Originally posted by DemonSVT:
Originally posted by RogerB:
The TC is a fairly new animal, I think, and so probably doesn't fit in the C-HD-S continuum. I'm not sure where it lies. Lots of VW guys running TC's with lower springs, and they do have a shortened shaft...

I'm getting a sense that these are an "economy" strut aimed at the tuner crowd, but "economy" in the Bilstein sense of the word. As in, that's a good thing.


The struts I am talking about are the Sprintline series.

Every review I have read has said they are a better strut then Koni for handling and dampening.


BTW - What gives you that sense?

The Bilstein struts BAT sells are imported from Europe. Not even available or marketed in the states.



Just had a long conversation with Eric at BAT. We covered a lot of ground, but I??ll try to relate the high points.

1. First off, these struts are built to a very similar spec to the BAT Euro sport. I??m not saying they are equal, or the same, or built by the same people. But back when BAT was trying to get a strut made, they sent their requirements to several companies, one of which was Bilstein. Bilstein finally delivered.

2. Secondly, Bilstein Europe just put out a new catalog with new marketing language. ??Sprintline? is gone, replaced by ??B4 Gas? or TC. The former ??Sport? (formerly ??Ralleye?) strut is now the B8 Sprint, and the former HD is now B6 Sport. (Still with me?) Not sure if these changes apply to the US market. This strut was originally packaged with Bilstein springs, and aimed at competing with other ??economy? suspension kits from Koni, FK, Eibach, Vogtland, etc. So, that accounts for some of the confusion in web research. Lots of websites out there haven??t been updated. The old TC may or may not be the same as the new TC, and frankly, it was a confusing product offering.

3. These struts are not really available anywhere else. BAT??s TC is built by Bilstein to BAT??s specifications. It has a shortened shaft, and damping rates spec??d by BAT. It is very difficult to compare this TC to the one on your friend??s VW.

4. And for good measure, I asked him who actually makes the BAT strut. Well, he couldn??t tell me, and that was part of the original agreement he made with the manufacturer. Retail politics. That??s all. But judging by the Bilstein story, they are definitely not Bilstein.



Function before fashion. '96 Contour SE "Toss the Contour into a corner, and it's as easy to catch as a softball thrown by a preschooler." -Edmunds, 1998