Suspension specialists in the Cambridge area?

Jay-SP · Post by **Jay-SP** » Sun Feb 12, 2017 9:09 pm

Hi all,

I picked up my Z4 Coupe last Friday and have been getting used to it over the weekend.

Loving the car so far, with one exception - the car seems to be really affected by camber changes and bumps etc. Reading through the forum, there seems to be quite a few possibilities as to the cause and it seems it's a fairly common issue.

The car is running on Bridgestone Potenza Run Flats, I've checked pressures and once corrected to suggested pressure, the issue is better but it's still very apparent.

A friend drove it, and he said that under hard acceleration, when changing gear it's almost like it wants to change direction slightly. Now I'm wondering if the rear trailing arm bushes might need replacing.

Anyone had similar issues and have a definite cure? My guess so far is going to be bushes or alignment.

I'm thinking of looking for a suspension setup specialist locally to see what they think. Any recommendations for the Cambridge area?

Darkangelv2 · Post by **Darkangelv2** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 8:18 am

Regardless of pressure I found non run flat tyres removed all camber tracking issues. Best thing you can do is ditch the tyres im afraid.

Jay-SP · Post by **Jay-SP** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 9:05 am

Darkangelv2 wrote:Regardless of pressure I found non run flat tyres removed all camber tracking issues. Best thing you can do is ditch the tyres im afraid.

If it's that simple, I'll actually be very happy

I have a spare set of MV2's with non run flat Potenza's sat in the garage. Do you know if e46 and Z4 have the same offset? Actually, ignore me, I'll Google it.

markplant · Post by **markplant** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 9:07 am

Am sure there's a few on here running on mv2

Jay-SP · Post by **Jay-SP** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 9:34 am

markplant wrote:Am sure there's a few on here running on mv2

The MV2's really suit the e46, but I much prefer the 108's on the Z4.

MDUBZ · Post by **MDUBZ** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 4:35 pm

what's your mileage? i ditched the run flats first and poly bushed followed by a suspension refresh on mine at ~80K which improved things t each stage.

* Tyres: much more grip over the standard rflts and less wander
* Poly bushes: for smooth tarmac great, for Cambridgeshire's sh***y roads a bit crashy but nothing i'd complain about.
* B12 kit: dropped it a bit (which i like), and it is also nailed on in the corners now (old shocks were fooked - didn't realise until i got them off the car), the car still seemed to wander a little when in traffic and at about 60mph steady pace : easy cure if traffic allowed = right foot

* I replaced an ARB recently and this seems to have sorted it completely: no wandering at all on the drive back.

I use Bartletts in Huntingdon for all* my work: no complaints & customer service has been really good.

* B12 kit was fitted by local garage; some bastards nicked all their tools so i thought i'd support them and throw some work their way.

Darkangelv2 · Post by **Darkangelv2** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 5:11 pm

Jay-SP wrote:
Darkangelv2 wrote:Regardless of pressure I found non run flat tyres removed all camber tracking issues. Best thing you can do is ditch the tyres im afraid.
If it's that simple, I'll actually be very happy

I have a spare set of MV2's with non run flat Potenza's sat in the garage. Do you know if e46 and Z4 have the same offset? Actually, ignore me, I'll Google it.

E46 wheels are directly interchangeable yes.

I'd give that a go first off! Costs nothing and will give you a good starting place to see if more is needed on the suspension itself

Jay-SP · Post by **Jay-SP** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 7:55 pm

MDUBZ wrote:what's your mileage? i ditched the run flats first and poly bushed followed by a suspension refresh on mine at ~80K which improved things t each stage.

* Tyres: much more grip over the standard rflts and less wander
* Poly bushes: for smooth tarmac great, for Cambridgeshire's sh***y roads a bit crashy but nothing i'd complain about.
* B12 kit: dropped it a bit (which i like), and it is also nailed on in the corners now (old shocks were fooked - didn't realise until i got them off the car), the car still seemed to wander a little when in traffic and at about 60mph steady pace : easy cure if traffic allowed = right foot
* I replaced an ARB recently and this seems to have sorted it completely: no wandering at all on the drive back.

I use Bartletts in Huntingdon for all* my work: no complaints & customer service has been really good.

* B12 kit was fitted by local garage; some bastards nicked all their tools so i thought i'd support them and throw some work their way.

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!!

Jay-SP · Post by **Jay-SP** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 7:56 pm

Darkangelv2 wrote:
Jay-SP wrote:
Darkangelv2 wrote:Regardless of pressure I found non run flat tyres removed all camber tracking issues. Best thing you can do is ditch the tyres im afraid.
If it's that simple, I'll actually be very happy

I have a spare set of MV2's with non run flat Potenza's sat in the garage. Do you know if e46 and Z4 have the same offset? Actually, ignore me, I'll Google it.
E46 wheels are directly interchangeable yes.

I'd give that a go first off! Costs nothing and will give you a good starting place to see if more is needed on the suspension itself

My thoughts exactly

Also hopefully having 4 wheel alignment checked by the dealer.

mattyp · Post by **mattyp** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 8:36 pm

With mine the vagueness and feeling of wanting to change direction imprved greatly after a full 4 wheel alignment (not Kwik fit!)

Also further improved when the control arm (lollypops) were replaced.

Definitley worth getting full suspension check for wear etc. and refresh will certainly help, along with non runflats

megapixelmike · Post by **megapixelmike** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 8:48 pm

i put these on mine you won't believe the difference it makes no more tram lining http://www.gtradial.co.uk/gtradial/uk/

only £68 each ,,,watch on youtube

Steve84N · Post by **Steve84N** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 10:05 pm

They won an OEM contract...for small French vans...

Not as bad as the really cheap brands but not as good as the premium ones.

Jay-SP · Post by **Jay-SP** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 10:27 pm

mattyp wrote:With mine the vagueness and feeling of wanting to change direction imprved greatly after a full 4 wheel alignment (not Kwik fit!)

Also further improved when the control arm (lollypops) were replaced.

Definitley worth getting full suspension check for wear etc. and refresh will certainly help, along with non runflats

Well hopefully the dealer I bought the car from is going to cover a 4 wheel alignment. The garage they use have Hunter kit I believe.

I managed to get the car up in the air at the dealer before I bought it. Having had an M Sport e46 I'm used to those rear control arm bushes going on a regular basis. They were the first thing I checked when I got it in the air, and they looked fairly fresh. RTAB's didn't look so fresh though and I don't remember checking the anti roll bar bushes unfortunately (mainly because I had no issues with them on the e46).

If the suspension is tired, I'll look to change it. Anything in particular work well on the car? A B12 kit has already been mentioned, any others I should look at? I don't want to compromise the car at all as it will be my daily for at least a year.

Non run flats are going to be tested at the weekend.

Jay-SP · Post by **Jay-SP** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 10:29 pm

Steve84N wrote:They won an OEM contract...for small French vans...

Not as bad as the really cheap brands but not as good as the premium ones.

I'll likely go with Pilot Sports, or non run flat Potenza's. Anything else that particularly works well on this car?

With the e46, the last tyres I bought were Avon ZZ5's as I knew I would be changing the car within a short space of time. Surprisingly good, and just under £100 for each rear.

Jay-SP · Post by **Jay-SP** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 10:29 pm

megapixelmike wrote:i put these on mine you won't believe the difference it makes no more tram lining http://www.gtradial.co.uk/gtradial/uk/

only £68 each ,,,watch on youtube

Thanks for the recommendation, is that for the front, or rear?

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