Suspension -no change

T

Tornado

Member
Greetings People,
Just bought a 2009 Z4 e89 and I noticed that there’s no change in the suspension when I put it in Sport or Sport +. There’s no noise or anything.

The dash shows the mode change and I notice the revs are higher and the back end will slide in Sport +, but no firming up of suspension and the suspension seems pretty hard in Normal mode too.

I hear it’s expensive to fix so I’m hoping people have some good info they can share.

What goes wrong? (another post suggested leaked fluid).. where’s the best z4 mechanic in Melbourne that won’t screw me?

Can the struts be installed at home or are very special tools required?

Thanks all.
 
Are you sure you have adaptive suspension? They don't all have it, but still have Sports Mode for the other stuff.
 
enuff_zed said:
Are you sure you have adaptive suspension? They don't all have it, but still have Sports Mode for the other stuff.
Click to expand...

Oh and just noted the irony of your user name and my avatar. :wink:
 
Tornado said:
Greetings People,
Just bought a 2009 Z4 e89 and I noticed that there’s no change in the suspension when I put it in Sport or Sport +. There’s no noise or anything.

The dash shows the mode change and I notice the refs are higher and the back end will slide in sport +, but no forming up of suspension and the suspension seems pretty hard in comfort mode too.

I hear it’s expensive to fix so I’m hoping people have some good info they can share.

What goes wrong? (another post suggested leaked fluid).. where’s the best z4 mechanic in Melbourne that won’t screw me?

Can the struts be installed at home or are very special tools required?

Thanks all.
Click to expand...

What model of E89 is it ?
 
It’s 2009 35i S drive with turbos. The guy said “it’s got everything” and it has a carbon fibre roof and steering wheel, plus spoiler and little guards on the nose. I’m a bit unsure of the exact specs though.. It has garish M logos projected onto the ground, M badges on the sides and wheels -but not on the door step trims, not on the grill, and not on the back. Plus the 35i - I hear that’s actually 3.0 L ? Very confusing.

I’m a bit nervous about any suspension problems because I’ve just seen a video of the struts breaking through their plates at the top – it seems the plates are too weak to handle repeated shocks - and the guy in the video installed “reinforcement” plates.
 
Sounds like you have an se model and as its a 35i and not 35is it probably doesn't have adaptive suspension as it was an extra on 35i models.
 
2009 there was no MSport 35i didn’t arrive till 2010

It’s got a faux wrap on the roof..nobody has ever made a true c/f roof for an E89

3 litre n54 engine rated at 305 BHP in that model..

Very unlikely as was said that it had adaptive shocks..so sport mode change stability control, steering and throttle response on that..and it had a DCT box the gearbox program..
 
isn't there a website you can use to indicate all the options and spec according to your vin number? I thought that would be a more precise picture of what you have installed.
 
1. Just turn your front wheel to one side and look at your strut. If the car has adaptive suspension, the shock will have a motor mounted perpendicular to the shock with electrical wires attached. It's very obvious. If it does, then your problem may be worn out struts. Common for them to wear out before 100k.
2. If there isn't an adaptive strut on the front, run the cars vin to see if it was supposed to there. If it once had adaptive suspension, the previous owner might have coded them out and replaced with regular non adaptive struts.
 
javis20 said:
1. Just turn your front wheel to one side and look at your strut. If the car has adaptive suspension, the shock will have a motor mounted perpendicular to the shock with electrical wires attached. It's very obvious. If it does, then your problem may be worn out struts. Common for them to wear out before 100k.
2. If there isn't an adaptive strut on the front, run the cars vin to see if it was supposed to there. If it once had adaptive suspension, the previous owner might have coded them out and replaced with regular non adaptive struts.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. I thought there would be a way to tell. I'll check it out next time I go for a ride.
 
I believe the 2009 did have the adaptive suspension option. My guess is one of the previous owners replaced them with regular shocks. Here is a picture of my leaking Adaptive shock...

Adaptive Shock_2.1.1.jpg
 
Hey guys,
I checked it out and it looks like the shocks were replaced with ordinary ones or this car never had adaptive suspension.
I know it was an option because when I looked at another 2009 z4 e89 3.0 I felt the suspension change when it was put in sport mode.

I took some photos of my shocks (front of right front and back of left front) to post and see what you guys think, but I can't see the motors that Javis pointed out:
IMG_0277.jpeg
IMG_0270.jpeg


Thanks

IMG_0172 (2).jpeg
I call it Tornado :)
 
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