Bilstein latest news

Anniversary at the 24-hour race with BILSTEIN

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:11:00 +0200

Ennepetal/Nürburgring, April 23, 2012 – At this year’s 40th running of the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring from 17 to 20 May 2012, it is not only the endurance classic that is celebrating its anniversary. BILSTEIN, too, can look back on 40 successful years at the 24-hour race in Germany’s Eifel, and is once again equipping the majority of this year’s race cars with BILSTEIN shock absorbers. They include dead certainties for overall victory like Phoenix Racing, Audi Racing Academy and newcomer United Autosports. All are banking on the quality of the modular damping system (MDS). With its MDS platform, BILSTEIN offers a broad spectrum of high-performance dampers specifically for professional racing use. Off the track, too, there are plenty of things to see at BILSTEIN. On Friday, 18 May 2012, at 3.00 p.m., TV star and tuning icon Lina Van de Mars will be signing autographs at the BILSTEIN stand on the ring boulevard. The BILSTEIN truck is once again a highlight of the drivers’ enclosure. This is where technicians and engineers are at the beck and call of the teams round the clock. The Nordschleife itself is clad in the colours of the specialists from Ennepetal – the BILSTEIN promotional team is bedecking the fans with flags to get them in the mood for the 24-hour race. Standing a good chance of making it to the first starting row is the Audi R8 LMS from Team Phoenix. It is once more racing for overall victory in the 40th running of the classic clad in BILSTEIN’s distinctive blue and yellow livery. With Nordschleife veterans Marc Basseng, Frank Stippler, Christopher Haase and Markus Winkelhock, Phoenix Audi is starting with a very strong driver line-up. But a large proportion of the remaining field – like the Audi R8 LMS, Mercedes-Benz SLS and BMW MINI – is also depending on quality running gear from BILSTEIN. They include likely candidates for victory such as Audi Racing Academy, Mamerow Racing, Räder Motorsport and Black Falcon. And with good reason – the Nordschleife demands top performance from both man and machine. With its 40 years of experience at the 24-hour race, and from its motorsport and testing expertise in the “green hell”, BILSTEIN is supplying the teams with a powerful product that is perfectly adapted for the track and the conditions of this marathon in the shape of the BILSTEIN MDS. A popular meeting place in the drivers’ enclosure once again this year is the BILSTEIN truck. Right alongside the track, the suspension experts are on hand to provide advice to ambitious hobby drivers and professional racers alike. In the mobile workshop, BILSTEIN technicians and engineers provide the race teams with round-the-clock support. Visitors to the BILSTEIN stand on the ring boulevard can also look forward to special highlights. There is one in particular that fans should not miss – a visit from tuning expert Lina Van de Mars. The well-known TV presenter will be signing autographs exclusively at the BILSTEIN stand on Friday, 18 May 2012, at 3.00 p.m.

BILSTEIN – The last word in classic suspensions

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:11:00 +0200

Ennepetal (Germany), April 11, 2012 – Offering top quality and superior technology, BILSTEIN walks away with the "Best Brand" accolade of the leading magazines year after year. The readers of Motor Klassik have ranked the sports suspension, shock absorber and spring expert top in the "Suspensions" category once again this year. Following its victories in the last two polls (2007 and 2009), BILSTEIN once again beat the competition by taking 62.4 percent of all votes. BILSTEIN was the clear winner in the "Best Brand" poll of the renowned Motor Klassik magazine for classic car enthusiasts. 62.4 percent voted for BILSTEIN in response to the question asking for the top suspension brand. Both in 2007 and 2009, when readers were first asked to rank accessory brands, BILSTEIN was voted "Best Brand", leaving its nearest rivals trailing way behind. Attracting no more than 43 percent of the votes, the other brands were well and truly beaten when it came to earning the respect of the classic car drivers. Over the last few years BILSTEIN has attracted growing numbers of reader votes and has consistently outperformed the competition. "We are especially pleased about this result because the 'Motor Klassik' readers represent a highly committed and well informed target group," said Thomas Wörmann, Head of Marketing at BILSTEIN. "This addition to our awards confirms that we are on the right track in our efforts to optimise the products in the classic segment and to respond even more precisely to customers' needs." The results of the poll can be found in the 06/12 issue of Motor Klassik.

Outstanding times in Formula 3 test for Mücke Motorsport with BILSTEIN MDS

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0200

The Mücke Motorsport team secured first and second places in the first official test races in Valencia on 17 and 18 March 2012. The team headed by Felix Rosenqvist (SWE) and Pascal Wehrlein (GER) was aided by an extremely lightweight BILSTEIN MDS shock absorber which was specially adapted for the Formula 3 racing car. Rosenqvist was the fastest driver over the entire weekend, covering the 4.005 kilometre racing track in Valencia in a time of 1:27.118 minutes. Crossing the finishing line a mere 0.138 seconds behind his team mate, Wehrlein also posted an impressive time.
"BILSTEIN did a great job. The shock absorbers were specially made for our car, so there was no difficulty at all in fitting them. The shock absorbers are incredibly light and compact. The different setting options mean that we can adjust the characteristic of the BILSTEIN MDS to match the track conditions and the tyres perfectly," explains Peter Flückiger, vehicle engineer at Mücke Motorsport.
Large numbers of racing teams are relying on BILSTEIN quality and are using MDS shock absorbers in 24 hour, long-distance or formula series races. The BILSTEIN MDS is a platform for a wide range of high-performance shock absorbers designed for use in professional racing. Roughly 50 years of motor sports know-how have gone into the BILSTEIN shock absorber system. The outstanding test times achieved by the Mücke pilots show that BILSTEIN can respond to the needs of any type of vehicle and develop the perfect product for a particular racing series. The Formula 3 Euro Series features a distinguished class of upcoming drivers which has already spawned a number of Formula 1 racing stars – of whom Sebastian Vettel, of course, is the most prominent example.
BILSTEIN congratulates the Mücke Motorsport team on its good test results and wishes it every success in the 2012 Formula 3 season!

BILSTEIN – The Magnificent Seven

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:11:00 +0200

Ennepetal, April 02, 2012 – BILSTEIN is delighted to receive the auto motor und sport "Best Brand" award again this year. Readers of the popular motoring magazine once again rated BILSTEIN as unbeatable in the "Sports Suspensions/Springs/Shock Absorbers" category. The award means that readers have given the high quality products of the suspension and shock absorber expert their vote of confidence for the seventh time in a row. Garnering 65.8 percent of the votes, BILSTEIN was the winner by a clear margin.

The 116,273 readers who voted in this year's rankings once again put BILSTEIN top in the "Sports Suspensions/Springs/Shock Absorbers" category. This means that BILSTEIN has been the unbeaten auto motor und sport winner in the sports suspension, sports shock absorbers and springs section seven times in a row. The high quality offered by the Ennepetal-based specialist makes BILSTEIN the unrivalled champion in the category, putting it way ahead of the competition.

"Being awarded this top accolade seven times in a row by auto motor und sport readers is a great honour," said Thomas Wörmann, Head of Marketing at BILSTEIN. "Coming first again is really motivating for the whole BILSTEIN team. It clearly shows our growing popularity among customers and represents a vote of confidence in the quality and technology of the BILSTEIN products. The response gives us a great incentive to continue perfecting our high-quality shock absorbers and suspensions in the future. We would like to thank all the readers who voted for BILSTEIN."
The results of the poll can be found in the current 07/12 issue of auto motor und sport and are also published at this page.

Product launch – BILSTEIN Clubsport

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:42:00 +0100

Ennepetal (Germany), March 16, 2012 – The new BILSTEIN Clubsport is a first-class suspension designed for use both on race tracks and normal roads. The pull and push settings can be adjusted separately by means of high-quality aluminium motor sport handwheels – distinctly, quickly, precisely and with no need for any tools. An integrated 2-way system without additional oil reservoir saves up to four kilograms in weight. The BILSTEIN Clubsport is an excellent entry level motor racing kit, making it an ideal suspension for sports drivers who take part in track days and driving schools on the major international race tracks – but who are also keen to use their vehicle on normal roads. The new coilover suspension kit is available for the VW Golf 6, BMW M3 (E46), BMW M3 (E36) and the Porsche 911 GT2/GT3 (997) from spring 2012.

The BILSTEIN Clubsport incorporates high-grade, OEM and racing quality components. It is simplicity itself to install and the lack of reservoir means that, once fitted, it can easily be adjusted by hand, with no need for any tools. The separately adjustable push and pull handwheels permit precise, rapid and individual adjustments to be made over ten levels, ensuring optimum road holding for each model. The entire set of 10 x 10 characteristic curve settings is well defined, with clearly perceptible and very precise transitions between the curves. A further advantage is that the ratcheting of the damping force adjustment can be distinctly felt. The integrated 2-way system and the lack of external oil reservoir save up to four kilograms in weight in the suspension. Another benefit is that, thanks to its TÜV approval, the suspension is also certified for use on roads. As an optional extra, BILSTEIN also offers the suspension as a complete kit including very lightweight aluminium support bearings. If required, the suspension unit can be adapted by BILSTEIN Motorsport to make it suitable for use in racing vehicles.

The BILSTEIN Clubsport is ideal for sports drivers who want to take their car to its limits on the racing track but who are also keen to drive on normal roads. The new BILSTEIN Clubsport suspension kit represents a top-quality BILSTEIN solution – especially for drivers taking part in the GLC, RCN, VLN and Slalom or Drift Challenges. The outstanding performance of this new Clubsport suspension unit stems from the intensive trials with world champion Walter Röhrl carried out on the Nordschleife and from joint adjustment drives performed at the company-owned accredited Test Centre in Papenburg.

BILSTEIN – a name synonymous with top quality suspension technology, as witnessed by the numerous successes posted in the company's 50 year involvement in motor racing. Experience which the company feeds back into the development of its products. Ever since its invention, BILSTEIN's monotube design has been the motor sport technology of choice.

The Clubsport suspension kit is initially available from spring 2012 for the VW Golf 6, BMW M3 (E46), BMW M3 (E36) and Porsche 911 GT2/GT3 (997).

BILSTEIN B14 and BILSTEIN B16 PSS10 now available as an upgrade for the new Mini Coupé

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 01:00:00 +0100

Ennepetal (Germany), March 8, 2012 – Thanks to the stylish tail, the sporty-flat silhouette of the new Mini Coupé adds even more sporting spirit to the two-seater. But is it possible to improve the already perfect roadholding of a BMW Mini? Suspension specialist BILSTEIN have faced up to this challenge and added the finishing touches to the car’s perfect handling by including a duo in their product range that comes straight from the race track. With the sporty BILSTEIN B14 coilover or high-performance BILSTEIN B16 PSS10 suspension system with 10-stage damping force adjustment, the Coupé grips the road like no other sports car. BILSTEIN suspensions give the Coupé a plus in performance and safety while aligning the suspension settings in a striking manner to suit narrow old town alleyways just as much as twisty overland road sections and high-speed motorway driving. After upgrading with the BILSTEIN B14 coilover, the Mini is even more dynamic and safe in every bend in the road. Thanks to its well-balanced adjustment, the sports suspension constitutes the successful combination of dynamism and comfort – comfortable in town and on the motorway, sporty and dynamic on the race track and always safe. The mono-tube gas pressure shock absorbers provide increased tracking and braking stability. With a lowering range of roughly 30 to 50 millimetres on the front and rear axles, the BILSTEIN B14 is a real gem among the tuning suspension systems. And even after installation, flexible height adjustment of up to 20 millimetres is still possible without the necessity of a renewed TÜV technical inspection. The surface finish in Triple-C-Technology®, spring plate and locknut in a special aluminium alloy and high-quality sport springs Made in Germany from highly durable material make the suspension extremely hard -wearing. The high-performance BILSTEIN B16 PSS10 suspension system enhances the performance of the Mini Coupé with even more temperament. Thanks to a ten-stage damping force adjustment system that can be regulated individually by a dial, the Mini’s robust roadholding is maximized with the BILSTEIN B16 PSS10. The lowering range of roughly 30 to 50 millimetres front and back emphasizes the sporty driving sensation – a successful composition of precise driving dynamics and sporty comfort. Here too, flexible adjustment of the height by up to 20 millimetres is possible without the necessity of a renewed TÜV technical inspection. The mono-tube gas pressure technology produces high traction, first-class handling and outstanding vehicle control, thus elevating the suspension performance of the Mini Coupé to high-end level. It becomes clear very quickly where the BILSTEIN suspension systems come from – straight from motor sport. The people at BILSTEIN put the know-how gained there into the development of all road vehicle suspensions. Every sports suspension and coilover is put through its paces by BILSTEIN engineers at the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring or at the company’s own test centre in Papenburg before being trimmed and driven to perfection. In addition to the high-performance tuning and sports suspension systems BILSTEIN B14 and B16, the specialists for shock absorbers, suspension and springs from the town of Ennepetal have even more products in their range for series use or replacement in the Mini Coupé at entry level in the form of the BILSTEIN B4, B6 and B8, all of which tangibly enhance the performance of the suspension.

Range extension: BILSTEIN B4 and BILSTEIN B6 for the Mini Coupé

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Ennepetal (Germany), March 8, 2012 – New features in our product range: the well established BILSTEIN B4 and BILSTEIN B6 shock absorbers are available as of now for the brand new Mini Coupé. This means that independent workshops now have two top-selling, top-performance series-produced shock absorbers available as spare parts. Thanks to the tried and tested shocks with gas pressure technology, the Mini Coupé will be able to maintain or even optimize its outstanding driving dynamics in the future, even after the shocks have been replaced. While the BILSTEIN B4 has high performance reserves and produces an original Mini driving feeling “just like on the first day”, the “better shock absorber” BILSTEIN B6 can get even more out of the suspension. The high-performance shock gives the car perfect roadholding and a tangible plus in safety and sporting flair – without having to replace the springs as well. The Mini’s ground contact, driving stability and driving safety are optimized by the gas pressure technology of the series-produced BILSTEIN B4 spare part shock absorber which is constructed in such a way that it has a longer service life, even under a lot of strain. The BILSTEIN B4 produces a constant damping force and improved cornering even in the most extreme situations. 50 years of experience as an original equipment manufacturer and the consistent further development of technologies give shock absorbers like the BILSTEIN B4 an extra touch of quality over other brands. By using motor sport technology, the BILSTEIN B6 gives the Mini Coupé more performance that you can feel, because its damping capacity is quite simply better. The high-performance shock absorber produces optimum roadholding and improved tracking stability in everyday and extreme situations. Thanks to the mono-tube gas pressure technology, the Coupé is given maximum safety and high performance reserves in addition to enhanced traction and more precise handling. The outstanding material and manufacturing quality make the BILSTEIN B6 extremely durable. Without having to replace the springs, the high-performance shock significantly improves the safety and sporting flair of the Mini. The best thing of all is that BILSTEIN B6 shock absorbers can be installed without a TÜV inspection and entry in the vehicle documentation. In individual road tests conducted by BILSTEIN specialists, the high-performance shock absorber was adjusted precisely to the requirements of the Mini with the result that it maintains its constant damping force even under the highest stress levels, such as those encountered on twisty sections of road and at high speeds on the motorway. With the high-performance BILSTEIN B8 shock absorber, BILSTEIN B14 sport suspension and BILSTEIN B16 PSS10 coilover, the specialists for shock absorbers, suspension and springs from the town of Ennepetal, Germany have even more product highlights for the Mini Coupé in their product range.

Motorsport cult at the BILSTEIN stand

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Ennepetal/Essen March 1, 2012 – For the travelling supports of Techno-Classica, from March 21 to 25, 2012, BILSTEIN has brought out motorsport cult and celebrities at its booth (Hall 3.0, Stand 163) again this year. BILSTEIN is the godfather of classic cars. The suspension specialists can install custom-tailored shock absorbers for almost every model. BILSTEIN's classic catalogue contains "off the shelf" vintage references for many popular old- and youngtimers. Anyone looking for very special customised shock absorbers for his or her very exclusive car already knows where to go: the BILSTEIN KSW team, the professional department for special customer requests, can fabricate high-class parts to any individual customer specification. This year BILSTEIN is once more inviting the classic community to drop by to talk shop and enthuse. With good reason, too, because BILSTEIN has driven the legendary Paris-Dakar Rally Porsche 953 of Jacky Ickx and the 1977 BMW 320i Jägermeister of Hans-Joachim Stuck to its stand as special highlights exclusively for its fans. No visitor to the Techno-Classica show misses out on these contemporary witnesses to motorsport history. BILSTEIN has also managed to bring racing legend Walter Röhrl to the exhibition: The World Rally Champion will be available on Sunday, March 25, from 11 a.m., to sign autographs exclusively at the BILSTEIN booth. BILSTEIN combines product development expertise very successfully with its commitment to classic cars and motorsport. The four-wheel drive Porsche 953 on exhibit at the stand is one of only three produced prototype vehicles. Motorsport icon Jacky Ickx and his co-pilot, the French actor Claude Brasseur, participated in the legendary 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally in this car. The Stuttgart-based car maker relied on BILSTEIN quality in what is arguably the toughest race in the world. The 231 horsepower Rothmans Porsche was equipped with a total of six BILSTEIN shock absorbers. Not only Jacky Ickx was able to start in the Paris-Dakar Rally with this car: Formula 1 driver Jacques Laffite also participated in the rally in 1988. This Porsche has now come home after journeying through four continents for almost 30 years. BILSTEIN has succeeded in bringing this rarity to its stand at Techno-Classica. The BMW 320i in Jägermeister design has a history whose success matches that of the Porsche. Hans-Joachim Stuck, otherwise known as "Striezel", recorded numerous victories with the BMW in which he went to the starting line in Division 2 of the German Racing Championship (DRM) in 1977. To fit out the car, the Bavarian carmaker relied on mono-tube gas pressure shock absorbers made by BILSTEIN. Walter Röhrl is an inseparable part of BILSTEIN's motorsport history: The two-time World Rally Champion and four-time Rally Monte Carlo winner has helped BILSTEIN test and perfect its products in countless trial runs. At 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 3, he will be signing autographs in a one-hour session exclusively at the BILSTEIN stand. Backed by its successes in motorsport and years of development experience, the company is able to satisfy many requests for custom-made parts, also for exotic and vintage vehicle models, with custom-tailored shocks for old- and youngtimers. The experts of the special customer requests department (KSW) are able to fabricate any classic shock absorber with the utmost precision. The components used are very high quality, technically designed in such a way that BILSTEIN specialists can customise the settings and adjust the damping force even after installation of the dampers. Each new shock absorber is manufactured manually at BILSTEIN to OE standard. Used parts are also tested, repaired and optimized. The 160-page book "50 Years of Bilstein Motorsport" is available at the stand for 29.90 euro as limited edition in German and English.
To download the BILSTEIN classic catalogue, go to this page.

Audi R8 LMS wins 12 hour thriller at Bathurst with BILSTEIN MDS suspension

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

This victory enabled the GT3 sports car to successfully defend its title in the land of kangaroos. On the 6,213 km long mountain and valley section of the Australian Bathurst track, victory went to the Phoenix Racing team around Christopher Mies, Christer Jöns and Darryl O'Young. Equipped with the BILSTEIN Modular Damper System (MDS), the Audi R8 LMS in kangaroo design was able to overcome even the harshest conditions – including fog, rain, and numerous safety car periods – to finish the race 1:13.28 minutes ahead of its closest rival. Even a spin-out couldn't stop the team. The Audi R8 LMS crossed the finishing line in first place after 270 laps and eight hours in the leading position.

Audi and BILSTEIN remain unbeaten on the historic racing track in the outback: the Audi R8 LMS has now beaten the competition and finished first two years in a row. In the qualifying stage the trio of drivers was already able to outpace all other cars. Shortly thereafter, the team was able to celebrate pole position and by the end of the weekend it scooped up overall victory.

BILSTEIN's Modular Damper System forms the platform for a wide range of high performance shock absorbers for professional racing. BILSTEIN has been the exclusive supplier of the Audi R8 LMS since 2009. The custom-tailored suspension for the Audi R8 LMS was developed in close cooperation with Audi Sport and is designed to meet even the highest motorsport standards. With the victory at Bathurst, Audi and BILSTEIN have continued their series of international victories in recent years.

Backed by 50 years of motorsport expertise, BILSTEIN is a reliable partner for racing teams. The second successive Audi victory at the Bathurst 12 hour race using equipment supplied by BILSTEIN technology shows: BILSTEIN is the perfect partner in motorsport.

BILSTEIN congratulates Audi and Team Phoenix for the strong performance at the 12 hour endurance race in Australia.

Double Victory for BILSTEIN at Golden Jubilee of Daytona 24 Hour Race

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Magnus Racing was able to gain the upper hand in the tense duel against the TRG team and cross the finishing line in first place at the 50th jubilee of the long distance classic. Equipped with BILSTEIN's modular damper system (MDS), the team around Andy Lally, Richard Lietz, René Rast and John Potter at the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 took the chequered flag. In front of a record crowd at Daytona International Speedway, the quartet held on to a slight lead of 9.412 seconds to consign to second place the Porsche 911 GT3 of Wolf Henzler, Bleekemolen, Marc Goossens, Spencer Pumpelly and Steven Bertheau of TRG Racing, which also featured MDS shocks. BILSTEIN experts Pat Macaulay and Martin Flick were there to assist the racing teams in getting their suspension systems perfectly tuned to the conditions and requirements of the Daytona circuit.

"After the big success in 2011, we were again pleased to be the supplier of the two victorious teams at this year's golden jubilee of the 24-hour race. The stress on drivers and cars at Daytona is enormous. Thanks to our experience as long-standing partner to the racing teams we are aware of what is decisive at the marathon race", says Dirk Spohr, head of Motorsport division at BILSTEIN. "Our dampers are developed to meet our customers' requirements, to withstand even the harshest conditions and to provide full performance even during 24-hour races."

Many of the teams competing at Daytona trust BILSTEIN quality and use MDS dampers. MDS forms the platform for a wide range of high-performance dampers that are used in professional motorsport. The damper system developed by BILSTEIN is based on 50 years of motorsport know-how. BILSTEIN has been a trusted partner of racing teams in motorsport for many years. BILSTEIN products are notable for their longevity and quality. The second win in succession at the Daytona 24-hour race with BILSTEIN technology shows: BILSTEIN is a major player in motorsport.

After this nerve-racking 24-hour marathon, BILSTEIN congratulates all the racing teams for their strong performance!