ZM re-fresh

J

john-e89

Lifer
Bonjourno,

Weighing up options with cars at the moment, one is to keep and run the M roady that’s currently sorn. 37k Miles, 2006 car. Dislikes are the seats, cheap non bolster adjustable rubbish that BM need a clout for.... :x and the silly stiff underpinnings that we all know about that imho ruin a superb car. I’ve zero intention of tracking it, it would be pure road going. My aim would be to make as best a road car as possible with the emphasis on handling and smoothness. So, plans then:

Change seats for E46 M3 bolster adjustable, easy swap.

Fit the KW V3’s I’ve already got still boxed... :oops:
Vibratech engine mounts to help the 2nd gear change, which to be fair is not bad at all on this one, much better than the pervious car, and tighten up the front as much as possible. New OEM gearbox mount.
Front strut brace for obvious reasons.
Re-new all bushes for OEM rubber, I don’t need it to be any harder with poly’s.
Fit RTAB’s.
New drop links all round.
The car has had a hunter alignment which improved it no end but it’s to OEM spec.
Brakes....probably the M performance 6 pots up front with Porsche 4’s on the rear, unless funds allow a full Stoptech kit. Not strictly needed but that’s no reason is it..... :lol:

So my questions are then:

Can anyone think of anything else to improve the chassis?
For a road car is it worth the adjustable camber plates?

Thanks in advance, let’s hear some ideas please. :driving:
 
You certainly are feeling better John, :D I've nothing to input on above but your ///M is fantastic as it is. What your planning will make it superb, pleased your keeping the Z :driving:




Jim
 
I've heard that some of the 6 pot big brake kits out there don't improve the stopping power much and only look good. Maybe better brake hoses may help them feel better but if it's just for a road car then I'm guessing they would look cool.

I'd play about with exhausts to try and make it sound a little nicer, every one likes a bit of popping and crackling (don't they ?) :P
 
Jollyjoiner said:
I've heard that some of the 6 pot big brake kits out there don't improve the stopping power much and only look good. Maybe better brake hoses may help them feel better but if it's just for a road car then I'm guessing they would look cool.

I'd play about with exhausts to try and make it sound a little nicer, every one likes a bit of popping and crackling (don't they ?) :P
Click to expand...

A pair of back boxes would be obligatory Nige... :D

The stock brakes are more than man enough but a big brake kit on a slightly loony roadster is on the bucket list, just has to be done... :lol:
 
john-e89 said:
Jollyjoiner said:
I've heard that some of the 6 pot big brake kits out there don't improve the stopping power much and only look good. Maybe better brake hoses may help them feel better but if it's just for a road car then I'm guessing they would look cool.

I'd play about with exhausts to try and make it sound a little nicer, every one likes a bit of popping and crackling (don't they ?) :P
Click to expand...

A pair of back boxes would be obligatory Nige... :D

The stock brakes are more than man enough but a big brake kit on a slightly loony roadster is on the bucket list, just has to be done... :lol:
Click to expand...
Well thats it the, get brakes on it, Back boxes on it and get ya KW V3's on and ya sorted.
 
Good to hear you are still enjoying the MR John. Can't say I agree with you on the seats, brakes or suspension. But that's what makes the world is such a fine place. :wink:
 
buzyg said:
Good to hear you are still enjoying the MR John. Can't say I agree with you on the seats, brakes or suspension. But that's what makes the world is such a fine place. :wink:
Click to expand...

It is indeed buzy mate... :)

I can’t for the life of me understand why they didn’t fit the M3 seats with adjustable bolsters as standard on a 40+ grand car..... :idunno:

Left as is I’d have to sell it I think, it’s ok but I really dislike the skittish behaviour and lack of damping refinement, the 981 kills it stone dead in that department. But, it can be improved, so to me there’s a better car in there waiting to be let out. :thumbsup:
 
Good to hear you are planning to get it to the standard it deserves, John. :thumbsup:
 
What wheels/tyres?

Already a good list but would suggest higher profile tyres (if you’re on 19s) and more -ve camber up front.
 
After 4 years I ended up hating mine so spent a little time trying to sort crashiness and inert handling. Experimented with various set ups and ended up with OEM springs with Bilsteins, Pilots, and geo half way between CSL and OEM. It’s imoroved things but it isn’t good enough, frankly, to be enjoyable. My M140i is actually more enjoyable to drive fast on bumpy B roads (admittedly it has adaptive) as were all of the M3s, Elises and 911s I’ve had. The only thing I love is having the roof off but frankly you can do that in an MX5. I’ve an M2 comp arriving later in the year and suspect I’ll sell the Z then as I’m not convinced it’s possible to make it into a good drivers car.
 
MrPT said:
What wheels/tyres?

Already a good list but would suggest higher profile tyres (if you’re on 19s) and more -ve camber up front.
Click to expand...

It’s on standard 224’s MrPT with MPSS tyres.

-ve camber is athought, I’d forgotten that...! Thank you kind sir. :thumbsup:
 
InterlagosZ4MR said:
After 4 years I ended up hating mine so spent a little time trying to sort crashiness and inert handling. Experimented with various set ups and ended up with OEM springs with Bilsteins, Pilots, and geo half way between CSL and OEM. It’s imoroved things but it isn’t good enough, frankly, to be enjoyable. My M140i is actually more enjoyable to drive fast on bumpy B roads (admittedly it has adaptive) as were all of the M3s, Elises and 911s I’ve had. The only thing I love is having the roof off but frankly you can do that in an MX5. I’ve an M2 comp arriving later in the year and suspect I’ll sell the Z then as I’m not convinced it’s possible to make it into a good drivers car.
Click to expand...

Hmmmmm.....that’s the flip side of my thinking, am I chasing a never caught rabbit. I know it’ll never be agile like the 981 or as balanced, but it’s half the cost....! :lol:
 
Supercharge it and put your suspension on...


Then put some big brakes on if you think you need them...

You have something that handles superbly,no way will the Z ever get near the composure over the Boxster you have.So you might as well make it go a bit better and make it exciting.
 
Z4M-2006 said:
Supercharge it and put your suspension on...


Then put some big brakes on if you think you need them...

You have something that handles superbly,no way will the Z ever get near the composure over the Boxster you have.So you might as well make it go a bit better and make it exciting.
Click to expand...

Supercharge it Gaz......????!!!! :o Using the revs the things a licence losing mental hospital as is....I don’t need any more engine silliness like that young man..... :rtfm:
 
Dont waste your money upgrading it -it wont be game changer enough to make you fall in love again -like an old girlfriend or boyfriend i guess .
Get something else which floats your boat -sounds like you need to change into a boxster S or possibly an XKR for you to enjoy top down motoring
 
john-e89 said:
Z4M-2006 said:
Supercharge it and put your suspension on...


Then put some big brakes on if you think you need them...

You have something that handles superbly,no way will the Z ever get near the composure over the Boxster you have.So you might as well make it go a bit better and make it exciting.
Click to expand...

Supercharge it Gaz......????!!!! :o Using the revs the things a licence losing mental hospital as is....I don’t need any more engine silliness like that young man..... :rtfm:
Click to expand...


Its hard to know what to do though John.. One things for sure you will spend a s**t ton of cash and it wont feel a lot different than it does already.
 
My RS4 is far faster over crappy tarmac on wet country roads and more comfortable too, but if the tarmac is smooth, the cars are few that can keep up with my Zed through the twisties. Even a 996 GT3 driven hard struggled against it on a track day. There’s no doubt you can make a giant slayer out of the ///M with a few choice suspension mods but I think it will always tend towards skittish on broken surfaces.
 
Might just be me, although the M3 seats are better they dont look at home in the Z what so ever IMO.

TBH i never found the seats to be an issue, i really rather liked them. The design is also very Z (zukunft - future) rather than fast saloon armchair.
 
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