No, Not a personal question, just talking about the front end of the car.
I have been concerned for some months about a front end that doesn't feel planted at higher speeds (only had the car about 6 months) It is an early E85 with M-sport pack from new. The slightly nervous feeling comes at higher speeds and is only when the steering wheel is held straight ahead, ie mostly motorway or dual carriageway. It feels as if the front end is becoming light, and I am constantly correcting the steering by an almost imperceptible amount. Not confidence inspiring but something I have lived with until recently. A trip to Germany saw me take the car to 100mph+ when I quickly had to back off as it became quite scary, with this tiny left and right oscillation of the steering wheel.
Having spent weeks pouring over old posts with the same topic , it is clear that a lot of forum members have had certain concerns that appear similar on the face of it. Some are, of course, due to run flats and the replies that simply say tyres, tyres and tyres, I think are absolutely right. Now I believe however, It isn't just the run flats. Everyone is aware that the Zed (is it just early E85's?) is very tyre make and tyre pressure sensitive, I didn't realise just how much. having replaced every (yes every) suspension component on the car with new, the problem was still the same. I booked it into my very experienced specialist for a new reversing sensor module and coding and asked him to keep the car for a few days and drive it, to see what his opinion was. He agreed it didn't feel 100% planted but went over everything, steering and suspension wise, all was correct. His only comment was that the front shocks were a bit tired (72,000 miles), but still easily MOT passable, and one front top mount had a small split. He recommended changing the shocks and mount as a possible solution to the problem. I mentioned that I had just picked up a set of 17" style 200 alloys with almost new Michelin Alpin winter tyres on ebay (£360-bargain I think!) and he said "put them on, I bet it solves your problem".
He was right, what a difference, the car feels much more planted, even beyond 100mph (yes- nipped over to Germany to try!). The Michelin winter tyres are 225/45/17 all round, as opposed to my regular wheels and tyres which are 18" 108's with 225/40 front, and 255/35 rear, new(non run flat) Vredestein Vortis. The only difference on the front now is just a slightly higher profile with the Michelins and a 17" wheel as opposed to 18". Is it that my car is just not happy with Vreds/18" wheels or is it possible that the old softer shocks on the front just cannot cope with the lower profile of the Vredesteins, combined with the bigger wheel?
I am ordering a pair of Bilstein B8's for the fronts tomorrow so will be hoping that this will solve the problem for the Vredesteins as well, as they need to go back on later this month ready for the spring and summer.
As a final bit of education for me, during my search for answers I spoke to Bilstein technical dept direct. A very knowledgeable and helpful guy said to me that, although many cars make 100,000 miles+ on the same shocks, they will definitely be much softer than when new. He remarked that it isn't just the miles but the age of the car as well, the shocks have sat under all that weight for years and years. Probably something many people don't consider too much.
I have been concerned for some months about a front end that doesn't feel planted at higher speeds (only had the car about 6 months) It is an early E85 with M-sport pack from new. The slightly nervous feeling comes at higher speeds and is only when the steering wheel is held straight ahead, ie mostly motorway or dual carriageway. It feels as if the front end is becoming light, and I am constantly correcting the steering by an almost imperceptible amount. Not confidence inspiring but something I have lived with until recently. A trip to Germany saw me take the car to 100mph+ when I quickly had to back off as it became quite scary, with this tiny left and right oscillation of the steering wheel.
Having spent weeks pouring over old posts with the same topic , it is clear that a lot of forum members have had certain concerns that appear similar on the face of it. Some are, of course, due to run flats and the replies that simply say tyres, tyres and tyres, I think are absolutely right. Now I believe however, It isn't just the run flats. Everyone is aware that the Zed (is it just early E85's?) is very tyre make and tyre pressure sensitive, I didn't realise just how much. having replaced every (yes every) suspension component on the car with new, the problem was still the same. I booked it into my very experienced specialist for a new reversing sensor module and coding and asked him to keep the car for a few days and drive it, to see what his opinion was. He agreed it didn't feel 100% planted but went over everything, steering and suspension wise, all was correct. His only comment was that the front shocks were a bit tired (72,000 miles), but still easily MOT passable, and one front top mount had a small split. He recommended changing the shocks and mount as a possible solution to the problem. I mentioned that I had just picked up a set of 17" style 200 alloys with almost new Michelin Alpin winter tyres on ebay (£360-bargain I think!) and he said "put them on, I bet it solves your problem".
He was right, what a difference, the car feels much more planted, even beyond 100mph (yes- nipped over to Germany to try!). The Michelin winter tyres are 225/45/17 all round, as opposed to my regular wheels and tyres which are 18" 108's with 225/40 front, and 255/35 rear, new(non run flat) Vredestein Vortis. The only difference on the front now is just a slightly higher profile with the Michelins and a 17" wheel as opposed to 18". Is it that my car is just not happy with Vreds/18" wheels or is it possible that the old softer shocks on the front just cannot cope with the lower profile of the Vredesteins, combined with the bigger wheel?
I am ordering a pair of Bilstein B8's for the fronts tomorrow so will be hoping that this will solve the problem for the Vredesteins as well, as they need to go back on later this month ready for the spring and summer.
As a final bit of education for me, during my search for answers I spoke to Bilstein technical dept direct. A very knowledgeable and helpful guy said to me that, although many cars make 100,000 miles+ on the same shocks, they will definitely be much softer than when new. He remarked that it isn't just the miles but the age of the car as well, the shocks have sat under all that weight for years and years. Probably something many people don't consider too much.
