Bilstein DDC B16 Coilover Review by HelloKitty

[SE7EN335]

Hey Kitty,

I just purchased this set of coilovers en route from the US. I dont want to disassemble my stock suspension and would like to get new suspension components to install with the coilovers. Do you know what suspension components I need other than the front strut top mounts to complete the assemblies?

[hellokitty]

Originally Posted by SE7EN335

Hey Kitty,

I just purchased this set of coilovers en route from the US. I dont want to disassemble my stock suspension and would like to get new suspension components to install with the coilovers. Do you know what suspension components I need other than the front strut top mounts to complete the assemblies?

The only 2 things that need to come over is the OEM front strut top mount (top hat) and the rubber piece from the OEM dust boot that needs to be cut (see pic above).

[swagon]

This is a very helpful review and thread. Thanks hellokitty

[ntg44]

Originally Posted by Reddevils7

did it come with instructions on how to set specific ride heights? I have 19" vmr wheels currently and will go back to oem 513 during wonters. Not sure how low I want to set it, do you just measure the threads with a ruler and set it where you want? (the more compressed the springs the lower it'll be sitting??) this will be my first coilovers but I'm sure I'll figure it out as I go. I was watching kies Motorsport diy and a few other videos

I've attached the installation instructions.

These coil overs do not have independent height and preload adjustment, so no, the more compressed the spring is, the higher the ride height will be.

[MNR]

Anybody running B16s - or any coilovers for that matter - through the winter? Do you just turn them up or also protect the collars somehow?

[hellokitty]

Originally Posted by MNR

Anybody running B16s - or any coilovers for that matter - through the winter? Do you just turn them up or also protect the collars somehow?

I would use a product called fluid film.

[SE7EN335]

Originally Posted by hellokitty

The only 2 things that need to come over is the OEM front strut top mount (top hat) and the rubber piece from the OEM dust boot that needs to be cut (see pic above).

Oh okay so i would need to only purchase a pair of brand new strut top mounts and OEM dust boots if i dont want to disassemble my stock suspension to transfer the parts over?

[hellokitty]

Originally Posted by SE7EN335

Oh okay so i would need to only purchase a pair of brand new strut top mounts and OEM dust boots if i dont want to disassemble my stock suspension to transfer the parts over?

Correct

[SE7EN335]

What is the highest that these coilovers can go up? At its highest point, how much lower is it from stock height?

I have a Vorsteiner front lip and im worried it would be scrape city once i put them on lol

[hellokitty]

Originally Posted by SE7EN335

What is the highest that these coilovers can go up? At its highest point, how much lower is it from stock height?

I have a Vorsteiner front lip and im worried it would be scrape city once i put them on lol

Use a product like Slip Lo

[SE7EN335]

Originally Posted by hellokitty

Use a product like Slip Lo

Yeah i will get that also. Is the highest point of the coilovers still 30mm lower than stock height?

[hellokitty]

Originally Posted by SE7EN335

Yeah i will get that also. Is the highest point of the coilovers still 30mm lower than stock height?

Yes that would appear to be the case

[jfritz27]

Can anyone comment on how this kit's strut clearance with respect to the wheel compares to the MP HAS? Similar?

Thx

[Reddevils7]

figured I'd add on to OP's review as we've been talking about it and he helped me decide on this package as well. I had problems with an eroded wheel lock on the rear so I ended up installing the front only during labor day and ran that with oem rears for about a week. Just yesterday, I had the dealer remove the rear wheel lock and then just had them install the rear for me as well. So far, I'm amazed at the difference. I had put on about 300 miles on the front and can say that it definitely has continued to get a bit softer since it was new. The rear definitely still needs some time to break in as that only has about 50 miles on it.

My f82 is non-zcp and my biggest gripe was the dampening. the car really felt bouncy and not confidence inspiring on poor uneven roads at speed or being hard on the throttle such as when exciting roundabouts, etc. I've definitely noticed improvement in body roll from this aspect and also the car will settle immediately after a bump. It feels more planted and now it is very FIRM as well (especially the back) but I know this will get better. I was on my stock map and retuned back to the tune last night and noticed that on sport+ it is extremely firm on shitty roads and I have to be super careful in terms of the amount of throttle modulation. I used to daily edc in sport+ but currently I'm using comfort (which was unusable at high speeds before on bad roads due to the bounciness but that's gone now). can't wait for it to fully settle and then I'm gonna take it on a track to truly enjoy it. will post updates in maybe a thousand or so miles.

I'll add more side profiles of the car as well but this is the one pic I have so far after the drop. Dropped it approximately 1.25" and 1.0" (front/rear)

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[BzsBimmer]

Looks good but imho those exhaust tips need to be adjusted inwards ;-)

[Reddevils7]

Originally Posted by BzsBimmer

Looks good but imho those exhaust tips need to be adjusted inwards ;-)

lol I reversed the lengths and stuck the outer ones out more but have been thinking about going back for awhile. not sure why the picture came out blurry on here

[WESTCOASTTRADING]

so your GC camber plates with stock inner spring size is same as b16 spring size? or did you have to order new GC camber that fits B16 coiler spec?
let me know, I am thinking about going with B16 for conservative route and the service from bilstein is easy and simple.

[harjot.hans]

B16D w/CS EDC is the way to go. I love my car again.

Previously with stock non-ZCP EDC bumps were way too dramatic.

[Reddevils7]

Originally Posted by harjot.hans

B16D w/CS EDC is the way to go. I love my car again.

Previously with stock non-ZCP EDC bumps were way too dramatic.

agree. I'm loving it more day by day as it breaks in.

[biofluke]

PSA: If you install these and feel that the ride is too stiff, you probably have the ride height set too low. At first it felt really oversprung to me, then I raised it up about a half an inch, and it was amazing how much better it rode.

Just finished a trip to the racetrack with them. They performed very well in Sport Plus. They also work great with the ground control camber plates. Really happy with the decision.

[ntg44]

Originally Posted by biofluke

PSA: If you install these and feel that the ride is too stiff, you probably have the ride height set too low. At first it felt really oversprung to me, then I raised it up about a half an inch, and it was amazing how much better it rode.

Just finished a trip to the racetrack with them. They performed very well in Sport Plus. They also work great with the ground control camber plates. Really happy with the decision.

The B16D are partially threaded coil overs. There is no separate height adjustment from preload. So the higher up you set the height, the more compressed the spring becomes.

So you need to choose between spring stiffness and shock travel. I'm sure slamming to the lowest setting doesn't help in any case, but I was somewhere in the middle of the height settings, and the ride was miserable.

[FaRKle!]

Originally Posted by ntg44

The B16D are partially threaded coil overs. There is no separate height adjustment from preload. So the higher up you set the height, the more compressed the spring becomes.

His ride quality likely improved because there's now more shock travel before bump stop engagement.