Difference between Bilstein B6, 4600 and 5100 shocks

[chris0375]

I am confused regarding the difference between these shocks.

The 4600 and 5100 are for the USA market, they are not made in Germany.
The B6 shock is sold through official channels in Australia and is made Germany and is rebuildable.

4600 shocks are approx. $60-70 each USD
5100 shocks are approx. $70-80 each USD
I can get 4 x 5100 shocks posted to Melbourne for $430 USD
B6 shocks are about $950 AUD posted from an Australian company.

I spoke to an Australian retailer who claims that the B6 shock is vastly superior and is rebuild able (about $200 per shock) and is much better for touring and Australian conditions. I was also told that they will never need rebuilding so don’t know why it is an advantage.

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/news/i...heavy-duty.cfm suggests there is little difference apart from appearance and lengths between the 4600 and 5100.

http://www.carparts.com/bilstein/hd-shock suggests the 4600 is a higher grade product over the B6

http://www.my4by.com/bilstein-4600-series-1134.htmls suggests the B6 and 4600 is the same product

Are certain Australian retailers lying when they say the B6 is vastly better than the 4600 and 5100? Because it seems to me they are the same as the 4600 just branded differently for different markets.

I want shocks that will cope with touring but mainly for high country work. The available lengths of the 5100 are advantageous.

I am almost certain on buying 5100 parts (24-146708 and 24-146715). Anyone know for sure if Australian retailers claim that the B6 are better is actually true?

[chris0375]

Funny thing is that postage quote was by air, probably get it quicker from the USA than buying it in Australia.

Sent from my C5503 using Tapatalk

[timbotrog]

Contact Andrew Bottomley at Jeep Konnection as they sell the AEV lift kits to suit the JK that contain the Bilstein 5100 series shocks.

I have their 2.5" lift kit on my 2014 JKU Rubicon and it is brilliant.

I also have the Bilstein 5100 series shocks in my 2003 WG Grand Cherokee V8 and they are also brilliant.

IMHO the 4600 series Bilstein shocks are a "step down" from the 5100 series.

I know someone who put them in their Earth Boat, (see Land Cruiser), and they just aren't the same.

[jktom]

Quality aside, the shocks will be valves differently. And why would you pay $200 for a shock rebuild when you can get a new 5100 for $90. We all know that we pay to much for certain things over here, our distributors make more margin than US duties, our resellers make more margin than the US resellers and so on, our salaries are higher, our rents are higher, this all equals higher prices we pay at the counter. And sometimes, products are priced are what the market can bear, not cost + 20%, so if we Aussies are prepared to pay $170 for an OME shock, then they will charge it, even though they are made here, shipped to the US and sold for $90.
All that aside, the 5100's are very popular in the US, the Jeep is very popular, so you would hope they spent sone time calving it properly, and you very rarely hear a negative comment about them, everyone is happy with them.
Same in Oz, many blokes have the 5100's and most are very happy with them.
Be risky to buy the yellow ones, when no one else has them, to find they are to short, and to firm, or soft or whatever, on the comment made from a reseller that they are of better quality?