Bushes Recommendations

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yg54sg

Active member
Hi All,

The car is due for an inspection 2 and the handling at the moment is not what it used to be, no matter what tyre pressures i put in the car feels like it is picking up every bump on the road, it doesnt feel as tight as it used to or as smooth if you know what i mean, i have had the car from new and I have been told that at 58,000 miles the car should be well overdue for a set of bushings. Do you have any recommendations as to which to go for?

Should I go stock BMW or some aftermarket better ones, are there any downsides? I also recently replaced the front discs due to pulsing onthe pedal with some aftermarket Mintex ones, mainly because my father could get them at his work for next to nothing. Brake fade appears to be less (a few times I had brake fade on twisty roads when gunning it) and the initial bite appears to be better after they bedded in for 5k miles, did the work myself so worked out very cheap. Will BMW flag this on the inspection 2, will it cause any issues, the car is out of warranty... Also with regards to changing the bushings is this something I can also do myself, how hard is it and what is involved, apologies for all the questions.

Thanks

Shane.
 
Rule of thumb is OEM stock if you don't want to track the car. If you're hitting the track, though, most upgrade to urethane (but it will ride like a track car). Try a search for bushes/bushings. I think they press out and in, but you have to do a bit of persuading to get them to go.
 
Go to an independant for an inspection 2. They wont rape your wallet for one thing and will do just as good a job. You also get the BMW stamp and all parts are BMW approved. This will not affect the value of your car now at that mileage.
Go for standard bushes, you will find the car is much more solid feeling and perfect for day to day. How hard it will be to do yourself is an unknown depending on how problematic the little buggers want to be.
 
Thanks guys, I will likely go with OEM then as the powerflex ones sound like they will stiffen the ride up which is bad thing in the Z4 IMO as its stiff enough!

So if I were to sell this car private in around a year, someone would not mind it having a stamp from independant? My initial plan was to have a complete 'set' pre inspection check> oil service > insp1 > oil service > inspec 2 and then go onto using independant like quarry?

I will be booking in for first week in june, so will order bushes and do myself before booking in.

Thanks

Shane.
 
yg54sg said:
Thanks guys, I will likely go with OEM then as the powerflex ones sound like they will stiffen the ride up which is bad thing in the Z4 IMO as its stiff enough!
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Just to provide a perspective from having Powerflex ply bushes fitted - I didn't notice ANY difference in harshness or stiffening up the ride, if I'm being completely honest. They're supposed to allow the suspension geometry to remain more consistent (through getting rid of the deformity of the OEM bushes) but again i'd be lying if I said I noticed that difference. All I know is that my Z4 "feels" better to drive after having them done, although I had my geometry set up at the same time.

I replaced bushes 1 and 3 in this link: http://www.powerflex.co.uk/products/Z4+(E85)-1203/1.html
 
Same as a11y. I changed to powerflex on the front as a part of sorting our alignment issues and as far as ride firmness is concerend I'd never be able to tell the difference.

The OEM are a strange bush filled with oil and no doubt it's designed to absorb vibration but also allows the front suspension to move too much.

As far as a main dealer stamp is concerned on a 2004 car - who cares. It's about condition, wear and tear, chips, dents, mileage etc. etc.
There reaches a point is a cars life where spending twice the amount on a service does not make it worth any more.
 
I meant to mention my thoughts on the servicing too in my post but forgot. But my thoughts are the same as cj's and are the path I've taken with my 2004/54 Z4. I use an independent dealer rather than a main dealer. More importantly, it's a dealer I trust and have known and used for almost 10 years now. OK, he's also (now) family but that's besides the point! My Z4's already almost 6 years old and will be firmly in the sub-£10k price range when I eventually sell it - at that age, I'd be more concerned about condition and wear and tear which aren't connected in any way to a main dealer stamp.
 
CJ - Im guessing you did the Powerflex Front Wishbone, Rear bushes? I can feel mine are getting worn now so really ought to get them done.

Im just a little curious as to how easy they were to fit? Powerflex bushes in my previous cars have been a pretty terrible fitment (both loose and overly tight) having sent every set back! BMW supply the bushes within the alloy holders, did yours come like this?

Finally, is the alloy bush holder easy to fit without a set of ramps? Cheers mate :)
 
Ed
I used the 2 part Powerflex. Yellow outer and purple inner.
PITA to fit and I had to cut the outer rubber bush to release the lollipop, then grind a slot in the remaining sleeve on the wishbone and drive it off. I could have perhaps used a pneumatic hammer for speed.

I kept the original lollipops and simply pressed the old bushes out and new in, but correct, BMW OEM come prefitted in them (at a price).

Alignment is difficult to get the lollipop to relocate on the bolt sleeves as you fight the wishbone in 3 dimensions.

I fitted mine in the garage on axle stands, but overall as DIY jobs go it's hard work and benefits from proper tools like a press.
 
Excellent, a perfect nugget of information thanks! :thumbsup: I fortunately know someone with a press so will have to enquire!
 
I was told a press makes the job massively easier, but since I don't have decent "normal" tools let alone more specialist things like that I just paid someone to fit mine and do the alignment (around £170 inc the Hunter alignment IIRC so not bad).
 
cj10jeeper said:
As far as a main dealer stamp is concerned on a 2004 car - who cares. It's about condition, wear and tear, chips, dents, mileage etc. etc.
There reaches a point is a cars life where spending twice the amount on a service does not make it worth any more.
Click to expand...


X 2 :thumbsup:

Hey Ally, you up for doing the CDV thing next weekend?
 
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