Bilstein vs Koni - What are the differences? (Sport Shocks)

0:00 Intro
0:14 Bilstein B6 vs Bilstein B8
1:24 Koni Yellows/Sport
2:20 Adjustability, front, rear, how they are adjusted
3:38 Stiffness
4:02 Customer feedback Koni
4:41 Customer feedback Bilstein
5:06 Do you need sport dampers?
5:30 Strength, service life, how long they last
6:08 How to find the specs of the Koni dampers for your car
7:45 Wrap up
8:32 Thank you for watching, please Subscribe!
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[@3CarOneGarage]

Thanks for explaining diff between B6 and B8

[@robertasrekus7497]

What do you think im ok with bilstein b8 and vogtland 50mm lovering springs ob skoda ovtavia vrs?

[@e46M3_DakarYellow]

Very informative....Γυαλί ο δρόμος Ελλάδα!!!

[@user-tr3dy5xq7v]

Καλησπέρα φίλε ,για swift sport τους διαλέγες koni sport η B8;

[@nobodynoone2500]

Went with some B6 as I kept near stock ride height. Much lighter and better than stock. A true nitrogen-charrged monoshock, not some dual tube milkshake nonsense like the koni.

[@drecarmods]

Super informative and helpful. Best breakdown on KZbin by far. Thank you for this!

[@Lehmann108]

My only experience is with Koni FSD's on a VW 2002 GTI with H&R OE Sport Springs. They were amazing at first, but they started going bad after about 15k miles. Apparently this happened to many people with Koni FSD's. I'm about to replace them with the Bildstein B6's with the same OE Sport Springs.

[@marklowe7431]

Koni yellow are a great damper but getting them for a given vehicle can be hard. Even common perf cars.

[@warwickdean]

Be good to hear reviews on Koni Red (special active), these seem to be a good option for a shock that will suit a wide variety of springs.

[@billrichardson5386]

I was looking at the special actives with ebach pro kit springs. Would love to know someone with that set up. I'm looking to replace factory shocks and struts that are completely shot. I just want something that is close to factory sport with a little less fender gap.

[@GTAEmergencyVideography]

@@billrichardson5386 Me too I'm also seeking this kind of setup for my '14 Mazda 3. I like the asthetics of a mild drop but also want a comfortable ride...

[@80sAudiSport]

@@billrichardson5386 Hiya, I did the Eibach Pro kit with red Konis on a Golf mk2. So, you have moderate lowering in that scenario, and it was absolutely lovely do take on country roads. Reds are basically a high quality alternative to OEM shocks with gas etc.

[@80sAudiSport]

@@GTAEmergencyVideography red koni + quality lowering springs is then the key, do get progressive springs (= mild when minor things, then "tightens up" when further compressed). This is where OEM is superseeded by loweringsprings and proper gas dampers in my experience. :)

[@billrichardson5386]

I got a ridiculously good deal on some barely used function and form type 2 coilovers, so I'm about to install them. I actually went to install them and noticed my rear ball joints and a front control arm bushing need to be replaced. Hope to get it done in the next few days.

[@me_ca136]

I have some konis in my subaru legacy and they are adjustable from the top in the Front and rear and thats very Handy and easy! I drove both the Bilstein B6/B8 (great dampers!) Bit i like the konis a bit better due to the adjustment Option so that i can drive them exacly how i want. I also git the experience that a lot of people do not make the dampers slightly softer than they are out of the Box like koni advises you to Do. That means they ride them very stiff! I adjusted some konis for others and after that they all loved there beforhand "to stiff" dampers.

[@vgnfab]

Hey can you help me understand more? Koni tech support was very much not helpful. I have an 05 outback wide body. Very sporty. Have some lame but actually quite good Impreza front Coilovers for the last 4 years. I have Toni yellow inserts for the front and am wondering if I should build them up and install them. I am trying to know if I can adjust them super stiff and have a full range of adjustability that will float my boat from stock to super damped/ stiff. I've not experienced a damper like the konis before, and when they're in hand, I can't tell a difference with the damping adjustment. Whereas with multiple gas charged Coilovers I have, if I adjust them to each end of their range, they go from easy to almost not moving. My classic physics training as an engineer only confuses me here- nothing helpful for practical application feel. It just gives me hope for the konis that damping force is a function of velocity. Which I'll never be able to experience in hand because I'm not hulk. So I'd love your further feedback! Btw, I'm also looking to build my Koni inserts into complete full custom Coilovers to suit my abnormal ride height range. I don't want mine lowered, but maybe some day. Super stiff/ sporty, but stock or higher ground clearance. That's my jam. 8 inches wider too 🙂

[@LOKgr]

Γεια σου αδερφέ.... Ωραίο βίντεο...

[@user-tr3dy5xq7v]

Καλησπέρα φίλε ,για swift sport τι θα διαλέγες; koni sport η bilstein b8;

[@vkarfis]

koni sport την εχω 15 χρονια πανω σε swift sport!! @@user-tr3dy5xq7v

[@1977Fezza]

Great video, I'm looking at doing a 20mm to 30mm drop on my BMW Cooper s, would I be OK with the B6 on std drop links or go for the B8? Tks Paul.

[@louvendran7273]

B6 would be ideal.

[@Geed94]

I replaced my stocks alfa romeo mito with a b6, combined with eibach springs. They are stiff as hell. The car doesn't seem very low thou. On my channel I uploaded the video of the installation. Thank for sharing bro.

[@DriveTuneMedia]

No worries, thank you for the kind words. I wouldn't expect springs on their own to have that much effect on ride over bumps. I run Bilstein B8 and the ride is much stiffer than stock but bearable. But ride quality is 100% subjective!

[@RedondoBeach2]

How long will Bilstein B6 dampers last? I bought a set for a Volkswagen GTI and will be installing them next month. Will they last longer than typical OEM dampers?

[@MrKrueger88]

A lot longer ... They last forever and feel they much better than oe .

[@RedondoBeach2]

@@MrKrueger88 I talked with a Bilstein representative a couple weeks ago about their shocks. He mentioned that if high performance suspension components, such as strut mount bushings (very stiff rubber with no pliability) are installed, there's a high likelihood the shocks will get damaged and this would void the Bilstein warrant. He is obviously giving the company line. What I want to know from others with experience is; have higher performance aftermarket bushings resulted in damage to Bilstein dampers? Is it best to stick with OEM bushings which wear out in less than 50K miles? Saying that OEM is the better way to go is the easy answer. I'm looking for an answer from someone with experience. If you have that experience, I'd like to hear your thoughts on this topic. Separately, how long do a set of springs typically last when a car is only used for highway and city driving? Never tracked.

[@nobodynoone2500]

Bils last a decade or so between rebuilds.

[@fhowland]

Considering Koni yellows on my S2000 with stock springs but I’ve heard the compression damping is softer than stock?

[@DriveTuneMedia]

As a personal rule. I would always change springs with dampers. Springs are probably the most fatigued metal on the car. And definitely sport springs with sport dampers.

[@brittgardner2923]

Thanks for this video. You confirmed my suspicion that the B6 and B8 are essentially the same damper. I'm just going to stick with my factory B6s and lower the car by about 25mm with new springs, then use a new, stiffer bump stop set that is shortened by a similar length. Will retain the majority of my travel and given that the B6s will be under a slight pre-compression relative to the factory setup, will add just a tad of stiffness. Exactly what I want. Sounds to me like if I had gone with the B8s, I'd have been risking a soggy cornering feel if I hadn't gone with what amounts to a race spring, which wouldn't be fun or practical for a daily driver.

[@DriveTuneMedia]

For 25mm, B6 should be perfect. 50-60mm+ is B8 territory.

[@EJR20]

Got a question that needs pro input. I’m in a dilemma between getting standard vs sport bilstein struts and shocks on my factory coils on an A4 B8. My budget allows me to get B4 OEs, now I’m thinking on putting standard shocks (rear) and sport struts (front) in order to maintain the ride comfort quality and have sharper handling in the front, because I know sport suspension is a little bit firmer but I want the handling capabilities that they comes with, question being is there really a drastic different in dampening when it comes to sport struts and shocks? Also will the sport or standard B4 OEs suspension change ride height from factory height? Again car is Audi A4 2010.

[@DriveTuneMedia]

There is no reason to fit sport dampers with original springs, there is no benefit. Fit H&R springs if you want better handling and ride comfort, with new B4s. If you cant stretch to springs just do the B4s. They wont alter the ride height.

[@Eagle_Eye_Detailing]

So if I'm getting 35mm eibach sportline springs you recommend b6 or b8 as I can get the b8 for £250

[@DriveTuneMedia]

Either would be fine. Personally I have B8s

[@vagk1351]

​@@DriveTuneMediaFor factory sline springs which are 30mm lower than standard what do you recommend? B6 or B8? I contacted bilstein and they said B8, but i don't want to lower the car more than already is.

[@DriveTuneMedia]

@@vagk1351 I'd go with their recommendation. I dont think the ride height will be different between the B6 and the B8. Difference will be a bit more suspension travel on the B8s. Id go with the B8s. No reason to use B6 with lowering springs (IMO) if money isn't an issue.

[@vagk1351]

@@DriveTuneMedia the funny things is that they said b8 by email, but with VIN check it gives B6.

[@DriveTuneMedia]

@@vagk1351 The "VIN check" knows you want to fit Eibach?

[@vgnfab]

I'm still wondering... Koni yellows... Can they be damped super hard like a Coilover with springs as stiff as found on Coilovers..

[@DriveTuneMedia]

For springs you'll be limited to what's available from H&R/Eibach/TEIN/Spax etc etc. The impressions I get from ppl that have them is that Koni dampers are generally quite stiff.

[@vgnfab]

@@DriveTuneMedia The quite stiff bit is the type of feedback I'm looking for. I have no spring limitations. Koni insert is just some guts for me to design around. My 05 outback strut tube is exactly 2" OD 1/8" wall with 1.75" ID. I can gut a Coilover who's ID matches, weld a plate on the bottom for the Koni bolt and have something worth having - IF the Koni yellow is a good platform. Still trying to figure that out. Haven't got much of a detailed response from Koni or anyone else to my surprise. But I get the sense that they'll work great if I go for it. Currently contemplating making my own threaded body on my lathe, then having it zinc Chromate plated. But which thread is most compatible with aftermarket Coilover parts? All I've found are proprietary. Lame.

[@JasonPorter]

@@vgnfab I've used Koni Yellows with fairly high spring rates with very good results. The coilover collar kits from Ground Control work very well with them and allow the use of a 2.5" ID race spring on a factory-style strut. Konis can get very stiff at the upper end of their adjustment range but generally feel "softer" on the road at lower settings than most aftermarket shocks due to their strongly digressive compression/rebound curve with the single adjustment. The lower compression damping allows them to absorb high speed impacts (rocks, potholes, road seams) much more readily than something like a Bilstein B8, without losing the strong rebound damping curve throughout the adjustment range that provides most of the body control in weight transfer - i.e. cornering.

[@fjunk2]

I have had terrible luck with Bilstein B8 shocks. I got the B12 kit (eibach springs and B8 dampers) and in 40k km/25k miles i have had both front shocks go bad twice! 2 shocks has lost all compression, the other 2 had the chrome flaking off the piston rod which in time made them sieze up. Warranty is 2 years so this 2nd set that has given in will probably be replaced with anything else than the absolute shit Bilstein sells. Too bad, because I really liked the Bilsteins in all other aspects. Top mounts were fitted new ones etc before the first set of shocks got put on the car.

[@justwatchingffs371]

Bilstein is lifetime warranty??

[@fjunk2]

@@justwatchingffs371 Nope, they are limited lifetime with tons of conditions, and all the way down to 90 days depending on which page on bilstein site you read. Anyhow my B8's were a part of an Eibach B12 kit, which has a 2 year warranty, hence the 2 years. Replaced the 2nd broken set of B8's with yellow koni's which has been going strong without a single issue for 2 years now.

[@robi4387]

@@fjunk2 I had a similar experience many years ago having bought a BMW e39 540i which the previous owner had improved with Bilstein (forgotten what came off). They were crashy and Bilstein look at the photos and said that the shop had fitted them incorrectly and they didn't want to know. I went for sachs rear and Koni Yellows up front and yes I had them on soft around London and pulled over every time travelling outside the M25. Even on Mtech 2 springs it was hard and eventually went for an e61 M5 with EDC that was sublime by comparison.

[@VeganBytes]

I'm glad I read this because I thought I was the only one experiencing this "amazing German quality" product in a negative view. I have eibach springs on factory bilsteins (mx5 2019) and one of the rear dampers has failed already. I have 28k miles on my car. I won't be replacing with bilstein I can tell you that.

[@juntin810]

bilsteins are monotube while konis are twin tubes by design.

[@steviesteve750]

I thought for moment I was watching the heads of the valleys, then realised you were nowhere near Merthyr!

[@DriveTuneMedia]

Yeah, it's pretty far more Merthyr!

[@johnshaw8013]

F30

[@barenekid9695]

Gawd only knows why... but If British... Bilsteins are Your preffered shock.

[@ChutneyInc.]

Koni are shorter than oe mazda

[@PilotVinProductionz]

Really by how much?

[@ChutneyInc.]

@@PilotVinProductionz well mate with the fm springs about 1" but I have the kony yellows which isn't ideal for stock springs so the the spring of your choice will be short at least an inch.

[@MrKrueger88]

Biased , out of a lack of experience it seems . I have driven both , and often have preferred the koni dampening .

[@-.__.__.-Rad]

How long do they last? Why do you prefer Koni? Adjustability?

[@MrKrueger88]

@@-.__.__.-Rad they both last forever , 10 years and still as good as new in my experience .I prefer koni as I believe , I might be wrong but I think they have softer compression valving but suffer rebound compression in comparison to the bilstiens . Both are brilliant though .

[@-.__.__.-Rad]

@@MrKrueger88 Thanks for the insight. I just bought B14 Bilsteins to replace stock(in the next few weeks). I prefer a stiffer ride, but my first goal is reliability. I have 33k miles on my '17 focus st and stock shocks have been already replaced under warranty 10k miles ago. They are sagging again.... Tired of cheap low quality

[@MrKrueger88]

@@-.__.__.-Rad you'll love them ... And they'll outperform the oe shocks in every way. Funny , I'm about to buy bilstiens this time around as I can get them cheaper than konis right now . Anyway , you'll be so happy with them ... P.s. let me know how you go ,😁😁😁

[@vgnfab]

I am trying to know if I can adjust them super stiff and have a full range of adjustability that will float my boat from stock to super damped/ stiff. I've not experienced a damper like the konis before, and when they're in hand, I can't tell a difference with the damping adjustment. Whereas with multiple gas charged Coilovers I have, if I adjust them to each end of their range, they go from easy to almost not moving. My classic physics training as an engineer only confuses me here- nothing helpful for practical application feel. It just gives me hope for the konis that damping force is a function of velocity. Which I'll never be able to experience in hand because I'm not hulk. I'd appreciate the input. I'm at a fork in the road right now. Do I build up my Kong yellow inserts as front Coilovers for my car, or do I go on with my Coilovers. If Konis can damp just as good, but be replaceable and more reliable, I want the Konis. I'm mostly worried they can't damp stiff enough because I've not experienced them.

[@fairdinkumpiereviews5357]

A pro told me koni are better. Koni Raid.