Z4MR Spring Dilemma

A

AndyT

Member
Evening all.

I’m a bit stuck on which route to go down, my Z4MR is currently with BMW after having an Inspection II service and need both rear springs replacing :headbang:

Do I keep it stock and get them to replace them paying the dealer tax for convenience as they already have the car, or take it else where and go for eibach or H&R springs all round :driving:

Part of me likes the idea of keeping it all original, but would also love to reduce the wheel gap somewhat. Not fussed on the coilover route as not going to track it and don’t want it too low, just OEM+

I’ve read as much as I can about people’s thoughts but all tend to be against different springs or coilovers, not necessarily sticking with stock.

Photos below don’t look too bad but that’s with broken springs. :rofl: so would sit higher when replaced.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

4DB225CD-2988-4F7C-9FAD-006A89E7E8E8.jpeg

CA31FD03-F30A-47AC-A448-FAE96A5D3DE2.jpeg
 
If you want to lower it, now would be the time.

I would refresh the dampers though and really get dampers that are matched to your springs. Worn dampers and lowering springs are not a great pairing.

The Bilstein B12 kit seems to be popular on here and is great value.
 
I’d put H&R’s on. Its what I have on mine, but I do have a set of oem springs in a box that I took off just in case I ever need to get back to original.
 
I don't know if they are the same for MR and MC but I have a set of H & R springs that came with my car. The previous owner had them on his previous MC, so they don't look very used.

But where you are may be a factor because the fronts are still fitted on OE dampers so freight wouldn't be easy, or cheap!

If they might be of any interest let me know.
 
AndyT said:
Evening all.

I’m a bit stuck on which route to go down, my Z4MR is currently with BMW after having an Inspection II service and need both rear springs replacing :headbang:

Do I keep it stock and get them to replace them paying the dealer tax for convenience as they already have the car, or take it else where and go for eibach or H&R springs all round :driving:

Part of me likes the idea of keeping it all original, but would also love to reduce the wheel gap somewhat. Not fussed on the coilover route as not going to track it and don’t want it too low, just OEM+

I’ve read as much as I can about people’s thoughts but all tend to be against different springs or coilovers, not necessarily sticking with stock.

Photos below don’t look too bad but that’s with broken springs. :rofl: so would sit higher when replaced.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

4DB225CD-2988-4F7C-9FAD-006A89E7E8E8.jpeg

CA31FD03-F30A-47AC-A448-FAE96A5D3DE2.jpeg
Click to expand...
How many miles on the car? That will make a diff :thumbsup:
 
I recently changed the M to Eibach springs after reading reviews on here with comparisons with H&R.
Mines only on 35000mls but always felt skittish on the rear when pushing on a spirited drive.
Changed to Eibachs and it’s completely transformed the handling,rides so much better and driving over a small pot hole doesn’t feel anywhere near as bad as before.
Added bonus was 20mm drop front and 10mm rear.
Got the springs from Germany for only £165.
Rears only took me 10mins a per side,easiest rear springs I’ve ever done,fronts around 1hr per side.
 
warmasice said:
Eibach will give you the OEM+ look. H&R will give you a greater drop.
Click to expand...

I would 100% go for Eibach, they work rather ok with the standard Z4M dampers (I used this set up before getting Biltein B-16 on my Z4M). The H&R will drop to low (for the standard dampers) and I found that the car drive less good for my personal taste (drives also more on the bumpstops on really bad roads with the lower H&R).

But honestly; suspension does so much on a car...that in your case (if you don't do track) I would fit new (non adjustable) dampers also and get a Bilstein B12-Pro Kit to replace everything (also check possible worn out bushings at that time). I used to have Bilstein B12 Pro Kit on my e46 325i when I replaced my (worn out) standard suspension and it was a nice upgrade for daily use.

I don't know how you drive your car or when the dampers were replaced, but on my own cars that I drive hard I change the dampers and bushings after +/- 100.000km (60.000miles) which is after every 4 years in my case (on my daily driver). For my taste; most dampers lose their best operation after 90.000km of hard use...but I'm really sensitive about road handling and it's not something I would safe money on.
 
Bigpow said:
I have h&r on the rear and coil overs in the front. Ride is now spot on 👍🏻
Click to expand...

So original dampers with H&R spring at the rear and adjustable coilovers at the front....wow this is a strange suspension set up. :o
 
Jon2215 said:
I recently changed the M to Eibach springs after reading reviews on here with comparisons with H&R.
Mines only on 35000mls but always felt skittish on the rear when pushing on a spirited drive.
Changed to Eibachs and it’s completely transformed the handling,rides so much better and driving over a small pot hole doesn’t feel anywhere near as bad as before.
Added bonus was 20mm drop front and 10mm rear.
Got the springs from Germany for only £165.
Rears only took me 10mins a per side,easiest rear springs I’ve ever done,fronts around 1hr per side.
Click to expand...

Did you replace the dampers at all or are you still on the original ones?
 
AndyT said:
RedUn said:
How many miles on the car? That will make a diff :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

It’s done 46k miles at the minute and looking to do 4-6k a year.
Click to expand...
That's not too bad, I'd probably go for the eibach springs for now and see how you get on with a nice geo :thumbsup:
 
RedUn said:
That's not too bad, I'd probably go for the eibach springs for now and see how you get on with a nice geo
Click to expand...

To be fair if I was going to fit Eibach springs I'd just buy the complete Bilstein B12 kit - it seems much cheaper than buying the springs then the dampers later. Always assuming the car is a keeper.

From what I can make out the Eibachs drop the car 20mm at the front and 10mm at the front, whereas H & Rs are one inch (or 25mm) lower all round which can be an issue. Although my H & R coil-overs at maximim height have a 0.9 inch (23mm) drop on the front and 0.75 inch (19mm) drop on the rear and it hasn't caused me any problems. I did have issues before I got them up from the "slammed" stance it had when I bought it. :lol:
 
AndyT said:
Jon2215 said:
I recently changed the M to Eibach springs after reading reviews on here with comparisons with H&R.
Mines only on 35000mls but always felt skittish on the rear when pushing on a spirited drive.
Changed to Eibachs and it’s completely transformed the handling,rides so much better and driving over a small pot hole doesn’t feel anywhere near as bad as before.
Added bonus was 20mm drop front and 10mm rear.
Got the springs from Germany for only £165.
Rears only took me 10mins a per side,easiest rear springs I’ve ever done,fronts around 1hr per side.
Click to expand...

Did you replace the dampers at all or are you still on the original ones?
Click to expand...

Andy I just replaced the springs as the dampers were fine :thumbsup:
 
Hi Andy/All,

I changed my stock springs for eibach on the OEM dempers.
Would do it again, or just go for the KW v3 or other A-class coils.

Why Eibach for me:
- Nice ride height, just OEM+. And not visible lower than "stock" like HR;
- Also comfort is the same or slightly better than oem. People say that HR is stiffer than standard, but i didnt drove a car with OEM dampers + HR.

If needed, i can send you detailed pictures of the ride height with OEM dampers + Eibach springs.
 
RvsBmw said:
Hi Andy/All,

I changed my stock springs for eibach on the OEM dempers.
Would do it again, or just go for the KW v3 or other A-class coils.

Why Eibach for me:
- Nice ride height, just OEM+. And not visible lower than "stock" like HR;
- Also comfort is the same or slightly better than oem. People say that HR is stiffer than standard, but i didnt drove a car with OEM dampers + HR.

If needed, i can send you detailed pictures of the ride height with OEM dampers + Eibach springs.
Click to expand...

I would really appreciate some pics of this.

I ordered a Bilstein B12 pro Kit which comes with 20mm Front and 10mm rear eibach springs.

But it's taking so long from Bilstein on back order I'm thinking about just going for stock shocks with the Eibach springs
 
RvsBmw said:
Hi Andy/All,

I changed my stock springs for eibach on the OEM dempers.
Would do it again, or just go for the KW v3 or other A-class coils.

Why Eibach for me:
- Nice ride height, just OEM+. And not visible lower than "stock" like HR;
- Also comfort is the same or slightly better than oem. People say that HR is stiffer than standard, but i didnt drove a car with OEM dampers + HR.

If needed, i can send you detailed pictures of the ride height with OEM dampers + Eibach springs.
Click to expand...

Would be great to see the difference :thumbsup:
 
I assume I am in the minority here but I have the Eibachs fitted to my Z4MC and in my opinion the front springs are too low and too hard, giving very little suspension travel. The rears are perfect in terms of ride height and stiffness.

I will soon be swapping my fronts back to OEM springs with the Bilstein struts.
 
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