Question about shocks and struts
- Thread starter Harry_E89
- Start date
It’s possible to get them repaired, the problem is finding a company that can do it, I’ve seen posts in the past where a company in Poland (I think from memory) do repairs and I’m sure I’d seen something about a company in the UK,
This is something I’d be interested in as my front ones were replaced before I bought it but there’s always the fear that they will start leaking again.
This is something I’d be interested in as my front ones were replaced before I bought it but there’s always the fear that they will start leaking again.
I firstly replaced only the springs and left the OEM shocks, and it was incompatible. So I went the long way and got a coilover set. See sig below. It’s tits! I have a gut feeling the all-in cost and time of servicing shocks is very close to an aftermarket coilover set.
Harry_E89 said:
B8s with some MSport OE or Supplex springs is a cost effective route…
That’s what I had on my 20i and they worked very well..
You can go for the KW3 / Ohlins class but it’s twice the price at least for not twice the performance increase….I have Ohlins R+T which are arguably the best road focussed upgrade you can get..
Coding out the adaptive shocks is a combination of removing the adaptive suspension ECU box then removing the s/w from the car by removing it in the VO with ISTA or Protool..
The springs will be shot if my experience was anything to go by..
Are you sure the shocks are leaking? Sometimes garages squirt oil on shocks to trick you into replacing them. I've had that happen multiple times here in the US. In fact the BMW dealer told me my left front shock was leaking. I went home and cleaned and dried the shock and it never leaked another drop.
Just my opinion. If it's really leaking, I would stick with the adaptive shocks. Especially if you use it as a daily.
Just my opinion. If it's really leaking, I would stick with the adaptive shocks. Especially if you use it as a daily.
After 40k miles the adaptive shocks leak and become useless.javis20 said:
One easy check that can be done on the rear shock is to remove the bottom shock bolt and see how easy/hard it is to push the shock up and then let go and see how long the shock takes to return to full stroke. At 60k you will probably find that they are totally useless!
FWIW at 50k my adaptive system was shot..
Both front shocks leaking..front nodding like a dog..rear no leaks but completely f$%^ed damping..loads of compression but no rebound..springs sagging..on bumpy roads bottoming out and grounding the centre strut stay bold..felt sea sick at the bouncing..
Personally I think the adaptive system was not fit for purpose when new..let alone at 10 years and 50k miles..
Both front shocks leaking..front nodding like a dog..rear no leaks but completely f$%^ed damping..loads of compression but no rebound..springs sagging..on bumpy roads bottoming out and grounding the centre strut stay bold..felt sea sick at the bouncing..
Personally I think the adaptive system was not fit for purpose when new..let alone at 10 years and 50k miles..
Finally I can be of use!
You can get the adaptive suspension refurbed. The Polish place costs quite a bit due to shipping and import duty.
https://nagengast.pl/en/kategoria-produktu/bmw-en/bmw-z4-en/
There is a fella in Nottingham that did mine:
You can get the adaptive suspension refurbed. The Polish place costs quite a bit due to shipping and import duty.
https://nagengast.pl/en/kategoria-produktu/bmw-en/bmw-z4-en/
There is a fella in Nottingham that did mine:
In the end he charged me £170 a corner, did it in a 2 week turn around, sent the old ones back in the same packaging that they came in, and had my garage fit them. The car feels much better on the refurbed shocks.B21 said:Beeacon said:B21 said:HI, yes I spoke to the chap, 07877 453936
He wanted £280 each or £260 for 4 at the same time, but he couldn't do the rears anyway..my two rear 35is dampers appear to be non misting / non leaking if you wanted to buy them, Im about to put a lot of old N20 /20i /redundany 35is bits on eBay..
Unfortunately it is the fronts on mine, rears are holding up well. Thanks for the contact info, very handy to have!
Cheers,
Beeacon.
Is it possible to set the KW V3 or Ohlins to stock ride height?
I'm not in the market for new shocks at the moment but if the fronts start to leak again I might be tempted. I wouldn't want to run any more of a drop than the current adaptive setup though as it would probably cause rub with my wheels.
I'm not in the market for new shocks at the moment but if the fronts start to leak again I might be tempted. I wouldn't want to run any more of a drop than the current adaptive setup though as it would probably cause rub with my wheels.
I've just had fitted some Bilstein B8's front and B6's on the rear of my 35i. The reason I've had the 6's on the rear is because I ordered the B8 rears in January and had kept being told they are on back order and Bilstein then said end of September but not guaranteed. They then told me I could use the 6 as the damping is the same as the 8's, it's just the 8's are 20mm shorter. I had already put some Eibach pro springs on the standard dampers so had these transferred to the Bilsteins. This setup has made the car very slightly firmer but not harsh and the car is now less crashy over rough tarmac. It's a combination that many a dealer/garage say is a good combo for fast road and the odd trackday.
The ride hight looks the same with these new Bilsteins as it did with the original dampers as it's still on the same Eibach springs, I believe the drop from when it had the original springs was 20mm front and about 10mm rearB21 said:
