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Mr Tidy's MC Thread - 5 Years On!
- Thread starter Mr Tidy
- Start date
Mr Tidy said:
Too high!
Considering that fixed H&R springs drop the car 35mm, I would be tempted to try 32mm on your coil-overs. Eibachs drop the car 30mm but look to high (well from the pics I've seen of other members running the B12 kit - could possibly be the B8 dampers raising the height too), and H&R's drop the car too low to be driven comfortably. I'm currently toying with the idea of buying B6/B8 shocks coupled with my H&R springs and thicker spring pads. That should hopefully give me a drop in between the B12 kit and fixed H&R on standard Sachs dampers...
Have a look at mr wilks grey roadster - height looks just perfect!
Yes, I'm pleased with the paint match. That's why I bought the genuine BMW stuff - I could have got more paint for less money from other suppliers but wasn't sure it would match so well.
And it wasn't like I had too much else I could do this weekend.
As for the ride height, according to the H & R website my coil-overs are a minimum drop of 23mm on the front and 19mm on the rear which is where it sits now as is where it will be staying! They also say their lowering springs are 25mm all round.
But I see different numbers quoted all over the place - one site I found said that Eibachs were 20mm lower on the front and 10mm on the rear. :?
And it wasn't like I had too much else I could do this weekend.
As for the ride height, according to the H & R website my coil-overs are a minimum drop of 23mm on the front and 19mm on the rear which is where it sits now as is where it will be staying! They also say their lowering springs are 25mm all round.
But I see different numbers quoted all over the place - one site I found said that Eibachs were 20mm lower on the front and 10mm on the rear. :?
Well my car was booked into RBM Hampshire for an Inspection 2 on 7 April but given how things are now I didn't see me driving it 10 miles or so could be considered in any way essential as I'm not a key-worker - I'm not actually a worker at all! :lol:
Anyway it seems Ross only lives up the road from me, so we made some arrangements and he picked it up yesterday morning on his way to work (obviously observing all the social distancing etiquette including gloves, sanitiser and hand washing) and he left his car at my house.
Ross noticed a few extra items and kept me updated with photos as well. The RTAB bushes were starting to split, so I opted for Powerflex polybush replacements. The engine chain tensioner was leaking so that got replaced and I needed a new Vanos filter. He also fitted the Osram Cool Blue headlamp bulbs I had bought after we discovered a few weeks back that one of mine was failing (it died a week later) and I figured he could swap them much easier on a lift than me lying on the ground! it also had coolant and brake fluid changed as well as the CDV taken out. He also has a sample of a litre of the oil that came out for an analysis to see if it looks like the crank rod bearing shells are wearing - fingers crossed on that!
He checked the valve clearances this morning and found that 5 of them were outside acceptable tolerances so 5 new shims went in.
To be fair I was expecting a few extras now it is on 77k miles as according to the service book it last had valve clearances checked when it had an Inspection 1 in July 2013 at 48K miles, although it has stamps for 3 oil services after that.
So once completed Ross e-mailed me the invoice and I paid online then he brought it back and collected his car, so again we could keep suitably distant, etc.
But having driven it he agreed the H & R coil-overs are very firm. He said it felt like it would be great on a track, but a bit stiff for English back roads and probably pretty tiring on a long run. Now I just need to wait until I can do a long run before I make a decision, but I'm starting to think fitting the Eibach springs it came with and buying a set of Bilstein dampers may make it more usable for an oldie like myself! Then hopefully I could sell the coil-overs.
Anyway I am really pleased it has had the TLC I knew it needed when I bought it, so will be using it occasionally for essential shopping trips but parking it as defensively as possible.
Finally I've added some photos seeing as this is z4forum after all! Starting with the manky looking gearbox oil coming out, the new and old engine chain tensioner and a before and after RTAB.
Anyway it seems Ross only lives up the road from me, so we made some arrangements and he picked it up yesterday morning on his way to work (obviously observing all the social distancing etiquette including gloves, sanitiser and hand washing) and he left his car at my house.
Ross noticed a few extra items and kept me updated with photos as well. The RTAB bushes were starting to split, so I opted for Powerflex polybush replacements. The engine chain tensioner was leaking so that got replaced and I needed a new Vanos filter. He also fitted the Osram Cool Blue headlamp bulbs I had bought after we discovered a few weeks back that one of mine was failing (it died a week later) and I figured he could swap them much easier on a lift than me lying on the ground! it also had coolant and brake fluid changed as well as the CDV taken out. He also has a sample of a litre of the oil that came out for an analysis to see if it looks like the crank rod bearing shells are wearing - fingers crossed on that!
He checked the valve clearances this morning and found that 5 of them were outside acceptable tolerances so 5 new shims went in.
To be fair I was expecting a few extras now it is on 77k miles as according to the service book it last had valve clearances checked when it had an Inspection 1 in July 2013 at 48K miles, although it has stamps for 3 oil services after that.
So once completed Ross e-mailed me the invoice and I paid online then he brought it back and collected his car, so again we could keep suitably distant, etc.
But having driven it he agreed the H & R coil-overs are very firm. He said it felt like it would be great on a track, but a bit stiff for English back roads and probably pretty tiring on a long run. Now I just need to wait until I can do a long run before I make a decision, but I'm starting to think fitting the Eibach springs it came with and buying a set of Bilstein dampers may make it more usable for an oldie like myself! Then hopefully I could sell the coil-overs.
Anyway I am really pleased it has had the TLC I knew it needed when I bought it, so will be using it occasionally for essential shopping trips but parking it as defensively as possible.
Finally I've added some photos seeing as this is z4forum after all! Starting with the manky looking gearbox oil coming out, the new and old engine chain tensioner and a before and after RTAB.
Attachments
Great work Mr T, I got an the oil analyser kit from Miller oil, it gives you a great peace of mind, also Miller gives you the running mileage left on your current oil, I now feel this is my service point, I’m hopefully going to fit some Bilstein B16 in the future, I’m just waiting until the 25% Bilstein Summer Sale 
z4pilot said:
I know, I've read the same about polybushes, but I had to decide quickly so Ross could order them before close of business if they were going to arrive the next day! And I'm sure I've also read that because they don't flex they keep the geometry closer to how it was designed.
In any case I can't see them being making a big difference with my current spring set-up, but will find out next time I take it out - to the shops! :roll:
Great work Mr. T!
Before I sold my Z4MC I was in the process of doing the same H&R to Bilstein B12 on advice from here, and judging by some of the feedback I'm sure you'll be happier on the softer setup, the H&Rs were great when driven in anger on smooth roads, but absolute killers on bumpy B roads, my back can still feel the jolts on a cold night!
Before I sold my Z4MC I was in the process of doing the same H&R to Bilstein B12 on advice from here, and judging by some of the feedback I'm sure you'll be happier on the softer setup, the H&Rs were great when driven in anger on smooth roads, but absolute killers on bumpy B roads, my back can still feel the jolts on a cold night!
AndyBeech said:
We always check the chain tensioner as good practice before recommending just the o-ring or the compete tensioner as we’ve seen a few where they start to stick or have a weak piston. This one was sticking so we recommended replacing the complete tensioner to prevent any future problems arising.
Mr Tidy said:
We’ve fitted lots of the Powerflex RTAB to Z4’s and E46 M3’s and everyone has raved about the difference without any complaints about ride/noise. Other bushes on these vehicles we would normally fit standard if it’s not being tracked but find the RTAB in Powerflex are a worthwhile upgrade for both handling and durability.
That is a beautiful car 
Are the CSLs 18" or 19"?
And how has that setup been working, is it ok at those heights?
Are the CSLs 18" or 19"?
And how has that setup been working, is it ok at those heights?
Although they are Replicas they are exactly the same sizes and offsets as genuine ones, so they are 19s.
For the couple of hundred miles I've been able to do since the spacers came off and the coil-overs were wound as high as they go they have been fine with no rubbing.
For the couple of hundred miles I've been able to do since the spacers came off and the coil-overs were wound as high as they go they have been fine with no rubbing.
Good question, and being a newbie to all this sort of stuff I had to look it up. :roll: And the simple answer is I don't know how much droop travel I have!
I'm inclined to think the ride is firmer than I want for a long trip although I don't think it is any worse than when the car was lower, but of course I haven't been able to do a long trip, although the handling seems very good.
I haven't tried other springs on these shocks. In the event I do decide to use the Eibach springs that came with the car I'd get a set of Bilstein or KW dampers (recommendations welcome) so the coil-overs remain a complete kit.
I'm inclined to think the ride is firmer than I want for a long trip although I don't think it is any worse than when the car was lower, but of course I haven't been able to do a long trip, although the handling seems very good.
I haven't tried other springs on these shocks. In the event I do decide to use the Eibach springs that came with the car I'd get a set of Bilstein or KW dampers (recommendations welcome) so the coil-overs remain a complete kit.