Koni or Bilstein struts???

TexasZ3

TexasZ3

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Joined
Mar 20, 2024
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I have just replaced the original (1999) rear shocks with Koni 8040 1217 sport and now need to replace the front struts. After researching this further, I now see a lot of BMW and Z3 owners on You Tube saying Bilstein are the best! I am looking at Koni 86411 1338L SPORT (left front) and 86411 1338R SPORT (right front). The Bilstein equivalents are 35-044024 B8 and 35-044031 B8.
My two questions are.
(1)Does anyone have any experience of using either of these struts
(2 if I decide to use Bilstein, is it OK to have Koni on the rear and Bilstein on the front? Thank you.
 
Many parameters make them different, like damping stiffness, length, rebound etc.
i had Bilsteins (B8) on an Audi TT and never liked them for street use. very hard and you could tell head from tails if you run over a coin. (Maybe combination with the lowering springs I had installed).
for track use they were fantastic but track was 10% of the use of that car.
Stick with Koni, nice to have a predictable setup.
cheers.
 
Bilsteins at one the front and Koni at the rear will be fine.

Tony.
 
Zephyr said:
Many parameters make them different, like damping stiffness, length, rebound etc.
i had Bilsteins (B8) on an Audi TT and never liked them for street use. very hard and you could tell head from tails if you run over a coin. (Maybe combination with the lowering springs I had installed).
for track use they were fantastic but track was 10% of the use of that car.
Stick with Koni, nice to have a predictable setup.
cheers.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you so much for your feedback. Definitely do not want that kind of ride. :)
 
If the car is not lowered or fitted with sport OEM springs best use B6s, B8s have a shorter rod for lowered cars. The shock performance is however the same between B6 and B8.
 
Last edited:
Nodzed said:
If the car is not lowered or fitted with sport OEM springs best use B6s, B8s have a shorter rod for lowered cars. The shock performance is however the same between B6 and B8.
Click to expand...

Nodzed thanks for the feedback. The springs are original so car is not lowered. I am having trouble in the US finding B6 for my Z3, Bilstein recommended standard or B8's. I am still searching.
 
TexasZ3 said:
Nodzed thanks for the feedback. The springs are original so car is not lowered. I am having trouble in the US finding B6 for my Z3, Bilstein recommended standard or B8's. I am still searching.
Click to expand...
Sorry that's not correct, if its standard springs B6, if lowered B8

This is from Bilstein.

1738680944499.webp
 
found a set of front and rear HR springs and bilstein b8 for the front in my local marketplace. Rear has some aftermarket garbage, whats a good budget option for the rears?
 
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