Bilstein B12 Pro Kit - A Review
Okay, so there appear to be a number of these systems sold and installed, but very few reviews. My hope is to establish a thread around this great kit.
First, the kit. The Bilstein B12 Pro Kit (# 46-183323) is a combination of Bilstein shocks and Eibach's pro kit for the Audi A4 (B8). The kit is custom assembled in Germany and takes 10-12 weeks for delivery, so plan ahead if you decide to go this route. I ended up going with purchasing all of the components separately, costing about $70 more than the kit itself. Cost of the kit varies, but Tirerack seems to have the most consistent lowest price - @ $1030, not including shipping.
Second, fitment. The Bilstein kit comes with all components necessary for install from OEM setups, using all of the OEM fitments. If you already have a coilover set, you may have to buy a few pieces to fit the kit back in. As I upgraded from the ST coilover kit myself, I had about 8 pieces that had to be purchased, adding about $150 to the overall cost.
Install. Well, this was a first for me, since I'm not much of a mechanic. But I had a great friend with all the necessary tools and a lot of BMW experience. So the Audi install was new to us both. A terrific guide to assisting the process was the ST install guide from the team at ECS Tuning (http://bd8ba3c866c8cbc330ab-7b26c6f3...horizontal.pdf). This was a great help to explain approaches to removing the ST system, with warnings on certain steps.
I will say that if you have two sets of hands, removal of some components (like the tie rods and control arms) are unnecessary. That helped save a bit of time. Altogether, the full replacement took about 7 hours. We did find that you will want a lift for the rear suspension, as the entire shock needs to clear the lower control arm to swing into position. Our jack stands were about 6" too low for the minimum clearance.
Also, if you are using the OEM bump stops, you will need to trim about 1.5" off of the rubber to fit onto the new Bilsteins as they are considerably lower than OEM setups.
Tools. While most of you probably have the necessary tools handy, there are two things you will REALLY want. One is the Spindle Housing Spreader (pictured in step 9 of the PDF). Use of a screwdriver or other tool may damage the housing, so this $30 investment is worth every penny. The second is a good set of spring compressors. Obviously necessary in the front, but they were really handy in the rears as well to avoid dropping the rear subframe (again, another time saver and dropping the subframe really was unnecessary).
Finally, the review. As I noted above, I was moving over from the ST coilover kit. After 3 years on the ST set, it had become far too harsh for daily driving, made metal crashing noises over extreme articulation turns, and was generally unpleasant. While I had purchased it to drop the OE (non-sport) suspension to something tolerable, the STs performed closer to track needs than daily driver. If I was going to keep the A4 (currently paid off) for much longer, something had to change. Bring on the Bilsteins!
After the install, the ride was an immediate improvement. Literally, the difference between the two was night and day. While the STs felt closer to the ride in a Lotus (tight, but unforgiving), the Bilsteins soaked up every bump but progressively tightened in cornering. The Bilsteins load up in a very linear fashion, reinforcing driver confidence. The STs never seemed to have much to give. However, to the STs credit, I had them adjusted almost all the way to the top of their perches. Any lower proved to be difficult around town and near anything resembling a hole.
Results. Well, the ST coils were near the top of their setup, so I had a road-to-wheel arch distance of 25.5 inches. After the Bilstein installment, the fronts are both 25.5" and the rears appear to be 25.75". I will update more once they settle a bit more. I will post pictures soon (either in this post or the replies).
Acknowledgements:
John Rawson @ ProAm Auto Accessories (assembled the B12 kit from components for shipping and pricing)
Scott Ramirez (fellow AZer who sent me the Audi suspension parts diagrams noting the OEM components needed and general help/advice)
ECS Tuning (for the great install PDFs and the spreader tool)
So, if you have experienced the B12 kit - speak up! Not many review it, although every shop I called sells them often and with good results.
I would say that if you are looking for something that is lower than OEM (or OEM sport), but not as harsh as track day setups, this may be the kit for you. If you are looking to bottom out, obviously you will need something much lower.
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Originally Posted by Eddie-B8
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