Some opinions on Bilsteins and springs (archive)

I own a 89 535ia. I am running 225/60/15, and my car has 190K miles. Recently (I've owned the car for 5 months) I replaced the front struts with bilstein sports and the front springs with BAV auto springs. I will be doing the rear soon.

The bilsteins are definitely stiffer than the boge. Especially at low speed. The ride on the highway is better than stock. (I didn't want a really stiff ride).

So if the roads in your area are really bad you may be very unhappy with the bilsteins. I can't comment on the H&R springs except to say that the BAV auto springs are linear and the H&R are progressive (next time I think I am going with a progressive spring).

The other really interesting factoid is the spring helper/bump stop. On the stock suspension it is used but on the bilstein suspension it is not. At least not in the front. This is a major design change. Essentially the stock suspension is progressive due to the spring helper/bump stop, now with the BAV auto and bilsteins I have removed the progressiveness from the front suspension. Did I mention that next time I will probably go with progressive springs.

So relating this information to your post, I would say that you are going in the right direction. But I wouldn't mix bilsteins with non-progress springs (ie stock or BAV auto). IMHO

Enjoy your e34.

Paul

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