Suspension refresh v upgrade

[Zoomer]

As the title suggests I am thinking about trying to get my suspension a little/lot better than it is at the moment
It’s a 3.0 E85
It’s done about 65000 miles
It’s standard suspension
It’s running on 224s with MPS 3 on
It’s had the front lollipops and arms done

I have been looking at Bilstein in all the different variants and also Coilovers. I like a little spirited driving along. Country A roads but feel that the suspension is a bit crashy ( I know it’s not the best as standard) and quite honestly I think I can drive the same roads quicker in my auto Jag XE Diesel at the moment ( it doesn’t sound as good though)

Has anyone upgraded/updated there suspension and could give me some pointers

Many thanks

 

[ben g]

I refreshed my suspension and fitted Bilstein b4 shocks paired with eibach springs. I also fitted new lemforder top mounts at the same time, and new rear sport bump stops at the rear. In hindsight, I should've got new bump stops for the front shocks aswell, but they looked OK so I didn't bother.

The ride is pretty good now. Of course, it's still quite firm over uneven country roads, but it feels like it holds the road fine on 95% of surfaces. I think this is what most Z4's from this generation suffer with, as the ride is firm at best and crashy at worst on seemingly any E85/6.

I did look into up rating the suspension and going for the B12 kit, but I didn't see the point for the driving I do (occasional B road blast and commuting during the week on dual carriageways).

 

[saj77]

I refreshed my suspension and fitted Bilstein b4 shocks paired with eibach springs.

Can I ask roughly what you paid for these? Around £800 is what I’m finding.

 

[MACK]

I refreshed my suspension and fitted Bilstein b4 shocks paired with eibach springs.

Can I ask roughly what you paid for these? Around £800 is what I’m finding.

You sure your not looking for the B12 kit by accident. I paid just under £300 from Balance Motorsport for four B4 shocks. I know prices have gone up in the last 18 months but they're still only £350ish now and I believe are cheaper eslewhere now. The spring can be had new for under £150 and the top mounts can be sourced from the likes of GSF or Euro fairly cheaply. Basically you should be able to get the lot for sub £550. If you looking at GSF use the code VIP60 this weekend for 60% off

 

[Zoomer]

I refreshed my suspension and fitted Bilstein b4 shocks paired with eibach springs. I also fitted new lemforder top mounts at the same time, and new rear sport bump stops at the rear. In hindsight, I should've got new bump stops for the front shocks aswell, but they looked OK so I didn't bother.

The ride is pretty good now. Of course, it's still quite firm over uneven country roads, but it feels like it holds the road fine on 95% of surfaces. I think this is what most Z4's from this generation suffer with, as the ride is firm at best and crashy at worst on seemingly any E85/6.

I did look into up rating the suspension and going for the B12 kit, but I didn't see the point for the driving I do (occasional B road blast and commuting during the week on dual carriageways).

Thanks for the insight Ben , not sure that Coilovers last that well ( but am I bothered based on my yearly mileage )and also at odds with B4 v B12 ( are they much better) . Could you let me know what extras you need apart from the kit that comes as I guess I’ll need that no matter what and if they are possible to fit at home.Don’t want to go too low as roads just taren’t good enough .

 

[Zoomer]

I refreshed my suspension and fitted Bilstein b4 shocks paired with eibach springs.

Can I ask roughly what you paid for these? Around £800 is what I’m finding.

You sure your not looking for the B12 kit by accident. I paid just under £300 from Balance Motorsport for four B4 shocks. I know prices have gone up in the last 18 months but they're still only £350ish now and I believe are cheaper eslewhere now. The spring can be had new for under £150 and the top mounts can be sourced from the likes of GSF or Euro fairly cheaply. Basically you should be able to get the lot for sub £550. If you looking at GSF use the code VIP60 this weekend for 60% off

Thanks MACK , what’s your thoughts on B4 then?

 

[MACK]

I refreshed my suspension and fitted Bilstein b4 shocks paired with eibach springs. I also fitted new lemforder top mounts at the same time, and new rear sport bump stops at the rear. In hindsight, I should've got new bump stops for the front shocks aswell, but they looked OK so I didn't bother.

The ride is pretty good now. Of course, it's still quite firm over uneven country roads, but it feels like it holds the road fine on 95% of surfaces. I think this is what most Z4's from this generation suffer with, as the ride is firm at best and crashy at worst on seemingly any E85/6.

I did look into up rating the suspension and going for the B12 kit, but I didn't see the point for the driving I do (occasional B road blast and commuting during the week on dual carriageways).

Thanks for the insight Ben , not sure that Coilovers last that well ( but am I bothered based on my yearly mileage )and also at odds with B4 v B12 ( are they much better) . Could you let me know what extras you need apart from the kit that comes as I guess I’ll need that no matter what and if they are possible to fit at home.Don’t want to go too low as roads just taren’t good enough .

The whole B4 vs B8 shocks (B8 is the shocks in the B12 kit) is debatable for a road car, for me the gas filled B4 twin tubes are good enough. What is indisputable is the B8 are uprated 25-35% over M sport and SE shocks so are definitely harder riding.

 

[Zoomer]

I refreshed my suspension and fitted Bilstein b4 shocks paired with eibach springs. I also fitted new lemforder top mounts at the same time, and new rear sport bump stops at the rear. In hindsight, I should've got new bump stops for the front shocks aswell, but they looked OK so I didn't bother.

The ride is pretty good now. Of course, it's still quite firm over uneven country roads, but it feels like it holds the road fine on 95% of surfaces. I think this is what most Z4's from this generation suffer with, as the ride is firm at best and crashy at worst on seemingly any E85/6.

I did look into up rating the suspension and going for the B12 kit, but I didn't see the point for the driving I do (occasional B road blast and commuting during the week on dual carriageways).

Thanks for the insight Ben , not sure that Coilovers last that well ( but am I bothered based on my yearly mileage )and also at odds with B4 v B12 ( are they much better) . Could you let me know what extras you need apart from the kit that comes as I guess I’ll need that no matter what and if they are possible to fit at home.Don’t want to go too low as roads just taren’t good enough .

The whole B4 vs B8 shocks (B8 is the shocks in the B12 kit) is debatable for a road car, for me the gas filled B4 twin tubes are good enough. What is indisputable is the B8 are uprated 25-35% over M sport and SE shocks so are definitely harder riding.

Thanks for the info MACK . I think that is a definite NO to the B12 kit then. Did you change the springs as well or do you just look st them for visual deterioration ( rust etc) to determine if they need replacing.

 

[MACK]

Can I ask roughly what you paid for these? Around £800 is what I’m finding.

You sure your not looking for the B12 kit by accident. I paid just under £300 from Balance Motorsport for four B4 shocks. I know prices have gone up in the last 18 months but they're still only £350ish now and I believe are cheaper eslewhere now. The spring can be had new for under £150 and the top mounts can be sourced from the likes of GSF or Euro fairly cheaply. Basically you should be able to get the lot for sub £550. If you looking at GSF use the code VIP60 this weekend for 60% off

Thanks MACK , what’s your thoughts on B4 then?

I like them and have had them paired with both Eibachs and now SE springs. One way of describing the difference is you no longer feel like your being ejected from the seat, you still feel the bumps (obviously to lesser extent than the old knackered shocks) but you stay firmly planted in your seat. The ride quality I have now is the best I've experienced in any E85. I've previously tried both SE and M sport suspension on original shocks in a number of zeds. Even before I tried SE springs the Eibachs gave the second best ride quality with the B4s but my original shocks were well and truely knackered. To be honest Im contemplating going back to the Eibachs or even trying the M sport springs as the SE do wallow abit too much for my liking in corners for a sports cars, plus the car looks much better on the lower springs

 

[MKZ4000]

I paid £325 for my B4s all round and about £130 for suplex springs all round

Haven’t fitted any of them yet though

 

[saj77]

Cheers guys for the advice regarding price - I’m in the same situation as the OP so this thread has been great.

Sorry the hijack but Mack from what you’ve said, could I use B4’s with my existing sport suspension springs?

 

[ben g]

I refreshed my suspension and fitted Bilstein b4 shocks paired with eibach springs.

Can I ask roughly what you paid for these? Around £800 is what I’m finding.

The B4 shocks were £260 from a company on ebay.de (Germany) and I already had the springs from my original shocks, which were fine to re-use.

 

[Ed Doe]

Personally I don't rate the b12 kit at all. I had the B12 kit on my old 3.0si coupe - it doesn't work well on bumpy roads. To be fair it does work well on smoother roads and at speed, and unlike the B4 and B6 dampers, the B8 dampers that come in the B12 lot are specced for a ~40mm lower ride height which the eibach springs achieve, but I had a damper fail after 2 years/28k miles (including 2 trackdays). When I say fail, the oil in the nsf damper decided to leave via the piston seal, and the damper essentially became solid, which made the ride utterly unbearable. On calling bilstein I was informed that they would not honour the website 'lifetime guarantee'. I gave up chasing it, put a pair of brand new b8 front dampers on and sold the car to move house, but in my view these days bilstein 'uprated dampers' are frankly a pile of s**t and not worth the money.

 

[MACK]

Cheers guys for the advice regarding price - I’m in the same situation as the OP so this thread has been great.

Sorry the hijack but Mack from what you’ve said, could I use B4’s with my existing sport suspension springs?

Yes that will be fine, anything up to 40mm lowering is what Bilstein state and as M sport are only 15mm lower than SE your well within that

 

[saj77]

Cheers guys for the advice regarding price - I’m in the same situation as the OP so this thread has been great.

Sorry the hijack but Mack from what you’ve said, could I use B4’s with my existing sport suspension springs?

Yes that will be fine, anything up to 40mm lowering is what Bilstein state and as M sport are only 15mm lower than SE your well within that

Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[MACK]

I refreshed my suspension and fitted Bilstein b4 shocks paired with eibach springs.

Can I ask roughly what you paid for these? Around £800 is what I’m finding.

The B4 shocks were £260 from a company on ebay.de (Germany) and I already had the springs from my original shocks, which were fine to re-use.

Ben I'm thinking of ditching the SE springs I fitted as the handling's definitely not as good with them on than either the B4 Eibach combo or my original M Sport springs and Sach Boge shockers. Comfort is better though to be fair. I was just wondering as Ive never experience Eibachs vs M sport springs back to back on the shockers which you found more comfy.

 

[Zoomer]

Might just do the B4s myself

 

[ben g]

Can I ask roughly what you paid for these? Around £800 is what I’m finding.

The B4 shocks were £260 from a company on ebay.de (Germany) and I already had the springs from my original shocks, which were fine to re-use.

Ben I'm thinking of ditching the SE springs I fitted as the handling's definitely not as good with them on than either the B4 Eibach combo or my original M Sport springs and Sach Boge shockers. Comfort is better though to be fair. I was just wondering as Ive never experience Eibachs vs M sport springs back to back on the shockers which you found more comfy.

Probably about the same in terms of ride comfort. No real noticeable difference for me. I only fitted them to lower the car, as I didn't like the way it sat on sport springs.

It definitely isn't any softer on the eibachs, but I also didn't find them any firmer than the sport springs either.

 

[MACK]

The B4 shocks were £260 from a company on ebay.de (Germany) and I already had the springs from my original shocks, which were fine to re-use.

Ben I'm thinking of ditching the SE springs I fitted as the handling's definitely not as good with them on than either the B4 Eibach combo or my original M Sport springs and Sach Boge shockers. Comfort is better though to be fair. I was just wondering as Ive never experience Eibachs vs M sport springs back to back on the shockers which you found more comfy.

Probably about the same in terms of ride comfort. No real noticeable difference for me. I only fitted them to lower the car, as I didn't like the way it sat on sport springs.

It definitely isn't any softer on the eibachs, but I also didn't find them any firmer than the sport springs either.

Cheers Ben!

 

[saj77]

In addition to upgrading the suspension - I've been looking into replacing the bushes...

Suspension = Blistein B4 paired with Eibach springs - with Lemforder top mounts front & rear.

My understanding is the following bushes / components would need to be changed to 'refresh' the car from a handling perspective...

1 Front lower wishbone rear bushes - Meyle HD
2 Rear trailing arm bushes - Meyle HD
3 Front and rear drop links - Meyle HD
4 Anti roll bar bushes

Are these the only bushes to replace?