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Old Dec 10, 2007 | 05:57 PM
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Default Another Thread on Bilstein Sports

Hi guys, I am trying to get more information on Bilstein Sports shocks by asking another way.

Is is for guys that already installed Bilstein Sports shocks on their Corvette. Anyone wish that they had purchased the Koni FSD instead of the Bilstein Sports? Also what about the Bilstein Sports that you do not like. Thanks
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Old Dec 10, 2007 | 06:13 PM
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I love my Billies. They are awesome, and the price is great. No regrets here. Go for Z51 sways if you have a base suspension and you will be set.
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Old Dec 10, 2007 | 07:01 PM
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Originally Posted by csun213
Hi guys, I am trying to get more information on Bilstein Sports shocks by asking another way.

Is is for guys that already installed Bilstein Sports shocks on their Corvette. Anyone wish that they had purchased the Koni FSD instead of the Bilstein Sports? Also what about the Bilstein Sports that you do not like. Thanks
Love them..I want to know how my car is going to react all the time under all conditions. With the Koni Variable valve damping you may never know.
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Old Dec 10, 2007 | 07:17 PM
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I just ordered a set for my 07 A6 Z51. How was the install? I had Bilsteins on my other corvettes and liked them and couldn't believe the price.
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Old Dec 10, 2007 | 08:04 PM
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I installed bilstein sports. May be a little better on the street??? i think they did help my "Bump Steer" Definetly did not help wheelhop or performance at the drag strip. If you plan on serious racing you should look into something a little better....custom shocks or coil overs..just my .02
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Old Dec 10, 2007 | 08:13 PM
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Bilsteins are a great value. I've got them on my '07 Z51 A6 coupe w/CCWs 18x10 f & 19x11 r and Z06 rubber. nice ride - slightly firmer, excellent compression and rebound qualities. IMHO get 'em.
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Old Dec 10, 2007 | 10:05 PM
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I Bilstein Sports on my track car. Love them.
Lay a stock shock next to a Bilstein and Car feels much firmer on the track.
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Old Dec 10, 2007 | 11:09 PM
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Default Anyone who does not like his Bilstein Sports?

ok, maybe I should ask the question another way.

Is there anyone who have purchased the Bilstein Sports shocks and did not like them or wish they purchased another shock like Koni FSD instead. Thanks
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Old Dec 10, 2007 | 11:27 PM
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Originally Posted by csun213
ok, maybe I should ask the question another way.

Is there anyone who have purchased the Bilstein Sports shocks and did not like them or wish they purchased another shock like Koni FSD instead. Thanks
Since everyone seems to rave about both, perhaps you should make the choice based on what YOU want out of the car. They are both better but different in their characteristics. There have been Endless posts describing both in detail..
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Old Dec 10, 2007 | 11:51 PM
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For regular street driving, I feel the Bilstein Sport ride is bumpier with a slight improvement in control.
Hopefully it'll perform nicely in the mountains, but haven't tried yet.

Seems like several people are upgrading from base to Bilstein Sports, so I would think that makes a bigger performance difference than going from Z51 to Bilstein Sports.

Do you have base or Z51?

Haven't tried the Koni FSD, but I did have Koni adjustable yellow shocks on my last car. Rebound could be adjusted strongly for very quick steering, but the compression always felt lacking. Had Bilstein Sports on the car before last and compression/control was superior with stiff but good ride. Thus, I believe Bilstein Sports on the C6 provides better handling overall, but with a tradeoff of a stiffer ride...
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Old Dec 11, 2007 | 12:42 AM
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Originally Posted by csun213
Is there anyone who have purchased the Bilstein Sports shocks and did not like them or wish they purchased another shock like Koni FSD instead. Thanks

NO!
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Old Dec 11, 2007 | 12:52 AM
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Originally Posted by vette6500
For regular street driving, I feel the Bilstein Sport ride is bumpier with a slight improvement in control.
Hopefully it'll perform nicely in the mountains, but haven't tried yet.

Seems like several people are upgrading from base to Bilstein Sports, so I would think that makes a bigger performance difference than going from Z51 to Bilstein Sports.

Do you have base or Z51?

Haven't tried the Koni FSD, but I did have Koni adjustable yellow shocks on my last car. Rebound could be adjusted strongly for very quick steering, but the compression always felt lacking. Had Bilstein Sports on the car before last and compression/control was superior with stiff but good ride. Thus, I believe Bilstein Sports on the C6 provides better handling overall, but with a tradeoff of a stiffer ride...
I have the base C6 and will change out the stock shocks. I am really having a hard time deciding on either Bilstein Sports or Koni FSD. The problem with changing shocks is that I am going to pay someone to do the installation and want to make sure that I purchase the right shocks.

I think so far, just about everyone loves their shocks. I am just trying to find people with negative about Bilstein Sports, if no one comes in with negatives about it then I will probably go ahead and just purchase the Bilstein.

Thanks guys for all the feedback so far.
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Old Dec 11, 2007 | 02:26 AM
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Originally Posted by BAADC6
I installed bilstein sports. May be a little better on the street??? i think they did help my "Bump Steer" Definetly did not help wheelhop or performance at the drag strip. If you plan on serious racing you should look into something a little better....custom shocks or coil overs..just my .02
I've read several posts that claim the Bilstein Sports do rid the car of wheel hop at the track. I was skeptical, but that's the only reason I could see to get them.
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Old Dec 11, 2007 | 07:41 AM
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Originally Posted by jdwk
I've read several posts that claim the Bilstein Sports do rid the car of wheel hop at the track. I was skeptical, but that's the only reason I could see to get them.
My BS sports got rid of about 75-80% of my wheelhop at the track on stock runcraps. If it was cold outside, still had some. With my DR's hooked up, cold or not, the car hooks much better and I have yet to have any wheelhop. For what I paid for the Bilsteins....bought them slightly used (about 500 miles) for about half of the cost brand new, can't be it for the cost.
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Old Dec 11, 2007 | 07:47 AM
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Got'em.......feel fine!
I also installed the Pfadt Heavy Duty Sway Bar Links and urethane bushing kit.

Last edited by KarlK; Dec 11, 2007 at 07:50 AM.
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Old Dec 11, 2007 | 04:33 PM
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I think you will be well off with base spring + Bilstein Sports. Softer spring/Stiffer shocks is the secret to BMW's magic suspension in my opinion.
It will probably absorb road bumps just as good as it does now, but it'll stop the oscillations immediately for maximum control.
That kind of setup should be awesome for street cornering, where the roads are rougher than track or mountains.

Maybe those with base spring + Bilstein can confirm if their car behaves this way, gentle yet firm...
Softer spring/Koni softer compression will lack the yin and yang balance.
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Old Dec 11, 2007 | 06:10 PM
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Well, I have the Billstein Sports on my Z51 and I'm not sure I love them (the ride seems slightly "busy"); I really would like to try the Billstein HD version and the Koni FSD back to back to make up my mind under various driving conditions. Anybody in San Jose want to compare?


Originally Posted by csun213
I have the base C6 and will change out the stock shocks. I am really having a hard time deciding on either Bilstein Sports or Koni FSD. The problem with changing shocks is that I am going to pay someone to do the installation and want to make sure that I purchase the right shocks.

I think so far, just about everyone loves their shocks. I am just trying to find people with negative about Bilstein Sports, if no one comes in with negatives about it then I will probably go ahead and just purchase the Bilstein.

Thanks guys for all the feedback so far.
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To Another Thread on Bilstein Sports

Old Dec 11, 2007 | 08:27 PM
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Originally Posted by vette6500
I think you will be well off with base spring + Bilstein Sports. Softer spring/Stiffer shocks is the secret to BMW's magic suspension in my opinion.
It will probably absorb road bumps just as good as it does now, but it'll stop the oscillations immediately for maximum control.
That kind of setup should be awesome for street cornering, where the roads are rougher than track or mountains.

Maybe those with base spring + Bilstein can confirm if their car behaves this way, gentle yet firm...
Softer spring/Koni softer compression will lack the yin and yang balance.
Your pretty spot on with that analysis. Add Z51 sways and the Pfadt Poly sway bar bushings and the car is near perfect. Neutral, Compliant, no Z51 skitter. Upon reurning home from my delivery trip with my '08 this is the first thing I did. 7300 miles now and lots of time on all sorts of roads, and I still feel it is the perfect combination. In fact I'm amazed at how good it is for so little $$...
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Old Dec 12, 2007 | 10:45 AM
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OK, so far the only bad thing about Bilstein Sports is that the ride may be a little harsh. Anything else guys?
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Old Dec 13, 2007 | 04:31 AM
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Default my Bilsteins

Bilsteins sports are very economical, don't know how long they will last, but the warr. should take care of that. One warning - I had lowered the car to the bottom of the stock bolts prior to install, only to find that the Bils raised the ride height about 1 inch - a little disappointed, but small price to pay for the superior flat ride in the curves and solid rebound with added traction. These are very close to Konis in the majority of stock suspension set-ups, but if you were to change springs and fool w/ rates, I'd go with a more aggressive racing shock. As always, be sure to have wheels aligned often and equalize tire pressure to 30 lbs - EMTs like to run hot before they get sticky. IMHO
Jay
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