Dampers/suspension
- Thread starter Blueman
- Start date
Attleborough, Norfolk
Fully understand your sentiment regarding the cost, but secondhand suspension is a bit of a risk.
If you are able to do the work yourself then you should be able to replace everything with OEM parts and Suplex springs for around £750.
Or look at the cheap coil over kits?
EDIT: I assumed you meant all four corners?
If only the front then under £500.
No idea if you're close to me and I assume the car isn't really driveable like that?
But if I can help out with the fitting then let me know.
If you are able to do the work yourself then you should be able to replace everything with OEM parts and Suplex springs for around £750.
Or look at the cheap coil over kits?
EDIT: I assumed you meant all four corners?
If only the front then under £500.
No idea if you're close to me and I assume the car isn't really driveable like that?
But if I can help out with the fitting then let me know.
raymond.harper
Senior member
Where are you based? (I am not posting!)
I have a couple of used rear SE level coils off of a 2006 Coupe lying around... old and rusty... very poor order... I actually thought one had snapped 6 months back before realizing (with help, thanks others on this thread!) not, but as I was having work done I had them replaced anyway.
Cannot possibly recommend that you pay to have them fitted, but if you're DIYing and are really trying to keep costs down then they might have a bit of life left.
£10 for the pair, collected Guildford - in theory they're worthless really, but if you want them then they have to be worth a tenner.
I have a couple of used rear SE level coils off of a 2006 Coupe lying around... old and rusty... very poor order... I actually thought one had snapped 6 months back before realizing (with help, thanks others on this thread!) not, but as I was having work done I had them replaced anyway.
Cannot possibly recommend that you pay to have them fitted, but if you're DIYing and are really trying to keep costs down then they might have a bit of life left.
£10 for the pair, collected Guildford - in theory they're worthless really, but if you want them then they have to be worth a tenner.
Thank you for the replies chaps!
I am looking at replacing all four corners. I’m based in Cardiff, I will be paying a mechanic to fit them.
Here are some cheap coil overs I found on eBay. Hope these will do to get me by for a bit.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/356103238924?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=lmf0ij6xq0i&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=Onz1eB-vTGK&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
I am looking at replacing all four corners. I’m based in Cardiff, I will be paying a mechanic to fit them.
Here are some cheap coil overs I found on eBay. Hope these will do to get me by for a bit.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/356103238924?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=lmf0ij6xq0i&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=Onz1eB-vTGK&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
People will mock I'm sure, but [ref]Jollygiant[/ref] bought his zed with those already fitted. He's tinkered around with the adjustments and says they aren't actually too bad. I suspect the issue will be their longevity.Blueman said:
But if they get you out of a dilemma...................
I have a set of maxpeedingrods coilovers in a box in the garage. They are supposed to be for an e85/e86 but I couldn’t work out how they fit in the kingpins. A mechanic might do better.
Save some cash. If they don’t work for you, sell them on. I’ll take £100 and could drop them at an address in Bristol if interested.
Link to sale
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1937479&hilit=MaXpeeding#p1937479
Original link, where I bought these from a forum member.
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1935525&hilit=Max+speeding#p1935525
Save some cash. If they don’t work for you, sell them on. I’ll take £100 and could drop them at an address in Bristol if interested.
Link to sale
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1937479&hilit=MaXpeeding#p1937479
Original link, where I bought these from a forum member.
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1935525&hilit=Max+speeding#p1935525
Others may have different recommendations, but if it were me then it would be:Blueman said:
FRONT
Sachs dampers (Check out the Bilstein B4s as well as sometimes they are a better price)
Lemforder top mounts
Febi Bilstein bump stops (Sports ones are a little shorter, so get the correct ones for your car)
Re-use the rubber dust covers as new ones are plastic and rattle.
All other parts can be re-used, but check condition first of course.
Get a pair of new knuckle bolts (Pt No: 31306779487) from BMW
REAR
Sachs dampers (Bilstein B4, as above?)
Lemforder top mounts
Febi Bilstein bump stops, with the integral dust covers. (Same applies regarding the Sports ones)
Suplex springs are recommended, but Kilen seem to get good reviews too. Various options for normal, Sport and 'extra equipment' (ignore those)
Assuming standard suspension the front Suplex springs are 06251, rears are currently not available on Autodoc apparently so I've quoted Kilen 51042 for reference.
Just popped it into Autodoc now and the total is £745.88. This changes of course, with the differing discounts every day.
If the rear springs aren't broken you can keep them.
As an exercise in cost savings I went to eBay:enuff_zed said:
Using the links above for Monroe dampers, plus 'Car Parts in Motion' for all the other bits except the knuckle bolts. I went to the BMW eBay shop for those. I got the total for all the parts down to just under £400.
EXCLUDING Springs
So Maxspeedingrods. My E85 came with them fitted.
I do know there have been two versions of them. The first ones that the internet said were rubbish are the non-adjusterable ones as they are single tube non-adjustable rebound. Mine are twin tube adjustable.
Mine did feel quiet harsh to start with then I twiddled with my knob (s'ssss) and found out they were set 2 from hardest and back them off to midway which improved them a lot. I haven't driven one with any other kind of coilovers. I did test drive a Z4 on standard shocks and that seemed a bit softer than these.
After watching https://youtu.be/ta_O63tJ4nE?si=6Elym4-7MtauFqw9 this video from Donut media comparing them to a $2000 set they came out pretty good for a budget set and weren't much slower in a lap than the expensive ones.
I would say if you can afford more expensive ones, go for them but I find them ok for road use.
I think as the Z4 is a sports car the ride should be a little bit on the hard side, but not uncomfortable crashy and these aren't that bad!
I do know there have been two versions of them. The first ones that the internet said were rubbish are the non-adjusterable ones as they are single tube non-adjustable rebound. Mine are twin tube adjustable.
Mine did feel quiet harsh to start with then I twiddled with my knob (s'ssss) and found out they were set 2 from hardest and back them off to midway which improved them a lot. I haven't driven one with any other kind of coilovers. I did test drive a Z4 on standard shocks and that seemed a bit softer than these.
After watching https://youtu.be/ta_O63tJ4nE?si=6Elym4-7MtauFqw9 this video from Donut media comparing them to a $2000 set they came out pretty good for a budget set and weren't much slower in a lap than the expensive ones.
I would say if you can afford more expensive ones, go for them but I find them ok for road use.
I think as the Z4 is a sports car the ride should be a little bit on the hard side, but not uncomfortable crashy and these aren't that bad!