So over Christmas I fitted this kit provided by Balance Motorsport (who were a pleasure to deal with):
balancemotorsport.co.uk/bilstein-b12-pro-kit-fiat-panda-1-4-16v-100-hp-1-3-multijet-46-206725-1.html
I replaced what I assume were the original springs and dampers, which whilst still working were looking decidedly crusty. Fitting was straight-forward, with the only real surprise being that whilst the front ride-height remained unchanged, the rear dropped by about 30mm, which to be honest I wasn't expecting. Anyway first impressions are the previously brittle ride, that had you wincing over even the smallest pothole, has gone, and overall the car feels much more composed. I can't say what it's like at more than about five tenths at the moment, but I'll be using it for an autosolo soon, so will provide an update then.
Posting it here in case others find the info useful.

Measuring against springs from a 1.2 Dynamic, the 100HP has the same wire but cut shorter so no surprise they feel rock hard. The 100HP's standard (long) bump stops aggravate the issue even further.

Wanting to put off the cost of a set of Bilsteins and not wanting to drop the ride height, I used a pair of Fiat 500 springs at the back. With a rubber buffer at both ends (normally fitted to top only) the ride height is unchanged but considerably more compliant. I paid just £20 for a pair of (good) used F500 springs so even if they had failed miserably the cost was not an issue. An added bonus, the standard rear dampers are now coping fine. Bilsteins would be even better still.

Yep, I think the main reason the new springs are more comfortable is because they're not just a single rate, I suspect they're actually softer under initial compression

If it's riding a bit low at the back, a second rubber buffer (used on the spring top) can be used on the bottom end. It also avoids the metal to metal corrosion issue in the axle spring pans.

They come up on eBay from time to time but I believe the OEM cost is reasonable.

Thanks for the tip - though I don't think the ride-height is an issue, the metal-on metal contact on the rear springs always irked me.
In other news I got to try out the new suspension in anger yesterday at the last of the Donington Winter Series autoSOLOs. Whilst it's hard to say it felt much different, the car did feel planted through the slaloms and my early results were several places better than previously (so I'm convincing myself it was all worthwhile - though it could just be driver-inconsistency).
Anyway there's some footage here:
[ame]https://youtu.be/BlzYj9eqV4w[/ame]

If your times improved that much it had to be road conditions, tyres, suspension or maybe you suddenly gut uber skilled. My money is on your new suspension.

Keep a look out for a pair of rear spring rubbers and try them. They deffo protect the paint far better than metal on metal.
They take very little time to fit. If you dont like the result its a few £s and the time to fit/remove.

Just had this kit fitted too. Am impressed with it from an afternoon of driving and also pleased that it has not lowered the car much at all so keeping the OEM look.

Attached is a pic of how it's now sitting.

I have just replaced the rear shocks and front arms on a none 100hp panda

There is a noticeable improvement

worn out vs new so not unexpected

be nice to see a comparison between new OEM vs new upgrade

Does anyone know the difference between OEM front struts for 1.2 and 100HP?

1.2 strut Fiat number 51857950 and 51857951

100HP strut Fiat number 51857302 and 51857326 or 50708257 and 50708258 (who knows why the different numbers).

I ask because I got caught out paying double price for 100HP bottom swing arms which don't seem to offer anything better than the 1.2 parts.

thats a difficult one


try looking through big aftermarket catalogued and see if they list different struts for the 100hp. If they can get away with the same part they will

https://www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/products/22-235657

looks like the diesel is closest

That's an interesting link whereby the 1.4 "natural power" has the same fitting as the sporty 100HP and heavier 1.3 diesel. The gas powered version is functionally the same as a 1.2.

Sadly no search button (that I could see), so no chance to check the 1.1 and 1.2 fitments.

Had my "beater" 100hp in for MOT IN February. Previous owner had a set of standard bottom arms installed for previous MOT. The rear bushes on both were knackered, driver's side was torn right out. Approx 7000 miles, 3000 of which were with me.
The "proper" arms I put on my son's 100hp 3 years and 30k ago are still OK and he is MUCH harder on cars than I am.

Not convinced by those on here who say standard arms are OK on a 100hp. Same applies to the dampers... if FIAT could have got away with the same part, they would have done just that. That's why so many parts were carried over from the Punto, Seicento etc.

Just my opinion though.

irc said:

Had my "beater" 100hp in for MOT IN February. Previous owner had a set of standard bottom arms installed for previous MOT. The rear bushes on both were knackered, driver's side was torn right out. Approx 7000 miles, 3000 of which were with me.
The "proper" arms I put on my son's 100hp 3 years and 30k ago are still OK and he is MUCH harder on cars than I am.

Not convinced by those on here who say standard arms are OK on a 100hp. Same applies to the dampers... if FIAT could have got away with the same part, they would have done just that. That's why so many parts were carried over from the Punto, Seicento etc.

Just my opinion though.

Click to expand...

"Just my opinion" but no less valid for that. Thanks for the insight.

DaveMcT said:

That's an interesting link whereby the 1.4 "natural power" has the same fitting as the sporty 100HP and heavier 1.3 diesel. The gas powered version is functionally the same as a 1.2.

Sadly no search button (that I could see), so no chance to check the 1.1 and 1.2 fitments.

Click to expand...

Monroe are showing these as the same

Type 169 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 JTD 09.03→ 08.13

and only some of the 4x4 as different


no mention of any 1.4 100hp or not

irc said:

Had my "beater" 100hp in for MOT IN February. Previous owner had a set of standard bottom arms installed for previous MOT. The rear bushes on both were knackered, driver's side was torn right out. Approx 7000 miles, 3000 of which were with me.
The "proper" arms I put on my son's 100hp 3 years and 30k ago are still OK and he is MUCH harder on cars than I am.

Not convinced by those on here who say standard arms are OK on a 100hp. Same applies to the dampers... if FIAT could have got away with the same part, they would have done just that. That's why so many parts were carried over from the Punto, Seicento etc.

Just my opinion though.

Click to expand...

Too many variables

Substandard parts from ebay. Most likely.

parking with two wheels up a pavement

living or working on a road with speed humps and so on

how its driven

There's examples the other way where the 100hp Arms haven't lasted a year.

I just changed the rear shocks where one side is ripped out due to poor fitting.

When I checked a few years ago second hand 100hp arms on Poland/Italy didn't have the upgraded arms but all UK eBay did.

I have never had a problem with parts from a motor factor but ebay is very hit and miss. Sometimes you win sometimes you loose

If you want the different bushes they are available separately for about £5-£10

Don't disagree with the "too many variables" part. Cheap c**p from whatever source will still be cheap c**p. Driving standards vary. etc...

But, my point was, if FIAT thought the standard part would be fine, why would they go to the trouble of designing, manufacturing, fitting, stocking and supplying a different part?
It's a lot of extra cost to do that, from a company that has a track record of using parts from the current parts bin wherever possible.

I personally don't feel comfortable using the "wrong" part just because it fits and is cheaper for me to buy, unless I really understand the implications (so I don't tend to buy cheap c**p from eBay or other sources of random unnamed brands).

But, as I said, just my opinion, and definitely not saying that yours is wrong.

Magneti Marelli make the arms for 100HP. The standard Panda arms can be MM or Original Birth. Both are good names.

The standard arms cost about £30 a side the 100HP arms are about £80 a side but are often hard to find.

Shop 4 Parts don't have Magnetti 100HP arms (and had none when I wanted them). They do have FCA parts at £125 per side. At that rate I'd take the "lesser" arms and change them more often.

£160 v £60 I can just about stomach. But £250 v £60 is a no brainer for the cheaper parts.

Think I paid around £75 each for mine (MM), but took some research and shopping around.
Interestingly, the ball joints on the cheaper ones were pretty sloppy too (I did get some of the 100hp-type rear bushes a while ago, and would have swapped them if they were the only problem).
As koalar said, previous owner could have used cheapest c**p he could find, so they wouldn't have done much better on a 1.2. Wish I'd kept them long enough to take photos & find what brand they were.

Just found the garage bill for them (from previous owner - good paperwork file from first service!). Not very itemised, but looks like the garage charged about £100 each. No brand specified, but part numbers for standard 1.1/1.2/1.3 arms. Labour was separate, so someone got mugged!
Other prices on the invoice look fairly realistic (mostly service parts), and the oil filter I took off was genuine FIAT, so all pretty inconclusive.