IMO - The standard set up is great, the faster you go the better it gets on uneven surfaces. DSC off and sport button off is the formula. And balance the car on the throttle in corners to combat any understeer. Recommended pressures unless you are at the track. Maybe the BMW strut brace is worth adding. No need to mod the standard suspension just learn the car and work on your technique.
Z4M damping: Is it just me?
- Thread starter Great Pretender
- Start date
Z88M said:
Agreed. And I thought it was just me. I'm not claiming that the standard set up can't be improved on but with the driving I do, ie not on track, then I'm more than happy with the stock suspension. Recommended pressures could be a problem though, if you've gone to 19's you have to arrive at your own optimum pressures through trial and error.
On uneven surfaces the car can get unsettled a little. I would consider a set of Nitrons or similar for fast road use if i thought they would make a real difference. Lowering the car's centre of gravity will help and it will be interesting to see if people feel this is a mod worth spending £1,500 or more on.
dgm said:
I sort of agree about hustling it, I can drive the Z4MC just as fast as I used to drive my Cayman S, but it could be so much better with compliant suspension and also dislike the transition of the progressive springs. Getting the power down out of the corners on rough roads is hard work, at the moment I carry the speed through and have to wait to get on the throttle; more compliance would allow me to get on the throttle much earlier.
I think if you had chance to drive a well setup Z4M you might change your mind
Btw AMD are doing free fitting and a really good price on the KW V3 kit, £1233 installed with geo setup.
You see I'm not really looking for a more compliant set up, I moved from the M3 which was a noticeably softer set up than the Z4MC and I just find the Z to be far more enjoyable with very little body roll in cornering. To be honest I enjoy battling with the car as it becomes slightly unsettled on uneven surfaces and I think it's something that can be mastered as you say. I've certainly learned to drive the car a lot faster in these circumstances than when I first got it 2 years ago and it's a far more capable handling car than you may at first give it credit for. As I've said before on here, put some Cups on it in dry weather and it becomes a different animal and a lot more stable. Turn the over sensitive DSC off and any unsettled feeling almost disappears.
I enjoy the car too much as it is to spend money on changing the suspension. If I do any alterations in the future I'll be looking for a bit more power first. There's talk of a new map from Evolve which alone gives a worthwhile increase in HP and torque. They're are also working on developing a custom carbon airbox which will be more reasonably priced than those currently on the market which start around £2000.
I enjoy the car too much as it is to spend money on changing the suspension. If I do any alterations in the future I'll be looking for a bit more power first. There's talk of a new map from Evolve which alone gives a worthwhile increase in HP and torque. They're are also working on developing a custom carbon airbox which will be more reasonably priced than those currently on the market which start around £2000.
I hear what you're saying dgm - there is something to be said about the challenges involved with driving it quickly on uneven surfaces.
I'd still like to try KWs though, i'd like to feel whether the improved damping can lead to more confidence through the bumpies. For me, i'm a little apprehensive that one day it's going to shift too much across a road and lead to some kind of incident.
I'd quite like to also try some smaller wheels (should have kept my 18s) with Cups or similar. I think the combination would transform the characteristics.
I'd still like to try KWs though, i'd like to feel whether the improved damping can lead to more confidence through the bumpies. For me, i'm a little apprehensive that one day it's going to shift too much across a road and lead to some kind of incident.
I'd quite like to also try some smaller wheels (should have kept my 18s) with Cups or similar. I think the combination would transform the characteristics.
toplad said:Blacklines my good manBlacklines said:, I plan to contact Nitron to enquire about the Z4M kit, I thought it might help if I knew the name of the chap you mentioned in your post?
It's either KW V3 or Nitron for me soon, free fitting on both at the moment too
Regards
Sorry I missed this post.
Nitron make some fantastic kit - I will be honest though and admit that Guy is one of my best friends.
But don't take my word for it ask all the Lotus, Caterham, CSL owners who run his shocks. Even Caparo fit it as standard!
Send him an email:
http://www.nitron.co.uk
I'm hoping to be able to do a write up on the the latest Z4 set up next week. It will be honest - good or bad.
Z88M said:
Interesting we all have different opinions. I guess it depends on your experiences but I disagree with you here.
Z88M said:
Agree with this though. And yes the strut brace does help.