Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

Advice on suspension please

Specific discussion about the E89 2009 Z4 (sDrive35is, sDrive35i, sDrive30i, sDrive23i)
Post Reply
Dave 2 dogs
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1467
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2018 7:29 pm

Advice on suspension please

Post by Dave 2 dogs » Tue Jan 14, 2025 10:40 am

Hey ,
I’ve just gotten a new mot . It HAS passed , but with some advisories.
Coil springs corroded- near side - off side rear.
Front shock absorber has slight misting ( offside front )
And also a tyre is starting to perish, which is easy.
I have adaptive m sport suspension… so does this need to go to bmw ? Does it have to be re set on a computer?
Basically who can do the suspension with no issues after. I’m looking to sell the car possibly next year. Possibly on here if at the time, anyone is interested. So obviously want this done the correct way … what have you guys done with this issue?
Thank you
Regards
2 dogs

Busterboo
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2964
Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2016 2:49 am

Advice on suspension please

Post by Busterboo » Tue Jan 14, 2025 11:07 am

Coil springs are cheap to replace. However, 'corrosion' - where that means surface rust - is, as you know, an advisory and not an MoT failure. Whatever, any half-decent garage can do the job.
As for 'misting' on adaptives, I'll bet London to a brick that half the cars with this poor suspension have it on at least one unit. So, either declare it at time of sale, or conceal it with a good underside clean with suitable liquids, or bite the bullet and replace. Again, not rocket science to do. (I've long suspected that they mist because they don't get used enough and the seals dry. That said, this is why theyr're poor.)
Vidi, vici, veni

Dave 2 dogs
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1467
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2018 7:29 pm

Advice on suspension please

Post by Dave 2 dogs » Tue Jan 14, 2025 11:19 am

Busterboo
Thanks so much for the feedback. So , you covered the springs ( thank you) regarding the suspension, would that have to be coded ? Or just the OEM shocks replaced for same , plug in and ready to go ?
Thank you

Busterboo
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2964
Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2016 2:49 am

Advice on suspension please

Post by Busterboo » Tue Jan 14, 2025 11:27 am

No, Dave. My local independent replaced the coil springs and the - also fortunately local - AD replaced the adaptives (6) under insured warranty.

I now have one 'misting' adaptive, which I'll replace or declare at time of sale, depending on if I decide to keep the car, which I like a lot and use a lot.
Vidi, vici, veni

Dave 2 dogs
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1467
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2018 7:29 pm

Advice on suspension please

Post by Dave 2 dogs » Tue Jan 14, 2025 11:57 am

Thanks busterboo
Much appreciated

simnew
Member
Member
Posts: 91
Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2023 10:27 am

Advice on suspension please

Post by simnew » Wed Jan 15, 2025 11:32 am

What is a ‘misting adaptive’?

I have the adaptive suspension on my 440iGC, and couldn’t be happier with it, although it does have what I call a bobbling / gentle knocking sound over irregular road surfaces when it’s cold in particular. Seems to be only on the driver front side.

Used to have something similar on my E46s which I think was a suspension mount on the bulkhead that used to go, but have been trying to keep costs down and stay away from ADs since retiring….. 😝

User avatar
B21
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 7045
Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2021 7:15 pm
Location: In my Banana Yellow Space Shuttle...somewhere over Southern Caledonia

Advice on suspension please

Post by B21 » Wed Jan 15, 2025 11:59 am

simnew wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2025 11:32 am What is a ‘misting adaptive’?

I have the adaptive suspension on my 440iGC, and couldn’t be happier with it, although it does have what I call a bobbling / gentle knocking sound over irregular road surfaces when it’s cold in particular. Seems to be only on the driver front side.

Used to have something similar on my E46s which I think was a suspension mount on the bulkhead that used to go, but have been trying to keep costs down and stay away from ADs since retiring….. 😝
The dampers tend to weep around their seals for a while before they let go..
“We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard”….
One of 258 Atacama Yellow 35is…165 modifications and updates…and counting.. :tumbleweed:

True-Blue
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 3520
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2019 2:10 pm
Location: Bristol/Bath

Advice on suspension please

Post by True-Blue » Wed Jan 15, 2025 1:33 pm

If you were keeping the car I’d suggest replacing the active struts and corroding springs with the B12 kit, and coding out the active suspension.

In my experience the B12 kit works much better on the E89 than E85, improving handling significantly and still giving a really good ride quality.

The B12 kit will probably cost less than a single adaptive shock from BMW and you shouldn’t have too much trouble selling the three good, non-weeping, ones.
Alpina Roadster S Lux no. 204 (1 of 15 uk cars in Alpina Blue)
Porsche 718 Cayman - PTS in Gulf Blue (Believed to be 1 of 1 in UK…tbc)

Previous Z4’s : into double figures

User avatar
Marcoose
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1087
Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:52 pm
Location: San Francisco, CA

Advice on suspension please

Post by Marcoose » Wed Jan 15, 2025 4:50 pm

Dave, if at the end of the day you must shell out big bucks on new suspension parts, then instead of OE part, I highly recommend checking Bilstein and KW. My old indy replaced the OE AS with KWV3 and it's tits !
2016 35is, monoballs, camber plates, KWV3, PS4S, xHP, MHD, LFB pedal, flat bottom wheel, red indicators, black headlamps
Image

Post Reply