Lowering and stiffening ?

M

Mik

Member
 Colchester Essex
No !!!! I am not one of the backward baseball cap brigade but now the runflats have been off for a while and I have got used and accustomed to my car I feel the suspension is a bit soft for my taste not needing to compensate for the hard rubber. I also think with 17" rims I could afford to drop the ride height a little to reduce a bit of the body roll and lower the centre of gravity. I am wanting to do this for dynamic and not particularly asthetic reasons although it won t do any harn to see the Z sit a bit lower.
Does anybody know of,or can reccomend genuine or aftermarket springs or indeed have even done it
Mike
 
Mikenmass said:
Search Springs or lowering, springs and there are a few threads. Eibach Pros are lower.
Click to expand...
I might not be using the search function properly because everytime I enter what you said, It brings me back to your last post with these words in it :?
 
i can say my car is on PI 30mm lowering springs, done by the previous owner, i like the handling but as im on rft hitting a pot hole does sound like the front of he car has exploded, i recently went into a pot hole and the glove box sounded like a bomb went off in it! im hoping a change of tyre will soften things a bit, but on a nice flat roads it does feel very solid, zero roll, but ive not driven a z4 on standard springs much so cant compare in depth, after the recent meet at raf cosford my car did seem quite low compared to other members on standard springs but i will say it looks good on its 18" wheels :thumbsup: .
 
you might be better off with a set of stiffer ARB's (anti roll bars or sway bars like our cousins across the water call them)

i did this to mine when i went on to non run flat tyres and felt the loss of the side wall stiffness with the resultant softening of the "turn in ".

Dario
 
Did it make turn in and a sudden change of direction less soggy,cos thats what I got dario
 
i did the Eibach Pro set and have the following to say.

You will scrap the side sills, rear tyre flaps (at leading edge of arch) and find it harder to get a wheel jack under the lift points.

When loading onto a ferry, you will touch and grind on the loading and exit ramps. You will learn how to zig zag over bumps, however, the handling is fantastic!!

Sceptre
 
dario said:
you might be better off with a set of stiffer ARB's (anti roll bars or sway bars like our cousins across the water call them)

i did this to mine when i went on to non run flat tyres and felt the loss of the side wall stiffness with the resultant softening of the "turn in ".

Dario
Click to expand...

I've been thinking about doing something with the suspension after moving off run flats and ARBs might be it! If you wouldn't mind...
Was it a long job to fit? Wouldn't attempt it myself but I like to know rough times when I'm speaking to the garage.
Which did you get? Have seen an H&R kit for a little under £300 but I'd be interested to see what you've used.

Thanks
 
Eibach Pro springs are great.

30mm lower (I believe) than a non-Sport suspensioned Z4, and a confirmed 14mm lower than a Sport suspensioned Z4. Initial ride over bumps/ridges/potholes is better than standard IMO although that's combined with non-RFTs at the same time on my Z4. Certainly stiffens things up when you really lean on the car through corners. I've not had an issue with the height drop - I do scrape the rear tyre flaps over those speed humps you straddle. I'd be more than happy with standard ride height though as there's nothing wrong with a sport-suspensioned ride height IMO.
 
Thanks... mine a non-sport ride height. On the springs I was looking at Eibach but seeing the experience klarky had I'll assume the worst (although I know plenty have had no issues with 30mm) and stick with 15mm / 20mm drop... although finding the springs may be an issue - rather not have BMW as they're a little fragile as many of us have experienced!

Then not sure whether to do the ARBs first see what that's like before doing the springs, or do the both together which I would assume is less man hours! Depending on cost I suspect the latter.
 
Mik said:
Mikenmass said:
Search Springs or lowering, springs and there are a few threads. Eibach Pros are lower.
Click to expand...
I might not be using the search function properly because everytime I enter what you said, It brings me back to your last post with these words in it :?
Click to expand...

are you using the search box at the top left of the page, or are you hitting "Seach" button, found under the SwiftCover banner at the top right (between "New Posts" and "Members")?

It is the latter that you want to use, as the former only searches the current thread / forum, not the whole board.
 
PawnSacrifice said:
rather not have BMW as they're a little fragile as many of us have experienced!
Click to expand...
That was my reason for fitting non-BMW springs: both the rear springs on my Z4 were snapped when I bought it (don't worry, I knew about them, private sale and a pre-sale inspection showed up the problem).

Another route - I believe - to stiffen things up would be replacing some of the suspension bushes. I've got some poly (Powerflex) bushes ready to fit, but I've been told M3 bushes can also be used. Should cut out some slack from the suspension action, more effective on a higher-mileage Z4 I'd guess.
 
Not sure what the bushes do exactly, just that they can be a pain / make a racket sometimes... reassuring that you said that though as the H&R ARB kit includes "Exclusive urethane/Teflon composite bushings".

I've seen a couple lowering kits that went 20mm but didn't recognise the brands! Just need a little research.

I've just remember something on another post...
 
Mik said:
No !!!! I am not one of the backward baseball cap brigade but now the runflats have been off for a while and I have got used and accustomed to my car I feel the suspension is a bit soft for my taste not needing to compensate for the hard rubber. I also think with 17" rims I could afford to drop the ride height a little to reduce a bit of the body roll and lower the centre of gravity. I am wanting to do this for dynamic and not particularly asthetic reasons although it won t do any harn to see the Z sit a bit lower.
Does anybody know of,or can reccomend genuine or aftermarket springs or indeed have even done it
Mike
Click to expand...

Surely you've kept the same rolling radius with 17" wheels, so I can't see why body roll, C of G or ride height would be any different to a standard car? Personally I've never found body roll to be a problem, even at high speed.....might be cheaper/easier to go to for 18" wheels and their lower profile tyres, but even thats only half an inch of rubber less between you and the road, not exactly a stonking order of magnitude change....

How old is your car and what miles has it got out of interest? And what make of tyres and pressures are you running? RFT/NonRFT?
 
Sorry chaps... should have pointed out, I dug up and old post (search baby!) - prior to mine this dates back to May of this year!
 
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