Sorting out the clunky ride

[jgu80]

So I’m on to my second e85 Z4. The first was a 2003 3.0 se purchased new from the dealer.
I remember that is was an excellent car, great to drive on the back roads and not too uncomfortable on the motorways. Sadly that car left me many years ago but I have very fond memories of it.
Now second time round some 15 years later I’ve got another e85 2003 3.0 se. Only 45k on the clock with a good ish service history I’ve been enjoying it with little to no problems for the last couple of years . Except the pain of having to replace to steering column last year I’ve no had no big spends. I be done a few subtle mods to improve the car, new speakers, stereo, sound proofing the doors, Hids, covered the aluminium dash and centre console. All to make the car a comfortable place to cruise in but the thing that bugs me is the hard ride quality. It seems really clunky, far worse than I remember it to be. I’m assuming due to the low mileage and lack of paperwork that the car is still on it’s original shocks and springs.
So this year I want to revamp the ride quality.

I’m considering putting the car on 19’s but due to the poor ride I’ve stayed away.
There seems to be a fair amount of options out their but what would people recommend?
I’m not looking to really change the stance of the car, I just want to smooth the ride quality.
I’d like to put it on 19’s if possible as well so I need to consider this in my selection.

 

[Scooba_Steve]

Tired shocks and bushings perhaps. 19s and a soft ride are not realistic due to the profile, not sure what you can increase to without rubbing.

 

[mjennings23]

Bilstein B4 shocks and Suplex springs are what I'm using to great effect. The B4 is basically an OEM+ option, I believe they use gas assisted dampening Vs just oil in the Sachs factory parts, but I may be wrong there. I've used Bilstein in the past and have nothing but praise for them hence my choice.

Suplex do springs for both standard and sport suspension. Seeing as you have a 3.0, chances are it's sport suspension.

May also be worn bushings, such as the front control arms, rear trailing arms etc. They may not have covered that many miles but the rubber will still have deteriorated with age.

 

[NickDE]

Bilstein B4 shocks and Suplex springs are what I'm using to great effect. The B4 is basically an OEM+ option, I believe they use gas assisted dampening Vs just oil in the Sachs factory parts, but I may be wrong there. I've used Bilstein in the past and have nothing but praise for them hence my choice.

Suplex do springs for both standard and sport suspension. Seeing as you have a 3.0, chances are it's sport suspension.

May also be worn bushings, such as the front control arms, rear trailing arms etc. They may not have covered that many miles but the rubber will still have deteriorated with age.

Agreed. Plus check you are not on run-flat tyres.

 

[Spriteracer]

I can add - having just replaced everything on mine this week.... tried to get B4s but they are apparently on back order till about June.

 

[wonkydonkey]

There's no mention of the tyres currently fitted to your car buddy. Care to share?

 

[MKZ4000]

There's no mention of the tyres currently fitted to your car buddy. Care to share?

Try here. https://www.buycarparts.co.uk/search?keyword=b4&brandNo%5B0%5D=16&maker_id=16&model_id=4924&car_id=16828

They've gone up a bit but still a fair price

 

[MKZ4000]

sorry that was meant to be in response to where B4's are available

 

[jgu80]

There's no mention of the tyres currently fitted to your car buddy. Care to share?

Thanks for the input everyone.

Having read around the forum before purchasing the car the first thing I did was swap out the run flats in the hope that’d make the difference. It did but I think it’s time to address the old shocks and springs.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[jgu80]

Bilstein B4 shocks and Suplex springs are what I'm using to great effect. The B4 is basically an OEM+ option, I believe they use gas assisted dampening Vs just oil in the Sachs factory parts, but I may be wrong there. I've used Bilstein in the past and have nothing but praise for them hence my choice.

Suplex do springs for both standard and sport suspension. Seeing as you have a 3.0, chances are it's sport suspension.

May also be worn bushings, such as the front control arms, rear trailing arms etc. They may not have covered that many miles but the rubber will still have deteriorated with age.

Did all the 3.0 cars have sports suspension then?

 

[jgu80]

Tired shocks and bushings perhaps. 19s and a soft ride are not realistic due to the profile, not sure what you can increase to without rubbing.

Thanks, that’s what I thought, I’ll stick with 18’s. I just like the way the 19’s really fill the arches.

 

[mjennings23]

Bilstein B4 shocks and Suplex springs are what I'm using to great effect. The B4 is basically an OEM+ option, I believe they use gas assisted dampening Vs just oil in the Sachs factory parts, but I may be wrong there. I've used Bilstein in the past and have nothing but praise for them hence my choice.

Suplex do springs for both standard and sport suspension. Seeing as you have a 3.0, chances are it's sport suspension.

May also be worn bushings, such as the front control arms, rear trailing arms etc. They may not have covered that many miles but the rubber will still have deteriorated with age.

Did all the 3.0 cars have sports suspension then?

They came with sports by default, but it was a no cost option to have the higher normal suspension. Best bet is to stick your vin number into a website to check

 

[paulc_bkk]

General rules of thumb:
B4 + standard springs for standard height
B6 + eibach for a little lower than standard
Ditch the runflats
17/18 non-runflats will be the most comfortable
Refresh ball joints and bushes

I’m using coilovers and 19s, and while it’s not the smoothest ride in the world it works well day to day on components that aren’t worn out