Bilstein shocks..Never Again

[Bradtot]

Hi in Late 2018 I fitted all new 2 inch King Springs and Bilstein shocks front and rear to my Discovery 2a.
The Discovery is not my Daily drive and I use it sometimes on weekends and when I go away, since fitting the setup I have done around 8k in mileage in total, it currently has 192k on the clock.
I found that the left rear is leaking (see pic) so I contacted Bilstein in Sydney to see what the warranty was, as I was lead to believe 3 years or 50k, but no. They have 1 year and 20k only.
I asked if they could give me a better price considering the amount of use that it has done and the answer I got back was..they can rebuild at a cost of $210 or buy new at $290, but I would have to go back to the agent here in WA.
I have always had Koni and on my current Rangie the Koni,s have done over 400000k and still going.
I thought the Bilsteins would be as good but after this I will never buy them again as they don't seem to want to back their product.
I will be getting 2 new Koni, to replace the rears shortly.
Anyone else had a bad run with the the Bilstein,s.....???

179148

[Slunnie]

No, I've dealt with Sydney Shocks who have been excellent and had the same set of Bilsteins on my Disco2 since 2004 and they're still fantastic also. Those shocks have seen some really hard use at times, the only comment I'd have is to replace the rubber bushes with poly so they don't abraide with grit.

[ozscott]

Flogged mine stupid over some years including at GVM all up through Cape York and not a sign of leak nor any fade nor any reduction in control. Love them. Cheers

[BradC]

I've bought a few sets from the US over the years as they come with a lifetime warranty, but I've never had to claim on it.

[V8Ian]

I've bought a few sets from the US over the years as they come with a lifetime warranty, but I've never had to claim on it.
Where in the US, Brad? I've been trying to get som from Les Richmond since last August, but despite following up and promises from Andrew, it's been radio silence. [bigsad]

[shack]

I've had a rear start to leak, but after it's expected service life, so can't complain.

On another note, comparisons between Koni and Bilstein aren't really worth talking about.

They're at a completely different level in my experience... And price range of course!

[PhilipA]

The biggest problem I had with them was that the tube can be dented by stones thrown up from the front wheels. I lost one rear to that.

I reduced the problem by making up a guard from stamped mesh stuff from Bunnings.
Regards PhilipA

[BradC]

Where in the US, Brad? I've been trying to get som from Les Richmond since last August, but despite following up and promises from Andrew, it's been radio silence. [bigsad]

I was getting mine from FCP group companies. FCP Groton and FCP Euro, but they weren't for Landrovers.
I also bought a set from IPD for the Volvo. Bit of a harsher ride, but none of them have failed.

[loanrangie]

Can't beat Koni's, over 200k in my old D1 and apart from replacing the mounting rubbers like still felt like new .

[Tombie]

Can't beat Koni's, over 200k in my old D1 and apart from replacing the mounting rubbers like still felt like new .

Can beat them… awful performance. We threw a near new set in the bin and fitted billies.

If it wasn’t billies, then I’d run Kings…

[simonmelb]

I would agree with this after switching recently from Koni to Bilstein on my D2.

The Koni Heavy Track ( not Raid versions) do not have nearly enough bump dampening for a D2 front fitted with steel bullbar and winch. They bottom out far too easily.

Although the Konis are adjustable, this is only for rebound damping, so pretty useless to compensate for heavy loads and heavy springs.

Interestingly the first set of Konis on my D2 I bought back in 2010 seemed fine, but recent ones I bought far too soft.

Maybe the Raids are fine but too expensive compared with Billies.

I still have Konis on the (SLS) rear which will get swapped out for Billies before our next lap.

Cheers
Simon


Can beat them… awful performance. We threw a near new set in the bin and fitted billies.

If it wasn’t billies, then I’d run Kings…

[sierrafery]

Mine is on Bilstein B6s all around and IMO they are the best i've ever had, compared to previous originals, TFs and Monroes

they've been on for the last 4 years and i'm more than pleased... maybe it's a matter of luck but i'll never fit others on my own vehicle(i mean Bilstein)

[Kaaaiju]

I have Bilstein 7100 remote res and it's 3 years and still going strong

[Slunnie]

Can beat them… awful performance. We threw a near new set in the bin and fitted billies.

If it wasn’t billies, then I’d run Kings…

Yep, at the end of the day the Konis are still just a twin shell gas shock that will fade like any other run of the mill shock when things get hot and tough and when you really need them working. They're just a higher quality of the same thing.

The Bilstein is a very different shock design that largely prevents this.

[Tombie]

I have Bilstein 7100 remote res and it's 3 years and still going strong

They’ll still be ticking in another 11 if mine are anything to go by….

[shayne86]

I have Bilstein 7100 remote res and it's 3 years and still going strongI honestly didn't know bilstein did a remote res shock! Hows the ride quality?

[Slunnie]

I honestly didn't know bilstein did a remote res shock! Hows the ride quality?

You choose your shock rates.

[Kaaaiju]

I honestly didn't know bilstein did a remote res shock! Hows the ride quality?

Fantastic I run 360/80 front and rear with 35s and 2.8T disco and it's just like a car

[nevik51]

[QUOTE=Bradtot;3151683]Hi in Late 2018 I fitted all new 2 inch King Springs and Bilstein shocks front and rear to my Discovery 2a.
The Discovery is not my Daily drive and I use it sometimes on weekends and when I go away, since fitting the setup I have done around 8k in mileage in total, it currently has 192k on the clock.
I found that the left rear is leaking (see pic) so I contacted Bilstein in Sydney to see what the warranty was, as I was lead to believe 3 years or 50k, but no. They have 1 year and 20k only.
I asked if they could give me a better price considering the amount of use that it has done and the answer I got back was..they can rebuild at a cost of $210 or buy new at $290, but I would have to go back to the agent here in WA.
I have always had Koni and on my current Rangie the Koni,s have done over 400000k and still going.
I thought the Bilsteins would be as good but after this I will never buy them again as they don't seem to want to back their product.
I will be getting 2 new Koni, to replace the rears shortly.
Anyone else had a bad run with the the Bilstein,s

Bradtot Make sure that your billies are not bottoming out on compression which will destroy the seals as i had the same problem (front shocks).I repaired this prob. by installing longer shock tarrets.

[Rick Fischer]

Had them on D2. All other popular makes would be knackered after each annual 3 month trip up top or through centre. All would fade on corrugations around mid morning and I would have the TC control chattering for the rest of the day. Eventually bit the bullet and fitted Billies. Then did another five or six years no problems, went with D2. If driven particularly hard over corrugations they might look like fading mid to late arvo, but when I was about to stop.

On the SVX 110, as soon as the "genuines" quit replaced with Billies, still there around nine years and no dramas.:thumbsup:

Cheers

Rick F

[Bradtot]

Hi I want to clarify my statement. I am not unhappy with the ride quality. The Rear Springs Have Firestone airbags inside them that I run at 10psi when not loaded so I don’t think they are bottoming out. what has peeved me off is the lack of back up of their faulty product.If they were 10 years old and flogged I would not worry,but for me they have not lasted a reasonable amount of time and I won’t deal with a manufacturer who won’t back their products. I sell equipment and will backup what I sell. They were not interested on even a compromise or at least giving me a discount if I bought a new one to replace the faulty one!
so I will leave it there.🙂

[tc_s1]

Koni HD Raids have been to date the best shocks I've installed. I can't comment on the non-HD Raid product from Koni and therefore can't address the prior comments, but the HD Raids, though they came dear, have exceeded all expectations to date.