The dreaded snapped spring - pic added now Eibach fitted

[alex85]

Hi guys,

Having tyres replaced today and the bloke points out broken spring.

It was in for an MOT next week so called the garage and asked them to order another one for me. Then it dawned that they were the optional sport springs and since they only asked for make/model i.e. 2.5i that they might order the none sport springs. I call them up and indeed they tell me they may have to come from BMW.

Is this true?

If I told them mine was a 3.0 then their parts software would know it was sports suspension (as it is standard?)

Other option is to just spend £160 and get all 4 replaced with Eibach springs? I had Eibach on my previous car and was happy with them. Might look a bit better 15mm (?) lower than standard?

Would appreciate some quick advice so I can call them before they go home for the night.

Cheers
Alex

 

[alex85]

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/ApplicationCategory.do?method=searchApplCat&id=25119-337-C

Hope this link works - I can nip up there over the next couple of days and pick them up ready to be fitted for Tuesday. £163 seems a decent price.

Gmax/Spax/Weitec Sports? Anyone any experience of any of them?

Cheers

 

[AlanJ]

A quick search suggests Eibach are a favourite option. 15mm lower would look good depending on what wheel size you have already?

 

[chris]

I have Eibachs and they are good. Dont get std ones again, well unless you like the on stilts look :lol:

 

[RichardG]

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/ApplicationCategory.do?method=searchApplCat&id=25119-337-C

Hope this link works - I can nip up there over the next couple of days and pick them up ready to be fitted for Tuesday. £163 seems a decent price.

Gmax/Spax/Weitec Sports? Anyone any experience of any of them?

Cheers

Be careful with Demon Tweeks they have a nasty habit of publishing prices without tax you may need to add 17.5% to any price they quoted on there website.

the voice of experience.

 

[Anonymous]

Got mine here £172 all in Delivered in 2 days
http://www.motorsportworld.co.uk/frame-detail.asp?PAGE=/bilstein-suspension.htm

Was quoted £80 per spring from stealers , needed both rears so £160 for 2 or £172 for full set eibachs,
Did have extra expense on top though, fitting of fronts, alignment
Where as just replacing two standard rears is a hour job max with a M8

 

[alex85]

Hi guys thanks for responses.

Ordered Eibach. £172.64 delivered next day. Currently running 18 inch CSL reps. Should look good. Eibach springs and ditched run flats. Look forward to picking it up Tuesday.

 

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't replace OEM BMW sh*te, with more OEM BMW sh*te.
Eibachs are a no-brainer IMO. better looks, better handling and better quality. and all 4 for the price of two...

 

[alex85]

I also have a couple of buckled alloys - nothing too bad - but still want to replace them at some point so on the look out for some decent wheels. Might leave it until these tyres need replacing and try and get some 108's.

Had a nightmare yesterday. Last time tyres got replaced the monkey who put them on put the nuts on as tight as humanly (machinely!) possible. This lead to the guys yesterday shearing my locking wheel nut key trying to get them off.

I had a pretty stressful day yesterday so I'm hoping I can feel like I got something out of the expense in the way of a better car when the springs are fitted.

What do you guys with Eibachs feel about the ride? I had a Focus some time ago and replaced the Zetec suspension with an Eibach Pro Kit - it was night and day as far as I'm concerned in terms of looks but mostly in the way the car felt. Although they were stiffer they felt smoother somehow.

Not expecting such a drastic difference on the Z4 but perhaps enough to make it car of choice on a more regular basis!

 

[Siftah]

What do you guys with Eibachs feel about the ride? I had a Focus some time ago and replaced the Zetec suspension with an Eibach Pro Kit - it was night and day as far as I'm concerned in terms of looks but mostly in the way the car felt. Although they were stiffer they felt smoother somehow.

Not expecting such a drastic difference on the Z4 but perhaps enough to make it car of choice on a more regular basis!

Please do us a favour and don't read any responses until after you've had yours fitted...

There's lots of different opinions on Eibachs if you have a search of past threads - it'd be nice to read someones unbiased opinion on how the car feels

I'm also intending on fitting Eibachs if/when my springs go (2004 car with 60k on the clock, so I suspect I'm due one pretty soon).

 

[alex85]

Haha, OK Siftah, well it's booked in for Tuesday for the springs and to be honest, I'm pretty excited. Since having new tyres the car has been a different car.

Almost makes the huge amount of money it is costing me justifiable since I'm getting something 'new' out of it.

 

[Siftah]

Almost makes the huge amount of money it is costing me justifiable since I'm getting something 'new' out of it.

I'm with you there - I always think that if you replace a broken thing with an upgraded part it feels like you've got more for your money, turned a problem into an opportunity. Certainly takes some of the sting out of the repair bill!

 

[alex85]

Amen to that.

 

[alex85]

Well it's been dropped off this morning.

Fingers crossed the MOT doesnt pick anything else up

 

[Siftah]

Crossing my fingers for ya!

Hopefully, as you've not posted back... everything has gone well and it's passed!

 

[dgn38]

Alex, where do you get you're servicing done?

I'm also on the Wirral and have been looking at Newhall Cars in West Kirby

Cheers
Dave

 

[alex85]

Hi - picked car up last night. MUCH better. Smoother, less crashy but a bit firmer. Turn in is so much better and less dive of the front end under braking.

Handling is much improved. A far cry from the days of regular springs and RFT's. It was on M Sport suspension originally so the drop isn't huge but definitely noticeable and makes certain speed bumps etc a bit of a pain.

On another note, and I don't know how common it is, but if anyone has broken front springs or requires a rear I have 3 in perfect condition that if you arrange a courier for or pick up you are welcome to. I certainly have no use for them.

Servicing wise, I now use a local garage based in Moreton on the Tarran Way industrial estate. Toronto Garage. Mike the guy in there knows his stuff and has all the computer equipment and required diagnostics etc etc. I have always used them for my cars, except for when it was under BMW warranty. I have used Newhall in Caldy and my Dad has had a car from them. Never any problems but the pricing is somewhere between BMW main dealer and my guy in Moreton. As I would trust the guy in Moreton with anything and he has been servicing our family cars for as long as I can remember, I will always recommend him.

Advantage of Newhall is a decent courtesy car but Toronto is a 2 minute walk from Moreton station so I just jumped on the train over to town once I'd dropped it off.

Any questions, please ask

 

[alex85]

Looking a bit lower. Maybe it will settle even more over time?

Apologies if this pic looks rubbish when I finally post, taken on iPhone and uploaded to Photobucket on phone etc.