OEM suspension

[mmm-five]

£2 - 2.5k dependent on specific set up

That’s crazy because I paid £1,050 for my V2s which were bought brand new from a KW supplier.

Shame they only offer V3s and Clubsports for you guy’s platform.

For £2,000 I would be tempted to go Öhlins.

I didn't think there was an Ohlins kit for the Z4M anyway. There is an e46 M3 Road & Track kit (BMW MI30) at about £2.2k, but I'm not sure it fits the ZMR/ZMC. Same goes for the track kit (BMV MU00) which is more like £5k.

My B16 PSS10 kit was just under £2k when I bought it, but is available at about £1.7k now.

KW V3s are under £2k. KW Clubsports are over £2.5k.

You can also go for ACS stuff at over £3k if you wish.

But if you look hard enough, you do see the occasional offer on at one of the tuners (not necessarily BMW-specific tuners).

[BMWZ4MC]

I think I paid about £2400 for my Clubsports back in 2013. Camber / castor plates made up about £500 of that total.

[MrPT]

I have a ZMR on the original suspension set up and it seems fine, apart from harshness and wobble on some rough tarmac roads, so why do people replace OEM with other set ups?

Because it's harsh and jumps all over the place on rough roads.

lol, yes exactly.

Very happy with my KWs. Wouldn’t call it a B-road monster, but it can handle poor surfaces without getting unstuck, which hasn’t been the case for any E85/E86 I’ve ever driven on stock suspension. Ride height goes pretty much up to OEM levels too, so no issues with speed bumps etc.

I was thinking that it would be nice to have the option of switching to some softer springs as I make progress with the diet (the car, not me) but, then again, people seem to find the V3s a bit soft for track work, so perhaps there’s a fair margin there before they become oversprung.

[Beemingallover]

What's the difference in kerb weight between a ZMC and a ZMR? Some of the posts on this thread are from a ZMC perspective, so I'm wondering whether a weight differential comes into it.

[mmm-five]

What's the difference in kerb weight between a ZMC and a ZMR? Some of the posts on this thread are from a ZMC perspective, so I'm wondering whether a weight differential comes into it.

About 33lbs/15kg extra in the m-coupe over the m-roadster (3230lbs vs 3197lbs) - according to the BMW brochure.

I think the ZMR rides better on OE suspension than the ZMC because the coupe has twice the torsional rigidity of the roadster (due to the additional bracing the roof provides).

But the coupe is closer to 50:50 than the roadster...50.2:49.8 vs 49.3:51.7...so you could say the coupe is a little 'nose heavy'

The roadster is also more 'draggy' having a drag coefficient of 0.38 vs the coupe's 0.35.

[Beemingallover]

What's the difference in kerb weight between a ZMC and a ZMR? Some of the posts on this thread are from a ZMC perspective, so I'm wondering whether a weight differential comes into it.

About 33lbs/15kg extra in the m-coupe over the m-roadster (3230lbs vs 3197lbs) - according to the BMW brochure.

I think the ZMR rides better on OE suspension than the ZMC because the coupe has twice the torsional rigidity of the roadster (due to the additional bracing the roof provides).

But the coupe is closer to 50:50 than the roadster...50.2:49.8 vs 49.3:51.7...so you could say the coupe is a little 'nose heavy'

The roadster is also more 'draggy' having a drag coefficient of 0.38 vs the coupe's 0.35.

Yep, different characteristics then between them. So recommendations from coupe drivers on suspension may not relate to the roadie.

[mmm-five]

Yep, different characteristics then between them. So recommendations from coupe drivers on suspension may not relate to the roadie.

But the recommendation to get 'adjustable' suspension is valid, as the same suspension can be used on either car - as you can adjust it to your, individual case - be that the car, the road manners, the track manners, etc.

Otherwise, what suits a car with a 60kg driver would be completely unusable on a car with a 90kg driver, or a car where the standard electric seats have been replaced with carbon buckets

[Beemingallover]

Yep, different characteristics then between them. So recommendations from coupe drivers on suspension may not relate to the roadie.

But the recommendation to get 'adjustable' suspension is valid, as the same suspension can be used on either car - as you can adjust it to your, individual case - be that the car, the road manners, the track manners, etc.


Otherwise, what suits a car with a 60kg driver would be completely unusable on a car with a 90kg driver, or a car where the standard electric seats have been replaced with carbon buckets

Accepted.
Back in the 1980s (remember those years?) I decided to "upgrade" from a series of Capri 3.0 and 2.8i to an Opel Monza. Lovely motor, the Opel, felt well engineered and solid, 5 bearing main crank, silky smooth straight 6 pot compared with the agri Ford V6. However, did it wallow in corners, after awhile I had fitted adj Konis. Stiffened it up alright but it felt odd, nervy. If anything it was retrograde to fit the Konis. Then Opel brought out an updated Monza GSE (1985?) with firmed up suspension and recaros. I traded in. The Monza GSE then was a very good "drivers" car, handled as it should have done in earlier models.
So, I'm wary of junking oem stuff.

[Argenta]

I've seen loads of trackday-comparisons between KWV3 and KW Clubsports, but not so much OEM suspension vs. KWV3 - does anybody have one?

[RedUn]

You'll pick some V3s up for 1700ish with a haggle, obviously fitting and geo on top.

[BMWZ4MC]

I've seen loads of trackday-comparisons between KWV3 and KW Clubsports, but not so much OEM suspension vs. KWV3 - does anybody have one?

Do you have any links to the V3 vs CS comparisons?

I went from Eibachs with OEM dampers to KW CS. Along with the anticipated handling improvements such as increased cornering speeds and greater balance at the limits of grip, there was an unexpected marked reduction in braking distances. By eliminating pitch under heavy deceleration, all four tyres contribute to the braking effort.

[Argenta]

Yeah I know the KW CS are great on track, was thinking of V3 here, vs. OEM.

[BMWZ4MC]

Ah yes, in my tired state I missed that you specifically asked about V3 vs OEM

[RedUn]

Yeah I know the KW CS are great on track, was thinking of V3 here, vs. OEM.

I've got CS on my MR but I've been out in a MC on V3s.

The V3s have more road manners, they are very well damped and soak up the bumps. The CS are very good on the road too just a touch harsher with the linear springs on the front.

I've also ran oem dampers + eibach springs and full oem.

Full oem is utter shite in comparison to the KWs, V3s or CS it doesn't matter they are in a different league.

[Beemingallover]

Yeah I know the KW CS are great on track, was thinking of V3 here, vs. OEM.

I've got CS on my MR but I've been out in a MC on V3s.
The V3s have more road manners, they are very well damped and soak up the bumps. The CS are very good on the road too just a touch harsher with the linear springs on the front.

I've also ran oem dampers + eibach springs and full oem.

Full oem is utter shite in comparison to the KWs, V3s or CS it doesn't matter they are in a different league.

A useful appraisal from a Roadie, most comments have been from coupes. If I was to dump oem, with a limited budget what should I go with for road use, national and continental? Bare in mind on trips I'll be fully loaded - 2 pax + bags.