Z4M handling issues

Z4M handling issues

Author
Discussion

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

223 months

Monday 8th June 2020
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
Nice one Guy and I didn't realise you had a Z4 Coupe. Do you have any pics to share please? smile
Only have this one pic, it is Monaco blue, I have never been a fan of the wheels, but in the flesh actually really like them....




I think I have decided on B4 dampers with Eibach pro kit springs.

Alpinas always ride great and they tend to use the SE damper with m-sport springs, so think that combo should work well for our crappy UK roads.

I'm struggling to find someone with stock who can get them to me this week, back at work next week so would like to get them here and fitted before then. But I can get the lot from Germany for around £440 delivered, where as someone with stock here it is more like £600.

I guess I will have to try and be patient.




I have only ever driven the Z4 M Coupe, and wrongly presumed the 3.0si would be a lot more comfort biased, but it feels very similar in regards to suspension set up.

Felix79

121 posts

64 months

Tuesday 9th June 2020
quotequote all
I currently own a Z4M-Roadster and I found the handling to be really unsettled on the rear end. Like the total idiot that I am, I didn't realise that 3 of my 4 springs were FUBAR. Once I got a shedload of work done (bill was like £3000) I found the handling to be pretty awesome, but still found the rear to be unsettled on UK B-Roads. I know the Z4M Coupe's are more extreme, due to them being much stiffer than the roadsters.

I use to own an E30 Alpina C2 2.5 and during the last year of ownership, I had a massive overhaul done with all the suspension and running gear. The guy who worked on my car is very well known and respected in BMW circles (he's got an awesome thread on here with his E30 M3 restoration), he advised me to get a softer spring/shock setup, which transformed my Alpina from being a typically tail happy E30, to a car I could really throw about without it getting unsettled so easily.

This is why I think the Z4M's setup is too stiff for UK roads and is why they feel so twitchy, as they get unsettled so easily?

cerb4.5lee

30,184 posts

179 months

Tuesday 9th June 2020
quotequote all
gizlaroc said:
cerb4.5lee said:
Nice one Guy and I didn't realise you had a Z4 Coupe. Do you have any pics to share please? smile
Only have this one pic, it is Monaco blue, I have never been a fan of the wheels, but in the flesh actually really like them....
That looks lovely thanks, they are such a gorgeous shape for sure. thumbup

Enjoy it. driving

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Wednesday 10th June 2020
quotequote all
gizlaroc said:
I have only ever driven the Z4 M Coupe, and wrongly presumed the 3.0si would be a lot more comfort biased, but it feels very similar in regards to suspension set up.
You are right - in my experience the Si Sport on run-flats is if anything more crashy than my M, even though that is on 19" non-runflats!

But I think my H & R coil-overs don't help. rolleyes

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

223 months

Wednesday 10th June 2020
quotequote all
I'm almost certain I am going to go Bilstein B4 and Eibach springs. I think that should sort it right out.


Have you adjusted your coilovers to give a bit more travel etc.?

What coilovers are they?

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Wednesday 10th June 2020
quotequote all
gizlaroc said:
I'm almost certain I am going to go Bilstein B4 and Eibach springs. I think that should sort it right out.

Have you adjusted your coilovers to give a bit more travel etc.?

What coilovers are they?
The Bilstein kit seems to get good reviews.

I have H & R coil-overs with no adjustment for pre-load, rebound, etc. so IMHO they were more about bling than function. rolleyes

But thankfully my car also came with a set of Eibach springs so I'm thinking of getting some shocks to go with those!

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

223 months

Wednesday 10th June 2020
quotequote all
Have you tried adjusting them so you have a little more height?


Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Wednesday 10th June 2020
quotequote all
gizlaroc said:
Have you tried adjusting them so you have a little more height?
Yes, I currently have them as high as they will go which does allow me to get over most speed-humps without grounding - but the ride quality is just the same.

On a bumpy road (which isn't hard to find around here) I often feel like Noddy! laugh

mmm-five

11,227 posts

283 months

Thursday 11th June 2020
quotequote all
Mr Tidy said:
Yes, I currently have them as high as they will go which does allow me to get over most speed-humps without grounding - but the ride quality is just the same.

On a bumpy road (which isn't hard to find around here) I often feel like Noddy! laugh
Get some B16s on it already wink

Pereldh

537 posts

111 months

Saturday 4th July 2020
quotequote all
I second that of Eibach Pro springs - may lower a tiny bit but they are progressive, so initial move is softer than std. Didn’t even change shocks. Transformed the car, espacially on the motorway.

Also, altho not less of nervous, but at least more fun: set the front camber to minimum. I.e. loosen the 3 bolts in the strut towers, pull the struts max together, adjust the toe. Made wonders to the steering feel.