Planning a suspension refresh for my 30i MSport. Advice please 🙏

E

Erudite-Idiot

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 Esholt - Yorkshire
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Hi 🙂
So my Z4 is now on 82k miles and one of the jobs I want to get done (by my indy) is the refresh the suspension.

Now i know it will need front and rear shocks and springs and top mounts, but in addition should I be looking at arb bushes, drop links and other parts?

I did a search, but most threads were for the E85/E86 which even this idiot knows is a totally different setup.

In short, I need some advice from and guidance on a shopping list from those who know about this on the E89 please. 🙏

I know B21 has a lot on his build thread, but mine is not a 35i/S and I just want to get it back to something close to original rather than his missile with a steering wheel and huge brakes! 😋

Thanks in advance.
 
Bilstein B8 shocks with either stock MSport springs if they are not shot otherwise Supplex version..OE quality…

ARB parts generally don’t wear so replace only if pry bar shows an issue..

RTAB bushes are the weaker part…but again, if it’s not obviously wrong then..why bother..

FWIW the E89 has an E90 ish front end and an E85 ish rear end..

Depends on how much you want to spend…how tired or not the car’s suspension parts are, how much of a hooner you are and how bothered you are with vague front end steering and optional rear steering…
 
Thanks for the answer sir. 🙂

Spend would be sensible considering it is a 2011 car that is ultimately still a 30i.
I am not skilled enough to really test the limits of the car so anything beyond stock is not going to be beneficial.

I will look into the B8's and will change the springs as a matter of course.
Good call on the rear trailing arm bushes.
 
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B21 said:
This has limited validity as the E85 set up is a bit different ..the numbering convention is valid but the conclusions Lee so…fwiw
Click to expand...

Oops, sorry I had that bookmark from a search and didn't check the forum

Is it worth doing the top mounts , if so what's recommended?
 
Worth replacing the top mounts.
My cars left wheel rocked slightly in the vertical, replaced the wheel bearings and didn't cure.
Turned out it was the top mounting.
I replaced some suspension components, but can't remember the parts numbers now.
I think Pondrew did a post on it.
Parts 6 and 11 replaced from some other BMW.
Went some way to make steering slightly better.
Also fitted poly anti roll bushes.
Have had Bilstein 6 in the past (std. shocks rear gone at 50k miles), but now on softer B4 due to my daily drive is country lanes, still hard at times.
Very unstable cars on UK country lanes (or should i say Staffordshire!), even with non rft tyres.
 

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Purchased Bilstein B8 rear shocks and Supplex front springs from Autodoc back in September for my E89 M Sport. Front B8s and rear Supplex springs were out of stock then and still are!!! Very frustrating. I havent tried Bilstein yet but keep hoping Autodoc will have them back in stock soon. Unable to find another Supplex supplier. Anyone have any suggestions where else to try?
 
Not sure what B8 are like but would be nice if a shock existed with a knob on the end you can adjust.
I know years ago my RX7 had option of electric damper control, motors on the end of shocks.
See Ohlins do adjustable but at £2.5k too much.
 
flybobbie said:
Not sure what B8 are like but would be nice if a shock existed with a knob on the end you can adjust.
I know years ago my RX7 had option of electric damper control, motors on the end of shocks.
See Ohlins do adjustable but at £2.5k too much.
Click to expand...
Planty of cheap Chinese ones but the good stuff is all more pricey Koni/B+C etc..

B6/B8 has about 20% more damping than the B4
 
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