Bilstein B8 failure

[Ruskie]

Anyone proceeded with a Bilstein warranty claim? Basically I have a shock that has failed after 15,000 miles. Seems I need to send it off for assessment and then they make a decision. I’m debating if it’s worth it, car would need to be in the garage potentially twice and I would still need to pay for a replacement.

[OldGermanHeaps]

Depends on the price of that particular shock to buy vs all the various costs of sending it back.

[Ruskie]

OldGermanHeaps said:

Depends on the price of that particular shock to buy vs all the various costs of sending it back.

I guess that was my thought, will cost me an hour’s labour at the garage plus postage to even get it assessed and that’s before I have replaced it. Frustrating way of doing things.

[stevieturbo]

And how much is it just to replace it ?

Who supplied/fitted it ? And is it just a simple shock, or something more ?

And exactly how has it failed ?

[Ruskie]

stevieturbo said:

And how much is it just to replace it ?

Who supplied/fitted it ? And is it just a simple shock, or something more ?

And exactly how has it failed ?

About £300 for front pair plus fitting.

Fitted by a garage with good knowledge of suspension (set up race cars as part of their work load)

Advisory on MOT top piston has broken off is how it was explained, not affecting function but may make noise (I haven't heard it)

[Caddyshack]

Buy the extra set and fit, then send in the broken one, if they replace you have a spare set to keep or sell and I am sure that the new set will perform better than the 15k old set.

[Kawasicki]

Ruskie said:

About £300 for front pair plus fitting.

Fitted by a garage with good knowledge of suspension (set up race cars as part of their work load)

Advisory on MOT top piston has broken off is how it was explained, not affecting function but may make noise (I haven't heard it)

Top piston broken off? What does that mean?

[stevieturbo]

Kawasicki said:

Top piston broken off? What does that mean?

We defo need more info.

That sounds bad, but clearly it isn't if it says does not affect function.

So was it broken during fitting ? other ?

[Kawasicki]

stevieturbo said:

Kawasicki said:

Top piston broken off? What does that mean?

We defo need more info.

That sounds bad, but clearly it isn't if it says does not affect function.

So was it broken during fitting ? other ?

I wouldn’t be surprised if it was either a problem with the spring aid (foam bump stop) or maybe the dust guard, rather than the damper itself.

[E-bmw]

Definitely need more info.

If somebody were to say to me (talking about a damper) that the top piston had broken off, I would say it is scrap & non-functional.