Bilstein Dampers / Eibach Springs For E46 B3

[AlpE46]

Hi All,

New to the group and owner of a blue velvet Alpina B3 3.3 no 50 which I've owned for around 9 years now. The car is starting to need a little TLC, I'm looking at replacing the shocks and springs. I did the rears last summer but have tried to order the fronts and Sytner have advised the front shocks are no longer available. I'm now thinking of purchasing the Bilstein / Eibach all round, the B8 shocks and pro spring but unsure of part numbers.

I've looked at the below and spoke to a guy at Bilstein but they stated that they are for AWD not RWD
Front right https://www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/searc ... =22-242624
Front left https://www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/searc ... =22-242617
Rear https://www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/colle ... /24-068666

I also spoke to a guy a Eibach but they are wanting the front and rear axel loads so they can supply the correct springs for the car.

Could anyone advise on part numbers axel load etc

Thanks

[rc944]

charles is an expert here albeit for an S but he will know

[Charles]

charles is an expert here albeit for an S but he will know

Not necessarily but, as luck would have it, I am researching this for my car at the moment.

If you select an E46 B3 on the Bilstein website, the first suggestions that come up are for B8 shocks, which are the part numbers that you have listed. However, as you say, these are for a 3.3 AWD and the B8 shocks refer to a lowered suspension and so have a shorter travel than standard (Price = £694.68)

This rang alarm bells for me as I don't believe the B3 has lowered suspension and so I looked further down the list and found an alternative listing for B6 shocks as follows:

Front left: 35-115045
Front right: 35-115052
Rears: 24-026970
(Price = £553.84)

Just to add further confusion, I then phoned Bilstein and gave them my car details and explained my confusion. They came back with listings for B8 Performance Plus shocks and three more different part numbers (Price = £612.40)!!!

At this point, I was utterly cerfuddled, so I spoke to SPA69 who I knew had fitted Bilsteins to his B3S after long and lengthy discussions with Bilstein - as is his wont - and he checked his invoice which came back with the B6 items that I have listed above.

Now this is based on fitting them with OEM springs but, if you are changing the springs too and are looking to lower the stance, then the B8 route is probably appropriate. However, I am NOT a suspension expert so "caveat emptor", as they say!

For me, I am going to go with the B6 items along with the correct BMW top mounts and having them fitted at the end of this month

[rc944]

charles are the original alpina components NLA through all the usual sources and/or are they silly money?

[Aggie]

IMG_20240501_103201.jpg (3.06 MiB) Viewed 117 times

It seems a bit of a minefield this subject. I do believe I saw a post on here recently stating that the OEM Shock Absorbers are currently NLA or not CURRENTLY available with no league time. With regards to the OEM springs, they are still available. I had the fronts done at the end of last year and the rears done yesterday(Shiney). Whilst the car was up in the air, i did notice that the Shocks look like they are getting ready. I was going to go down the Bilstein route with the B8's. However, read Charles' post, as i am on OEM springs, it looks like in need the B6's. Is this correct? Apologies for not the sharpest of pictures.

[AlpE46]

Thanks for the info guys, I am now unsure whether to go with the B6 or B8's and original spring's or the Eibach pro's. The stance of the car was one of my concerns when trying to decide the shocks and springs as I don't want the car to sit too high. I like the car how it sit's (or did sit) in the photo.

Things also got a bit more confusing as the guy I had a chat with at Bilstein sent me another email with some more shocks with different part numbers

REAR BILSTEIN B8 - SPRINT SHOCK ABSORBER - 24-026987
https://www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/products/24-026987

FRONT LEFT BILSTEIN B8 - SPRINT SHOCK ABSORBER - 35-115106
https://www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/products/35-115106

FRONT RIGHT BILSTEIN B8 - SPRINT SHOCK ABSORBER - 35-115113
https://www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/products/35-115113

@Charles are the B6 part numbers you listed the same for the touring and saloon ?

[Aggie]

Car looks great. If that's on the OEM springs, I think the ride height looks spot on. It's up to you if you decide to go on lowering springs. Personally, I've stuck with the OEM springs. With all the speed humps around these days, I daren't go any lower. I like the exhaust and sump exactly where they are.

[Charles]

Things also got a bit more confusing as the guy I had a chat with at Bilstein sent me another email with some more shocks with different part numbers

I had a similar chat with someone and they gave me the same selection of B8 Sprint shock absorbers as a third (confusing) option too!

[quote}@Charles are the B6 part numbers you listed the same for the touring and saloon ?[/quote]
Yes, I think, as the B6 numbers I got for the Touring are the same ones that SPA69 gave me for his saloon

[Charles]

charles are the original alpina components NLA through all the usual sources and/or are they silly money?

Yes and/or yes!

Some cynics here might comment on my car being "Trigger's Broom" already, so what does it matter if I go non-OEM.

However, an OEM set is approximately double the money at about £1200 for the four items. Whilst it would be lovely to keep the car OEM as much as possible, I'm not sure the extra money for what would be based on 20+ year old technology will deliver any noticeable performance over the Bilsteins.

Just got to get my head around the garish yellow/blue colour combination!

[JohnW]

Thanks for the info guys, I am now unsure whether to go with the B6 or B8's and original spring's or the Eibach pros

I fitted the Eibach pros to my pre facelift E46 325i with the SE dampers, the ride was too “crashy” for me with the 19” ACS 5 wheels but it looked good in the day (2007):