Ride height poll

[PawnSacrifice]

I am interested to see what people's experiences are at different ride heights - considering going for Eibachs with a 30mm drop.

Would welcome any comments. For the poll itself I want to keep to experience of what people are running rather than speculation as to different ride heights... why I've included 0mm for those of us with 2.5s or smaller... comments can be whatever you want! Feedback on ride quality would be of interest for any that have lowered (or raised) their ride height.
srhutch made a good point... that's the pre-facelift 2.5. Facelift - all SI Sport models are on 'M Sport Suspension' (-15mm), but was optional on standard.

If there are any particular hazards (speed bumps, multistory ramps, etc) that you have issues with please add a note!

For clarification (I hope!): I am taking this from the point that the 2.5 ride height as standard / baseline (0mm)... I know that the early 3.0 and M (I think) start at a 15mm lower, view this as 15mm lower even though you haven't lowered the car yourself.

Please use lowest height you've had your car at.

Thanks

 

[gannet]

Standard suspension for the 3.0 here and would not want to go any lower... even mild speed bumps cause an unpleasant noise if driven quite slowly. Steep Car Park ramps have to be taken real slow - at the annoyance of cars behind (do I care...).

 

[Andy]

Never have issues with mine, except perhaps in my avatar.

 

[gannet]

not sure the M is as low as the 3.0 :?

sure I read that on here somewhere...

 

[a11y]

Eibach-equipped 3.0i here, so 30mm lower than a non-sport equipped Z4, or 15mm lower than a standard 3.0i. No major problems experienced.

Main problem is non-full width speed humps - the ones like lumps of tarmac/rubber, about 1.2m square that you straddle. Most are OK if you take them at normal 2nd-gear speeds (10-15mph) but they're not always uniform height and I've ground out a couple of times on the higher ones. I try to use the middle of the road and drive between them where I can, but not always possible. The small plastic mudflaps before the rear wheels scrape a lot, but not an issue as they're flexible.

The front bumper is lower than most kerbstones, so you've got to be careful when parking nose-in to spaces. But being an IAM driver I always reverse into spaces anyway :wink:.

And I can't clear the folding bollard at my work until I modified the bollard...

Not had a problem in any multi-storey carpark ramp so far: Buchanan Galleries, Concert Hall, St Enoch's Centre, all in Glasgow.

 

[WLH]

not sure the M is as low as the 3.0 :?

sure I read that on here somewhere...

I am pretty sure that is correct as I had occasional problems with both my previous 3.0 Zeds with sport package but no problems with my M. There is one street that I actually avoided that I can now drive in the M without an issue.

 

[ali_b]

H&R springs , I think they give 25mm drop, 19's and no problems at all

 

[Shooter]

Standard height on 18", some groundings from time to time on the biggest speed bumps.

 

[srhutch]

not sure the M is as low as the 3.0 :?

sure I read that on here somewhere...

PVR says that the front bumper is higher on the ///M than the standard fron but not sure about the car overall.

 

[srhutch]

Pawn, you may want to alter your text a bit, all post facelift Sport models have 15mm lower suspension I believe regardless of engine size.

 

[mikedav]

PVR says that the front bumper is higher on the ///M than the standard fron but not sure about the car overall.

The bottom of the fins either side of my front bumper scrapes (underneath) pulling into some petrol stations and drive ways, but it's maybe 10 times in 2 years

 

[cj10jeeper]

Standard 3.0i so in effect 15mm lower than 'standard' facelift front makes it lower than an ///M.
Not hit anything but I treat it with care and would not go any lower. looks or not

 

[PawnSacrifice]

Pawn, you may want to alter your text a bit, all post facelift Sport models have 15mm lower suspension I believe regardless of engine size.

Thanks - I wasn't sure about that when posting... but was only thinking of the 3.0, pre-facelfit hangup I guess!

 

[PawnSacrifice]

Standard 3.0i so in effect 15mm lower than 'standard' facelift front makes it lower than an ///M.
Not hit anything but I treat it with care and would not go any lower. looks or not

Am looking at this as one part of a change in ride setup (strut brace / anti-roll bars then alignment)... I didn't necessarily want to go to 30mm but there is little available at less than that - and I don't rate the BMW springs as they're more expensive and tend to snap, as many of us know! So no -15mm 3.0 setup. So far though ali_b has reported H&R at 25mm

-30mm does look sweet!

 

[Wondermike]

not sure the M is as low as the 3.0 :?

sure I read that on here somewhere...

Think the tyres make the difference - 225/45 and 255/40 as opposed to 225/40 and 255/35 - raises the whole car up 10mm or something?

I had a few problems on my pre-facelift 3.0 so I wouldn't like to go much lower than that, although it does look great, love Ally's car on the Eibach springs.

 

[Incompatible]

... I didn't necessarily want to go to 30mm but there is little available at less than that - and I don't rate the BMW springs as they're more expensive and tend to snap, as many of us know! So no -15mm 3.0 setup.

One of the local 3.0Si roadsters has run TIen springs for two or so years now. Drop is equal to the BMW Sport/M springs and he says the ride/handling is a little better this the oem sport/M springs.

 

[jamiez]

Im similar to a11y with my -30 mm drop on my 3.0si sport

I have to be careful generally only when i have a passenger as i then manage to scrape the underside on just about anything bigger then a small hump unless im going very slow.

Carparks are horrible going from one level to another

parking and the front bumper is another danger

 

[ali_b]

Standard 3.0i so in effect 15mm lower than 'standard' facelift front makes it lower than an ///M.
Not hit anything but I treat it with care and would not go any lower. looks or not

Am looking at this as one part of a change in ride setup (strut brace / anti-roll bars then alignment)... I didn't necessarily want to go to 30mm but there is little available at less than that - and I don't rate the BMW springs as they're more expensive and tend to snap, as many of us know! So no -15mm 3.0 setup. So far though ali_b has reported H&R at 25mm

-30mm does look sweet!

Got mine from here, they state 25mm drop, I never measured it :
http://www.europerformance.co.uk/pages/products/product_info.mhtml?product=3877649
If you like your marketing blurb "Porsche Carrera GT, 996 GT II and GT III are equipped with H&R springs, while Mercedes Benz chose them for its supercar, the CLK DTM AMG which is directly derived from the DTM CLK" 8)

Agree with Mikes comments tho, std springs with 19's or different tyre depth altogether can look a bit 'gangly' or on stilts

 

[GAZA62]

Standard M.Sport suspension no probs.

Would go a little lower if i could keep the same ride quality (but i know thats not likely) as my Z seems to sit a little higher than others i have seen on the road

 

[a11y]

I had a few problems on my pre-facelift 3.0 so I wouldn't like to go much lower than that, although it does look great, love Ally's car on the Eibach springs.

Thanks

Many of you will know I didn't choose Eibach springs for looks: it was purely a decision based on them being an alternative to snap-prone BMW springs. Both my rears were snapped (outside of warranty) and Eibachs cost less than 2 BMW springs too (that's the tight Scottish part of my decision!). I'm more than happy with the ride (slightly better initially over small bumps and ridges, but the limited suspension travel makes things interesting at times on lumpier roads) and the looks, but would've been equally happy with standard Sport suspension height if the springs didn't have the tendency to snap. Of course, replacement springs would likely have been perfect and not snapped but there was no way of knowing...