Suspension advice

[Bozzy]

Not sure Steve, they look similar.

Thanks mate,I can't seem to find any specifically for a Z3.

 

[Dino D]

Thanks Dino,I'll have a look on eBay.
Do the rear reinforcement plates make any difference ?.

It reinforces the area where the shock mounts. I can't see any harm in adding reinforcement there for £10.
There are Z specific ones in eBay but I don't think it's specific to Z3 as they also show compatabikity with e30 and e36

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Better get this lot hidden before the good lady notices

 

[Eddie Zedder]

@Bozzy, I have taken the plunge and ordered the E36 Meyle strut mounts that you found on the bay. I cross referenced with realoem and they fit numerous models Inc Z3.

 

[Bozzy]

@Bozzy, I have taken the plunge and ordered the E36 Meyle strut mounts that you found on the bay. I cross referenced with realoem and they fit numerous models Inc Z3.

Good to see you got the shocks and springs in one delivery,mine took two separate deliveries.
Those top mounts are a good price,if you say they'll fit I'll order a set as well .

 

[Bozzy]

Ordered a set as well now @Eddie Zedder .
I did email the seller to check the fitment details,but he said my reg number didn't work on what ever he uses .

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Ordered a set as well now @Eddie Zedder .
I did email the seller to check the fitment details,but he said my reg number didn't work on what ever he uses .

Nice one Steve, just hope they fit.

 

[Bozzy]

Nice one Steve, just hope they fit.

Funny you should say that Brian,they emailed me back tonight to say they're not suitable for a Z3 .
But he may have just been airing on the side of caution as my reg number didn't work on the check,so he tried it with just the make and model.
Thing is though how can you tell if they'll fit ok beforehand ?.

 

[Poprin]

Chaps just reading this thread with interest. My 3.0 failed the MOT on the front right shock so taking the plunge and replacing all 4. I too don't want to go sports as I live in Shropshire and I like my teeth.

I can't find OEM shocks listed anywhere for a 3.0. If I put my reg in they don't appear and if I select 3.0 they don't either. I'm making the assumption though that the shocks are the same as the 2.2 or 2.8 which are the same part number? Does anyone know?

Also did you find anywhere cheaper than carparts4less? They seem to be the cheapest I can find so far (looking at listings for 2.2).

 

[Bozzy]

Chaps just reading this thread with interest. My 3.0 failed the MOT on the front right shock so taking the plunge and replacing all 4. I too don't want to go sports as I live in Shropshire and I like my teeth.

I can't find OEM shocks listed anywhere for a 3.0. If I put my reg in they don't appear and if I select 3.0 they don't either. I'm making the assumption though that the shocks are the same as the 2.2 or 2.8 which are the same part number? Does anyone know?

Also did you find anywhere cheaper than carparts4less? They seem to be the cheapest I can find so far (looking at listings for 2.2).

I don't know if they'll be the same @Poprin,maybe @pgunter will have some idea as he recently bought a 3.0 and has done quite a bit to it.

Steve

 

[Dino D]

Re the reinforcement plates I found where I read about them along with the part numbers.
According to Pelicam parts it's the same for e36, e30 and Z3. Good pics of how it all goes together too:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tec...-Mounts/101-Projects-62-Rear-Shock-Mounts.htm
'Around the time that the Z3 was designed, BMW realized that this rear shock mount design placed a lot of stress on the sheet metal surrounding the rear shock towers. As a result, BMW engineers have included a top-mounted support bracket that sandwiches the rear shock mount and distributes the load better (part number 51-71-8-413-359, about $15). BMW also redesigned the mount for the E46 3 Series cars, making sure the mount was backward compatible with the earlier 3 Series cars. This upgraded mount is used on the E46 M3 and E46 convertible cars, and is the mount to use if you swap out your rear shock mounts for replacement stock units (part number 33-52-6-754-096).'

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Funny you should say that Brian,they emailed me back tonight to say they're not suitable for a Z3 .
But he may have just been airing on the side of caution as my reg number didn't work on the check,so he tried it with just the make and model.
Thing is though how can you tell if they'll fit ok beforehand ?.

If the rears don't fit Steve £48 is still a good price for the fronts. . I shall stick my neck out and say they will be OK, .

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Chaps just reading this thread with interest. My 3.0 failed the MOT on the front right shock so taking the plunge and replacing all 4. I too don't want to go sports as I live in Shropshire and I like my teeth.

I can't find OEM shocks listed anywhere for a 3.0. If I put my reg in they don't appear and if I select 3.0 they don't either. I'm making the assumption though that the shocks are the same as the 2.2 or 2.8 which are the same part number? Does anyone know?

Also did you find anywhere cheaper than carparts4less? They seem to be the cheapest I can find so far (looking at listings for 2.2).

I would say they the shocks are all the same for the bog standard set up, but the springs will be a different rating. On the box for my front springs it says they are suitable for the 1.8, 1.9, 2.0 & 2.2. @Bozzy's front springs for his 2.8 were a different part no.

 

[Eddie Zedder]

There you go @Poprin, Realoem says one size fits all for 6 cyl Z3's apart from Z3M

31316753258
FRONT RIGHT SPRING STRUT
From:
06/01/2000
To:
-
Weight:
4.205 kg
Price:
$264.00
Supersedes:
31311094190
(11/01/1996 — 07/14/2004)
Part 31316753258 was found on the following Z3 vehicles:

• Z3 E36, Z3 2.0, Roadster, M52, EUR, (CL31) : FRONT SPRING STRUT/SHOCK ABSORBER
• Z3 E36, Z3 2.0, Roadster, M52, EUR, (CL32) : FRONT SPRING STRUT/SHOCK ABSORBER
• Z3 E36, Z3 2.2i, Roadster, M54, EUR, (CN11) : FRONT SPRING STRUT/SHOCK ABSORBER
• Z3 E36, Z3 2.2i, Roadster, M54, EUR, (CN12) : FRONT SPRING STRUT/SHOCK ABSORBER
• Z3 E36, Z3 2.5, Roadster, M52, USA, (CH93) : FRONT SPRING STRUT/SHOCK ABSORBER
• Z3 E36, Z3 2.5i, Roadster, M54, USA, (CN33) : FRONT SPRING STRUT/SHOCK ABSORBER
• Z3 E36, Z3 2.5i, Roadster, M54, USA, (CN33) : FRONT SPRING STRUT/SHOCK ABSORBER
• Z3 E36, Z3 2.8, Roadster, M52, EUR, (CH31) : FRONT SPRING STRUT/SHOCK ABSORBER
• Z3 E36, Z3 2.8, Roadster, M52, EUR, (CH32) : FRONT SPRING STRUT/SHOCK ABSORBER
• Z3 E36, Z3 2.8, Roadster, M52, USA, (CH33) : FRONT SPRING STRUT/SHOCK ABSORBER
• Z3 E36, Z3 2.8, Roadster, M52, EUR, (CJ31) : FRONT SPRING STRUT/SHOCK ABSORBER
• Z3 E36, Z3 2.8, Roadster, M52, EUR, (CJ32) : FRONT SPRING STRUT/SHOCK ABSORBER
• Z3 E36, Z3 2.8, Roadster, M52, USA, (CJ33) : FRONT SPRING STRUT/SHOCK ABSORBER
• Z3 E36, Z3 3.0i, Roadster, M54, EUR, (CN51) : FRONT SPRING STRUT/SHOCK ABSORBER
• Z3 E36, Z3 3.0i, Roadster, M54, EUR, (CN52) : FRONT SPRING STRUT/SHOCK ABSORBER
• Z3 E36, Z3 3.0i, Roadster, M54, USA, (CN53) : FRONT SPRING STRUT/SHOCK ABSORBER
• Z3 E36, Z3 3.0i, Roadster, M54, USA, (CN53) : FRONT SPRING STRUT/SHOCK ABSORBER

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Re the reinforcement plates I found where I read about them along with the part numbers.
According to Pelicam parts it's the same for e36, e30 and Z3. Good pics of how it all goes together too:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tec...-Mounts/101-Projects-62-Rear-Shock-Mounts.htm
'Around the time that the Z3 was designed, BMW realized that this rear shock mount design placed a lot of stress on the sheet metal surrounding the rear shock towers. As a result, BMW engineers have included a top-mounted support bracket that sandwiches the rear shock mount and distributes the load better (part number 51-71-8-413-359, about $15). BMW also redesigned the mount for the E46 3 Series cars, making sure the mount was backward compatible with the earlier 3 Series cars. This upgraded mount is used on the E46 M3 and E46 convertible cars, and is the mount to use if you swap out your rear shock mounts for replacement stock units (part number 33-52-6-754-096).'

Thanks Dino, great info.

Interestingly, according to Realoem mine already has the reinforcement plates fitted, I guess I shall find out if they are there when I change my shocks.

 

[Bozzy]

Here's a pic of the box with some info on re new springs.
Lists all models apart from 3.0 and 3.2.
So as @Eddie Zedder says these aren't for a 3.0.

 

[Poprin]

Thanks @Bozzy although confusingly the information @Eddie Zedder found is conflicting! It does say 3.0 on the realoem site but basically if you search any parts supplier nothing for 3.0 is listed! This would make sense as I am now looking at your suspension box and it is not listed either. I'm wondering if this is just an omission because they made relatively few of them but it seems crazy if that's the case. I know that a Z3m has totally different suspension on the front so that makes sense but I can't see a big difference between a 3.0 and a 2.8 that would warrant a totally different shock absorber.

I think I am going to take the plunge with the ones on carparts4less and cross my fingers. Called BMW and they quoted be £665 for all four shocks which is quite frankly daylight robbery. I could get the Bilstien B12 pro kit for that! Even though I don't want it...

 

[Bozzy]

Thanks @Bozzy although confusingly the information @Eddie Zedder found is conflicting! It does say 3.0 on the realoem site but basically if you search any parts supplier nothing for 3.0 is listed! This would make sense as I am now looking at your suspension box and it is not listed either. I'm wondering if this is just an omission because they made relatively few of them but it seems crazy if that's the case. I know that a Z3m has totally different suspension on the front so that makes sense but I can't see a big difference between a 3.0 and a 2.8 that would warrant a totally different shock absorber.

I think I am going to take the plunge with the ones on carparts4less and cross my fingers. Called BMW and they quoted be £665 for all four shocks which is quite frankly daylight robbery. I could get the Bilstien B12 pro kit for that! Even though I don't want it...

I agree with you @Poprin,can't see there being much if any difference between a 2.8 and a 3.0 for suspension parts.
I paid £420 for shocks and springs all round,I think Brian paid about £20 less for his 2.0.
The B12 kit can be bought for about £500,@mrscalex posted a link for them on this thread.
I was also seriously considering them but a 30mm drop for me is just too much and for some of the roads (if you can call them that)we use would see the car grounding out.

 

[Eddie Zedder]

@Poprin I fear we may have confused you a little .

The Realoem list is for the front right strut which is what you were looking for and fits all models listed

The photo of the box in @Bozzy's post is for the front coil spring only, they will be different depending on model and whether it has an auto or manual g/box. Unfortunately there is no part number for the springs on Realoem.

The rear springs are the same for all models apart from sport and M.

Hope that clears things up a little.

 

[Poprin]

Ah thanks @Eddie Zedder that makes sense I think because I understand that all 3.0 have sports suspension regardless of whether it is a sport or not, at least this is what I have gleaned from reading various things on the t'internet although that is not conclusive just my understanding!