Unstable

[flybobbie]

Well tonight driving home i'm falling out of love with the Zed.
My journey home is half country lanes, made by Staffordshire council.

I know the tracking is slightly off, i had it checked free, but not that far off.

I have fitted Bilstein B4 about 50k ago, but car drives so unstable, very tiring to drive.
The steering on these cars has always been crap, my colleague had the same problem.
She was glad to be rid of her car.

I was wondering if anyone every tried other brand that might be more saloon car orientated.
I'm not bothered about going around a bend at 80.

I know the Bilstein is hard, just try pushing car down, it barely moves.
I think the hard damping is stopping the wheels riding the bumpy roads.
Or approaching 100k are springs no longer up to the job.

 

[Spikey]

You will get lots of replies - but tbh ride is very subjective.

Best thing you can do is track down a standard SE model and drive it - as this is about as good as it will get if you are after a ‘saloon car’ type ride.

If this proves ok then you can source and change to these dampers if it’s not then a Z4 is not the car for you

 

[B21]

Without a full inventory of spec and mods hard to say..the two E89s I've had never had a problem with the steering per se..tyres, suspension linkages, dampers springs for sure..

100k is getting on, could be all sorts of things like tired steering track rods etc etc

50k miles on Bilsteins, maybe time for a service of those ..etc etc

 

[flybobbie]

Well looking at some Koni.
All the front end control arms have been replaced, so all bushes are new.

 

[Smartbear]

You could try fitting 17’s to see how the higher profile tyres improve the ride quality, I’m always impressed when i change over to my style 290’s - it feels like sitting on your favourite sofa
Rob

 

[B21]

Well looking at some Koni.
All the front end control arms have been replaced, so all bushes are new.

Konis have a good reputation….you should try them

If your front end is ok then you are down to tracking, tyres and any rear end slop…

 

[flybobbie]

I started with 17 and went to 18 simply because style of wheel.
But the 17 were great.
I always feel the tyres are too wide at the front, feel like go-kart tyres.

 

[flybobbie]

I see Koni do some adjustable dampers.

Would be nice to have a adjustable full range damper.
I know my old RX-7 came with optional adjustable dampers back in 1986.

 

[flybobbie]

I also think the GY Asy 5 i have fitted not as good as earlier versions.
I tried to buy some old stock at last replacement, but non out there.
I think they made the core harder to wear longer, so the softer outer rubber wears off to reveal the harder core.
I did a simple test by digging my nail into tyre rubber, they seem to be harder going from 2 to 5's.

I know going from 2 to 3, the 3 were nosier as they wore. As though the harder inner compound was now touching the road.
I looked around for 2 but non out there, had to settle for 5's.

Having to reinvent to sell not always a good thing.

 

[B21]

Never had the Assy 3 version but the Assy 5 on both the 20i and 35is worked very well for me…better feedback than the much vaunted MP4S…

 

[Busterboo]

Come on, flybobbie, the answer's easy and you know it. Sell your Zed and buy a saloon.

 

[flybobbie]

Well today i adjusted the front toe in.
Chemix/Protyre garages do free tracking check, then wanted £105 to adjust, said no thanks.
So i know how much it's off.

But the bumpy roads i go down this evening driving home i feel there is something wrong with front shocks.

So time ago i replaced all front bushes, arms and wheel bearings.
Before fitting i noticed if i pull on top of left wheel there is slight movement.
I had hoped all the new stuff would remove that play.
But it is still there as of today.
The movement is in the shock, the rod moves relative to it's body.

Been looking at the Koni or go the Bilstein B4 to replace the B6's.

 

[Nanu]

Don't want to appear old fashioned but my last 35is bog standard, no mods, as per when it was delivered, was fine ride wise. In fact if it had the precise steering of my current m30i it would have been perfect.

I understand people wanting to mess around and adjust things but sometimes "as it comes" is good.

 

[flybobbie]

Well my original shocks at just below 50k miles worn out, especially the rears (traction control going off on bumpy roads).
I fitted Bilsteins B6, more than happy, but at 97k they no longer seem to do their job.
I think for the roads i drive daily and being more damped than standard (not sure) i have now ordered some B4.
Hoping they might be a bit softer going and more compliant on the country lanes.

No way i can test shocks fitted, you can't bounce car, they are solid.

 

[B21]

IMHO by the time shocks have done 50k on bumpy roads they must be ‘going off’…

B4s have about 20% less damping than B6/B8 so should be more compliant over stutter type surfaces…at the expense of high speed larger bump control..but that doesn’t seem to be your area of operation.. :tumbleweed: :rofl: :rofl:

 

[flybobbie]

Driving to work today thought i would film it and do comparison when new shocks fitted.
High speed is ok on smooth roads, but my regular roads starting to think i need a rally car.