Suspension recs for convertible needed

[igotthepowers]

Hello, I need to replace my shocks and wanted to go with Bilsteins. Price is a fator as is ride quality. I was thinking of the Bilstein Heavy Duty shocks but the service tech said these produce a pretty rough ride in the verts. Any vert owners wanna dispute that???

Bavauto has the front Heavy Duty Bilsteins for $165, rears $85. They also have the Touring Bilsteins for $129 and $69.

I had never heard of the Touring models, which are described by Bavauto as "For a slightly sportier ride, try Bilstein's new Touring Shocks. For years, BMW owners had a choice of regular replacement shocks and Bilstein's famous blue-and-yellow sport shocks, but nothing in between...until now! Bilstein's new line of Touring shock absorbers. offers better performance than stock (they have 15% more gas pressure), but they're not as stiff as their sport shocks."

Any thoughts? Thanks!

[thekid]

I have a 318i non vert. The touring shocks feel the bascially the same as stock, they are only 15% stiffer than stock so the ride is not bad at all. I'm not sure how they work on the verts... I'm not sure if BMW uses difference shock pressures for the verts and non verts. If they do and these are touring shocks for verts, then go ahead and get them if you don't want a big handling improvement and want an almost identicle to stock ride.

[jcy0001]

Hi im in the same delema as you trying to figure out the shocks for my convertible. i was told that ours use a different suspension than the non verts. what springs do you have on?

[Dirty Martini]

I can't comment on the touring shocks, but I've been using sports on my 94 325iC for about two years now and love them. Definately stiffer than stock but by no means unpleasant.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE!! Replace your rear shock mounts with M3 or better than OEM when you do this. I didn't and the right rear mount broke while I had the top down sending the top of the shock through my stowed rear window. $280.00 and an afternoons work replacing the window.

[jcy0001]

Hmmm thanks for that advise i will replace that as soon as i can save up for it is it just an easy replace do i just order m3 rear shock mounts or does it involve a conversion? What springs do you have on?

[Dirty Martini]

Eeeeasy replace. Youl'll have your top in the half-up/half-down position in order to get to the nut on the top of your old shock. Once you get the old shock out, you'll see the two bolts that hold your shock mount to the body of the car. Old shock mount out, new shock mount in, DONE! Stayed with the stock springs.

[jcy0001]

Hi thanks for that will order them with my shocks soon are the meyle heavy dutys okey? what other parts have you changed to non stock parts? how bout in the front suspension? what parts to you plan to upgrade?