list

850Chris · Jul 9th, 2015, 22:39

I like mine and agree made a big difference. You should look at fitting some Eibach Pro springs also. They compliment the B4's very well. Should also mention that my near side rear B4 failed after less than 10,000 miles but was replaced free of charge by Bilstein and had no issues since.

Welton · Jul 10th, 2015, 06:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by 850Chris

my near side rear B4 failed after less than 10,000 miles but was replaced free of charge by Bilstein and had no issues since.

What happened to it mate?

850Chris · Jul 10th, 2015, 07:49

Car full to the brim with luggage including roof box on way to holiday on Mull and smashed into a pothole. Managed to avoid at front but rear left took full hit. Was on the ramps a week or so later and notic d significant oil leakage f on that damper. Bilstein were great though, replaced FOC (through Parts for Volvo) and being the rear, was easy to re-fit myself. They are great shocks.

Guru · Jul 10th, 2015, 12:23

My set of four has been on the bench in my garage for over two weeks now, waiting to be fitted .. haven't had the time for them yet but hopefully on the 4th weekend of July I'll finally be able to get down on my knees and fit them, now thanks to your positive review, I can't wait!

Quote:

Originally Posted by 850Chris

You should look at fitting some Eibach Pro springs also. They compliment the B4's very well.

Good idea! might as well get a set of these too before digging in, they're going for 141 Euros a set on the German ebay.de which is quite cheap IMO .. but I can see two variations and both are for the FWD P1 platform, namely E10-84-006-14-22 and E10-84-006-07-22 .. is there a height drop difference between the two? I'd prefer the least drop, max to -25mm, but it seems that various websites are mixing them up, stating that E10-84-006-07-22 drops the car by -40mm while on other sites it's vise-versa..

So Chris, could you please tell which set do you have? and aprox. by how much it dropped the ride height?
Thank you!

850Chris · Jul 10th, 2015, 22:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

My set of four has been on the bench in my garage for over two weeks now, waiting to be fitted .. haven't had the time for them yet but hopefully on the 4th weekend of July I'll finally be able to get down on my knees and fit them, now thanks to your positive review, I can't wait!

Good idea! might as well get a set of these too before digging in, they're going for 141 Euros a set on the German ebay.de which is quite cheap IMO .. but I can see two variations and both are for the FWD P1 platform, namely E10-84-006-14-22 and E10-84-006-07-22 .. is there a height drop difference between the two? I'd prefer the least drop, max to -25mm, but it seems that various websites are mixing them up, stating that E10-84-006-07-22 drops the car by -40mm while on other sites it's vise-versa..

So Chris, could you please tell which set do you have? and aprox. by how much it dropped the ride height?
Thank you!

Not sure on the exact code afraid but I'll try and find out. What I can say is that the total drop is 25mm measured (marketed as 30mm).

GazzR · Jul 10th, 2015, 15:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by 850Chris

I like mine and agree made a big difference. You should look at fitting some Eibach Pro springs also. They compliment the B4's very well. Should also mention that my near side rear B4 failed after less than 10,000 miles but was replaced free of charge by Bilstein and had no issues since.

I have some heico 30mm springs to fit.

DSK · Jul 10th, 2015, 15:19

Good stuff, glad your happy with the results.

Its nice to see this sort of thing being done as most people happily ignore the likes of shocks, springs, bushes, joints, mounts etc. Trouble is whilst these don't fail outright, over time and mileage these parts don't perform anywhere near the standard they need to when under normal driving loads.

I personally always like to change everything suspension related by 80,000 miles (control arms, track rod ends, bushes, mounts, drop links, shocks, springs etc). All this keeps a car driving nice and taught.

For someone who wasn't sure about B4/B6/B8 - see my C70 here. I have one with B4 & Eibach and the other done last week with B6 & HR springs along with all the other bits I mentioned http://forums.t5d5.org/topic/29436-v...cements/page-2. (For the record, all parts were working well enough and bushes etc were not even split but I don't do things by halves lol).

Jul 9th, 2015, 07:02	#1
Welton Premier Member Last Online: Sep 14th, 2021 17:03 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Market Harborough	Bilstein B4 dampers fitted - The Difference!! Had 4 x Bilstein B4 gas dampers fitted yesturday and the difference to the car is staggering to say the least. The car drives like new, it is much quieter, the wheels don't crash and skip over bumps anymore, it steers better, brakes better and the ride and handling is superb. This is easily the most noticeable difference per-pound of anything I've done to any car I've owned. So happy with it now, it feels like the car it always should have been and I can't believe I put up with it for so long before. For reference the car had covered 80K miles on the original factory dampers. Excuse the oil/grease, I also had the inner CV boot changed: Gearbox oil was changed for Fewks [sic] Sintofluid too after having the driveshaft out. Overall I can thoroughly recommend these dampers as an OE replacement. __________________ 2005 S40 T5 SE - Manual. Bilstein B4's. (For Sale) 2010 Citroen C4 1.6 HDi (bizarre Gearbox model). 2010 Renault Twingo (refreshingly simple) 2018 Infiniti Q30 1.6T Business Executive (what's this button do?)

Jul 9th, 2015, 18:06	#3
GazzR Member Last Online: Apr 27th, 2019 22:56 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Middlesbrough	This is great to hear thanks for the review, they are on my shopping list __________________ 2009 S40 2.0d R-Design 1991 MK2 Golf GTI 16V

Jul 9th, 2015, 22:39	#4
850Chris Premier Member Last Online: Aug 16th, 2017 20:12 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Fife (Scotland)	I like mine and agree made a big difference. You should look at fitting some Eibach Pro springs also. They compliment the B4's very well. Should also mention that my near side rear B4 failed after less than 10,000 miles but was replaced free of charge by Bilstein and had no issues since. __________________ 2004 V50 T5 SE Manual Now sold, off to BMW land for a while.

Jul 10th, 2015, 07:49	#6
850Chris Premier Member Last Online: Aug 16th, 2017 20:12 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Fife (Scotland)	Car full to the brim with luggage including roof box on way to holiday on Mull and smashed into a pothole. Managed to avoid at front but rear left took full hit. Was on the ramps a week or so later and notic d significant oil leakage f on that damper. Bilstein were great though, replaced FOC (through Parts for Volvo) and being the rear, was easy to re-fit myself. They are great shocks. __________________ 2004 V50 T5 SE Manual Now sold, off to BMW land for a while.

Jul 10th, 2015, 15:19	#10
DSK C70 T5 Last Online: Mar 23rd, 2022 21:00 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Midlands	Good stuff, glad your happy with the results. Its nice to see this sort of thing being done as most people happily ignore the likes of shocks, springs, bushes, joints, mounts etc. Trouble is whilst these don't fail outright, over time and mileage these parts don't perform anywhere near the standard they need to when under normal driving loads. I personally always like to change everything suspension related by 80,000 miles (control arms, track rod ends, bushes, mounts, drop links, shocks, springs etc). All this keeps a car driving nice and taught. For someone who wasn't sure about B4/B6/B8 - see my C70 here. I have one with B4 & Eibach and the other done last week with B6 & HR springs along with all the other bits I mentioned http://forums.t5d5.org/topic/29436-v...cements/page-2. (For the record, all parts were working well enough and bushes etc were not even split but I don't do things by halves lol). __________________ 2000 C70 T5 GT Coupe 1998 S70R / 1995 Toyota Supra Twin Turbo 2007 Mercedes CLS 320 CDI / 2011 Mercedes S350 Bluetec 2007 Suzuki GSXR-1000

Jul 9th, 2015, 10:28	#2
dme123 Master Member Last Online: Jan 17th, 2023 10:06 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Cardiff	I've been thinking of doing similar with my 80K C70, along with a change of any bushes that look past it. Can't decide between B4 and B8 dampers though, I'm not looking for anything particularly sporty from it but a bit more body control would be useful.

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