B12 kit will lower the ride 30mm at least and shake your fillings out. Fitted to mine 6 months ago.Mittens wrote:Hi,
My front two struts are likely to fail the MoT at the end of January so I'm going to replace them in the new year.
Since the stock ride on the Z4 is often criticised and Bilsteins (on a Z4) often praised, it seems like a no brainer.
I've done my reading so I'm sorry this is retreading a lot of ground, but need a few pointers:
1) I believe I have the sports pack (5 spoke wheels, [sport] button) and so my suspension is lower than standard? dose this mean I need the Bilstein B8s on my springs?
2) I was going to stick with the factory springs since navigating the local manatee-esk speed bumps is already fun enough of a morning commute. Is this sensible, or would I really be better off going to eibach route?
Cheers.
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Shocks are shot, Bilsteins time?
- DMC63
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Shocks are shot, Bilsteins time?
BMW Z4 2003 2.5i and lots of bits and pieces - 2016 - 2020 Sold
- Mark-Z4
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Shocks are shot, Bilsteins time?
If you get the B4 or B6 I'd be interested to know your thoughts on them
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Shocks are shot, Bilsteins time?
People seem to upgrade their top mounts at the same time, is it best to grab the rogue engineering top mounts? Heck while I'm at it are there any other parts of the strut area which should be replaced?
http://www.ca-int.co.uk/single_prod-cHJ ... xNg==.html
http://www.ca-int.co.uk/single_prod-cHJ ... xNg==.html
Cheques in the post, I trust the postman will be able to find you solely from your use ID. Cheeky bonus: I don't live far from Southampton.Steve84N wrote:http://www.regalautosport.com/shop/Bils ... 20bmw%20z4
My cut is just half your saving.
DMC63 wrote:B12 kit will lower the ride 30mm at least and shake your fillings out. Fitted to mine 6 months ago.
I've thrown caution to the wind, and I'm going with the B12s.Mark-Z4 wrote:If you get the B4 or B6 I'd be interested to know your thoughts on them
- markeg
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Shocks are shot, Bilsteins time?
I went with the B12 kit (thread here) and sourced through the eBay shop from a German distributer. Unfortunately the €/£ rate was better then, so its not as cost effective now... btw ignore that its in the Alpina section, the B12 kit is common across the E85 chassis (the Alpina being a variant on the 3.0i chassis).
I also replaced the top mounts at the same time - rogue were a good option for the rears For the fronts it depends on budget, but with adjustables you'll get more ability with the 4-wheel alignment
Regarding ride, I am on 19" with the pro kit, which has lowered the car by about 30mm overall. Its a bit harsher on the crappy Lincolnshire B roads, but no different on major A roads. Road handling ability is vastly improved. Speed bumps (and the repeated lumps for traffic calming) aren't an issue as long as I'm going slower than 30mph; I've not experienced damage on the front spoiler or bottoming-out yet, and no damage to the wheel arches
I also replaced the top mounts at the same time - rogue were a good option for the rears For the fronts it depends on budget, but with adjustables you'll get more ability with the 4-wheel alignment
Regarding ride, I am on 19" with the pro kit, which has lowered the car by about 30mm overall. Its a bit harsher on the crappy Lincolnshire B roads, but no different on major A roads. Road handling ability is vastly improved. Speed bumps (and the repeated lumps for traffic calming) aren't an issue as long as I'm going slower than 30mph; I've not experienced damage on the front spoiler or bottoming-out yet, and no damage to the wheel arches
previous: Alpina Roadster S, #108: gone
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current: MB C-class
"veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I stuck around..."
- DMC63
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Shocks are shot, Bilsteins time?
I bought BMW oem new mounts for front and back. Fitted the kit myself and took it to Blackboots and had the 4 wheel laser alignment done. Also fitted an Ali strut brace to the front struts. Car handles nice. All it needs now is the supercharger.
BMW Z4 2003 2.5i and lots of bits and pieces - 2016 - 2020 Sold
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Shocks are shot, Bilsteins time?
I'm a bit worried that my struts will damage the (apparently thin) top mount area of the chassis.DMC63 wrote:I bought BMW oem new mounts for front and back. Fitted the kit myself and took it to Blackboots and had the 4 wheel laser alignment done. Also fitted an Ali strut brace to the front struts. Car handles nice. All it needs now is the supercharger.
markeg wrote: I also replaced the top mounts at the same time - rogue were a good option for the rears For the fronts it depends on budget, but with adjustables you'll get more ability with the 4-wheel alignment
It was your thread that put me onto them . I'm looking at uprating the top mounts to prevent damage to the car rather than anything else. It looks like oem and reinforcement plate (link below) comes in at half the price, decisions, decisions..
http://www.elite-d.co.uk/bmw-e36-e46-z3 ... nt-plates/
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Shocks are shot, Bilsteins time?
I'm a bit worried that my struts will damage the (apparently thin) top mount area of the chassis.DMC63 wrote:I bought BMW oem new mounts for front and back. Fitted the kit myself and took it to Blackboots and had the 4 wheel laser alignment done. Also fitted an Ali strut brace to the front struts. Car handles nice. All it needs now is the supercharger.
markeg wrote: I also replaced the top mounts at the same time - rogue were a good option for the rears For the fronts it depends on budget, but with adjustables you'll get more ability with the 4-wheel alignment
It was your thread that put me onto them . I'm looking at uprating the top mounts to prevent damage to the car rather than anything else. It looks like oem and reinforcement plate (link below) comes in at half the price, decisions, decisions..
http://www.elite-d.co.uk/bmw-e36-e46-z3 ... nt-plates/
- Steve84N
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Shocks are shot, Bilsteins time?
If you run a strut brace you shouldn't need plates as well. I can't get enough thread for the nuts if I ran both. For the rear you may as well put the plates in, I found some on eBay for £10.
C63 AMG Estate 6208cc
- DMC63
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Shocks are shot, Bilsteins time?
Strut brace at front, no plates and plates on rears.Mittens wrote:I'm a bit worried that my struts will damage the (apparently thin) top mount area of the chassis.DMC63 wrote:I bought BMW oem new mounts for front and back. Fitted the kit myself and took it to Blackboots and had the 4 wheel laser alignment done. Also fitted an Ali strut brace to the front struts. Car handles nice. All it needs now is the supercharger.
markeg wrote: I also replaced the top mounts at the same time - rogue were a good option for the rears For the fronts it depends on budget, but with adjustables you'll get more ability with the 4-wheel alignment
It was your thread that put me onto them . I'm looking at uprating the top mounts to prevent damage to the car rather than anything else. It looks like oem and reinforcement plate (link below) comes in at half the price, decisions, decisions..
http://www.elite-d.co.uk/bmw-e36-e46-z3 ... nt-plates/
This is the strut brace I bought If you buy this strut brace tell DC Perfomance that you need the nuts from Weichers to fit it otherwise you won't have enough thread in the OEM nuts which are currently on the car.
https://www.dcperformance.co.uk/cheap/1 ... 67034.html
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Shocks are shot, Bilsteins time?
Right, firstly thanks all for the help picking what to buy.
Secondly, I've finalised on getting Bilstein B12 kit (arriving tomorrow) and new OEM top-mounts (I'm going slow and steady with changes to the ride).
I'll try and get up a before and after shot of the car (in profile) for future reference.
Secondly, I've finalised on getting Bilstein B12 kit (arriving tomorrow) and new OEM top-mounts (I'm going slow and steady with changes to the ride).
I'll try and get up a before and after shot of the car (in profile) for future reference.
- Ed Doe
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Shocks are shot, Bilsteins time?
Hi chaps, apologies for the brief diversion of the thread but what's the point in the plates? Surely if it's below the mounting bracket it'll just raise the ride height a little like a lift kit on a 4x4 ?
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- Steve84N
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Shocks are shot, Bilsteins time?
Front plates do fractionally increase ride height but it stops the strut tower from mushrooming. The rear plates go above the strut tower anyway and are again to stop deformation of the metal skin.
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Shocks are shot, Bilsteins time?
What do people do with/for bump stops? Do I need to get shorter ones, or are they integrated in the B8 shocks?
As Steve said, it's to stop mushrooming. I found lots of talk about it on 3 series cars, but no much luck finding examples on Z4s, which is good I suppose.Ed Doe wrote:Hi chaps, apologies for the brief diversion of the thread but what's the point in the plates? Surely if it's below the mounting bracket it'll just raise the ride height a little like a lift kit on a 4x4 ?
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Shocks are shot, Bilsteins time?
My new bilsteins have them integrated on the front and I'm using new stock ones on the back.Mittens wrote:What do people do with/for bump stops? Do I need to get shorter ones, or are they integrated in the B8 shocks?
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- Lifer
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Shocks are shot, Bilsteins time?
As above.
I've not heard of any issues with Z4s so didn't reinforce when I put my B12 kit in.
I've not heard of any issues with Z4s so didn't reinforce when I put my B12 kit in.
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