Suspension specialists in the Cambridge area?

[Steve84N]

I would recommend Powerflex bushes for the lollipops as there's basically no increase in NVH and you won't need to do them again.

RTABs there is much debate but I plumped for Meyle HD which is a slightly harder rubber OEM type bush and then added some limiters to stop it moving around to improve handling plus longevity.

Mine is a daily with a B12 kit and it's not cushy like our 330 e91 but it's fine for me.

A strut brace in the front makes a nice difference to steering feel and it holds a line in corners better, I have the Weichers one.

Probably going to try Pilot Sport 4s soon after having F1s for years.

If you upgrade to B12 then H&R ARBs compliment it well, I had the bars before the suspension and it was a bit too hard for the softer standard setup.

Don't go with the standard alignment specs for the 3.0si Coupe. They want well over 2 degrees of camber and it simply wears the tyres out whilst inducing more understeer than most would like. You'll probably not get to 1 degree so just set the back to minimum camber. The front you should pull the pins and set to maximum camber. With both ends make them match side to side, as you'll find they don't by simply maximsing and minimising so work to the lowest common denominator. Toe up front works at zero or just slightly in at 0.1 or 0.2 per side. On the rear a little more is sensible for the road, mine is at 0.3 per side.

Then if you're still wanting more get a Quaife LSD, so smooth when it slides.

Finally, brakes and a supercharger perhaps although I haven't gone there yet.

[Jay-SP]

I would recommend Powerflex bushes for the lollipops as there's basically no increase in NVH and you won't need to do them again.

RTABs there is much debate but I plumped for Meyle HD which is a slightly harder rubber OEM type bush and then added some limiters to stop it moving around to improve handling plus longevity.

Mine is a daily with a B12 kit and it's not cushy like our 330 e91 but it's fine for me.

A strut brace in the front makes a nice difference to steering feel and it holds a line in corners better, I have the Weichers one.

Probably going to try Pilot Sport 4s soon after having F1s for years.

If you upgrade to B12 then H&R ARBs compliment it well, I had the bars before the suspension and it was a bit too hard for the softer standard setup.

Don't go with the standard alignment specs for the 3.0si Coupe. They want well over 2 degrees of camber and it simply wears the tyres out whilst inducing more understeer than most would like. You'll probably not get to 1 degree so just set the back to minimum camber. The front you should pull the pins and set to maximum camber. With both ends make them match side to side, as you'll find they don't by simply maximsing and minimising so work to the lowest common denominator. Toe up front works at zero or just slightly in at 0.1 or 0.2 per side. On the rear a little more is sensible for the road, mine is at 0.3 per side.

Then if you're still wanting more get a Quaife LSD, so smooth when it slides.

Finally, brakes and a supercharger perhaps although I haven't gone there yet.

I may consider it, those control arm bushes were a real weak spot of the e46. 4 times in 9 years!

I'll look for the Meyle HD RTABS's, what are, and where can I get the limiters?

Ideally I want to keep the car at a standard ride height. It's already firm enough tbh, don't want to make it firmer.

I would consider a strut brace.

Pilot Sports are likely the tyres I'll be going for.

I had H&R suspension on my 964, it really was fantastic. It looks like they do a kit for the Z4. A bit pricey though. I was just looking at their ARB's.

As for alignment specs, I won't be doing that kind of work. Any suggestions for suspension specialists?

I've considered a Quaife LSD, that can come later when I've sorted the other bits out. Any idea of cost for that? I've got about 1k in my head for the parts.

Brakes are fine for now, supercharger is very appealing, but too costly at the moment

Cheers for the input, this forum has been very useful already!!

[Steve84N]

Read this for limiters: viewtopic.php?t=62834
I ended up buying these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Reinforce ... SwSdZWdTME

For a standard ride height then just consider changing the dampers for new ones. The rear springs will probably break at some point as it's a weak point. I actually have some spare Suplex rears for a coupe that have little mileage on and shouldn't snap like the OEM ones.

I got my H&R ARBs from carparts4less when they offer 10% off performance parts.

I'm not in your area and the only place I know remotely close is Wheels in Motion but there may well be decent alignment specialists closer to you. Most places will just stick you on the OEM settings which is why I broke it down for you.

The LSD is available from Birds, mine was about £1,300 fitted with a forum discount that has now expired. The diff is about a grand.

[MDUBZ]

Are you also in the Cambridge area then?

Mileage is 77k, so right around when you did your suspension refresh.

I'd prefer not to go the poly route, I've driven cars with them before and don't mind them when they're fresh, but on the cars I've driven they make a hell of a noise once the grease wears away. How have you found poly bushes for noise? How long have you had yours in?

I'll definitely be ditching the run flats as soon as I can. Will be trying my other set of wheels this weekend hopefully.

I may consider a suspension refresh, but would probably prefer to keep ride height standard. I would consider other dampers though. How much did the garage charge for suspension work?

I was wondering if the rear trailing arm bushes might need replacing, I hadn't thought of anti roll bar.

Hopefully having a 4 wheel alignment check soon (carried out by the dealer I bought the car from), it's also booked into Cambourne BMW on the 4th for a 'free' health check.

Fingers crossed I get this sorted soon, although I've still totally fallen for the car!!

yep also in Cambridge; see profile <<<<<

Cambourne were great on my free heath check, nice set up they have there. I bought a 2.5 on a whim and it was the worst car they had ever seen - unsafe i think the word they used was and they were appalled that it had supposedly gotten through an MOT prior to selling!!! took it straight back to where i bought it from with very angry face and got a refund ; but I had caught the bug and bought another 2 days later with the 3.0 engine and now very happy...

The bushes were done in feb last year so i'm ~7K miles in and no discernible noise to speak of. I don't use it daily, very much depends on the weather; the golf is hard to beat as a point to point in the wet or if i need to lug a bike about but a bit dull tbh; so solo or with just 1 in tow the z4 is the preference. i was thinking about track days but don't want to ruin the car now i have it as i want it..

On suspension:viewtopic.php?t=74501&start=15
as for cost: I try not to look at that sort of thing, but i've dug out the receipts:
*£620 + £250 fitting for b12 kit (ordered from extreme-carstyling.co.uk)
*£250 bushes fitted
*£120 top mounts: front ones were £35, rear were power flex at £85 - rear OEM have issues apparently and these looked industrial.
*£450 tyres on all corners, eagle f1s
oh, that was a bit more than i had convinced myself i had spent.. thanks for that!!! i also had some body work done, my 108s refurbished and bought a DA polisher and a load of cleaning/detailing products in the last 12 months

[Jay-SP]

Read this for limiters: viewtopic.php?t=62834
I ended up buying these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Reinforce ... SwSdZWdTME

For a standard ride height then just consider changing the dampers for new ones. The rear springs will probably break at some point as it's a weak point. I actually have some spare Suplex rears for a coupe that have little mileage on and shouldn't snap like the OEM ones.

I got my H&R ARBs from carparts4less when they offer 10% off performance parts.

I'm not in your area and the only place I know remotely close is Wheels in Motion but there may well be decent alignment specialists closer to you. Most places will just stick you on the OEM settings which is why I broke it down for you.

The LSD is available from Birds, mine was about £1,300 fitted with a forum discount that has now expired. The diff is about a grand.

Comments on settings appreciated. When I come to have it setup I will take another look at what you've suggested. I'd be happy to travel to someone who knows these cars well for a proper setup.

[Jay-SP]

yep also in Cambridge; see profile <<<<<

Cambourne were great on my free heath check, nice set up they have there. I bought a 2.5 on a whim and it was the worst car they had ever seen - unsafe i think the word they used was and they were appalled that it had supposedly gotten through an MOT prior to selling!!! took it straight back to where i bought it from with very angry face and got a refund ; but I had caught the bug and bought another 2 days later with the 3.0 engine and now very happy...

The bushes were done in feb last year so i'm ~7K miles in and no discernible noise to speak of. I don't use it daily, very much depends on the weather; the golf is hard to beat as a point to point in the wet or if i need to lug a bike about but a bit dull tbh; so solo or with just 1 in tow the z4 is the preference. i was thinking about track days but don't want to ruin the car now i have it as i want it..

On suspension:viewtopic.php?t=74501&start=15
as for cost: I try not to look at that sort of thing, but i've dug out the receipts:
*£620 + £250 fitting for b12 kit (ordered from extreme-carstyling.co.uk)
*£250 bushes fitted
*£120 top mounts: front ones were £35, rear were power flex at £85 - rear OEM have issues apparently and these looked industrial.
*£450 tyres on all corners, eagle f1s
oh, that was a bit more than i had convinced myself i had spent.. thanks for that!!! i also had some body work done, my 108s refurbished and bought a DA polisher and a load of cleaning/detailing products in the last 12 months

I've used Cambourne BMW for years for the e46, but only for buying parts. Will see what they say when I take it in there in a few weeks. I'm fairly confident that the car is good, it just needs a bit of a refresh in a few areas.

Well done for managing to get a refund!! I hope the previous owner sorted it before passing it on again. How was the 2.5 compared to the 3.0?

I need to figure out something to carry the bike around. I'm currently talking to a company called Invisihitch in America. They have a tow hitch for the car. It's $500 though, with another $500 to ship it to the UK for some reason. There is also another product from a company called Bird Automotive. And then there is the Saris bike carrier option. I would guess that I'll end up with a second car at some point!

Thanks for the breakdown of costs, and apologies for making you add it all up! The £250 for bushes, was that control arm and rear trailing arm? Did you also have the anti roll bars done?

[megapixelmike]

all same size all round 225/45 17 in gt active cost me £260 inc balancing.. the garage does track days ..he swears by them.. he has put them thru there paces cheers mike

[MDUBZ]

Well done for managing to get a refund!! I hope the previous owner sorted it before passing it on again. How was the 2.5 compared to the 3.0?

I need to figure out something to carry the bike around. I'm currently talking to a company called Invisihitch in America. They have a tow hitch for the car. It's $500 though, with another $500 to ship it to the UK for some reason. There is also another product from a company called Bird Automotive. And then there is the Saris bike carrier option. I would guess that I'll end up with a second car at some point!

Thanks for the breakdown of costs, and apologies for making you add it all up! The £250 for bushes, was that control arm and rear trailing arm? Did you also have the anti roll bars done?

It was from a trader in Bedford.. deposit goes on the credit card: if the deal goes sour you can claim the whole lot back under the consumer credit act if it's a rotter - much easier for them to give the refund: the report from cambourne clearly shows despite them saying it had been MOT'd it can't have been - tyres bald on the inside down to wire (tread was fine on the outside i didn't check the inners - didn't realise the camber was so severe on these), brake discs binding, rusty brake lines etc.

The 3.0L is so much better!! newer car, i also paid twice the price , it was only supposed to be stop gap while the golf was on order (9 months wait) but it was so much fun i've used man maths to keep it (don't make me add it up again! ).

I use the golf for transporting the bike: seats down, wheels and seat off, and it goes in the back and I secure everything with bungees:
1) no bastard can steal it easily if i park up
2) i can drive around north wales at warp speed without fear of the bike parting company with the car..
I can get a road bike in the boot of the z4 using the same method. The only additional thing i needed to do was detach the handle bars; a rebuild takes about 5 mins and i have a folding stand which makes it really easy!

[Jay-SP]

It was from a trader in Bedford.. deposit goes on the credit card: if the deal goes sour you can claim the whole lot back under the consumer credit act if it's a rotter - much easier for them to give the refund: the report from cambourne clearly shows despite them saying it had been MOT'd it can't have been - tyres bald on the inside down to wire (tread was fine on the outside i didn't check the inners - didn't realise the camber was so severe on these), brake discs binding, rusty brake lines etc.

The 3.0L is so much better!! newer car, i also paid twice the price , it was only supposed to be stop gap while the golf was on order (9 months wait) but it was so much fun i've used man maths to keep it (don't make me add it up again! ).

I use the golf for transporting the bike: seats down, wheels and seat off, and it goes in the back and I secure everything with bungees:
1) no bastard can steal it easily if i park up
2) i can drive around north wales at warp speed without fear of the bike parting company with the car..
I can get a road bike in the boot of the z4 using the same method. The only additional thing i needed to do was detach the handle bars; a rebuild takes about 5 mins and i have a folding stand which makes it really easy!

Glad it was easily sorted, I hope that dealer is no longer trading!

I do like Golf R's, pleased with it so far? Also pleased to know that your Z is the fun car. I was tempted to go with something like a nearly new Golf R, but didn't really want to finance it - hence the Z4 Coupe. I will likely get a second car for work and transporting the bikes in the near future, sadly it won't be a Golf R though!! For now, I will probably get a Saris bike rack and drive very carefully with my new Whyte 905 strapped to the back of the Z (it doesn't fit in the boot, I've tried!).

PS. nice Trek!

[MDUBZ]

i suspect they are still trading, they had a lot of cars in stock, i keep meaning to check if the car is still on the road....The golf is a great car and although a lot faster than the z in all conditions, it's a little dull tbh; it's just a bit too capable. You have to get into very very silly speeds before you need to do put any effort in - that sounds odd i know but the z is plenty fast enough in the twisties, the sound is better and it's much more engaging and rewarding to drive. I also prefer the power delivery in an NA engine too, whilst the turbo in the golf delivers a nice kick in the back, the engine is all done at 5.5K revs where as the Z is just finding it's voice. The golf is on a 'cheap' lease and goes back in September, and i'm a bit lost as to what to get next... might upgrade the z to an M, I too was looking at the supercharger route but for the money i'd need to spend an M isn't that far off and i think with 'sensible' head on that might be a better investment (man maths again) and then get something like an old r53 cooper works for the station/crappy weather runs to work, although I might struggle to get a bike in

Ha, nice new toy - whyte make really nice bikes! My body (back) can't handle a hardtail on the trails anymore - i'm not the smoothest rider, my old ht (not in the same league as the 905 - i like the look of that a lot btw) was retired and a Christmas project a few years ago saw it converted to a rigid with carbon forks; bit of a wheelie machine now; but it's reserved for rides out with the kids and the odd commute. i'm definitely in the n+1 camp (n=7 currently ) i just received a nice shiny Canyon DH bike in the post. That got me into a bit of trouble though: i wanted it delivered to work so that i could smuggle it into the garage unnoticed, but they delivered it to my home address where the missus signed for it

[Jay-SP]

i suspect they are still trading, they had a lot of cars in stock, i keep meaning to check if the car is still on the road....The golf is a great car and although a lot faster than the z in all conditions, it's a little dull tbh; it's just a bit too capable. You have to get into very very silly speeds before you need to do put any effort in - that sounds odd i know but the z is plenty fast enough in the twisties, the sound is better and it's much more engaging and rewarding to drive. I also prefer the power delivery in an NA engine too, whilst the turbo in the golf delivers a nice kick in the back, the engine is all done at 5.5K revs where as the Z is just finding it's voice. The golf is on a 'cheap' lease and goes back in September, and i'm a bit lost as to what to get next... might upgrade the z to an M, I too was looking at the supercharger route but for the money i'd need to spend an M isn't that far off and i think with 'sensible' head on that might be a better investment (man maths again) and then get something like an old r53 cooper works for the station/crappy weather runs to work, although I might struggle to get a bike in

Ha, nice new toy - whyte make really nice bikes! My body (back) can't handle a hardtail on the trails anymore - i'm not the smoothest rider, my old ht (not in the same league as the 905 - i like the look of that a lot btw) was retired and a Christmas project a few years ago saw it converted to a rigid with carbon forks; bit of a wheelie machine now; but it's reserved for rides out with the kids and the odd commute. i'm definitely in the n+1 camp (n=7 currently ) i just received a nice shiny Canyon DH bike in the post. That got me into a bit of trouble though: i wanted it delivered to work so that i could smuggle it into the garage unnoticed, but they delivered it to my home address where the missus signed for it

I think I know exactly what you mean with what you've said about the Golf. I've not driven an R, but it sounds similar to every Audi I've ever driven. Wonderful at what it does, but a little soulless. There is one exception to that, I drove an R8 recently and thought it was fantastic. Very communicative chassis and the V8 was awesome. Seemed to be heavily biased to rear drive, although it is a Quattro. I think the Z4M has started appreciating, has it not? I really would have liked one, but couldn't afford the additional cost as I had planned to use the Z4 as my daily driver. Like you, I'm now thinking of getting a Mini Cooper as my daily driver. I drove one last weekend at Rockingham and it was actually really good! As for the bike, I've just bought a Saris Bones bike rack. Seems to be really good!

The 905 is my first MTB in a very long time, I went into Rutland to possibly buy a 901, but left with the 905. Is it bad that colour was the primary decider on that one?! I've not been anywhere on it yet really, just local trails and there are no hills around here as you'll know. I cycle on the Cambridge guided bus way with a friend on a Tuesday night. Not really MTB territory, but it's so much more comfortable than my Giant Defy. I think I'm done with the lightweight road bikes. Hoping to do something on the MTB this year, although I'm really not cycle fit at the moment. Do you do proper downhill stuff on the Canyon? Where do you go for that?

I swapped the wheels on my Z4 for my spare set of MV2's with non runflats. Stability was slightly better, but still a bit off. Car was in at BMW today, needs control arms and bushes. BMW want £892 for that, including KDS(?) 4 wheel alignment once fitted. Considering Meyle HD control arms and bushes now.

[bony_13]

If you are willing to travel an hour and want a real specialist then I would go to A Reeve in Kings Lynn.

I had similar work done (poly lolipops and rtab's) by Midway Garage in Witchford and was perfectly happy with their work and they are more go to garage now.

[Jay-SP]

If you are willing to travel an hour and want a real specialist then I would go to A Reeve in Kings Lynn.

I had similar work done (poly lolipops and rtab's) by Midway Garage in Witchford and was perfectly happy with their work and they are more go to garage now.

The Kings Lynn place, is that for suspension setup, or for replacing the control arms and bushes? I'd be more than happy to travel out that way and wait for it.

[MDUBZ]

The 905 is my first MTB in a very long time, I went into Rutland to possibly buy a 901, but left with the 905. Is it bad that colour was the primary decider on that one?! I've not been anywhere on it yet really, just local trails and there are no hills around here as you'll know. I cycle on the Cambridge guided bus way with a friend on a Tuesday night. Not really MTB territory, but it's so much more comfortable than my Giant Defy. I think I'm done with the lightweight road bikes. Hoping to do something on the MTB this year, although I'm really not cycle fit at the moment. Do you do proper downhill stuff on the Canyon? Where do you go for that?

hmmm, colour is really on the girls list of selection criteria but you upgraded forks etc rather than downgrading to get the colour you wanted which makes it OK in my books - in fairness i think colour has played a major part in most of my buying decisions... I use the cycle path for the commute on the odd occasion it's good for stretching the legs.

My Trek was from Rutland - I also bought a road bike the same day, which I declared to the missus on return: i received a light
I managed to smuggle the mtb into the garage undetected, despite the missus manoeuvring the car with it still 'hidden' under some cardboard (rear seats down).. well it was undetected for a few months at least: my bro dropped me in right it by pointing out the bike hanging on the wall in the garage " that's new" whilst still in ear shot of the missus .. more

I'm not cycle fit either (no way near), and lacking in talent or common sense: I actually haven't done any downhill before ( contains man maths ): I figured that if i don't like it i'll be able to sell the bike and the depreciation will be less than the cost of hiring a bike for a week (~£100 a day and the hire bikes take a pounding). And if i do like it i have a stonking bit of kit - win win:! boys trip to Morzine booked in July - which will be a real test for me - shitting myself a bit tbh. Chicksands in Bedfordshire has some 'downhill' bits -1 of the guys on the moline trip broke his back there a few weeks ago in a crash (jump gone wrong) but will thankfully be ok by the time we he'd over to France. I've not been out on the DH yet - I blew the shock pump setting up the rear... I'll try and get down to chicksands or i might try and head over to bike park wales in the next few weeks: i'm currently globe trotting - I'm sick of planes and taxi's and missing the cars and bikes I also have my CBT and DAS scheduled for April: missus is going to go into frigging orbit when I bring home a motorbike!

[Jay-SP]

The 905 is my first MTB in a very long time, I went into Rutland to possibly buy a 901, but left with the 905. Is it bad that colour was the primary decider on that one?! I've not been anywhere on it yet really, just local trails and there are no hills around here as you'll know. I cycle on the Cambridge guided bus way with a friend on a Tuesday night. Not really MTB territory, but it's so much more comfortable than my Giant Defy. I think I'm done with the lightweight road bikes. Hoping to do something on the MTB this year, although I'm really not cycle fit at the moment. Do you do proper downhill stuff on the Canyon? Where do you go for that?

hmmm, colour is really on the girls list of selection criteria but you upgraded forks etc rather than downgrading to get the colour you wanted which makes it OK in my books - in fairness i think colour has played a major part in most of my buying decisions... I use the cycle path for the commute on the odd occasion it's good for stretching the legs.

My Trek was from Rutland - I also bought a road bike the same day, which I declared to the missus on return: i received a light
I managed to smuggle the mtb into the garage undetected, despite the missus manoeuvring the car with it still 'hidden' under some cardboard (rear seats down).. well it was undetected for a few months at least: my bro dropped me in right it by pointing out the bike hanging on the wall in the garage " that's new" whilst still in ear shot of the missus .. more

I'm not cycle fit either (no way near), and lacking in talent or common sense: I actually haven't done any downhill before ( contains man maths ): I figured that if i don't like it i'll be able to sell the bike and the depreciation will be less than the cost of hiring a bike for a week (~£100 a day and the hire bikes take a pounding). And if i do like it i have a stonking bit of kit - win win:! boys trip to Morzine booked in July - which will be a real test for me - shitting myself a bit tbh. Chicksands in Bedfordshire has some 'downhill' bits -1 of the guys on the moline trip broke his back there a few weeks ago in a crash (jump gone wrong) but will thankfully be ok by the time we he'd over to France. I've not been out on the DH yet - I blew the shock pump setting up the rear... I'll try and get down to chicksands or i might try and head over to bike park wales in the next few weeks: i'm currently globe trotting - I'm sick of planes and taxi's and missing the cars and bikes I also have my CBT and DAS scheduled for April: missus is going to go into frigging orbit when I bring home a motorbike!

Did I mention that the 905 is matte orange?!

Sadly I can't commute to work, I live in Papworth and work in Hinxton. Just a little too far to cycle to work. I've done it a couple of times, but 20+ miles each way is difficult!

Well it sounds like you survived the punishment of unauthorised purchases!! My friend bought a £15k BMW S1000RR motorbike and stored it in my garage. Didn't work out too well for him when his wife opened the "Welcome to BMW" letter!!

Chicksands is fairly close to me I think, although I've never been. Back braking does not sound like fun. I hope your friend is OK!!

What motorbike are you thinking of getting?