2002 2.2i Z3 Roadster - Sports Suspension Option

[SteveN4096]

I'm in the process of trying to get quotes for front suspension struts and springs, rear suspension dampers and springs and both front and rear discs and pads, and possibly a new rear brake caliper.

The car is specified as having the "Sports Suspension" option from new and has what I believe are called staggered wheels. Build date is May 2002.

The front strut is labelled as made by Sachs, has a BMW logo and has the words 36/7 Sport on it.

Other parts numbers on the strut label are:
?1.31 -6 753 261
?32 4903 566 32?

I believe it is the original one as supplied with the car.

Realoem.com doesn't mention springs or dampers for Sports Suspension option but does for an M Sports.
Can anyone tell me what the "Sports Suspension" option actually consists of ?
Also if I cannot source them economically then what would be the effect of fitting standard parts be?

Thanks

Steve

 

[t-tony]

I would contact the guys at Sopers in Lincoln with that info, they're very helpful. As far as I'm aware the sports suspensio is M sport suspension.

Tony.

 

[Brian H]

Hi Steve,

The sports suspension sits 15mm lower than standard, are you looking to replace with OEM?

Brian

 

[SteveN4096]

Hi Steve,

The sports suspension sits 15mm lower than standard, are you looking to replace with OEM?

Brian

Hi Brian, yes having been quoted a fortune for parts by BMW and finding it difficult to get the Sports Suspension parts I think that going back to the standard setup would suit me best, especially given the state of the roads in Rural Scotland.
Providing of course that doing so doesn't upset the wheel alignment etc.

 

[SteveN4096]

I would contact the guys at Sopers in Lincoln with that info, they're very helpful. As far as I'm aware the sports suspensio is M sport suspension.

Tony.

Hi Tony
My local independent garage have comeback to me and they have been in touch with my local BMW dealer who confirmed that the both front and rear shock absorbers and springs are specific as well as slightly thicker anti roll bars. What they weren't able to confirm was that replacing the shock/springs with standard ones was acceptable.
I'll ask the same question of Sopers tomorrow.

Thx
Steve

 

[t-tony]

Cheers Steve, hope you get sorted ok.

Tony.

 

[SteveN4096]

Hi All
Just to let you know that I've decided to revert to standard shocks and springs (as opposed to Sports ones).
Will leave the ARB's as sports ones.
Parts are on order , will let you know how it rides once they have been fitted and it passes its MOT (one rear shock was weeping and a rear brake pipe needed replacing, other bits were just needing servicing.
Thanks for all you replies,most illuminating

Steve

 

[Dickymint]

normal shocks are 31316753257 31316753258 and sport are 31316753261 31316753262 left/right

just for peoples info and mine if needs be , I must say there is a notable difference in overall look in the car even with such a small drop in ride height so if it was me I think I'd opt for the sport shocks

ooops of course its the springs that govern the ride height but there is a extra part on the M-sport shocks
Additional damper, front 2 31331092670
For vehicles with
M Sports suspension
10 Additional damper, front

 

[SteveN4096]

Now you see, that's another classic example of why I need to be on this forum Thanks Dickymint

I now need to make sure the garage removes that additional damper when it fits the new standard front struts and springs.

I presume they act as additional stiffness/damping towards maximum suspension compression?

Out of curiosity what do you all think would be the effect of leaving them in?

Steve

 

[NeRo]

Mine failed it's MoT a couple of years back, with one broken front spring and one broken rear spring

I replaced them with BMW parts - IIRC you could only buy the rears as a pair, but the fronts could be bought separately
(I got my BMWCC discount, which helped soften the blow a bit)

 

[Dickymint]

I have no idea what leaving them in would do or even if they would fit another damper but i'd say its a extra bumpstop because of the shorter springs so if you are keeping the springs i'd keep the extra damper if possible

 

[SteveN4096]

Hi everyone, an update to let you know that the Z3 is now back on the road with 12 months MOT.

The garage fitted new standard KYB shocks front and rear to go with the standard Sachs front springs i'd already bought. They fitted new standard Sachs springs at the rear also.

All the solid rear brake pipes were replaced and all new flexible ones fitted both front and rear, 2 reconditioned rear brake callipers, new rear discs and pads as well together with new front and rear pad wear sensors.

We kept the M Sport anti roll bars (slightly thicker than the standard ones) and after some discussion we decide to keep the additional
"rubber dampers" fitted to the front struts since we have major pot holes around here.

They said the front discs and pads didn't need changing as they must have been done just prior to us purchasing the car 4 years ago, we haven't put a massive amount of miles on it.

They also checked and adjusted the tracking and of course did the MOT.

So together with 13 hours labour and including my purchase of the new front springs the bill came to just over £1500!!!!

The increase in ride height is visibly very noticeable compared to before but some of that may be due to the old springs having sagged!

It's my wife car and having driven it now for a few weeks she's more than happy with the less sporty ride, given the type of roads we use it on, she feels the change to standard setup was worthwhile and wouldn't have wanted to pay a premium to retain the original sports setup.

So apart from the expense a good job all around.

Thanks for all your advice and comments.

Steve

 

[Peewee]

normal shocks are 31316753257 31316753258 and sport are 31316753261 31316753262 left/right

just for peoples info and mine if needs be , I must say there is a notable difference in overall look in the car even with such a small drop in ride height so if it was me I think I'd opt for the sport shocks

ooops of course its the springs that govern the ride height but there is a extra part on the M-sport shocks
Additional damper, front 2 31331092670
For vehicles with
M Sports suspension
10 Additional damper, front

I learned from BMW parts department today that when you see part numbers like the pair of springs quoted here, if the last digit is odd, then that's the left side one and if it's even, that's the right side one. Left and right is as you would be from inside the car looking forward - and is therefore irrespective of which side the steering wheel is! How did I get to my age without knowing that!!
Hope the info is useful it you didn't know already.............happy to be corrected though!!

 

[Mint]

Wow, this may be a record for ressurecting a thread. It's 9 years old
Still good info though peewee.

 

[Peewee]

Yes Dave, you're dead right but the I thought I would hang off this one because the information I got was while I was investiging options for refreshing my Sport suspension. This will likely result in a new thread once I have feedback from BMW and ZF (Sachs). I have found many confusing threads on the subject of Zed standard vs. sport OEM and aftermarket springs and struts which I'm hoping to get a better understanding of.
Peter