Tell me what damper would suit me ….

[Bodyboarder]

Hello … I’m going to be doing a basic suspension refresh , consisting of damper , top mounts , inner / outer tie rods , lower control arms , lower front rear arm bush’s , drop links etc

My car is a road car …but plan to do 1-3 track days a year in it . Has eibach springs on and I’m super happy with the ride height , so not looking for a full height adjustable cover set up .

What damper would you recommend? Stock type ones like sachs , as my damper are 18 years old and covered 80k miles , so even these will probably feel like an upgrade !! …or an updated damper such as the B8’s … heard so many different things about the B8’s being too hard ? Anyone have up to date experience with them . Any other to consider ?

Next after the suspension I’m looking at a lsd and some sort of brake upgrade …. I think I know where I’m headed for the lsd but what have folk done with the brakes ? Can I use my standard 325mm discs and add say a 4 pot Brembo calipers set up ?

As always , thanks for the help and info is much appreciated

 

[john-e89]

Can’t comment on dampers but Vagbremtechnic do Brembo upgrades, pretty sure the director is/was a member on here.

 

[Rockhopper]

Stay with stock would be my suggestion. Sachs or Bilstein B4.

Why do you think you need an LSD?

 

[Bodyboarder]

Stay with stock would be my suggestion. Sachs or Bilstein B4.

Why do you think you need an LSD?

Ok thanks …. One vote for standard then :driving:

LSD … because I like to go sideways and be in control .

 

[Fred Smith]

.

 

[Ed Doe]

I've had the B12 Kit (B8 Dampers and Eibach Springs) on my old 3.0si coupe back in the day. The car was daily driven for over 5 years, as well as 7 or 8 trackdays. I found the B12 kit perfectly acceptable in terms of ride, and it definitely offered greater body control on track too. The only thing I would say (and it would appear that my experience is in the minority) is that after 25k, one of the front dampers failed (seal burst and all the oil exited!). When I contacted Bilstein they simply didn't want to know, so I ended up having to buy a new pair of front dampers. I realise the failed ones certainly did get some use with the trackdays and the road mileage, but I felt that a failure such as that after only 25k was a pretty poor show!

Anyway, as I say my experience does appear to be very much the minority; most seem perfectly happy, and I've not heard of a failure like mine from anyone else on here at least, so I'd say it's a pretty solid choice for an upgrade

BTW off topic I doubt you remember but my mate bought your old white R26 back in the day. I came with him to look at it in my yellow R26 Am I going mad, or do I remember you had an M Coupe at some point along the way too?

 

[ARCS]

Stay with stock would be my suggestion. Sachs or Bilstein B4.

Why do you think you need an LSD?

Ok thanks …. One vote for standard then :driving:

LSD … because I like to go sideways and be in control .

the B8s are as stiff as the B6s and specifically designed for lowering coils

I recently changed from se suspension to Bilstein B8's with Eibach pro springs, albeit on an e89, but I genuinely don't feel like the ride is any stiffer than it was before. It drives perfectly. I dare say tyre brand would have its own influence on how it feels too. I'd definitely recommend the B8's.

 

[Bodyboarder]

I've had the B12 Kit (B8 Dampers and Eibach Springs) on my old 3.0si coupe back in the day. The car was daily driven for over 5 years, as well as 7 or 8 trackdays. I found the B12 kit perfectly acceptable in terms of ride, and it definitely offered greater body control on track too. The only thing I would say (and it would appear that my experience is in the minority) is that after 25k, one of the front dampers failed (seal burst and all the oil exited!). When I contacted Bilstein they simply didn't want to know, so I ended up having to buy a new pair of front dampers. I realise the failed ones certainly did get some use with the trackdays and the road mileage, but I felt that a failure such as that after only 25k was a pretty poor show!

Anyway, as I say my experience does appear to be very much the minority; most seem perfectly happy, and I've not heard of a failure like mine from anyone else on here at least, so I'd say it's a pretty solid choice for an upgrade

BTW off topic I doubt you remember but my mate bought your old white R26 back in the day. I came with him to look at it in my yellow R26 Am I going mad, or do I remember you had an M Coupe at some point along the way too?

Yep I remember you Ed

That was a while ago I sold the R26 … great car that and yes had a short stint in a Z4MC … wasn’t for me though unfortunately

 

[Ed Doe]

Thought I saw your M for sale a while back! How come you didn't get on with it? Good to see you still knocking about though, the roadie will be a hoot with the lad and the alternator suspension mods

 

[Bodyboarder]

Thought I saw your M for sale a while back! How come you didn't get on with it? Good to see you still knocking about though, the roadie will be a hoot with the lad and the alternator suspension mods

I think in isolation I’d have been happy with the z4MC but I also had a very very nice Honda s2000 with ohlins suspension, ap brakes …. So every time I drive the Z4MC I sound it lacking compared to the S2K . Sold both in the end and went the Porsche route for a while … then lotus Elise , along with a fiesta st180 and Mk7.5 Golf R … again with ohlins and AP’s . Had an amazing time with the lotus but as my kids got older wanted something that was sporty and yet could take all the family … enter the M2 .. then I found myself missing the open top driving from the lotus …. Started looking at the z4m roadsters and had a good budget for one … but when I had my Z4MC my brother inlaw had the 3.0si coupe … and I found that engine just so much less hassle to live with , super smooth , low maintenance and quick enough ( up to 80ish not a lot in it to my Z4MC ) …. So thought let’s go cheap and cheerful and see what I can get . This one came up with loads of owners , not amazing condition but very reasonable price . Owes me about £8000 now and that’s included a full front end respray , new wheels , full inspection 2 and new water pump / thermostat . So think they are an absolute bargain for what I’m getting …. For context my M2 ‘s bbk and exhaust cost the same as what I paid for the Z4 3.0 !! Crazy !!