Bilstein Bts Suspension Kit Installed

[BMWJNKY]

Last Friday I finally got my Bilstein BTS kit and installed it on my '89 325i. For the money I spent there isn't anything better for the same price :buttrock The car handles amazing now. Next to be upgraded are my control arm bushings, swaybar mounts, and rear shock mounts. After that I'll probably get a front strut brace.

Before and after pics can be seen HERE

[spiff325is]

Where did you purchase this kit? and what are the specs on it. Height change and such.

[BMWJNKY]

Originally posted by spiff325is@Dec 24 2004, 10:37 PM
Where did you purchase this kit? and what are the specs on it. Height change and such.

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I couldn't find any specs for how much it is soposed to lower the car but I'm guessing it was at least a 1.5" drop front and rear. I bought the kit through my work and all I can say is I paid way less than retail for it :P

[guywithblack88e30]

your car sits clean

[Bmw1990]

Looks good. So where can the average guy get a kit like that one??

[BMWJNKY]

Originally posted by Bmw1990@Dec 25 2004, 04:20 PM
Looks good.* So where can the average guy get a kit like that one??

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After a quick search this site had them the cheepest.... http://www.allshocks.com/bilstein/html/sho...='1989'
The kit is the BTS-7511 The price is somewhat close to what I paid but I got mine the next day with no shipping charges

[Bmw1990]

Thanks, maybe in the future i will keep that kit in mind.

[idanity]

im finally able to do that myself,
after i just replaced my front strut, w/hub assembly. because the guy at the junk yard said it was easier than replacing the hub alone...

bullcrap stuck all over that lie...lemme tell ya the struts are really in there...omy

i finally did it with the help of a neighbor and bending my 4foot bar in the process..

i had to find a 5 foot steel heavy friggin bar to get the control arm bushing knob bolt back into the strut. once that was done, yeah it was 2 bolts on the strut lowere.
2 bolts on the brake calipers
1 allen bolt on the brake round thing the shoes clamp onto
3 nuts on the top of the strut
1 nut in the shock...

ill let ya know the process to do so you dont loose a foot like i almost did...if any dare.

but now that i know im sure i can change out both sides in 4 hours. maybe less if i had air tools.

it took me about 1hour to dissasemble it all.
another to compress the spring...after it shot out the bottom.
and another to get it all back in..

all in all about 6 hours is more like it...

also i used only hand tools and one socket wrench...
nothing electric or air...i want them now...omy

[gotKRAUT]

it handles a lot better :P i can vouch for that...bye bye body roll haha

[viali8]

Originally posted by idanity@Dec 26 2004, 03:54 PM
im finally able to do that myself,
after i just replaced my front strut, w/hub assembly. because the guy at the junk yard said it was easier than replacing the hub alone...

bullcrap stuck all over that lie...lemme tell ya the struts are really in there...omy

i finally did it with the help of a neighbor and bending my 4foot bar in the process..

i had to find a 5 foot steel heavy friggin bar to get the control arm bushing knob bolt back into the strut. once that was done, yeah it was 2 bolts on the strut lowere.
2 bolts on the brake calipers
1 allen bolt on the brake round thing the shoes clamp onto
3 nuts on the top of the strut
1 nut in the shock...

ill let ya know the process to do so you dont loose a foot like i almost did...if any dare.

but now that i know im sure i can change out both sides in 4 hours. maybe less if i had air tools.

it took me about 1hour to dissasemble it all.
another to compress the spring...after it shot out the bottom.
and another to get it all back in..

all in all about 6 hours is more like it...

also i used only hand tools and one socket wrench...
nothing electric or air...i want them now...omy

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i just did the same thing. i needed to replace my struts and found out that my strut housing were all rusted out. so i bought some used strut housing from bavarian auot recycling. i put in Bilstein HD. they feel great. but i agree those bolts are a pain in the balls. i used a breaker bar for some of them. its amazing how much easier a job can be with the right tools. at least u know how to do it now. good luck with the struts and enjoy the ride. viali8

[MeisterTy]

i just did the same thing. i needed to replace my struts and found out that my strut housing were all rusted out. so i bought some used strut housing from bavarian auot recycling. i put in Bilstein HD. they feel great. but i agree those bolts are a pain in the balls. i used a breaker bar for some of them. its amazing how much easier a job can be with the right tools. at least u know how to do it now. good luck with the struts and enjoy the ride. viali8

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[/quote]

I had one spring broken and sitting on the tire. While teaching English in Germany I found a yard with one I could save a little money on, since I was coming home for the holiday. The security guys prob. scratched their heads on that thing coming through the airport, and the dicks beat the hell out of it, and they are not light.... all in all it was probably a waste since I was overweight limits at Leipzig Airport $110 out my pocket ghead
Anyway, it was in fine condition and the sproing didn't explode while the T.S.A. bastards rapped my other belongings. I AM MISSING A BEER STEIN AND TWO CANS OF MUSTARD DAMMIT!!! Breaking the bottom bolt is a bitch, indeed.

VIALIA8 - how much and do you like the used bav kit you have.
just got my 85 318 a few days ago. WAY high mi. on the odo. somewhere near 400,000 miles. But the price was right and its my fun when I don't drive my Yota Vanwagon. But I digress... I want to invest as little as in this timebomb as poss. But that car does roll in the handling, but fun to drive...
That suspension is SHOT ( like many other things, though it go good from pt. A to B.

[viali8]

Originally Posted by MeisterTy,Dec 28 2004, 05:05 PM

i just did the same thing. i needed to replace my struts and found out that my strut housing were all rusted out. so i bought some used strut housing from bavarian auot recycling. i put in Bilstein HD. they feel great. but i agree those bolts are a pain in the balls. i used a breaker bar for some of them. its amazing how much easier a job can be with the right tools. at least u know how to do it now. good luck with the struts and enjoy the ride. viali8

[snapback]258591[/snapback]

I had one spring broken and sitting on the tire. While teaching English in Germany I found a yard with one I could save a little money on, since I was coming home for the holiday. The security guys prob. scratched their heads on that thing coming through the airport, and the dicks beat the hell out of it, and they are not light.... all in all it was probably a waste since I was overweight limits at Leipzig Airport $110 out my pocket ghead
Anyway, it was in fine condition and the sproing didn't explode while the T.S.A. bastards rapped my other belongings. I AM MISSING A BEER STEIN AND TWO CANS OF MUSTARD DAMMIT!!! Breaking the bottom bolt is a bitch, indeed.

VIALIA8 - how much and do you like the used bav kit you have.
just got my 85 318 a few days ago. WAY high mi. on the odo. somewhere near 400,000 miles. But the price was right and its my fun when I don't drive my Yota Vanwagon. But I digress... I want to invest as little as in this timebomb as poss. But that car does roll in the handling, but fun to drive...
That suspension is SHOT ( like many other things, though it go good from pt. A to B.

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[/quote]


MeisterTy. I will give u a run down on what i purchased. Basically what i did was order the COMPLETE ASSEMBLY (springs, stuts, hub assembly, ABS sensor etc. everything included.) for both the Front Left and Front Right. Ideally i could have installed them into my car but i had already purchased Bilstein HD struts. Yes i am very happy with the strut assemblies that i recieved. keep in mind that the place i puchased them from is called "bavarian auto recycling", which is located in California. so my parts were used. they were off an '89 325i. because of the great weather in california there was no rust on the parts even though they were15 years old. i hope this helps. if you need any more help dont hesitate to ask. Matt

[viali8]

MeisterTy. i forgot to add. each strut assembly only cost me 75 dollars. i great price. if you were to shop around i think the going rate is like 120 dollars for a strut assembly.


P.S. u going to the world cup in Germany in 2006?

[idanity]

quoting above- "

MeisterTy. I will give u a run down on what i purchased. Basically what i did was order the COMPLETE ASSEMBLY (springs, stuts, hub assembly, ABS sensor etc. everything included.) for both the Front Left and Front Right. Ideally i could have installed them into my car but i had already purchased Bilstein HD struts. Yes i am very happy with the strut assemblies that i recieved. keep in mind that the place i puchased them from is called "bavarian auto recycling", which is located in California. so my parts were used. they were off an '89 325i. because of the great weather in california there was no rust on the parts even though they were15 years old. i hope this helps. if you need any more help dont hesitate to ask. Matt"

i reply

" yup i also went to Bavarian auto in cali... and if you are getting the springs and shocks yourself i bought the lower strut and hub assembly w/warrenty for 50 bucks.

plus 20 for shipping even beats the junkyards aroung here..hahaah
btw they screwed me in delivery and took over 2weeks so i had to buy the part here and tell them to keep their stuff but if time is not the issue then there good.

[viali8]

Originally posted by idanity@Dec 29 2004, 09:06 PM
quoting above- "

MeisterTy. I will give u a run down on what i purchased. Basically what i did was order the COMPLETE ASSEMBLY (springs, stuts, hub assembly, ABS sensor etc. everything included.) for both the Front Left and Front Right. Ideally i could have installed them into my car but i had already purchased Bilstein HD struts. Yes i am very happy with the strut assemblies that i recieved. keep in mind that the place i puchased them from is called "bavarian auto recycling", which is located in California. so my parts were used. they were off an '89 325i. because of the great weather in california there was no rust on the parts even though they were15 years old. i hope this helps. if you need any more help dont hesitate to ask. Matt"

i reply

" yup i also went to Bavarian auto in cali... and if you are getting the springs and shocks yourself i bought the lower strut and hub assembly w/warrenty for 50 bucks.

plus 20 for shipping even beats the junkyards aroung here..hahaah
btw they screwed me in delivery and took over 2weeks so i had to buy the part here and tell them to keep their stuff but if time is not the issue then there good.

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they do have some decent prices but they also screwed me on delivery. it took too long and they kept telling me they shipped it when they didn't. by the time my parts arrived here it was already cold. and i hate working on my car in the cold.