1. I've had a failure of my Bilstein Damprtonic Coilovers since install

2. I have not had any failures.

3. I still have the stock units.

4. I have another manufacturer.

 

Ok- Lets see if the Bilstein Damptronics are problem are failing 6-speed members.

Walt

 

2 votes, me and you, neck and neck, 50/50

By the way - I should get an extra vote as both my left (a year ago) and now my right a week ago have failed.

So to summarize...

First Failure: May 2012
$750 1x PASM Control unit (damaged due to short in wiring harness, had to be replaced)
$300 diagnosis
$150 shipping shock back for warranty, Canada duties incurred
$300 alignment and other service costs
3 weeks without the use of the car when the shock had to be sent to California and back.

2nd failure: August 2013
$500 diagnosis - tech shop is now 100% sure that Bilstien B16 front right shock has electrical spike problem throwing PASM Fault Error
... who knows what other costs I'm about to incur, but I'm leaning towards dumping the system for scrap metal and replacing with KW v3 w/ PASM.

Cost to date to repair/maintain the B(S*t)16 :P system:
$2000 .... thanks Bilstein!


.

 

The only issue I had was with the drop links which they have corrected. I'm about to do the bilstein b8s
I didn't know kw was making a pasm system, any more info?

 

Yup they are, a bit more pricey but at this point, piece of mind is what I'm after, not something that breaks down every 12 months, literally.

http://www.kw-store.com/products/kw-...it-v3-206.html

There are some vendors that are charging ~4100 (a bit cheaper than above)

 

My next suspension, as close to an x73 as I can get!

 

Hi Walt, great poll, but not valid unless you define failure as PASM related such as what PurePorsche is experiencing. It's very complicated issue as I will touch on below.

BTW, I actually know the answer already for PASM wire problem, there have been about 4 reported, of these 2 are repeat problems. One of the 2 was bought used (!) and belongs to the car from hell that some of us here know (the one that has the huge ECU disaster that causes owner to switch to Lamborghini). If you see more than 4, there are aliens visiting. :-)

Numerous other failures are impossible to tell whether it's from installation error. All drop links that popped have been installed on wrong side - inboard vs. outboard, including one by famous sponsor of this forum (not you Chris.). Someone had frozen sway bar that sheared off the drop link from the Bilstein, etc., and this was at first thought to be Bilstein "failure." Just examples of why it's very hard to pinpoint who is doing what from suspension problems and unless you narrow the poll, result won't make a lot of sense. And as mentioned, I already know the approximate answer.

The fact is if you google JRZ leak, KW failure, you are going to see a bunch in return. I do agree that it's painful when you are the victim, but I've seen it all from ALL companies, and you will never find poll that shows one company is worse than others. This is the nature of modding, whether ECU, or suspension. The problem here is PASM, which no one makes except Bilstein until recently.

PS:
Chris, what are you waiting for with your B8 :-)?
Pureporsche,
1. KW is an outstanding company with true racing heritage but it's not necessarily the end-all and be-all. Typical Porsche spring rates are 300/500, 500/700, etc, with rear about 200 more than front. This ratio is used by JRZ, Moton, Bilstein, etc. KW rear spring is 1200 (!), the front soft. Some people love this shock, some complain of diving with braking and the very hard rear shock. You could use damper to compensate but using damper to compensate for springs is never a good idea IMHO. I think it's best to stick to a system that uses "traditional" Porsche spring rates, 200 or so rear more than front.
2. I am not sure there might be something going on with the control unit of your car - wasn't there some other alarms as well?
3. How do you know KW with PASM won't have failure rate as well? Don't mess with PASM anymore, really, move to KW without PASM, or Bilstein PSS10 without PASM. I will continue to recommend Bilstein with PASM, but in your case, I think there is something going on with the head unit and it's best to stay out of PASM from now on. No big deal really.

 

Didn't they correct the drop links in their kit (straight to bent)?

 

Chris, yes I know, "if it's ok why did they change it" ; my answers:
1. *All* the popped drop links that have documented pictures were installed on the wrong side.
2. There are several cars that have original drop link for years without popping.
3. Ever since we've talked about inboard/outboard install of drop links, and I posted my picture of correct drop link install, the problem is completely gone.

I believe they change the link to account for all the weird *OTHER* components such as after-market sway bars that the Bilstein was not designed for, all the excessive lowering that people are doing that change geometry of suspension. But this is pure speculation.

 

Hey Can - interesting advise regarding the spring rates - will ask around before making a decision.
Another option is TechArt... expensive option but will fit nicely with all my other TechArt mods

Regarding the head unit - well that's all new, no thanks to Bilstein. The last PASM module was replaced due to a short originating from the B16 shock - it actually fried the PASM unit... the new one is just a year old. I had my guys spend a good few hours this time and the problem is definitely originating from the shock, specifically when the wheel gets turned - stretching the harness. Measuring current through it showed anomalies, which trigger the errors - so it's definitely a faulty Bilstein shock.

 

KW V3 does not actually "work with PASM". They sell two variations of this kit. One is for cars that have PASM and one is for cars that don't have PASM.

The only difference between the two kits is that one comes with PASM cancellation models that will prevent the ECU from throwing codes due to the fact that PASM is not actually plugged into the V3 coilovers.

This accounts for the $500 difference in price.

The other way to do this for a car with PASM is to have PASM removed from the ECU.

 

I had a failure upon receipt due to faulty wiring harness on one of the units. Bilstein overnighted a new unit to the shop where my car was. Had to pay for quick shipping as they would only ship UPS ground.

 

I would tend to agree w that, I think am sways had a lot to do w it.

 

I have B16 Damptronics on my Carrera GTS. I track the car and have around 6 track days on the Damptronics so far. Zero problems.

 

I had all my four Damptronics fail, so I want four votes. The two fronts had the wires chaffed. The left front shorted the shock itself (apparently) so that shock was totally shot. Both the rears developed leaks.

I ended up buying a whole new set (keeping the warranty paperwork this time) and had TPC racing set them up with their Active Suspension module, which makes the shocks much more compliant in absorbing bumps until the shocks are loaded - then they stiffen up.