What's better Bilstein PSS9 or TEIN SS????

Prinju · Postby **Prinju** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:27 am

HI Guy's

If you go by the price then the Bilstein PSS9's are the best.
But sometimes you pay for the band name not the quality.

What do you all think??

Brad · Postby **Brad** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 10:00 am

Without knowing first hand the difference, I'd be inclined to say that the PSS9's would be a firmer ride than the SS and more track orientated, of course that woudl also depend a lot on what spring rate you spec'ed and valving.

Edit: After a bit of googling I found a few threads. Ground Control are the track version, PSS9 (for the M3 anyway) are apparently softer than the SS.
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=345829

Also this thread:
http://www.aus-cartalk.com/viewtopic.ph ... 3d60d24f77

CT · Postby CT » Thu Sep 28, 2006 4:56 pm

If you go by price, Bilsteins are more expensive than Tein SS so you must be getting a better product. Not bagging billies but marketing is a powerful thing. They are different price points in the market and probably should not be compared directly. Maybe it's PSS9s vs Tein Flex. BTW, I have the SS's and they are a very competent setup...but I also ahve some flexes as well.

Babalouie · Postby **Babalouie** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 7:07 pm

CT wrote:If you go by price, Bilsteins are more expensive than Tein SS so you must be getting a better product. Not bagging billies but marketing is a powerful thing. They are different price points in the market and probably should not be compared directly. Maybe it's PSS9s vs Tein Flex. BTW, I have the SS's and they are a very competent setup...but I also ahve some flexes as well.

Well, in Japan, Koni Yellow/Eibach combo is more expensive than Teins

kula · Postby **kula** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 1:14 am

PSS9 are close to the best suspension you can get,
Tein SS are amoung the lower end of adjustable coil overs.

Prinju · Postby **Prinju** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 8:29 am

Thanks everyone for all your help.

Now it will depend on how much the boss will let me spend on my 5

Benny · Postby **Benny** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 3:11 pm

I've got the PSS9's in my SP, and I find that they have a very good ride.
Certainly softer than Konis and Kings, but they also have fantastic wheel control.
They never hop or skip, but they never float either.
Just a great combination for comfort and handling.

Just being hard doesn't mean a shock is good.
In fact, quite the reverse. A hard shock will let the car hop and skip over bumps and this means your tyres aren't in contact with the road, and that means you aren't cornering as fast as you could if the tyres were on the road.

Brad · Postby **Brad** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 3:28 pm

I agree. On bumpy roads, the Clubman Bilsteins were much harder than the Tein SS's even at full hard, though because of the lower spring rate there was much more roll. The Tein's harder springs allow flatter cornering with better bump absoption due to the valving, it's a matter of tuning the rate to the 'bumpiness' of the road.