Lowering doing my head in!

W

Whizo

Member
Hi all

Some of you will know that I plan on doing a few mods to my Z4. First of all I will fit the SmartTop module. Then planning on fitting the BMW Performance Brakes to the front and replace the read discs only for drilled and grooved items, and paint the rear calliper to match the yellow fronts. Also going to fit 20" wheels. Now here is where I am banging my head. The standard ride height is way too high, too much of a arch gap so I need to drop the car. Now I have been told various things from various suppliers, garages etc. Some say go for a coilover set like KW, most expensive option. To me it seems a little over kill for a car that's never going to be tracked. Others have said a simple set of lowering springs will do the job, max drop is 30mm before you stress the standard shocks too much. The drop I am looking for is around 30mm. The problem with lowering springs is you can never say for certain on the ride height, they settle after time so may end up being too low, or from what I have read, because my car is a M Sport it may not be as low as the advertised mm, what I mean is if you buy a set of springs that say it will lower your car by 30mm, that's for a standard Z4 not a M Sport, so on a M Sport it may only lower by 15mm etc, which is no good to me.

So it looks like coilovers are my best best, KW v3 seems over kill, KW v2 don't have a kit for the Z4 E89, so that leaves the KW v1, I know you are stuck with the ride stiffness that the factory set, but how stiff is it, if it is like the standard ride, with runflats then that's fine with me, don't want it breaking my back though but I am happy with the standard ride on runflats so can live with that. So has anyone got any opinions or has anyone had/used the KW v1 coilover?

The other question I have is what do you do if over the years one or two shocks need to be replaced, do you have to buy a whole set of 4 again, because I don't think you can buy individual shocks, or can you?

Thanks again guys, I really want to get this right and that why I am asking so many questions, it would be an expensive mistake if I get it wrong, and the wife would kill me also :(
 
I have been on the phone to endless local BMW specialists, this will make you laff, they are all BMW specialists but not one can fit KW coilovers!!! So if I do buy the KW kit now I need to find someone who knows how to fit them and fit them properly :headbang:

P.S I am based near Leeds, anyone suggest any fitters that are local?
 
Whizo said:
Hi all
Hi Whizo,
I have just had the KW V3 set up removed from my 35is, reason is I will be changing the car soon for something else, exactly what I'm not yet certain. If you do go the KW route you will have complete control of your suspension set up, ride height bump, rebound etc. my reasons for fitting it in the first place was for track days and in that respect it was brilliant,just had to find a happy medium for everyday use and track days. Must say it took a few weeks to get it where I was happy with the set up, I had a lot of help and input from exdos, a Z4m owner on this forum, without his help it would have taken considerably longer to find that happy medium. But best of luck with your mods.
rayz4
Some of you will know that I plan on doing a few mods to my Z4. First of all I will fit the SmartTop module. Then planning on fitting the BMW Performance Brakes to the front and replace the read discs only for drilled and grooved items, and paint the rear calliper to match the yellow fronts. Also going to fit 20" wheels. Now here is where I am banging my head. The standard ride height is way too high, too much of a arch gap so I need to drop the car. Now I have been told various things from various suppliers, garages etc. Some say go for a coilover set like KW, most expensive option. To me it seems a little over kill for a car that's never going to be tracked. Others have said a simple set of lowering springs will do the job, max drop is 30mm before you stress the standard shocks too much. The drop I am looking for is around 30mm. The problem with lowering springs is you can never say for certain on the ride height, they settle after time so may end up being too low, or from what I have read, because my car is a M Sport it may not be as low as the advertised mm, what I mean is if you buy a set of springs that say it will lower your car by 30mm, that's for a standard Z4 not a M Sport, so on a M Sport it may only lower by 15mm etc, which is no good to me.

So it looks like coilovers are my best best, KW v3 seems over kill, KW v2 don't have a kit for the Z4 E89, so that leaves the KW v1, I know you are stuck with the ride stiffness that the factory set, but how stiff is it, if it is like the standard ride, with runflats then that's fine with me, don't want it breaking my back though but I am happy with the standard ride on runflats so can live with that. So has anyone got any opinions or has anyone had/used the KW v1 coilover?

The other question I have is what do you do if over the years one or two shocks need to be replaced, do you have to buy a whole set of 4 again, because I don't think you can buy individual shocks, or can you?

Thanks again guys, I really want to get this right and that why I am asking so many questions, it would be an expensive mistake if I get it wrong, and the wife would kill me also :(
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