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YOUR RESEARCHBilstein B12 pro on my 01 996? Will I like it? Too firm? Too low?
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Use specs
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Our Targas are built on the cabriolet body, so that is what I use for specs.
Bilstein B12 pro on my 01 996? Will I like it? Too firm? Too low?
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Bilstein B12 pro on my 01 996? Will I like it? Too firm? Too low?
Check with your shops beforehand
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Suggestion
Check with your shops beforehand to see if they�ll let you bring your own parts.
Bilstein B12 pro on my 01 996? Will I like it? Too firm? Too low?
Fill fluid so
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Suggestion · Original poster
The top has worked fine and I've never had to fill the fluid so that repair can wait IMHO.
Bilstein B12 pro on my 01 996? Will I like it? Too firm? Too low?
Recommend b6 or the b4
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Suggestion · Original poster
So, would you recommend the B6 or the B4 for a 2001 porsche 911 that the owner wants comfort more than stiffness?
Bilstein B12 pro on my 01 996? Will I like it? Too firm? Too low?
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I'm about to spend a bunch of money on updating/upgrading the original suspension on my low mile, 2001 Porsche 911, cab, 6 spd. I'm 57 years old. I am not a boy racer type but do enjoy spirited driving on occassion. I appreciate a smoother rather than firmer ride. I do not track the car and generally do not want my back feeling every single jolt.
i don't dislike the stock ride height but I wouldn't mind lowering the car a bit. However, I don't want to be worried about dragging body parts on speed bumps and such.
In short, I don't want to spend a bunch of money and regret it like some guys I have read about in the forums. HELP! LOL
I am considering
front
and
rear
control arm kits from ECS tuning at a cost of just over $1200. Good choice?
Would a Bilstein b12 pro kit be to my liking or would I hate it and wish I went with some other new suspension configuration?
What would y'all recommend?
Bilstein B12 Pro Kit is basically Bilstein B8 dampers with Eibach springs. If you aren't going to the track and want some comfort, I don't think the B8s would be a good choice. The Bilstein damper equivalent to OEM is the B4 damper, with the B6 being a bit sportier. Given your use-case I'd suggest looking at the B6 dampers (or even KYB reds) and the Eibach springs if you want to lower it a tad. Or stick with factory springs (not lowered) and B4 dampers.
That kit on ECS is priced well, but if it's in your budget I'd look to a higher quality part (not H/T). Check out the kits on FCP Euro from Meyle:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/clo...er-trw-997kit1
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/por...le-996rrctrlkt
Thanks for your reply. So, what about
this kit
and the 2 kits you posted earlier? Using my stock springs because I really dont need to spend extra money to lower the car with shorter springs. Or do I not need all the other stuff? Maybe I just buy the four B4 dampers and reuse everything else?
I received what I feel is a pretty high quote at a local indie shop. He wants $7200 for all the parts we've mentioned in this thread and his labor ($5000 for parts & 10 hours labor = $2200). They have done work on my car before under the previous owners care. They are a good shop that do good work. He also quoted $2600 to repair convertible tops leaky hydraulics cylinders. So, all in... over $10k. The top has worked fine and I've never had to fill the fluid so that repair can wait IMHO.
I'm trying to do this on a bit of a budget without paying the "Porsche tax". I just paid $39k for this beautiful car (my 1st Porsche) 3 months ago. I can't dump another $10k into it. $49k into a base Carrera cab?
Ugh. My significant other would shoot me.
It is looking like I can buy all the parts for quite a bit less than $5k. I have a local shop who doesn't specialize in Porsche but does do great work and likely doesn't charge $220/hour, that I have contacted for a labor quote.
If I remember correctly... hopefully, someone else can confirm.
US M030 is the same height as US non-M030.
European/RoW M030 is ~10mm lower than US springs.
Edit: Euro/RoW M030 is 20mm lower in front and 10mm lower in rear. Source:
https://www.suncoastparts.com/product/996row.html
More information here:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/blog/the-def...996-suspension
RoW M030 is lowered, but the US version is not.
I think B4 is the way to go too.
@d0n1
Check with your shops beforehand to see if they�ll let you bring your own parts. Some shops don�t like that, and may refuse to work on your car.
In addition to replacing the dampers, I�d recommend to also replace the shock mounts and the bump stops.
Having never felt their ride, and only reading about them on FCP Euro: they�re the softest shocks/struts offered by Bilstein for our cars. The B4s are meant to be a direct replacement for the standard, non-M030 suspension.
If you want something even softer, I think Koni may offer an option, but I�m not sure which model of theirs provides the plushest ride.
[QUOTE=d0n1;19787004]
My car has the US M030 suspension, and I initially complained about the discomfort at low speeds on roads that weren�t perfectly smooth (pretty much all roads, unless they were repaved within 2 years). After thrashing on the suspension for 20k miles, it�s softened up considerably.
The B6 dampers were intended to be a direct replacement for the M030 dampers. So I don�t think you�ll be too pleased with the B6s.
[QUOTE=d0n1;19787004]
B4 every time when 996.1 c2 comfort is the objective.
imho Not even a debate. I also own a oem 2001 c2 with B4. Handles great with comfort, imo. Not many other, if any, production cars can out handle on city streets a stock 996 with B4, let alone a 24 year old car.
OEM struts with B4 is what the Porsche engineer's decided on for oem, a great compromise of comfort, handling, and ride height. A compromise with a level of sophistication that you or I probably couldn't duplicate with aftermarket parts. At least not for the street.
Why try and reinvent the wheel for a street only car when some of the best chassis engineers in the world spent countless hours getting the 996.1 where it is in oem form.
jmo
Thanks for everyone's input. I ended up buying all this from FCP Euro. The gave me a 5% discount.
The car has 34k miles. Are there any other "while you're in there" things that should be done at the same time?
What would a reasonable amount of time be for a professional auto shop to install all of these goodies?
rear suspension
$1173
front suspension
$1191
front control arm
$710
rear control arm
$1015
$4089
Those rear B4 shocks are for the M030 sport suspension. The one you want for B4 standard suspension to match those fronts is this one
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/por...ing-24147644kt
Unless you want to change both to the B4 M030 sport suspension, that should work too.
Definitely cross check OEM part numbers.
B4 typically is replacement for stock suspension. M030 is the optional sport suspension with lowering springs.
Bilstein typically calls those B6, paint them yellow and they are of the upside-down kind at the front and monotube both front and rear, whereas a stock suspension uses twin-tube (low) gas pressure shock absorbers.
I�m impressed that you were able to contact the CEO. Given all that he�s done for you, it would be difficult for me to suggest placing another order elsewhere.
The full order cancellation is just small hiccup in the grand scheme. It gives you a chance to review your complete purchase before you place another.
I'm guessing they did that because the shock you want is out of stock with no ETA. I agree that I would still buy from them, but maybe stock will be an issue from them if you want it sooner.
I've been offered the 4
springs in this kit
for $350 shipped by a member here. I went with oem (non sport) B4 Bilstein kits for front and rear on my 01 996. I want the smoothest, softest ride... not lowered or a lot stiffer than stock.
These springs are for sport suspension which I dont have.
Would these springs be better to use in my application over the stock 23 year old (tired?) springs in my porsche?
FCP are sending everything I need except the 2 rear shocks which are not in stock. I found one on amazon and another at a different seller.
I'm now getting quotes at indie shops to install everything and an alignment. So far one quote was $3400 and he said it would take 2.5 days. Im near atlanta so there are quite a few European auto shops around.
thanks guys.
hey, that�s pnwdbag69, to you, sir. I enjoy self deprecation.
I don�t see the figures attached in the link and it�s not clear that it�s saying that US M030 isn�t 10mm lower than comfort. That being said, the dude apparently bought an M030 car and thought it was sitting too high?
I get the ROW version is lower.
if this is true, boy are all those people in the ME thread arguing about the ME coming standard with M030 (it didn�t) going to be bummed. �I swear it looks lower?!�
this is interesting and if you can point out where it specifically shows no height difference with comfort, I�ll consider myself educated.
Respectfully-
PNWdbag69
Please don't forget to add two more layers of confusion:
sway bars
Coupe vs. cabrio
C2 vs. C4
Oops that's 3. My situation was even more entertaining due to my car being a targa.
OP, I went with RoW M030 and have no complaints with ride quality. However you sound more concerned with ride compliance (softness) than I was, so I would recommend you stay with USA stock ride height springs and shocks. You might also want to run your VIN through a decoder to see what it came with from the factory.
Our Targas are built on the cabriolet body, so that is what I use for specs.
My winter project is installing Koni Sport Yellows with Eibach lowering springs. Since this is a kit compiled by Koni, it should work well. I am curious about the ride and how low it will be. Eibach says it will be less than an inch lower.
