3.0 front shock absorbers

[yipikayee]

Hi all

Unfortunately my right front shock is shot and need replacing asap. My car is 2004 3.0i, and im bit confused on what shocks to use. Seems like Bilstein B8 is a direct replacement is that correct? Found someone that mounted B4 and didnt complain after.

Bilstein is the cheapest option i could found for 170£ for both front shocks(b4), eucarparts offer sachs only and its already 270£..

Can anyone help on which one to choose, and do i need to chamge any other additional parts to mount certain absorbers? thanks

 

[Brouse]

B4s are your straight swap items. May as well change top mounts as a minimum, Lemförder seem to be the go-to item for that.

Have a poke about underneath and check your bushes for play and deterioration and replace if anything is looking perished. So anti-roll bar bushes, droplinks and control arm bushes (or brake reaction or whatever people call em) which are rear of the front wheel arch if you follow the curve of the wishbone). Control arm ones def worth a polybush job.

 

[Jakg]

B4's are meant to be OE replacement for regular cars, B6 for a sport and B8 as their top non-adjustable.

I would go B6 for a Z4, but probably end up going for the B12 pro-kit and do the lot...

 

[steve_naive]

B4 are fine. I just fitted them with Eibach springs - which are just a tad lower than the bmw sport springs.

B6 are recommended but could be a bit stiff and although built better than B4 are more expensive.

Don't do the fronts yourself, it's a ballache. Rears easier.

Meyle top mounts for the front and Lemforder for the rears (rear Meyle's can knock).
Might be an idea to purchase front top plates too because they can rust:
Upper Spring Plate Z4 E85/E86 31331135580

If you do decide to do your own fronts, buy a 22mm spark plug or go through socket and a 7mm allen key to tighten the top strut bolt. Or you can wrap a 22 socket in tape, pop the allen key through that, and try and twist it with mole grips. If you need to reuse rubbers from the original shocks then you need a 21mm spark socket for those (to remove the bmw strut top mount), I just used an impact wrench.

As I said: utter ballache. Element of mortal danger with the spring compressors (essential) But doable.

 

[PeteyZ4]

I just put B4's on mine with what I believe to be stock Sport springs. Rides really nice.

Wasn't too bad of a job I don't think, but I've just done the steering rack as well so that might skew my idea of a ballache job!

 

[yipikayee]

thank you for all the info, very informative tips

B4s are your straight swap items. May as well change top mounts as a minimum, Lemförder seem to be the go-to item for that.

great news, i wont go bankrupt then! fun fact: autodoc was cheapest yesterday with 40ish%off on site, now promo changed and cheapest is straight from bilstein website. i need to take a look under the car to see whats up there since i will be taking it all off anyway

I just fitted them with Eibach springs - which are just a tad lower than the bmw sport springs.

should i do springs at the same time? i get it that since its all off i could change them to new, but wont lie that money dont play a role here and all of that sums up significantly.

Might be an idea to purchase front top plates too because they can rust:

will have a look at them

As I said: utter ballache. Element of mortal danger with the spring compressors (essential) But doable.

i have a friend with all the tools and skills that will help with this one so im sorted, but thank you for heads up

I just put B4's on mine with what I believe to be stock Sport springs. Rides really nice.

Wasn't too bad of a job I don't think, but I've just done the steering rack as well so that might skew my idea of a ballache job!

Z4.jpeg

nice setup 10/10 8) did you replaced springs to new as well?

 

[PeteyZ4]

nice setup 10/10 did you replaced springs to new as well?

The springs were fine so I didn't change them. According to the vin decode, it had M-Sport suspension from factory and the shocks look like the originals so the springs probably are too.

I put new First Line top mounts on but only because I snapped one of the studs off

Got my front B4's from an eBay seller for £199 with free 3 day postage. I can get you the link if that's cheaper than what you've seen. They're still up for that price.

 

[Vanne]

swapping out front struts is a ballache? id hate to think of what youd call swapping the rear upper camber arms. lolol..

 

[Brouse]

Fml I've waiting for 40% on autodoc to get my sus parts!!! Will have to wait for that offer to come round again

 

[yipikayee]

Got my front B4's from an eBay seller for £199 with free 3 day postage. I can get you the link if that's cheaper than what you've seen. They're still up for that price

found him thanks

Fml I've waiting for 40% on autodoc to get my sus parts!!! Will have to wait for that offer to come round again

i know im on the same boat mate. but fyi found that bilstein uk website, u have them basically same price as autodoc had on 40% :wink:

https://www.bilsteinsuspensionstore.co.uk/info-parts_list?make=BMW&model=Z4+i&car_id=3.0%7C02%2F2003%7C10%2F2005

 

[Brouse]

Legend!

 

[steve_naive]

swapping out front struts is a ballache? id hate to think of what youd call swapping the rear upper camber arms. lolol..

Relative ballache for diy. Every step was either a lesson or a lack of correct tool. Separating the knuckle with a socket adaptor etc etc.

OP: Re spring change, fronts are probably fine but the rears have a tendency to snap, so that’s why I swapped all 4 with slightly lower Eibachs.

 

[yipikayee]

Re spring change, fronts are probably fine but the rears have a tendency to snap, so that’s why I swapped all 4 with slightly lower Eibachs

thank you, gladly rears were new. guy spotted it during the post buy service

 

[yipikayee]

Legend!

found even cheaper
https://balancemotorsport.co.uk/suspension/shock-absorbers-dampers/bilstein-shocks/b4-shocks/bilstein-b4-gas-osf-shock-bmw-z4-z4-e85-2-0-i-2-2-i-2-5-i-2-5-si-3-0-i-3-0-si-02-03-22-164575-300.html
https://balancemotorsport.co.uk/suspension/shock-absorbers-dampers/bilstein-shocks/b4-shocks/bilstein-b4-gas-nsf-shock-bmw-z4-z4-e85-2-0-i-2-2-i-2-5-i-2-5-si-3-0-i-3-0-si-02-03-22-164568-299.html

 

[Brouse]

Oh daaaaaaayum

 

[Benderloch]

Legend!

found even cheaper
https://balancemotorsport.co.uk/suspension/shock-absorbers-dampers/bilstein-shocks/b4-shocks/bilstein-b4-gas-osf-shock-bmw-z4-z4-e85-2-0-i-2-2-i-2-5-i-2-5-si-3-0-i-3-0-si-02-03-22-164575-300.html
https://balancemotorsport.co.uk/suspension/shock-absorbers-dampers/bilstein-shocks/b4-shocks/bilstein-b4-gas-nsf-shock-bmw-z4-z4-e85-2-0-i-2-2-i-2-5-i-2-5-si-3-0-i-3-0-si-02-03-22-164568-299.html

That’s where I got mine. Great price and excellent service.

 

[yipikayee]

Legend!

found even cheaper
https://balancemotorsport.co.uk/suspension/shock-absorbers-dampers/bilstein-shocks/b4-shocks/bilstein-b4-gas-osf-shock-bmw-z4-z4-e85-2-0-i-2-2-i-2-5-i-2-5-si-3-0-i-3-0-si-02-03-22-164575-300.html
https://balancemotorsport.co.uk/suspension/shock-absorbers-dampers/bilstein-shocks/b4-shocks/bilstein-b4-gas-nsf-shock-bmw-z4-z4-e85-2-0-i-2-2-i-2-5-i-2-5-si-3-0-i-3-0-si-02-03-22-164568-299.html

That’s where I got mine. Great price and excellent service.

best price hands down, and they already arrived today, tommorow going to put them on