Is it possible to soften the harsh suspension on my 3.0si sport on 66K. I have had the car about 3 years but as late the ride feels harsh. where I live there are quite a few speed bumps and as always pot holes. I did think something like oil filled suspension if that's the way to go along with softer springs. I will not be doing track days but sometimes traffic light starts for a 74 year old are okay. I would not carry out the required work myself but it would be nice to be able to get my point across to the mechanic who does my servicing.
Harsh suspension
- Thread starter rogerplum
- Start date
Attleborough, Norfolk
You might be able to convert the suspension to SE spec and fit 17's with fatter tyres?
Might be a bit spendy too because the market for used sport springs isn't really there, people tend to go with Eibach and Biltstein for a sporty set up. I did, and it's miles better than the worn out sport spec I was running.
Would you say the car has got stiffer or have you just lost patience? Could be snapped rears and/or busted struts.
I would also ask myself how far I was willing to compromise and perhaps look at a different car without the notoriously harsh ride.
Might be a bit spendy too because the market for used sport springs isn't really there, people tend to go with Eibach and Biltstein for a sporty set up. I did, and it's miles better than the worn out sport spec I was running.
Would you say the car has got stiffer or have you just lost patience? Could be snapped rears and/or busted struts.
I would also ask myself how far I was willing to compromise and perhaps look at a different car without the notoriously harsh ride.
The ride has not started to feel more uncomfortable due to the car itself. it has always been a little what I call harsh. I have recently fitted the Michelin pilot 4 tyres which may have some bearing. mainly I think it's just the roads around my area plus I suppose being 75 at Christmas. I don't want to change the car, I have had Range Rover, a V6 Freelander, and various saloon cars. This car is what my wife calls my boyhood car but in my second childhood. My one son has recently bought himself a 4 litre TVR Tuscan and I find that a little harsh so perhaps I need to sit on an air ring
Sth. Manchester/Cheshire border
Think I'm right in saying that 17" rims won't fit over 3.0si calipers; they need to be 18". May be wrong, but if I ever manage to get one I'll know for suresteve_naive said:
What rims are you on? 18" or 19"? If 19" then, as mentioned in another post above, consider reverting to OE spec and fitting 18".rogerplum said:
The tyres are Michelin Sport 4 on 18" wheels. I chose those tyres as most members rated them on the forum. They are on the staggered system without any spacers. I am happy with car as such but just wanted to know if altering the springs and shocks would make for a softer ride. thanks anyway for the input from the forum
I think the general consensus would be that you could fit softer suspension, but at the expense of handling. I think you may find it would wallow a bit?rogerplum said:
The reason I brought up the tyres was because, possibly due to the black wheels, they look a very low profile, so you'd be losing a lot of the 'give' from the sidewalls.
No-one has suggested that the make of tyre is wrong: in fact they are some of the best.
I think (though may be corrected) that you should have 225/40 on the front and 255/35 on the back.
On the photo you have shown of the fronts, the sidewall looks very narrow. 40% of 225mm is 90mm: allowing a little variance for particular tyre/wheel combinations. The photo seems to suggest a lot less than that. If that is the case then it could well be your tyre size that is accentuating the hard ride.
Mind you, the 'whoopee cushion' idea could work out cheaper.
Sidewaze Samm said:Think I'm right in saying that 17" rims won't fit over 3.0si calipers; they need to be 18". May be wrong, but if I ever manage to get one I'll know for suresteve_naive said:
17 inch wheels do fit over the 3.0si calipers. I have them on mine for the winter, keeps the 18inch MV2s nice and clean for the summer
I would recommend fitting Bilstein B4s with Suplex springs. This is basically back to the original sports setup and at the correct height. How you setup these cars suspension depend totally on how you intend to use the car. For me my car will be used as a GT, so for me the standard setup with new shocks and springs is perfect.
Hello again, just to clear up a couple of points that I have not made clear. I purchased the car about 3 years ago and I am the 3rd owner. The car has covered 66k and is 14 years old (2007). When I purchased the car a few MOT certificates came with it and some invoices regarding works carried out, none involved the suspension, so it's on the original. After I got the car I had it given the once over and the only thing I had to get done were the S&F lower arm brake reaction bushes that was on my invoice that had to be replaced. As its on it's the original springs etc that's why I thought it may be tired and required a bit of upgrading. Thanks to all fellow Z4 members.
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Hello again. If that is the case and it's on the original shocks then you could start by doing a straight replacement. Good chance yours are worn now. I'm no expert on the coupe but everything I've heard about the roaster suggests the rear shocks get the most abuse, so if you're on a budget you could look at swapping them over first. I'm about to do just that on wifey's, with new top mounts and roll bar bushes while I'm under there too.rogerplum said:
And thanks for the confirmation of your tyre sizes. They certainly don't look that deep in the sidewall, so my apologies.
Always helps to flood the forum with as much info as you can think of though, to aid assistance.
No need to apologise at all. You never learn anything in life unless you ask about a subject. I passed my test in 1972 and had to dangle my arm out of the window to show I was turning. I may have picked up a bit of information about cars over the years but as always not enough. 
Get a Hunter alignment check done before you do anything as any decent garage will be able to advise on the state of the suspension before you spend any money.
Ask them to check all the bushes and see what the shocks and springs are like.
If it's all original apart from a few bushes then there's a very high chance that the entire suspension needs replaced. Might as well get the bushes changed to Powerflex or similar at the same time.
I changed mine over to the Bilstein B12 Pro kit and now that I've done around 500 miles (in the past 6 months) the car is great compared to the original shocks and springs that were on the car. These have also lowered the car slightly by around 30mm or something. So that's 30mm lower than the original M Sport suspension on the car.
A good explanation on the different Z4 suspension set up can be found in this thread from the dead....
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10378
Ask them to check all the bushes and see what the shocks and springs are like.
If it's all original apart from a few bushes then there's a very high chance that the entire suspension needs replaced. Might as well get the bushes changed to Powerflex or similar at the same time.
I changed mine over to the Bilstein B12 Pro kit and now that I've done around 500 miles (in the past 6 months) the car is great compared to the original shocks and springs that were on the car. These have also lowered the car slightly by around 30mm or something. So that's 30mm lower than the original M Sport suspension on the car.
A good explanation on the different Z4 suspension set up can be found in this thread from the dead....
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10378