GAZ coilovers (true coilovers for rear)

Dino D

Zorg Guru (V)
British Zeds
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Mar 28, 2014
Points
176
Location
Kent
Model of Z
2.8 Manual
I saw an ad for their new kit for Z3. We can now have an actual coilovers at the rear (needs their special top mount with it too).

Will it give better ride for the rear as will allow more travel of the swing arms?

They also offer a custom set up service for valving and rates.

http://www.gazcoilovers.com/gaz-coi...-c-499_116/bmw-z3-gaz-coilover-kit-p-178.html

Price seems reasonable at under 700 but the top mounts are another 140 and needed for the conversion.

About the BMW Z3 Gaz GHA Coilover Kit
Features of this Gaz Coilover Kit

This kit offers height adjustment at the front and rear. We can supply this kit as separate spring and damper at the rear as in the OE set up or as a full coilover (fits straight in with no fabrication required), please let us know which set up you require upon ordering. When using either kit our rear top mounts are highly recommended as the OE top mounts are weak (see below “What Else Do You Need?” section below).

Dampers are 42-way adjustable soft to hard, which allows you to find the ideal setup for your car and dial out excessive understeer and oversteer for faster corning.

The springs and dampers are matched perfectly so your car will not feel harsh or crashy and you will have much greater control through bends and over bumps resulting in better grip and handling.
  • Height and damping adjustable
  • Course acme thread for ease of height adjustment
  • Single control knob for rebound damping adjustment
  • Zinc plated for maximum corrosion resistance
  • All kits come with dampers, coil springs and a height adjustment tool
  • All kits are dyno tested before despatch
  • Covered by a 2 year warranty
Please note the product image used may not feature your exact vehicle. If you have you any questions not covered within the listing please do not hesitate to CONTACT GAZ COILOVERS.

Do you need a free custom set up?

This kit is designed primarily for fast road and track day use with default spring rates set for this purpose. We offer a free service where we can customise the damper lengths, spring rates and damper valving depending upon the vehicle use, basic specification and the tyres used. This approach means you get the exact kit you need for your use. You will be happier and your car will be faster! Please contact us if you need this service.

This kit is not designed to accept the higher loadings of prolonged use with semi or full slick tyres or the very high spring rates these tyres require to generate the heat required to fully exploit their extra grip available. For serious track day or race car suspension, please see our Gaz Gold listings at the link below (where you will also find TOP MOUNTS and SUSPENSION BUSHES where available).
What Else Do You Need?

This kit is designed to bolt up to your existing suspension mounts so nothing more to buy. However, if you are planning on running a very low ride height, you may want to consider Gaz Helper Springs which are designed to maintain the location of the main coil spring when the car is jacked up for MoT inspection or where there is a legal requirement (in various EU countries) for main spring location.
 

elky

Zorg Legend
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Copenhagen, Denmark
Model of Z
2001 Z3 3.0i Roadster
Currently looking into this. Has anyone given a try of them? Would be great to hear some feedback :pompus: Cheers.
 

Delk

Zorg Guru (III)
British Zeds
Joined
Oct 9, 2018
Points
125
Location
Hemsby Norfolk
Model of Z
Z3 2.8 real widebody
I have seen it fitted to the E36 but not sure about any improvement in handling. On the E36 they were able to replace the arm with the spring socket with a tubular adjustable arm but that's not possible with the trailing arm setup
 

elky

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2001 Z3 3.0i Roadster
I have seen it fitted to the E36 but not sure about any improvement in handling. On the E36 they were able to replace the arm with the spring socket with a tubular adjustable arm but that's not possible with the trailing arm setup
I just got a reply from someone on the Facebook Z3 track and race group stating that he now runs the GAZ gold with true rear coilovers, and it's his favorite setup so far in the auto/track events.

Still I am not sure our rear shock domes are designed to receive this kind of stress :confused:
 

DomiMik

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German Zeds
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🇭🇷 》Croatian living in Germany《 🇩🇪
I just got a reply from someone on the Facebook Z3 track and race group stating that he now runs the GAZ gold with true rear coilovers, and it's his favorite setup so far in the auto/track events.

Still I am not sure our rear shock domes are designed to receive this kind of stress :confused:
Always worth installing two of these, gives much structural support to the domes:
s-l1200.jpg
 

elky

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Copenhagen, Denmark
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2001 Z3 3.0i Roadster
Always worth installing two of these, gives much structural support to the domes:
View attachment 320951
You are right, these are definitely needed with coilovers. But I believe they're supplied with many RSM kits (Powerflex). So I have them in mind when I get there, but still not sure if they are enough to handle the stress of an actual coilover
 

elky

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2001 Z3 3.0i Roadster
Is anyone in this thread running coilovers that they've tracked + passed through MOT?
 

Delk

Zorg Guru (III)
British Zeds
Joined
Oct 9, 2018
Points
125
Location
Hemsby Norfolk
Model of Z
Z3 2.8 real widebody
I have BC coilovers and happy with the fronts and read dampers. Te BC rear springs were not stiff enough and sagged so I swapped them back out with my normal lowered springs. Having fully adjustable fronts is nice.
 

Duncodin

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Pontrhydyrun
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Z3 M44
Is anyone in this thread running coilovers that they've tracked + passed through MOT?
"tracked"? as in used on a track? No. I haven't 'tracked' but I do have coil overs. and just came through MOT a couple weeks ago.

To be honest I just bought cheap ones to see how I'd get on with them. I want to put bigger (ie taller) wheels and tyres on so wanted to get rid of the stock Big Mac spring seat on the fronts so was wondering if coilovers would help. So, just to test that theory I bought a cheap set from ProSportPerformance dot co dot uk

Set I got are for E36 compact - so same e30 rear as Z3

Screenshot 2024-10-14 at 10.44.33.jpg


The guy on the phone did say that the Z3 is lighter at the rear than E30/36Compact so wouldn't lower much, if at all, he said. I didn't want lowering anyway so went ahead and ordered them.

I've lowered an E30 before - my old 4 door 318 - It was a nice car but after lowering it drove like a plank and felt like one too. Basically the lowering ruined it.

But I must say I'm over the moon with these cheapo ProSport coilovers. The car is maybe an inch lower than stock - looks fine on my rebody - and, on the road, the ride is really comfortable - probably too soft for track.
 
Last edited:

elky

Zorg Legend
Supporter
Joined
Sep 29, 2022
Points
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Location
Copenhagen, Denmark
Model of Z
2001 Z3 3.0i Roadster
I have BC coilovers and happy with the fronts and read dampers. Te BC rear springs were not stiff enough and sagged so I swapped them back out with my normal lowered springs. Having fully adjustable fronts is nice.
Curious, did you get BC BR type RA and if yes did they come rear shock mounts?
 

Delk

Zorg Guru (III)
British Zeds
Joined
Oct 9, 2018
Points
125
Location
Hemsby Norfolk
Model of Z
Z3 2.8 real widebody
BRs. Car was pretty standard at the time and I just needed to get the Maxspeeding coilovers off the car as soon as I could.

They have been on the car for a good number of years now not caused me any trouble. I think they did come with top mounts but cant garantee it. The rear damper adjuster is on the top and I dont remember assembling it.
 
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