Z4MC - Making it more comfortable on Motorways and cobbles!
Discussion
Chaps - I have a Z4MC as some of you will remember. I love it to bits. However, there are occasions when I wish it were a wee bit softer...especially when going on long journey's with my girl friend who hates it's firmness. Was just wondering if anyone knows of a company that does suspension modifications of this kind? i.e. to make it handle like it does already, but also to ride like my Boxster used to at the same time!
Any ideas?
J.
Any ideas?
J.
jezzaaa said:
Chaps - I have a Z4MC as some of you will remember. I love it to bits. However, there are occasions when I wish it were a wee bit softer...especially when going on long journey's with my girl friend who hates it's firmness. Was just wondering if anyone knows of a company that does suspension modifications of this kind? i.e. to make it handle like it does already, but also to ride like my Boxster used to at the same time!
Any ideas?
J.
You've got the CSL's haven't you? I assume you've had a play with the tyre pressures and don't want to go back to the 18s (No i wouldn't either). I supose you could try the Z4MR suspension, it feels a fair bit softer and you would only have to change the struts, rear shocks and rear anti roll bar, the springs and front roll bar are still the same. It should still handle simlar (well like a Z4MR) and you can always test drive one at the dealers to see if it suits your needs. I imagine the aftermarket stuff is all harder still.Any ideas?
J.
stuthemong said:
I don't know the practicalities of this at all, but the alpina Z4 will no doubt have much smoother shocks - maybe you could look into what they use?
Actually the Alpina was much, much worse. I find that running the tyre pressures at around 30F, 31R makes the ride more tolerable. Personally I'd be very wary of changing the springs and dampers. BMW will have spent millions on R&D and tuning the chassis for specific spring rates and dampers, and it's all too easy to cock it up with a few hundred quid's worth of ill-advised "upgrades".
If you can get something suitable from Hartge, Schnitzer, etc. then go for it. But I wouldn't advise ordering a bunch of stuff out of the Demon Tweeks catalogue unless you really know what you're doing!
If you can get something suitable from Hartge, Schnitzer, etc. then go for it. But I wouldn't advise ordering a bunch of stuff out of the Demon Tweeks catalogue unless you really know what you're doing!
carl_w said:
Personally I'd be very wary of changing the springs and dampers. BMW will have spent millions on R&D and tuning the chassis for specific spring rates and dampers, and it's all too easy to cock it up with a few hundred quid's worth of ill-advised "upgrades".
If you can get something suitable from Hartge, Schnitzer, etc. then go for it. But I wouldn't advise ordering a bunch of stuff out of the Demon Tweeks catalogue unless you really know what you're doing!
No indeed - I would never do such a thing!If you can get something suitable from Hartge, Schnitzer, etc. then go for it. But I wouldn't advise ordering a bunch of stuff out of the Demon Tweeks catalogue unless you really know what you're doing!
Top pup said:
jezzaaa said:
Chaps - I have a Z4MC as some of you will remember. I love it to bits. However, there are occasions when I wish it were a wee bit softer...especially when going on long journey's with my girl friend who hates it's firmness. Was just wondering if anyone knows of a company that does suspension modifications of this kind? i.e. to make it handle like it does already, but also to ride like my Boxster used to at the same time!
Any ideas?
J.
You've got the CSL's haven't you? I assume you've had a play with the tyre pressures and don't want to go back to the 18s (No i wouldn't either). I supose you could try the Z4MR suspension, it feels a fair bit softer and you would only have to change the struts, rear shocks and rear anti roll bar, the springs and front roll bar are still the same. It should still handle simlar (well like a Z4MR) and you can always test drive one at the dealers to see if it suits your needs. I imagine the aftermarket stuff is all harder still.Any ideas?
J.
Thats interesting...I didn't realise the M Roadster suspension was different. I'll look into it. It's softer is it?
I'm not really wanting after market stuff...unless it's Alpina or Schnitzer or someone that BMW approves of...purely from a warranty stance more than anything else. I don't want to ruin it...as has been said, BMW spend alot of money getting them right. The thing that confuses me about that though is that I had an E46 M3 for about 3 months while my Boxster was off the road in the paint shop a year or so ago. It handled very well and the ride was also very good. Not quite sure why BMW didn't manage to do it so well in the Z4s??
Cheers for all the advice.
J.
Try going for 28-29 on the front and 29-30 on the rear, it should help quite a bit, 32-33 is just too high and makes the car very skittish....
The tyres get very warm being close to the exhaust so the pressure will rise anyway, so keeping them as suggested should help.
The tyres get very warm being close to the exhaust so the pressure will rise anyway, so keeping them as suggested should help.
Edited by JayZ4 on Tuesday 29th May 21:45
jezzaaa said:
No - just the standard 18 inchers...I quite like it looks wise the way it is. I will be changing the rubber for the much lauded MPS2s but not until the Conti's are worn out. I haven't tried changing the tyre pressures though...any suggestions as to how much to change them?
Ahhh, i mixed you up with someone else, a picture on your profile would help 
Like other have said you can drop the tyre pressures you can down as low as about 28f and 29r , i was running 30f and 31r on the 18s if that helps.jezzaaa said:
Thats interesting...I didn't realise the M Roadster suspension was different. I'll look into it. It's softer is it?
Yes it's a fair bit softer, enough to notice anyway, and as the dampers are all ready set up to work with the same springs they shouldn't affect the handling to much. At least you can test drive one before ordering any parts.stuthemong said:
DoctorD, that sure surprises me that to be honest. Interesting stuff 
Yes, there were times that I loved my Alpina Z4 and other times I just parked it, got out and swore very loudly. It's not the primary ride (i.e. longwave movements), but the secondary ride (such as on a bumpy road) that was so painful. Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff