SE Springs vs Eibachs anyone made the switch

[MACK]

Its long been said on here that Eibachs give a more comfortable ride than M Sport springs, at least over the smaller bumps. But how do they compare with SE springs? Anyone made this switch without refreshing the shocks?
I'm interested to hear your thoughts on this, as i'm currently toying with the idea of trying some SE springs on my zed running Eibachs.

 

[philbo909]

I went from SE- eibach- msport on bilstein b4s
SE looked odd imo, just too much arch gap. eibach were too low for my zed and msport are just right (suplex that is)
Ride on SE is easily best, shame they're so tall!

 

[MACK]

I went from SE- eibach- msport on bilstein b4s
SE looked odd imo, just too much arch gap. eibach were too low for my zed and msport are just right (suplex that is)
Ride on SE is easily best, shame they're so tall!

Thanks for the reply,
Just to clarify, did you have the B4s on with the SE springs or did you just fit them when you went to M Sport springs?
Thanks

 

[philbo909]

Yeh all of the springs on the same B4 struts, which were new last year (it was a bit of a goldilocks moment for me, should've bit the bullet and got coilovers in hindsight)

 

[MACK]

Yeh all of the springs on the same B4 struts, which were new last year (it was a bit of a goldilocks moment for me, should've bit the bullet and got coilovers in hindsight)

Interesting, seeing as you found the SE springs to give by far the best ride quality. I may well have to try them on mine and see how it rides/handles and if I can live with arch gap.
thanks

 

[ben g]

I've seen a Z4 with SE springs in real life and believe me, you do not want that arch gap :lol: it's absolutely dreadful.

 

[DaveD]

It is quite high. Here’s a pic of mine. Is a compromise though as I’d be able to carry loads more speed on a B road vs eibachs

 

[MACK]

I've seen a Z4 with SE springs in real life and believe me, you do not want that arch gap :lol: it's absolutely dreadful.

. I know what you mean! I think I'm at the point where its just an inch I want to scratch. Curiousity is getting the better of me and I just want to see what its like ride/handling wise. I'm hoping using M Spec tyres and 15/20mm spacers might just help to mask some of the arch gap. Probably just wishful thinking that!

 

[MACK]

It is quite high. Here’s a pic of mine. Is a compromise though as I’d be able to carry loads more speed on a B road vs eibachs

I think you just hit the nail on head there. Its exactly what I was thinking.

 

[tug]

Just done a full refresh on my zeds suspension, i thought i would keep it standard SE. So had SACHS shocks front and rear SACHS coils on rear and KILEN springs on the front with SACHS top mounts

Together with my 17's the arch gaps are big compared to others ive seen but after feeling the complete transformation in handling and comfort i dont care about that. Before, the ride was crashy, noisy, and the back end rolling about, it was awful! but i just thought its a sports car put up with it

Now its like driving on AIR! rolls over rough roads with ease and comfort and feels well planted when cornering. So glad i treated the zed


Cheers, tug

 

[DaveD]

B6 dampers just ups the performance window so firmer at low speed but more composed at high speed. Keeps the travel though so less time on the bump stops.

 

[philbo909]

I've seen a Z4 with SE springs in real life and believe me, you do not want that arch gap :lol: it's absolutely dreadful.

. I know what you mean! I think I'm at the point where its just an inch I want to scratch. Curiousity is getting the better of me and I just want to see what its like ride/handling wise. I'm hoping using M Spec tyres and 15/20mm spacers might just help to mask some of the arch gap. Probably just wishful thinking that!

Like you say with M tyre sizes and spacers I think it'll look a lot better than standard SE

 

[STUBOY2UK]

Its long been said on here that Eibachs give a more comfortable ride than M Sport springs, at least over the smaller bumps.

I read that many times before swapping from M Sport to Eibach, and I'm not sure I agree. I think the ride comfort was pretty similar but the car looked much better lowered on the Eibachs. I then swapped my 18"s for 19"s and it looked awesome, but in truth the ride was ridiculously harsh for a daily driver.

I've sold the car now but if I had another one, I'd go for Eibachs and 18" wheels.

 

[MACK]

I've seen a Z4 with SE springs in real life and believe me, you do not want that arch gap :lol: it's absolutely dreadful.

. I know what you mean! I think I'm at the point where its just an inch I want to scratch. Curiousity is getting the better of me and I just want to see what its like ride/handling wise. I'm hoping using M Spec tyres and 15/20mm spacers might just help to mask some of the arch gap. Probably just wishful thinking that!

Like you say with M tyre sizes and spacers I think it'll look a lot better than standard SE

Just to update this thread, I let curiosity get the better of me and bought a set of Suplex SE spec rear springs. I just got the rears for now as there a doddle to fit compared to the fronts. I put them on yesterday and went for a bit of a run to see what the ride was like. Its definitely more compliant than the Eibachs, although its a little hard to tell at times with just the rears done whats coming from the front and whats coming from the rear.
Aesthetics wise I think mine looks more akin to a zed on M Sport suspension than one on SE due to the higher tyre sidewalls and the spacers pushing the wheels closer to the arches, so I think I could probably live with it. Although obviously I am biased!
I think Ill now order a set of fronts and get them on, then assess the whole complete package before making any final decisions about which to leave on.

 

[philbo909]

So right now you have eibach fronts and SE rears? That's worth a picture

 

[MACK]

So right now you have eibach fronts and SE rears? That's worth a picture

I'll try and sort one on some level ground. You'll have to excuse the scabby 107s

 

[Zeddicus]

Aesthetics wise I think mine looks more akin to a zed on M Sport suspension than one on SE due to the higher tyre sidewalls and the spacers pushing the wheels closer to the arches

I have also thought of this: install higher sidewalls tires instead of the original rears 35 / fronts 40, in order to improve the ride AND reduce the gap with the arches on SE suspension!

I have seen many non-M cars having M style 224 alloys, and if I am not mistaken these wheels have higher sidewalls (and larger rear) tires than the other 18" wheels. So there should be no rubbing issue to have for example Goodyear F1 Assymetrics 235/40R18 and 225/45R18 mounted?
My only question would be on the handling of the car, if there is any drawback with having these bigger rubbers installed... although there again, the Z4M have them, so I guess not.

 

[MACK]

Aesthetics wise I think mine looks more akin to a zed on M Sport suspension than one on SE due to the higher tyre sidewalls and the spacers pushing the wheels closer to the arches

I have also thought of this: install higher sidewalls tires instead of the original rears 35 / fronts 40, in order to improve the ride AND reduce the gap with the arches on SE suspension!

I have seen many non-M cars having M style 224 alloys, and if I am not mistaken these wheels have higher sidewalls (and larger rear) tires than the other 18" wheels. So there should be no rubbing issue to have for example Goodyear F1 Assymetrics 235/40R18 and 225/45R18 mounted?
My only question would be on the handling of the car, if there is any drawback with having these bigger rubbers installed... although there again, the Z4M have them, so I guess not.

Hi,
To be fair, I think most of the non M zeds using the M 224 alloys on here are actually running the 225/40 255/35 standard tyre size, not the 225/45 255/40 M sizes. However quite a few on here use the M tyre size on 18" alloys without any rubbing issues, The rubbing issues come when you start changing the offset with spacers etc and are usually limited to the front. For example I had minimal rubbing with my knackered old M Sport suspension when used with the M tyre sizes and F15 R20MM spacers, which in combination gives a lower offset than the 224 alloys have. In fact most of the rubbing was down to bad shockers as when I fitted new shocks and the Eibach springs (15mm lower) the rubbing was far less. For me though the addition ride comfort when using M tyres more than makes up for any minor rubbing.
Handling wise as long as you have the geometry setup right the larger tyres make no difference other than to improve the ride quality and make the speedo more accurate.

 

[Zeddicus]

I think I'll try the higher sidewalls next time I need new tires on my 203s. They may be a little bit more expensive, but not so much really, and if they achieve to make the gap less obvious in the wheel arches, plus with a little extra comfort, then two birds with one stone!
Mack, will you manage to share some pictures with us? :wink:

 

[MACK]

Ok I've managed to take a few pics on level ground at a local supermarket. The pics are on my phone and I'm no photographer so apologises for the quality. In my rather biased opinion I do honestly think the rear looks more akin to M Sport than SE with the M Spec tyres and F15 R20 spacers on. Also please bear in mind that on both factory suspensions the rear always looks a little higher than the front




I've just had a look around the forum for cars I know are on SE and M Sport suspension and copied a couple of pics into here for comparison purposes. I hope the owners dont mind
First up its Marlons SE spec suspension


Next one is mjennings23 M Sport spec suspension