Bilsteins worth the money?

15th May 2010, 00:18

Are bilsteins really worth the £450 price tag compared to say apex or koni adjustables etc? I know people say you can change the spring rates and the shocks can cope with it, but like most people on here, i'm not a racing driver and will just stick with the ones off the shelf from kam/gmc etc. The reason i ask is because i desprately need to buy a new kit but just can't decide what to go for. The car will be used for a few track days a year but will spend most of its time on the road.

15th May 2010, 00:21

Mine were miles better than the missus' spax set up on her vtr but mine were a lot more than £450!

15th May 2010, 00:23

After using Spax in the past, the Billies are solid in comparison but absorb bumps much better - so the ride is harsher, but doesn't feel as crashy as it does with cheaper kits... not sure if that makes sense.

Adjustable kits are a fallacy - once you find a setting you're happy with, you'll likely leave it as is.

After trying Billies, I'd always stretch that bit further for decent suspension in future.

15th May 2010, 00:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeumH

After using Spax in the past, the Billies are solid in comparison but absorb bumps much better - so the ride is harsher, but doesn't feel as crashy as it does with cheaper kits... not sure if that makes sense.

Adjustable kits are a fallacy - once you find a setting you're happy with, you'll likely leave it as is.

After trying Billies, I'd always stretch that bit further for decent suspension in future.

Yeah that does make sense. I'm more than happy to pay the price for the bilsteins, but just want to insure that its worth it, often on forums i feel people buy expensive makes just for the image etc. Cheers for the decent reply

15th May 2010, 00:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxo180

Mine were miles better than the missus' spax set up on her vtr but mine were a lot more than £450!

What kit do you have? I'm looking at the one on GMC http://www.gmcmotorsport.co.uk/index...products_id=91

15th May 2010, 00:47

I use mine with 155lb Faulkner springs - excellent for fast road use imo. The GMC '40mm springs' are also good, but don't offer much of a drop (wouldn't bother me personally).

15th May 2010, 00:56

Providing they drop around 20mm thats good enough. Spring wise, is one better than the other i.e faulkner vs gmc?

15th May 2010, 00:58

The Faulkners will drop it around 35 - 40mm, GMCs as you say, around 20mm. Wouldn't say one is better than the other really - I'd go for whatever is cheaper.

15th May 2010, 01:04

Nice one for the advise fella

15th May 2010, 10:24

I had the gp n fronts with b8 rears and gmc -40mm springs

15th May 2010, 11:08

yes bilsteins are worth the money. you dont have to fork out for the group N's to get the quality though.
If you want a fast road setup which is a smidge cheaper and only around 20mm lowering you could fit B6 dampers and eibach pro kit springs..but I would not lower more than that on a full length insert

We are looking at doing a group buy if people are interested in a bit of a discount. I'll pick it up on monday though when back at work....

Kev

15th May 2010, 11:30

Cheers kam, i'd rather the b8's (correct me if i'm wrong) just so i'm not limited, say if i wanted to go lower in the future, thanks for the suggestion. A group buy would be good as long as it goes through quickly. Will you have the faulkner springs back in stock soon?

15th May 2010, 12:02

Quote:

Bilsteins worth the money?

yes imho, they are actually cheap tbf.

Totally different league to that spax shite.

15th May 2010, 12:17

I have just fitted the Bilstein GrpN Front and Rear with 155lbs Faulkner Springs and the difference from standard is huge feels like a different car in the corners, as for the Spax and Apex kits i cant comment as I havn't had either!

15th May 2010, 12:17

faulkners are being delivered monday or tuesday.

15th May 2010, 12:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jak_Vts

I have just fitted the Bilstein GrpN Front and Rear with 155lbs Faulkner Springs and the difference from standard is huge feels like a different car in the corners, as for the Spax and Apex kits i cant comment as I havn't had either!

Whats the difference between the B8's and Grp Ns?

15th May 2010, 12:25

The Grp N dampers have a larger oil capacity and harder damping..

15th May 2010, 20:58

the group n's are rock hard need to put my fully weight on the to compress one scared to fit them to my car lol

15th May 2010, 21:27

i have to say for the money apex kit is not too bad,

it did handle well on the track, but seem alittle harsh on the road!

i havnt used the group N ones, but apex are not too bad for the money if you cant afford the bilstiens,

as for not been able to compressed your group N dampers, try doing with the AST sport hatch dampers, even on the the lowest adjustment still could only just start moving them!!

but i thought that it would make it very hard to drive on the road, but it not too bad!

andy

15th May 2010, 22:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndySAXO

i have to say for the money apex kit is not too bad,

it did handle well on the track, but seem alittle harsh on the road!

i havnt used the group N ones, but apex are not too bad for the money if you cant afford the bilstiens,

as for not been able to compressed your group N dampers, try doing with the AST sport hatch dampers, even on the the lowest adjustment still could only just start moving them!!

but i thought that it would make it very hard to drive on the road, but it not too bad!

andy

I'm happy to pay for them so long as there worth the out lay, liking the positive comments though.

16th May 2010, 10:52

I had a spax kit that cost around £200 for the set up which was not a bad kit but I decided to get the bilstien B8's and faulkner springs. So glad I did there is a very noticanle differance between budget suspention kits and the Bilstiens I would highley recomend getting the B8 set up mate.

16th May 2010, 11:43

yer like i siad the apex kit on kamracing is good for the money, but the more expensive suspension like bilsteins will be better, but depends on what you want, as it could be abit harsh just for road use.

if your doing track days, then get the bilsteins,

if you want a better setup then maybe a coilover set?

but no cheap coilovers!!

but like i said depends on what you want,

16th May 2010, 20:08

Just count yourself lucky you own a saxo

a lot of other cars suspension kits usually cost upwards of £1k

16th May 2010, 21:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashleyp

Just count yourself lucky you own a saxo

a lot of other cars suspension kits usually cost upwards of £1k

haha