Show Me Your Lowered Zeds

[Snoop D]

Currently I am on H&R lowering springs. It's pretty slammed - the front tyres are about half an inch or less 'tucked' into the wheel arch. However, my stock dampers and top mounts are completely shot. This is also most likely causing the car to sit lower and sagged with excessive caster which has completely destroyed my arch liners and edges of front bumper!

So I am doing a full suspension rebuild and need to consider what spring and damper set up I should go for...

I have looked at the B12 Pro kit and Eibach springs. I have also considered keeping the H&R springs with new OEM Sachs dampers, and using thicker spring pads to give a little more clearance. Coil overs are not an option as I find them to be too harsh and crashy.

I notice there are lots of different options with the Bilstein setups, B4, B6 etc. What's the difference in all these?

I keep reading conflicting views on the B12 setup, that they are too harsh, and all pictures I have seen are not consistent. Some Z4's look at completely different heights with the same proclaimed B12 setups.

The H&R have reportedly been much stiffer and 'crashy' compared with B12 or Eibachs. Is this true?

The car is a weekend summer car so don't want anything super stiff and race track inspired...

I would be very grateful if members could post pictures of their setups and pictures of the H&R with thicker spring pad setup.

Cheers.

:worthless:

 

[baconJazz]

The B4 and B6 shocks are also designed to work with stock springs. B6's being the sportier version. The BMW technical director of tuning recommends H&R springs with The B6's for the best road modification.

 

[Mr Tidy]

My current Coupe came fitted with H & R coil-overs and was sitting about 40mm lower than standard on the front and at least 30mm lower on the rear, but it grounded on speed bumps and the arch-liners were getting worn!

So I got them wound as high as they would go and after that speed bumps were OK, although the ride is still pretty firm. :roll:

Anyway here is a photo of it before the ride height was raised.

 

[Piper1]

 

[Snoop D]

The B4 and B6 shocks are also designed to work with stock springs. B6's being the sportier version. The BMW technical director of tuning recommends H&R springs with The B6's for the best road modification.

Do you have a link to a credible source which states this? I'm not doubting you, it's just that I have heard all different kinds of views on this forum, mainly being that B4 and B6 shocks should never be used with lowering springs, in which case the only option to go for is B8 shocks...

The official Bilstein website does not state anywhere that their shocks should match up with specific springs...

 

[nick_l]

Mine fitted with B12 kit

 

[baconJazz]

The B4 and B6 shocks are also designed to work with stock springs. B6's being the sportier version. The BMW technical director of tuning recommends H&R springs with The B6's for the best road modification.

Do you have a link to a credible source which states this? I'm not doubting you, it's just that I have heard all different kinds of views on this forum, mainly being that B4 and B6 shocks should never be used with lowering springs, in which case the only option to go for is B8 shocks...

The official Bilstein website does not state anywhere that their shocks should match up with specific springs...

It was an article from a motoring magazine discussing the history and the used market for the e86 coupe including possible modifications . I'll try and find the article again and post you a link .

 

[baconJazz]

The B4 and B6 shocks are also designed to work with stock springs. B6's being the sportier version. The BMW technical director of tuning recommends H&R springs with The B6's for the best road modification.

Do you have a link to a credible source which states this? I'm not doubting you, it's just that I have heard all different kinds of views on this forum, mainly being that B4 and B6 shocks should never be used with lowering springs, in which case the only option to go for is B8 shocks...

The official Bilstein website does not state anywhere that their shocks should match up with specific springs...

It was an article from a motoring magazine discussing the history and the used market for the e86 coupe including possible modifications . I'll try and find the article again and post you a link .

Hi. Couldn't copy the link for some reason but here is a screenshot of the pertinent paragraph. After re-reading it I've realised that Kevin Bird (BMW technical directer of tuning) does not mention H&R springs , only the B6's. In fact he strongly advises that the car should not be lowered. He is obviously recommending using the B6's with stock springs (or similar but at OEM ride height)
The whole car & throttle article is very interesting in it's entirety if you want to read it.

 

[Snoop D]

Screenshot 2020-04-09 at 11.52.24.png

Do you have a link to a credible source which states this? I'm not doubting you, it's just that I have heard all different kinds of views on this forum, mainly being that B4 and B6 shocks should never be used with lowering springs, in which case the only option to go for is B8 shocks...

The official Bilstein website does not state anywhere that their shocks should match up with specific springs...

It was an article from a motoring magazine discussing the history and the used market for the e86 coupe including possible modifications . I'll try and find the article again and post you a link .

Hi. Couldn't copy the link for some reason but here is a screenshot of the pertinent paragraph. After re-reading it I've realised that Kevin Bird (BMW technical directer of tuning) does not mention H&R springs , only the B6's. In fact he strongly advises that the car should not be lowered. He is obviously recommending using the B6's with stock springs (or similar but at OEM ride height)
The whole car & throttle article is very interesting in it's entirety if you want to read it.

Thanks for fetching that - greatly appreciated

Interested how he says not to lower the car. Many of us on here run lowering springs haha.

I guess the Bilstein B8 shocks are my only option then £££

 

[Snoop D]

My current Coupe came fitted with H & R coil-overs and was sitting about 40mm lower than standard on the front and at least 30mm lower on the rear, but it grounded on speed bumps and the arch-liners were getting worn!

So I got them wound as high as they would go and after that speed bumps were OK, although the ride is still pretty firm. :roll:

Anyway here is a photo of it before the ride height was raised.

Nice Zed

That's probably about the same height as mines - bloody low! I think I'm gonna add strut tower reinforcement plates along with thicker spring pads l, should be just about right and look sweet also...

 

[jock156]

 

[Silverstar]

Screenshot 2020-04-09 at 11.52.24.png

Do you have a link to a credible source which states this? I'm not doubting you, it's just that I have heard all different kinds of views on this forum, mainly being that B4 and B6 shocks should never be used with lowering springs, in which case the only option to go for is B8 shocks...

The official Bilstein website does not state anywhere that their shocks should match up with specific springs...

It was an article from a motoring magazine discussing the history and the used market for the e86 coupe including possible modifications . I'll try and find the article again and post you a link .

Hi. Couldn't copy the link for some reason but here is a screenshot of the pertinent paragraph. After re-reading it I've realised that Kevin Bird (BMW technical directer of tuning) does not mention H&R springs , only the B6's. In fact he strongly advises that the car should not be lowered. He is obviously recommending using the B6's with stock springs (or similar but at OEM ride height)
The whole car & throttle article is very interesting in it's entirety if you want to read it.

Kevin Bird is not the technical director of BMW but he is the owner founder and director of Birds BMW in Iver, his father used to own a BMW concession and for many years and he operates as a BMW tuning and Independent specialist. They used to be agents for Hartge, not sure if they still are. He did the Hartge conversion on my E30 325i together with a Racelogic swithtronic gearbox some years ago. When it comes to tuning and BMWs he really does know a thing or two.

 

[baconJazz]

Screenshot 2020-04-09 at 11.52.24.png

It was an article from a motoring magazine discussing the history and the used market for the e86 coupe including possible modifications . I'll try and find the article again and post you a link .

Hi. Couldn't copy the link for some reason but here is a screenshot of the pertinent paragraph. After re-reading it I've realised that Kevin Bird (BMW technical directer of tuning) does not mention H&R springs , only the B6's. In fact he strongly advises that the car should not be lowered. He is obviously recommending using the B6's with stock springs (or similar but at OEM ride height)
The whole car & throttle article is very interesting in it's entirety if you want to read it.

Kevin Bird is not the technical director of BMW but he is the owner founder and director of Birds BMW in Iver, his father used to own a BMW concession and for many years and he operates as a BMW tuning and Independent specialist. They used to be agents for Hartge, not sure if they still are. He did the Hartge conversion on my E30 325i together with a Racelogic swithtronic gearbox some years ago. When it comes to tuning and BMWs he really does know a thing or two.

Ah ok , thanks for clarifying that , the article is a little mis-leading then . It did actually state that he worked directly for BMW.

 

[kingy89]

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What wheels are those?

 

[Piper1]

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What wheels are those?

Apex EC7 anthracite finish 18x9 et31 square. Think apex said 8.5 is as wide as you can get on the front without going camber plates to clear fenders. I do slightly rub on front inner liners at close to full lock so unless you're considering tracking think most have staggered with them.

 

[Snoop D]

NEAW1032.JPGKJAD7804.JPG

Nice Z4, looks a good height

 

[Snoop D]

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A50A5A1A-9C4E-4792-A010-4D71D8C9D4EC.jpeg

Mine fitted with B12 kit

Looks good The B12 kit does look higher than the H&R springs then. I'm looking for just a tad lower, so will be going for thicker spring pads on the H&R springs.

How does the B12 ride/perform on daily roads?

 

[Snoop D]

CAR.jpg

Nice

What's your suspension, spring setup?