Z4MR Spring Dilemma

[AndyT]

Evening all.

I’m a bit stuck on which route to go down, my Z4MR is currently with BMW after having an Inspection II service and need both rear springs replacing

Do I keep it stock and get them to replace them paying the dealer tax for convenience as they already have the car, or take it else where and go for eibach or H&R springs all round

Part of me likes the idea of keeping it all original, but would also love to reduce the wheel gap somewhat. Not fussed on the coilover route as not going to track it and don’t want it too low, just OEM+

I’ve read as much as I can about people’s thoughts but all tend to be against different springs or coilovers, not necessarily sticking with stock.

Photos below don’t look too bad but that’s with broken springs. so would sit higher when replaced.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

4DB225CD-2988-4F7C-9FAD-006A89E7E8E8.jpeg (221.15 KiB) Viewed 1114 times

CA31FD03-F30A-47AC-A448-FAE96A5D3DE2.jpeg (151.83 KiB) Viewed 1114 times

[abar121]

If you want to lower it, now would be the time.

I would refresh the dampers though and really get dampers that are matched to your springs. Worn dampers and lowering springs are not a great pairing.

The Bilstein B12 kit seems to be popular on here and is great value.

[srhutch]

I’d put H&R’s on. Its what I have on mine, but I do have a set of oem springs in a box that I took off just in case I ever need to get back to original.

[warmasice]

Eibach will give you the OEM+ look. H&R will give you a greater drop.

[Mr Tidy]

I don't know if they are the same for MR and MC but I have a set of H & R springs that came with my car. The previous owner had them on his previous MC, so they don't look very used.

But where you are may be a factor because the fronts are still fitted on OE dampers so freight wouldn't be easy, or cheap!

If they might be of any interest let me know.

[Bigpow]

I have h&r on the rear and coil overs in the front. Ride is now spot on

[RedUn]

Evening all.

I’m a bit stuck on which route to go down, my Z4MR is currently with BMW after having an Inspection II service and need both rear springs replacing

Do I keep it stock and get them to replace them paying the dealer tax for convenience as they already have the car, or take it else where and go for eibach or H&R springs all round

Part of me likes the idea of keeping it all original, but would also love to reduce the wheel gap somewhat. Not fussed on the coilover route as not going to track it and don’t want it too low, just OEM+

I’ve read as much as I can about people’s thoughts but all tend to be against different springs or coilovers, not necessarily sticking with stock.

Photos below don’t look too bad but that’s with broken springs. so would sit higher when replaced.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

4DB225CD-2988-4F7C-9FAD-006A89E7E8E8.jpeg

CA31FD03-F30A-47AC-A448-FAE96A5D3DE2.jpeg

How many miles on the car? That will make a diff

[Jon2215]

I recently changed the M to Eibach springs after reading reviews on here with comparisons with H&R.
Mines only on 35000mls but always felt skittish on the rear when pushing on a spirited drive.
Changed to Eibachs and it’s completely transformed the handling,rides so much better and driving over a small pot hole doesn’t feel anywhere near as bad as before.
Added bonus was 20mm drop front and 10mm rear.
Got the springs from Germany for only £165.
Rears only took me 10mins a per side,easiest rear springs I’ve ever done,fronts around 1hr per side.

[Franzino]

Eibach will give you the OEM+ look. H&R will give you a greater drop.

I would 100% go for Eibach, they work rather ok with the standard Z4M dampers (I used this set up before getting Biltein B-16 on my Z4M). The H&R will drop to low (for the standard dampers) and I found that the car drive less good for my personal taste (drives also more on the bumpstops on really bad roads with the lower H&R).

But honestly; suspension does so much on a car...that in your case (if you don't do track) I would fit new (non adjustable) dampers also and get a Bilstein B12-Pro Kit to replace everything (also check possible worn out bushings at that time). I used to have Bilstein B12 Pro Kit on my e46 325i when I replaced my (worn out) standard suspension and it was a nice upgrade for daily use.

I don't know how you drive your car or when the dampers were replaced, but on my own cars that I drive hard I change the dampers and bushings after +/- 100.000km (60.000miles) which is after every 4 years in my case (on my daily driver). For my taste; most dampers lose their best operation after 90.000km of hard use...but I'm really sensitive about road handling and it's not something I would safe money on.

[Franzino]

I have h&r on the rear and coil overs in the front. Ride is now spot on

So original dampers with H&R spring at the rear and adjustable coilovers at the front....wow this is a strange suspension set up.

[AndyT]

How many miles on the car? That will make a diff

It’s done 46k miles at the minute and looking to do 4-6k a year.

[AndyT]

I recently changed the M to Eibach springs after reading reviews on here with comparisons with H&R.
Mines only on 35000mls but always felt skittish on the rear when pushing on a spirited drive.
Changed to Eibachs and it’s completely transformed the handling,rides so much better and driving over a small pot hole doesn’t feel anywhere near as bad as before.
Added bonus was 20mm drop front and 10mm rear.
Got the springs from Germany for only £165.
Rears only took me 10mins a per side,easiest rear springs I’ve ever done,fronts around 1hr per side.

Did you replace the dampers at all or are you still on the original ones?

[RedUn]

How many miles on the car? That will make a diff

It’s done 46k miles at the minute and looking to do 4-6k a year.

That's not too bad, I'd probably go for the eibach springs for now and see how you get on with a nice geo

[Mr Tidy]

That's not too bad, I'd probably go for the eibach springs for now and see how you get on with a nice geo

To be fair if I was going to fit Eibach springs I'd just buy the complete Bilstein B12 kit - it seems much cheaper than buying the springs then the dampers later. Always assuming the car is a keeper.

From what I can make out the Eibachs drop the car 20mm at the front and 10mm at the front, whereas H & Rs are one inch (or 25mm) lower all round which can be an issue. Although my H & R coil-overs at maximim height have a 0.9 inch (23mm) drop on the front and 0.75 inch (19mm) drop on the rear and it hasn't caused me any problems. I did have issues before I got them up from the "slammed" stance it had when I bought it.

[Jon2215]

I recently changed the M to Eibach springs after reading reviews on here with comparisons with H&R.
Mines only on 35000mls but always felt skittish on the rear when pushing on a spirited drive.
Changed to Eibachs and it’s completely transformed the handling,rides so much better and driving over a small pot hole doesn’t feel anywhere near as bad as before.
Added bonus was 20mm drop front and 10mm rear.
Got the springs from Germany for only £165.
Rears only took me 10mins a per side,easiest rear springs I’ve ever done,fronts around 1hr per side.

Did you replace the dampers at all or are you still on the original ones?

Andy I just replaced the springs as the dampers were fine