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Tyres or dampers
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Moto450cc
- Newbie
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2024 10:18 am
Tyres or dampers
What would give me a greater improvement on ride quality, tyres (not run flats) or replacing dampers on a 21yo 58,000 z4? I can only afford to do one at a time!
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Nick W
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1588
- Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2017 2:06 pm
- Location: Plymouth ish
Tyres or dampers
If the tyres are worn or damaged replace them first, if not go for the shocks and get the kids a tyre each for Easter.
Silver M Roadster
220d Active Tourer
Landrovers 90 & 110
220d Active Tourer
Landrovers 90 & 110
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Onlinepatriot66
- Lifer
- Posts: 3491
- Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2015 2:59 am
- Location: Mawdesley, Lancashire
Tyres or dampers
21 year old original shocks will be completely ineffectual. Change them first 
Sterling Grey '03 2.5i SE / Infinitas Supercharger / S.M.G / Hardtop / Gloss Black 162s / Bilstein B4s / 3.0i Brakes / DLV De-Cat & Silencer / Rebuilt VANOS / Sonar 2Xcite Lights / Carbon & Alcantara Trim / M-Sport Seats / ...& Side Covers !
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enuff_zed
- Lifer
- Posts: 15078
- Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:05 am
- Location: Attleborough, Norfolk
Tyres or dampers
Agreed.
No matter how good or bad your tyres, it is the suspension that controls their interaction with the road.
HQ of 'Norfolk Zed Rescue'.
Always happy to help if I can.
If the forum helped you, why not help the forum back. Thats the Z4 way!
Always happy to help if I can.
If the forum helped you, why not help the forum back. Thats the Z4 way!
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Moto450cc
- Newbie
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2024 10:18 am
Tyres or dampers
Ah, OK. Shocks it is! It seems that Blistein B4s are the way to go, can anyone recommend a supplier, I'll probably get new top mounts too
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OnlineZedebee
- Lifer
- Posts: 3459
- Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2020 10:37 pm
- Location: North Hampshire
Tyres or dampers
Why Bilsteins? You can usually get OEM Sachs on Autodoc for a decent price.
2003 Maldives Blue 3.0i auto
Previously: Maldives Blue 2.5i manual (its back!) and another, and a Monaco Blue 3.0Si coupe
Previously: Maldives Blue 2.5i manual (its back!) and another, and a Monaco Blue 3.0Si coupe
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j3nks79
- Member
- Posts: 790
- Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2023 9:46 pm
Tyres or dampers
If you do the shocks. Then factor in changing top mounts. Drop links. Possible inner tie rods and track rod ends. And maybe lower arms and bushes.
Then obviously alignment.
Then obviously alignment.
2009 09 Carbon Black Cinnamon E86
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enuff_zed
- Lifer
- Posts: 15078
- Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:05 am
- Location: Attleborough, Norfolk
Tyres or dampers
If you wait for the best discounts on Autodoc you should be able to do all four corners with Sachs dampers, plus top mounts, drop links and bump stops for somewhere in the region of £450. Lemforder top mounts are OEM: you can see where they scratch the ‘BMW’ off! Do NOT fit Meyle HD rear top mounts! Terrible design means you get metal to metal contact between the centre bush and the cup washer. The banging will drive you mad.
Last edited by enuff_zed on Sat Mar 30, 2024 9:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
HQ of 'Norfolk Zed Rescue'.
Always happy to help if I can.
If the forum helped you, why not help the forum back. Thats the Z4 way!
Always happy to help if I can.
If the forum helped you, why not help the forum back. Thats the Z4 way!
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Moto450cc
- Newbie
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2024 10:18 am
Tyres or dampers
Thanks for all the replies. In regards to the blisteins, reading on various forums, it seems that these were the ones to get, if OEM Sachs are comparable, I'll look into it.