Z4 3.0SI Coupe Lowered - Rubbing Issues

P

pixelloft

Member
Hi Guys,

I have a UK spec 3.0SI Coupe and the car has a set of 19" CSL Style VMR VB3 alloys.

The car has a factory fitted z4m front bumper.

The wheels are rubbing on the front wheel arch liners. I have already got through one set of wheel arch liners and it is becoming quite costly.

I have tried H&R lowering springs and now am on Eibach (The ones designed for the Coupe). If anything, the eibach seem worse on the front, but they are better on the back. The back look slammed on the H&R's.

Does anyone have any advice. I just rang M Style who I bought the wheels off and they have no good advice.

You can see the rubbing in one of these pics.

1.jpg

2.jpg

3.jpg

4.jpg
 
Sorry, but cant see how it is a factory fir M bumper as that was never an option, but I digress.
 
I have this issue to a much lesser extent on mine - get very slight rubbing on full lock.
But well worth it for the look.

Seems to be an issue with 19' s on a low car. How wide are your fronts?
 
From what i can see in one of the pics you have 235/35/19 front tyres.. So i'd imagine you are experiancing rubbing on full lock... i think if you had gone with slightly narrowing and thinner tyres, such as 225/35/19 you would elimate the rubbing.

Looking at the pics the wheels certainly dont look like they have the wrong (Z4M) offset as they dont stick out.
 
glastoveteran said:
original guvnor said:
Can't help with the problem but it's a lovely looking coupe ! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Yes it is - what colour is that? Space Grey?
Click to expand...

Not sure. Its a grey Pearl I will have to look at the log book.


andysat said:
Theyre not rust bubbles in the fourth pic are they mate?
Click to expand...

No, thats just a bit of mud. This car is imaculate actually. Not a bit of rust or a stone chip.

srhutch said:
Re: Z4 3.0SI Coupe Lowered - Rubbing Issues
Click to expand...

I do apologise, it was actually fitted by the BMW dealer just after the car was purchased.

BMWZ4MC said:
re the sizes of your wheels (including offsets) and tyres?
Click to expand...

Front wheels ar 19 x 8.5" 235 35 19 Offset 40
 
aquazi said:
From what i can see in one of the pics you have 235/35/19 front tyres.. So i'd imagine you are experiancing rubbing on full lock... i think if you had gone with slightly narrowing and thinner tyres, such as 225/35/19 you would elimate the rubbing.

Looking at the pics the wheels certainly dont look like they have the wrong (Z4M) offset as they dont stick out.
Click to expand...


Thanks. The rubbing is on the outer edge, and causes the wheel arch liner (which stupidly is the thing that holds the bumper to the car, to fall apart and the bumper to drop. Being as the the problem seems to be when i hit a bump on a corner, i'm concerned a lower profile tire won't help as much but i guess it may be worth a try.

The H&R springs had a stiffer but shorter front spring and a longer but softer rear.
The Eibach springs had a softer but longer front and a much shorter but much stiffer rear.

The H&R rubbed less on the front but the Eibach look better on the rear although the Eibach feel more comfortable overall, because they enter road bumps more smoothly, although the exit feels harsher, its much more manageable.

I'd love to hear from people who are lowered on Eibachs with 19" wheels to get some tyre and offset info.
 
my z4m has "genuine CSL" rims and i dont get any rubbing issues at all, i use my car on the track to the extremes of suspension travel, if i was you id look at going a coilover route to get perfect ride height fitment, my best friend also has an ///M on again genuine CSL rims, its considerabtly lower than yours and again no issues at all, so im wondering if the replica wheels are causing you the issues!
 
i had 19" bbs reps on mine with sport suspension with 35 offset and 225/35 on the front with no rubbing at all, i think you start getting all sorts of problems when you mess with the suspension
 
Thanks. I bought the wheels from m style and they told me these were the perfect offsets. It looks like an offset of 40 isn't quite right i guess.

My s2000 is lowered on buddyclub coilovers with 18"bbs LM's and absolutely slammed and it handles amazingly and no rubbing. I don't really want coilovers on this car though. Feels like a design flaw when you look at it. A great big chunk of plastic moulding (arch liner) that sticks out just asking to rub. I have the z4m bumper, z4m wheel arch liners etc and i believe the z4m has a different rear axel, but the front offsets should be the same as the 3.0si. What offsets are the genuine CSL fronts.
 
I have the same 19s on my 3.0 se. when I fitted the wheels they were very close to the liner. I bought a set of eibachs at the same time because of the dreaded broken rear springs but chose to fit the rear springs only. Its fine, the car looks level and I get no rubbing at all. (the picture below is before it was lowered) but 15mm lower is hardly noticeable.I'll try to post a newer picture (when I clean the car)
 
Thanks for the post!

I'm in the process of getting the same wheels (VMR VB3 19") and have been thinking about lowering the car as well and was wondering if there would be any rubbing issues in the front. Would it make sense to get 225/35/19 front and 265/30/19 on the rear or would it just look disproportional?
 
thanks it's great to hear from someone who has the same setup. I guess i should fit the original springs on the front and see how it looks, with the eibachs on the back. I'd love to see a pic if you have one!


I was also thinking. You know where the strut mounts into the hub on the front. It slides in and you torque up the nut on the clamp. Could i not just raise it up 10mm before clamping it up. Surely 10mm would be ok?

Just an idea.
 
pixelloft said:
it looks like the 40 offset with the 235 35's is the problem then. 35 offset with 225 35's would prob be ok
Click to expand...

theres the answer buy my bbs reps!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom