low cars and traffic calming measures

[z4chris99]

so my Z4 is 40mm lower than standard which causes problems with Londons abundance of humps and bumps...

what's the best method for getting over these without scraping and clonking ????

[2902326]

Raising it by 40mm..

[SystemParanoia]

turn it into a mini JCB

[4key]

Just before you get to them, drop the clutch and go flat out in 2nd. The front will lift and you will fly over them

[mackie1]

Mine is standard and I wouldn't want it any lower.

[Froomee]

Try going across at an angle hitting large humps square on tends to make the front dip slightly as does braking before the hump.

My Z4M is standard and isn't the best so I'd hate to think what a lowered car would be like......

[John D.]

Going at an angle means the first front wheel to hit the bump lifts the bodywork clear too (as the wheel rides up the bump a fraction earlier than it would if you approached square on).

Definately the best tactic!

[Dave Hedgehog]

my first saph cosworth was lowered for track use, bloody useless on the road, kept tearing the front bumper off on speed bumps ...

my second one was kept at a sensible height

[carreauchompeur]

Maintain a slightly slower speed on the approach to the bump, then GENTLE acceleration over it raises the front slightly and can diminish the 'craaash!' Effect.

[driverrob]

I can fully empathise. I think Egham town centre was the worst I've driven through. 5mph and it scraped noisily on every bloody one, and no way to avoid them. Crowthorne is nearly as bad.
Single lane humps I have to drive between, which often means in the middle of the road.
If it didn't make such a difference to cornering stability I'd have normal springs put back on.

[Mr2Mike]

2902326 said:

Raising it by 40mm..

Without doubt the best solution if you regularly have to use speed bump infested cities.

[TobyLaRohne]

Mine is an absolute bugger over bumps, I find attacking it sideways is the best solution however sometimes the sills catch if I do that, it does sound alot worse than it is though, I've inspected the sills a few times after catching them and can find no visible damage to the carbon fibre...the front end is a different story though... I'm looking at a grand to replace the front splitter including shipping from the USA which cost as much as the splitter cost!

[Funk]

I would ask for them to be measured and ensure they comply with the rules and regs for heights etc.

[MycroftWard]

My '40 has -35mm springs which does sometimes cause a problem with speedbumps, I've grazed the splitter a few times.

You just have to take them very slowly, that's all you can really do other than raise the car back up. That or move somewhere with proper roads!

[z4chris99]

The full humps dont really bother me, its these hump things.

is it best though to tackle them:

1. head on wheels on either side of the bump
2. head on with one wheel on the bump one off it
3. go in at an angle

[driverrob]

z4chris99 said:

The full humps dont really bother me, its these hump things.

is it best though to tackle them:

1. head on wheels on either side of the bump
2. head on with one wheel on the bump one off it
3. go in at an angle

1. no way! That's asking for trouble.
2. possible, as long as it's slowly and the suspension is fairly hard
3. sounds risky for other traffic

[FreeLitres]

This is your answer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFn87xxnOjw

[kambites]

Running a car under about 110mm on the road without some kind of lift mechanism just seems daft to me. If it's over that, it shouldn't ground.

[z4chris99]

4. try and get both wheels on the bump..

for the avoidance of doubt im talking about these ones.. but made out of road not rubber.. sometimes they are higher.

[z4chris99]

kambites said:

Running a car under about 110mm on the road without some kind of lift mechanism just seems daft to me. If it's over that, it shouldn't ground.

I think mine is 75mm