rear wheel rubbing wheel arch both sides :/

J

JINGLE

Veteran
 Norwich, Norfolk
Hi all, basically ive lowered my car on H&R springs and its highlighted a few bad things :/

1st of all as my rears wheels are 108s (18") they came with 25mm spacers so they sit out fairly when it was on standard suspension, now ive dropped it on H&Rs they rub the outside edge of the wheel arch liner (i expected this...) so today i went to remove the spacers as the springs have settled and i noticed the wheel had rubbed the rear INSIDE edge of the wheel arch liner.....
after some investigation ive found the EXACT reason but not sure how i can fix it.
whats happened is when ive had my quad exhaust conversion they have moved a black box over by about an inch to allow the 2nd exhaust pipe to flow through to the 2nd bumper cut out, but when moving the box over an inch it now pushes the wheel arch liner into the wheel housing an extra inch so when i removed the 25mm spacer the wheel would have destroyed the inside wheel arch liner and black box so i have been forced to return to before with the 25mm spacers which is still rubbing outter edge and getting dangerously close to the actual wing and rear bumper :/

what is this box for and how can i fix it??? :/

view from inside drivers rear wheel arch, you can just about see the box that has been moved over


view from rear underneath near 2nd drivers side exhaust


another angle where u can see where the box thing is pushing the arch liner over, u can see the line on the black wheel arch should be flush with the white part of the bumper (please excuse the state of it, it needs a wash and is covered in road grime)


another angle, ideally i would just move this box back (its about an inch away from its original fixing point and is connected with a small extended bracket the exhaust people used to move it out the way, it wasnt a problem when they did this, only now ive lowered it) but i cant move it back now as the exhaust is in the way :/



by this time i was getting very annoyed and it started raining so just put it back together with 25mm spacer and will have to drive very carefully, my workshop is my cold wet drive :(


as you can see, not much room :/


couple of random pics

 
I had 25mm on the rear of mine, albeit lowered on eibachs and fk springs, and never had any rubbing issue's with 107's, which are the same offsets and widths as 108's. Also had vredestein's on the rear tyres, so should be the same.

Just buy thinner spacers. 20mm should be fine.
 
im buying some new wheels soon so i was happy to just remove the spacers all together for the time being. the outside rubbing doesnt bother me much as i know its only due to the spacers.... its the inside rubbing if i remove the spacers that concerns me :/
im hoping its possible to just unbolt that black box thing, and take off the fabricated bracket and just move the box a little closer (not too close as the heat could damage it)

does anybody even know what that box is, i remember reading something about a charcoal/emissions filter box that isnt even needed sitting where the 2nd exhaust pipe runs???
 
Not yet, will check when I get to work, didn't think of that. Ideally I'd just remove it all together, but can't see it being that easy :(

Thanks
 
It's some sort or carbon filter. Think CJ removed his when he did his exhaust conversion.

I can't really see from your pics where it is rubbing though.
 
If it is the Carbon emissions filter then it may throw up the Engine Management Light on the dash once removed.

I only say this as I removed/disconnected it on 54 plate Clio runabout we had recently. I had to buy a resistor from Maplins and connect it across the connector that I disconnected from the filter. I connected an OBD reader to the car, cleared the EML and that was it sorted.

As far as I'm aware, other than the EML needing cancelling out, removing the Carbon filter, if that's what it is, will have no detriment on the car's running.
 
BTW, the resistor I fitted was a 20ohm/7w one that cost the princely sum of 84p from Maplins, fingers crossed you can just remove this box!!
 
Is it this part Jingle, part #1 - Activated Charcoal Filter? http://www.bmminiparts.com/DiagramView.aspx?DiagramId=130256&MOSP=47797

If so, I can't see an electrical connector on it but the pipes running to and from it will need capping off so has not to ingest road crap into them. Might even be able to remove them altogether and then bung the end near the fuel tank???
 
at work so havnt had a chance to edit some photos, will try later just to clarify :)

and yes NB67 that looks like its the exact thing, im hoping now you have linked me to that diagram I can just remove the filter all together and bung off the rubber pipes and then the wheel arch will sit in its natural position and not cause any rubbing or engine lights.

PHEW, looks like its not going to cost me loads or cause to much hassle..... just need the time and workshop to do it this weekend!!

thanks for all your help everybody, I love this forum! (I was stressing like mad last night when the car was on axle stands and it was raining and things weren't going to plan haha)
 
I have no idea what spring pads I have on now, I got 2 new sets from BMW earlier in the year so what ever standard is I guess??, but also, wouldn't that make my car sit higher and defeat the object of fitting lowering springs?
 
you should have 5mm on the top of the rear springs, so swapping for 12.5mm it will raise the rear by 7.5mm, so if you have lowered 40mm this will be reduced to 32.5 (less than a fingers difference but may just sort the issue). the spring lowered Z4's look to rear heavy in my opinion like you have a bag of sand in the boot.. alot of people in europe change them to level the cars out. they are £18 each from BMW so a cheap fix compared to changing spacers or exhaust etc.. i doubt you would notice the height difference anyway if just lowered and still a decent drop over standard. if you want part numbers let me know as have just put some on mine to level it out its a 30 min job to change
 
bamberjim said:
you should have 5mm on the top of the rear springs, so swapping for 12.5mm it will raise the rear by 7.5mm, so if you have lowered 40mm this will be reduced to 32.5 (less than a fingers difference but may just sort the issue). the spring lowered Z4's look to rear heavy in my opinion like you have a bag of sand in the boot.. alot of people in europe change them to level the cars out. they are £18 each from BMW so a cheap fix compared to changing spacers or exhaust etc.. i doubt you would notice the height difference anyway if just lowered and still a decent drop over standard. if you want part numbers let me know as have just put some on mine to level it out its a 30 min job to change
Click to expand...

If you need it Jingle, the part number Jim is referring to is 33531094754. I used these on my car as I hate a saggy ass!
 
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