Suspension Upgrade Advice

[Matt.13]

Not heard of that but sounds interesting! Place called Wheels in Motion (or Blackboots) in Chesham are supposed to be very good. Guy called Tony Bones who works there knows his stuff from what I've read so that's on my list but having other options can't hurt!

I have used wim twice, first time I had Tony working on the car and he done a really good job. Second time I had someone else do it and after 90 mins I was told I would have to come back and it was work in progress and by the way your bill is £160, the car drove like a dog on the way home. Fair to say I never went back. Since then I have used wheel power in brockley and more recently Scott’s performance in dartford who done a great job on my coupe.

 

[RedUn]

Not heard of that but sounds interesting! Place called Wheels in Motion (or Blackboots) in Chesham are supposed to be very good. Guy called Tony Bones who works there knows his stuff from what I've read so that's on my list but having other options can't hurt!

I know about them but never used them, my mate did and he seemed happy though.

I use Chris Franklin at centre gravity, he's an absolute master, first used him in 2006, used him ever since

Edit to add, he's not cheap but his corner weighting and geo is 2nd to none

 

[MrPT]

I should caveat the note re the rear springs - I don’t actually know whether the “thunk” is a genuine hard stop in the suspension or whether it’s just the coils becoming unbound on extension (and hammering the chassis). I suspect it’s the latter but need to do some experiments to find out.

Sorted! Went out today and smashed the sh!t out of every local pothole and humpback bridge. Now totally silent over everything. 8)

There were actually a few, quieter “clinking” noises back there before that I’d assumed were the boot trim but must have been coil slap as they’re gone now. Happy days... I suspect they will go to full soft (bump) at the back without ever bottoming out now. The occasional “thunk” was just the coils unbinding.

 

[RWDKurt]

Easypeasy - Eibach Pro springs.
Lower & much better ride, and cheap as chips.

I have this setup - I know these things are highly subjective but the ride is still pretty firm for UK roads - especially up North. Like the OP I am also considering coilovers. At the risk of committing heresy, I'm seriously tempted to try BCs. I have personal experience of them on other cars, and despite their low cost they seem well made and perform well.

 

[RedUn]

Easypeasy - Eibach Pro springs.
Lower & much better ride, and cheap as chips.

I have this setup - I know these things are highly subjective but the ride is still pretty firm for UK roads - especially up North. Like the OP I am also considering coilovers. At the risk of committing heresy, I'm seriously tempted to try BCs. I have personal experience of them on other cars, and despite their low cost they seem well made and perform well.

I've no clue about BCs but a twin tube damper is what you want for road manners

 

[AndyBeech]

I should caveat the note re the rear springs - I don’t actually know whether the “thunk” is a genuine hard stop in the suspension or whether it’s just the coils becoming unbound on extension (and hammering the chassis). I suspect it’s the latter but need to do some experiments to find out.

B00DF697-E662-4B1C-A1FD-C6142C00DEE4.jpeg

Sorted! Went out today and smashed the sh!t out of every local pothole and humpback bridge. Now totally silent over everything. 8)

There were actually a few, quieter “clinking” noises back there before that I’d assumed were the boot trim but must have been coil slap as they’re gone now. Happy days... I suspect they will go to full soft (bump) at the back without ever bottoming out now. The occasional “thunk” was just the coils unbinding.

Interesting, at risk of sounding stupid though how did you fix this?

 

[RWDKurt]

[/quote]
I've no clue about BCs but a twin tube damper is what you want for road manners
[/quote]

I think BCs are monotube, but empirically they perform very well for the price in my experience.

it might be worth checking out how this owner is finding his BCs after a few more months of use:

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=101724&start=45

 

[MrPT]

Interesting, at risk of sounding stupid though how did you fix this?

Not stupid - I realise I didn’t actually say what it is. :roll:

It’s plastic cable tidy, the stuff used in offices, wrapped loosely around each rear spring. I saw the suggestion on another forum in relation to coil noise (slap) and wondered whether it would also stop the binding. It’s very cheap but hopefully it will still last a reasonably long time.

 

[RedUn]

If that doesn't last you can buy genuine stuff, might or should last longer

 

[Argenta]

Of course it's firmer than a 7-series but still softer than OEM.

 

[AndyBeech]

Received the PSS10's.....one of the rear springs though has some of the coating missing exposing the metal, only a bit but would this be a problem later on with rust?
Waiting to hear from Bilstein on it but not sure what response to expect...

One of the adjuster knobs is a bit stiff moving from 9 to 10 compared to the other struts as well, again waiting on Bilstein to see what they say...probably ok but anyone else with PSS10's experienced this?

PSS10 by A W, on Flickr

 

[Anakin]

I will be upgrading the ARB on my TT RS with some H&R arb's with the KW V3's soon. Not heard any mention of chaning the the arb's on this forum though. any thoughts ?

 

[RedUn]

Received the PSS10's.....one of the rear springs though has some of the coating missing exposing the metal, only a bit but would this be a problem later on with rust?
Waiting to hear from Bilstein on it but not sure what response to expect...

One of the adjuster knobs is a bit stiff moving from 9 to 10 compared to the other struts as well, again waiting on Bilstein to see what they say...probably ok but anyone else with PSS10's experienced this?

PSS10 by A W, on Flickr

That will rust in no time, get it sorted under warranty

 

[RedUn]

I will be upgrading the ARB on my TT RS with some H&R arb's with the KW V3's soon. Not heard any mention of chaning the the arb's on this forum though. any thoughts ?

Running H&r bars on mine with KW CS, works really well! You need to beef up the front mounts though to be on the safe side

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Received the PSS10's.....one of the rear springs though has some of the coating missing exposing the metal, only a bit but would this be a problem later on with rust?
Waiting to hear from Bilstein on it but not sure what response to expect...

One of the adjuster knobs is a bit stiff moving from 9 to 10 compared to the other struts as well, again waiting on Bilstein to see what they say...probably ok but anyone else with PSS10's experienced this?

PSS10 by A W, on Flickr

I would insist on a replacement for the spring and the damper too if it is significantly different from the others. You’ve bought new suspension from the manufacturer (or their distributor), you can expect new, undamaged parts. If they refuse, you have seven days from receipt to reject goods without giving any reason under the UK Distance Selling Regulations. Also, if you used a credit card, there is usually legal protection provided for you if it becomes unpleasant.

Edit - it seems the Consumer Contracts Regulations have replaced the UK Distance Selling Regulations since last I needed them, but the relevant rules still apply:

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/distance-selling-regulations

 

[BMWZ4MC]

I will be upgrading the ARB on my TT RS with some H&R arb's with the KW V3's soon. Not heard any mention of chaning the the arb's on this forum though. any thoughts ?

Running H&r bars on mine with KW CS, works really well! You need to beef up the front mounts though to be on the safe side

I have H&R ARBs and KW Clubsports on my ///M. Fitting the ARBs required adjustable drop links, and I’m a little more limited as to wheel offsets with the KWs vs OEM, but the car corners absolutely flat and doesn’t pitch under braking or acceleration.

 

[AndyBeech]

Cheers chaps. Is what I thought. Brought them through Demon Tweeks so will push for replacements. Think they said they have to go through Bilstein but hopefully they won't mess around....
Not entirely surprising I guess, dates of manufacture on the springs are 2016 for the fronts and 2014 for the rears so probably been sat around / chucked around a warehouse for all this time!

 

[mmm-five]

Received the PSS10's.....one of the rear springs though has some of the coating missing exposing the metal, only a bit but would this be a problem later on with rust?
Waiting to hear from Bilstein on it but not sure what response to expect...

One of the adjuster knobs is a bit stiff moving from 9 to 10 compared to the other struts as well, again waiting on Bilstein to see what they say...probably ok but anyone else with PSS10's experienced this?

I'd not be accepting that spring.

The adjusters should only be 'stiff' between clicks, and then have almost no further movement after either 1 or 10.

 

[MrPT]

No experience with the Bilsteins, but on the KWs the adjustment is stiffer right at the limits of adjustment, making it hard to tell where "0 clicks" open is vs "1 click".

I'd be tempted to live with those springs if they were purchased on their own as they will chip pretty quickly anyway, but if they've come as part of a package, don't take any chances. It could suggest abusive handling.

 

[Yeddheng]

Received the PSS10's.....one of the rear springs though has some of the coating missing exposing the metal, only a bit but would this be a problem later on with rust?
Waiting to hear from Bilstein on it but not sure what response to expect...

Haha! When I got my KWs delivered they partially stuck out of the packaging and both top mounts were damaged. Got a new set a few weeks later.