Best Springs- What to get?

[Stretch_Blanco]

Hi all,

I know this topic will have been discussed before and I have read through a few of the search results for it but I am not really getting the answers I need.

So when painting my rear callipers yesterday I noticed that both my rear springs are broken and this does not look like a recent thing.





Now I have had Eibach springs in the past and have liked them but I’m not sure about lowering the car, and have also saying posts referring to professionals in the industry saying not to lower the Z4. However, some people have and say it’s fine or even better handling than original. I see that you can get spacers to negate the lowering of the Eibach by like half.

The car has only done 65K miles, so for the original bmw ones to go in that amount of time puts me off buying them again However if these are the best springs for the car I would just buy them again.

So my question is what is the best route forward for new springs?
Do I go with Eibach which are potentially better quality but lower the car? Or do I get BMW ones again and just keep my eye on them? Or is there another brand of standard height spring that is better made?

Thanks in advance for any replies!

 

[abar121]

If you find the ride ok with those broken springs, you aren't going to have a problem with the ride quality on Eibach springs. It's going to be a big improvement. It's also lower at the back already.

If they are the original shocks, you should replace them also. Zeds work them pretty hard, especially with the super heavy run flats.

 

[mmm-five]

They might only have 65k on them, but surely they're still over 10 years old.

Not sure Eibach, H&R, Vogtland. Spax, ST, Bilstein, KW or any other brand will guarantee their springs for that amount of time.

 

[Stretch_Blanco]

They might only have 65k on them, but surely they're still over 10 years old.

Not sure Eibach, H&R, Vogtland. Spax, ST, Bilstein, KW or any other brand will guarantee their springs for that amount of time.

Yeah but if you look at the condition if you were to wipe the layer of dust off the springs the black coating would be in very good condition. Which suggests it’s not so much age that’s deteriorated them, the only place there is rust is where they have cracked. The OEM springs do appear to be a common fault as well

 

[Stretch_Blanco]

If you find the ride ok with those broken springs, you aren't going to have a problem with the ride quality on Eibach springs. It's going to be a big improvement. It's also lower at the back already.

If they are the original shocks, you should replace them also. Zeds work them pretty hard, especially with the super heavy run flats.

Yeah to be honest I didn’t notice it being lower at the back at all, I’ve only had the car for a couple of weeks though.



I think I will just bite the bullet and go for the Eibach springs.
I’ll also try and buy the spacer so it’s dropped less, and yeah I would like to upgrade to Bilstein B6 but just when funds allow!

 

[mmm-five]

Yeah but if you look at the condition if you were to wipe the layer of dust off the springs the black coating would be in very good condition. Which suggests it’s not so much age that’s deteriorated them, the only place there is rust is where they have cracked. The OEM springs do appear to be a common fault as well

It is exactly where they all seem to break...but were they warmed up properly before you thrashed it

BTW, mine were unbroken when I swapped out to my Bilstein coilovers at 110,000 miles (and were probably original, as I'd had the car since 9,300 miles).

 

[Stretch_Blanco]

Yeah but if you look at the condition if you were to wipe the layer of dust off the springs the black coating would be in very good condition. Which suggests it’s not so much age that’s deteriorated them, the only place there is rust is where they have cracked. The OEM springs do appear to be a common fault as well

It is exactly where they all seem to break...but were they warmed up properly before you thrashed it

BTW, mine were unbroken when I swapped out to my Bilstein coilovers at 110,000 miles (and were probably original, as I'd had the car since 9,300 miles).

I can't say i've ever thought of warming up the springs before thrashing it a bit i've barely driven the car though as I bought it during lockdown, and by the looks of the rust on the cracks they were broken a while before I bought the car!

 

[mmm-five]

I can't say i've ever thought of warming up the springs before thrashing it a bit i've barely driven the car though as I bought it during lockdown, and by the looks of the rust on the cracks they were broken a while before I bought the car!

It was a joke, based on all the 'thoroughly warm the engine before thrashing' - but also a bit relevant as my old e34 M5 had EDC suspension where it would be very crashy until the oil in the dampers had thinned a bit.