Z4 and ferry crossings

[Gareth161]

Hi
New to the z4 world as always had z3's.
Has anyone any experience of taking a fully loaded z4 across to France on a Brittany ferry as I note that the sports suspension on a 4 is a fair bit lower than on my normal height 3
Have taken her across before fully loaded with no issues but a bit worried with the potential now of "grounding" the z4 on the ramps.
Any experiences or comments greatly appreciated.
Gareth

 

[biojo]

I wouldn't be too concerned, surely people take far lower cars ?

 

[srhutch]

Normal Z4 won't be an issue. There were 4 of us last you and even Monkey's really low car made it on.

 

[Hilly30si]

My mates TVR is lower then a smack heads nostrils and he got on. Nowt to worry about

 

[Gareth161]

Thanks for the re assurance
When you say normal z4 does that include the ones with sports button and sports suspension
Gareth

 

[srhutch]

Thanks for the re assurance
When you say normal z4 does that include the ones with sports button and sports suspension
Gareth

Most of them have these :wink:

 

[JINGLE]

I flew to Northern Ireland when i bought my Z, didn't even think of this issue until I had drove the Z down to Dublin and pulled up in the queue to load the ferry then proceeded to crap myself watching all the other cars load on the ferry and that I was going to bottom out and cause damage/hold up the ferry by getting stuck..... luckily it was completely fine

 

[TR4man]

is lower then a smack heads nostrils

What a great expression :lol:

 

[Hilly30si]

is lower then a smack heads nostrils

What a great expression :lol:

It was a sticker on an old Astra van many years ago, and the guy was not joking is was the lowest of the low.

 

[Rorybeanbutler]

Thanks for the re assurance
When you say normal z4 does that include the ones with sports button and sports suspension
Gareth

Sports button doesn't lower the susspension if that's what your suggesting. I went to bruge in November and went from Dover to Dunkirk and had no issues.

 

[Gareth161]

Thanks Rory
No I appreciate that button does not alter suspension, just that I thought all with the button had the sports suspension- badly worded by me sorry.
Gareth

 

[adam1985]

Thanks for the re assurance
When you say normal z4 does that include the ones with sports button and sports suspension
Gareth

I think when he says normal he means not modified and lowered. I went over Poole to Cherbourg last summer no problem at all and my suspension is 20mm lower than sport.

 

[Gareth161]

Thanks Adam and you are quite correct.
The only thing I will do is put myself and wife on diets and tell her not to pack so much junk, just to keep the weight down and springs up!!
Mind you if she sees that we might not be going!!

 

[mac27040]

i have been with boot full and hard top on with lowered suspension and no issues

 

[Gareth161]

Thanks guys for all the re assurance.
On a related sort of note, do you all go over there with run flats or just normal tyres.
The reason I ask is that have looked at z4 with really crap makes and mixtures of tyres and although Good tread, she did not handle well.
Therefore would have to buy 4 new tyres anyway so potentially could get run flats but again have read they are not that good(other than if you have a puncture I suppose).
Again would appreciate your wealth of knowledge and so glad I joined this helpful forum.
Gareth

 

[buzyg]

Yup no worries with Channel Ferry or Chunnel.

 

[Rorybeanbutler]

I went over with good year eagle f1 assym2 with no issues. Run flats are awful

 

[si-forks]

I've only ever had a problem once getting onto a ferry and that was the Isle of Wight ferry a few years ago my car is very low , and there was no way I was getting onto the upper deck!!! just asked to be put on the lower deck with all of the coaches much better loads of room no parking right up against another car millimetres from yours I've done this a couple of times now and it's so much better than on the car deck

 

[adam1985]

Most people move away from runflats when they change tyres I are running Vredestein Sessantas in the summer and just bought some tyre weld and a small portable compressor.
Definately a big increase in comfort and handling with out the runflats.

 

[Gareth161]

Thanks for that and I think non run flats is the way to go
Does wheel size 17's or 18 inch make much difference to normal use as if I was going to switch to getting 17 inch wheels , now would be the time to do it before buying any 18 inch tyres.
Have seen a few z4 advertised with 17 inch rims as well as 18 inch but possibly other than looks makes little difference.
Gareth