Wierd noise...

Wierd noise...

Author
Discussion

The Dude

Original Poster:

6,546 posts

254 months

Sunday 11th March 2007
quotequote all
While driving this weekend I noticed a rather bizarre noise coming from the back of the car when going over bumpy surfaces (things like partly sunken manhole covers for example). It sounds like I've got a box of loose spanners in the boot and they clank together as the back wheels hit the bumps. It's only really noticeable with the window down.

Anyone had a similar noise? It's quite disconcerting.

m12_nathan

5,138 posts

266 months

Sunday 11th March 2007
quotequote all
Broken spring?

adamb

88 posts

220 months

Sunday 11th March 2007
quotequote all
Broken spring? I had that and thought there was something rattling around in the boot.

The Dude

Original Poster:

6,546 posts

254 months

Sunday 11th March 2007
quotequote all
Ah balls, here we go again. Time for some better ones than the stock BMW ones as they seem to be made of chocolate or something

the Jesus

4 posts

225 months

Thursday 29th March 2007
quotequote all

or its something very simple like a loose disc splash guard

i went through doing every bush & droplink to get rid of a rattle like that

and what was the first thing i heard driving away from the dealers ....


you do need better springs aswell anyway tho :P

The Dude

Original Poster:

6,546 posts

254 months

Thursday 29th March 2007
quotequote all
Nope, definitely cracked springs - I've got the evidence in my boot at the moment

Got the KW Variant 3 setup now and it really transforms the car. Feels so much more nimble and turn-in is more sure and positive. Running it with fairly mild setup at the moment (at Thorney's suggestion) but even so it's a massive improvement on the OEM setup.

Hats off to the chaps at Thorney's, as usual.

thumbup

bromers2

1,867 posts

257 months

Friday 30th March 2007
quotequote all
What's the cost of the suspension setup ?

The Dude

Original Poster:

6,546 posts

254 months

Friday 30th March 2007
quotequote all
bromers2 said:
What's the cost of the suspension setup ?


www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk/tuning/E46_M3_CSL_Handling.shtml

m3desmo

582 posts

220 months

Friday 30th March 2007
quotequote all
That's going to be next on my list of mods. What are peoples thoughts on the lower ride height and coping with speed humps? Unfortunately, where I live there are some that are unavoidable on my route to and from home and I don't want to ground the car out every time I go out in it!

The Dude

Original Poster:

6,546 posts

254 months

Friday 30th March 2007
quotequote all
m3desmo said:
That's going to be next on my list of mods. What are peoples thoughts on the lower ride height and coping with speed humps? Unfortunately, where I live there are some that are unavoidable on my route to and from home and I don't want to ground the car out every time I go out in it!


My setup is only fractionally lower than standard. How low you have it is pretty much up to you, depending on what suits how you use the car. Best to discuss it with Thorney and he can talk you through it.

m3desmo

582 posts

220 months

Friday 30th March 2007
quotequote all
Cheers

I better get going on it now as would like to get this done before my Ring/Spa trip in May. The KW Variant 3 sounds the way to go. Will probably get the RTAB limiter kit and more new bushes fitted then too, to allow geo setup just the once.

The Dude

Original Poster:

6,546 posts

254 months

Friday 30th March 2007
quotequote all
m3desmo said:
Cheers

I better get going on it now as would like to get this done before my Ring/Spa trip in May. The KW Variant 3 sounds the way to go. Will probably get the RTAB limiter kit and more new bushes fitted then too, to allow geo setup just the once.


Really transforms the car and you can adjust it yourself if you fancy playing with it. Thorney has a handy guide on his website with the info you need and it's easy to access the bump and rebound adjusters (you end up with small holes in the boot to access the top of the rear suspension)

www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk/tuning/Adjustable_Suspension_Setup.shtml

adamb

88 posts

220 months

Friday 30th March 2007
quotequote all
I have my ride height very low with KW3 - I think something like an extra 30-40mm from standard. Handling is great and haven't really had any problems with speed humps etc...

m3desmo

582 posts

220 months

Monday 2nd April 2007
quotequote all
Well, I have bitten the bullet and booked my car in at Thorneys for the full KW3 treatment. Going to get the limiter kit and new RTABs done at the same time. Roll on 24th April.

He's also suggested fitting 10mm spacers to the front wheels only, to reduce understeer. Anyone else done this instead of running rear wheels on the front??


Edited by m3desmo on Monday 2nd April 14:17

The Dude

Original Poster:

6,546 posts

254 months

Monday 2nd April 2007
quotequote all
m3desmo said:
Well, I have bitten the bullet and booked my car in at Thorneys for the full KW3 treatment. Going to get the limiter kit and new RTABs done at the same time. Roll on 24th April.

He's also suggested fitting 10mm spacers to the front wheels only, to reduce understeer. Anyone else done this instead of running rear wheels on the front??


Edited by m3desmo on Monday 2nd April 14:17


Good man. thumbup

Got the spacers on mine too. Does what it says on the tin, though I can't say how it compares to fitting rears on the front as I've no experience of it.

shim

2,050 posts

215 months

Monday 2nd April 2007
quotequote all
can the spacers be fitted with stock suspension with moded geo set up and just removed on road set up or do they have to be left on the car?

m3desmo

582 posts

220 months

Monday 2nd April 2007
quotequote all
Shimmy

John was telling me that it's possible to get negative 2.5 degrees (or thereabouts) of camber on the front with the lower ride height of the KW3 setup, therefore enabling the use of the spacers. I think -2 degrees is max possible with stock front suspension setup so not sure about whether the spacers could still be used?????

Edited by m3desmo on Monday 2nd April 16:11

Zod

35,295 posts

265 months

Monday 2nd April 2007
quotequote all
not been driving around London have you, Dude? I reckon Camden's speed humps an dpotholes did for the last spring.

PS I'm waiting for a response about those bloody wheels.

The Dude

Original Poster:

6,546 posts

254 months

Monday 2nd April 2007
quotequote all
Zod said:
not been driving around London have you, Dude? I reckon Camden's speed humps an dpotholes did for the last spring.

PS I'm waiting for a response about those bloody wheels.


Heh no. The roads around here are just as appalling though

On the upside, the car is even better with the new bouncy bits

Don't sweat it about the wheels but thanks for trying.