Poor handling?

[WayneZ4]

Hey all,
Since buying my Z4 I must admit I haven’t been all that impressed with the handling. The car doesn’t give much confidence in the front end, I could corner quicker in a hatchback. I even find that when sitting at 70mph on the motorway the car feels like it drifts across the road quite a bit. I’ve had the tracking adjusted, tyre pressures etc checked. Not sure what to look at next? Tired suspension components? Has anyone else experienced the same handling issues?
For context the car is a 2006 2.5 E86 with 83k miles
Thanks in advance

 

[Rockhopper]

what tyres (make and size) and pressures are you running?

 

[Argyll Andy]

First question would be is it on run flats? If so get them in the bin

 

[WayneZ4]

Hey,
They’re non-run flats.
Michelin Pilot Sports all round. If I remember correctly it’s 30 the front, 32/33 at the rear

 

[MikeyH]

No they don't inspire much confidence in corners do they, it doesn't help when the steering is crap.

 

[bigwinn]

Tired suspension will not help- and once you start on that slope you can replace lots of expensive stuff!

 

[Rockhopper]

I'm running similar pressures, my tyres are Khumo PS71's. I cant say I've ever found any handling issues.

When the Z4 was launched (on runflats) it was never criticised about its handling so its difficult to believe its the tyres causing issues. Some people are suggesting that its rear trailing arm bushes that are now causing problems. Most people would look at the front and change things there as its relatively easy to do. The rear bushes are much harder to do so people don't change them.

 

[john-e89]

Needs to go on a ramp for a proper assessment of worn bushes, anti roll bar mounts, track rod ends, drop links, springs and shocks etc, Wayne, until then you’re guessing really.

 

[darich]

For context the car is a 2006 2.5 E86 with 83k miles

No such car exists.
E86 was 3.0si or 3.2 as an M model.

To answer your question, I find my E86 to be fine handling wise. I don't thrash it, but it can corner quite well when required. Don't really feel it wandering too much either.

 

[Meds]

No issues here. Mine handles fantastic.
I'm no driving expert who aims for the far reaches of handling excellence, though.
But based on my 2x previous 130i's (hatchbacks), a VX2020 and our other car 340i, the Z4 Coupe handles very well indeed and the steering seems perfectly good enough for a fast road car.
They'not set up as B road weapons from factory, but perfectly acceptable and a good base to work on if you require it to be sharper.

I'd suggest a full survey underneath, especially if you have it wondering at higher speeds.

 

[Andy_017]

I would imagine going off what you have said that the front control arm bushes and/or the rear trailing arm bushes will be the culprit.

If the rear trailing arm bushes are past it they allow the rear of the car to move significantly which obviously will give the feeling of wandering as it is in effect steering from the rear of the car.

I would go z4m control arm bushes at the front and maybe poly the rear.

 

[STC_Zed]

Mine was a bit vague and wondery when I first bought it.

I replaced the wishbones, front drop links, track rods and ARB bushes plus the rear trailing arm bushes and topknot some where for a proper geo and it’s much better. It’s still not as good handling as my old 130i but that was very, very good having had Birds suspension fitted, M3 arms, camber plates and a good set up. The Z4 is quite unique in the way that you sit so far back which I don’t find the most confidence inspiring way to be sat.

There isn’t a basic tracking where they’ll follow the factory set up but there are improvements to be had. Paying the extra for an alignment by String Theory, Spires, Centre Gravity etc is a worthwhile investment in my experience.

 

[enuff_zed]

The Z4 is quite unique in the way that you sit so far back which I don’t find the most confidence inspiring way to be sat.

That's an interesting point of view.
Conversely, that is what I like about it. Turn te front end in, knowing that you are more or less on the back axle, so don't have to worry about clipping kerbs as the rear wheels cut the corner.

 

[STC_Zed]

The Z4 is quite unique in the way that you sit so far back which I don’t find the most confidence inspiring way to be sat.

That's an interesting point of view.
Conversely, that is what I like about it. Turn te front end in, knowing that you are more or less on the back axle, so don't have to worry about clipping kerbs as the rear wheels cut the corner.

I guess it’s different strokes for different folks. I find the Cayman a slightly easier car to drive. It has better visibility and you don’t have that massive bonnet out the front. But they fall down in other areas.

 

[enuff_zed]

The Z4 is quite unique in the way that you sit so far back which I don’t find the most confidence inspiring way to be sat.

That's an interesting point of view.
Conversely, that is what I like about it. Turn te front end in, knowing that you are more or less on the back axle, so don't have to worry about clipping kerbs as the rear wheels cut the corner.

I guess it’s different strokes for different folks. I find the Cayman a slightly easier car to drive. It has better visibility and you don’t have that massive bonnet out the front. But they fall down in other areas.

I grew up driving Capris. What bonnet? :rofl:

 

[MikeyH]

That's an interesting point of view.
Conversely, that is what I like about it. Turn te front end in, knowing that you are more or less on the back axle, so don't have to worry about clipping kerbs as the rear wheels cut the corner.

I guess it’s different strokes for different folks. I find the Cayman a slightly easier car to drive. It has better visibility and you don’t have that massive bonnet out the front. But they fall down in other areas.

I grew up driving Capris. What bonnet? :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl:

 

[STC_Zed]

That's an interesting point of view.
Conversely, that is what I like about it. Turn te front end in, knowing that you are more or less on the back axle, so don't have to worry about clipping kerbs as the rear wheels cut the corner.

I guess it’s different strokes for different folks. I find the Cayman a slightly easier car to drive. It has better visibility and you don’t have that massive bonnet out the front. But they fall down in other areas.

I grew up driving Capris. What bonnet? :rofl:

Ha ha. Compared to my previous 1 / 3 series it’s very long. Makes working on the engine much easier though.

 

[Ed Doe]

At 86k your dampers will be well past their best, as will the majority of OE bushes.

Whilst these might not fail an MOT, but they'll be tired, and the combined effect will make the car feel quite baggy.

In my experience though in both E86 3.0si & M guise, the handling generally can feel a little 'exciting' as the cars do tend to follow tramlines/cambers in the road, mostly as a consequence of suspension camber and toe settings even as standard. This is magnified if you get dynamic changes in toe/camber as a consequence of baggy bushes and dampers, but it never truly goes away even with new bushes etc..

Personally I'd do what has been suggested previously - get it up on a ramp with someone who know's what they're looking at and get a list of bushings which need doing, and maybe look at the dampers too, plus an alignment.

When I had my E86 3.0si Coupe fitting a Bilstein B12 kit (B8 dampers & Eibach lowering springs), newdroplinks, plus Powerflex Purple (Road version) Front Control Arm Rear Bushes, Rear Trailing arm Bushes, and front and rear ARB Bushes, plus a good alignment (from memory I used to run as close to E46 M3 CSL-spec alignment as possible). This setup made the car vastly more neutral, communicative and predictable. Other bushes are worth doing as there are fewer rose joints in the Non-M suspensions setup compared to the M suspension, but those are the major ones I'd be getting sorted first, and It shouldn't cost the earth; I think I got all the parts for sub-£800, and fitting was a few hundred on top (back in ~2016 admittedly!).