06 Z4 spring break!

[CTrickle]

Wife called me last night to say something had gone 'ping' out the back of her car... Turns out it was part of the off side rear spring.

The car has done 60,000 miles but I thought thats a bit off for a BMW.

Anyone else had this and are they as easy to replace as any other car?

[steve_bmw]

Very common on the z4. 10 mins to put a new spring in.
Best doing a pair though as the other may be getting ready.

[Sardonicus]

BMW rear spring breakages are common as muck along with plenty of other manufactures models nowadays in all honesty changed a lot more BMW rears than fronts though like mentioned already change both

[CTrickle]

I see, glad it s common in a way, means our car is no different to anyone else's!

I thought the changing would be fairly simple so I'll get it fitted on Thursday.

Thanks again!
Ed.

[tgr]

Depending on how long you own it, it may happen more than once.

So you might consider a good aftermarket set of springs (Eibach, H&R etc) which will be better made than the BMW product built down to a price

[mmm-five]

Seems to be quite common, but I've not had one break in 114k miles.

[Vroomer]

One of my rears broke at 37k. Got both rears replaced for £170 all-in at an independent. Quick and easy job.

[CTrickle]

I've taken a punt and bought a second hand one from ebay! They are that easy to replace that if it breaks then we will have to buy a pair and replace them I guess.

Ebay - £15

BMW - £102.84 + VAT

Hard to argue with that.

[Sardonicus]

CTrickle said:

I've taken a punt and bought a second hand one from ebay! They are that easy to replace that if it breaks then we will have to buy a pair and replace them I guess.

Ebay - £15

BMW - £102.84 + VAT

Hard to argue with that.

A Z4 right ?

[CTrickle]

Sardonicus said:

CTrickle said:

I've taken a punt and bought a second hand one from ebay! They are that easy to replace that if it breaks then we will have to buy a pair and replace them I guess.

Ebay - £15

BMW - £102.84 + VAT

Hard to argue with that.

A Z4 right ?

Haha! No a Porsche Boxster one but it must be similar..! Yep Z4 Sport spring.

[Vroomer]

Really would advise against replacing one only...

[Sardonicus]

Vroomer said:

Really would advise against replacing one only...

[steve_bmw]

I bought a pair of KYB springs from the motor spares for £40 three years ago and they haven't broken, a lot thicker Than the original springs.
Replacing one spring seems a bit odd. Lol

[aka_kerrly]

It really must be a case of manufactures don't make springs like they used to or the combination of crap roads and low profile tyres but it is astonishing how often you hear of broken springs these days.

Best practice is to buy a pair and consider having strut top mounts done at the same time.

[steve_bmw]

aka_kerrly said:

It really must be a case of manufactures don't make springs like they used to or the combination of crap roads and low profile tyres but it is astonishing how often you hear of broken springs these days.

Best practice is to buy a pair and consider having strut top mounts done at the same time.

I agree, you never had to replace a spring, I think speed humps have a massive impact on the life of springs, also having run flat tyres on 18" rims doesn't help either.

[Sardonicus]

steve_bmw said:

I bought a pair of KYB springs from the motor spares for £40 three years ago and they haven't broken, a lot thicker Than the original springs.
Replacing one spring seems a bit odd. Lol

Kayaba (KYB) stuff is the nutz never had to back any of their dampers or springs ever, they are OE on many japanese cars which says it all I also agree about spring life the 1st car I remember fitting coil springs to was the MK3 & MK4 Escort rears inc the Orion followed closely by the Granada's rears back in the early nineties and its just spring boarded from there really with all brands of vehicle speed humps and low pro's have definitely contributed to the problem IMO but still think the quality is just not there anymore