re: Bill Stein?

[jkerouac <jkerouac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

re: billstein vs boge shocks

	Re: billstein vs boge shocks
	Re: billstein vs boge shocks

Bill Stein?  Who's that? :-)
    This is an opinionated reply based on numerous autocross and street 
cars.  so _Imho:
    No doubt about it, if you put Bilstein shocks in the rear on a  
BMW, your chance considerable increases of punching through the rear 
shock tower on the older models, or at least prematurely busting the 
rear shock mount on the later models.  You also get to have it their 
way, pretty much, as far as the valving.
    The one shock to go with on a BMW if you're serious about your 
car's ride quality, are not going to carry several custom valved sets 
for particular track applications, and also as a selling point to 
possible future buyer, is:
Koni
_Koni
____Koni.
    The low pressure design does not put the extra load that the high 
pressure Bilstein and to a lesser degree Boge places on the upper 
mounting points.  The easy adjustability allows changing settings if you 
go to an autocross or track event.
    The reputation Koni acquired back in the eighties for quality 
control problems was deserved.  Now if you blow a Koni, its likely you 
set them way too firm for the spring rates.
    Btw I've found many newcomers to Koni tend to set them too firm.  
The idea is to match your shocks to the spring rates.  Shocks can not 
make a car stiffer, a misadjusted shock or strut can only make a car 
ride either jouncier of bouncier.  When a shock is properly matched to a 
spring rate and driving style, ie street, autocross, or track, that is 
when the ride feels nice and controlled and the component of the car's 
handling due to shocks and struts will be maximized.
YMMV,

'jk
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