HELP!! BMW Z3 Rear Camber and toe

Jake

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Oct 13, 2013
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Kent
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1.8
HI
I have recently bought a Z3 and I am new to them. I went for a 1999 1.8 in blue with matching blue interior. Being a bit green I thought that being rear wheel drive I would get used to the different drinig experience but though I should get the geometry/ wheel alignment checked.
I have today had it checked at 2 different places that confirm that the near side is 15mm out on the toe and camber is over 3 degrees on each side!!! Neither of them knew how to adjust it - the 2nd place said it wan't adjustable! The tyres are very worn on the inside as you can imagine.
Has anyone got any suggestions and remedies?
Many thanks in advance, I love the car but want it to drive straight!

Jake
 

Mr-P

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Oxfordshire
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Sold Z3M
I would be checking bushes and also looking to see if anything is bent in way of arms etc etc

There is no camber or other adjustment at the back end of a Zed - the only adjustment possible is for toe-in, by special eccentric trailing arm bushes.
 

Brian H

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Hi Jake,

The rear camber and toe are not adjustable on standard Zeds, there are some aftermarket kits available that allow both camber and toe adjustment but they are not too easy to fit. The inside wear on the rear tyres is "normal" however I would be concerned about the toe being 15mm out on the near side.

Brian
 

Jake

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Kent
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Thanks for the info chaps. Didn't expect such prompt replies.

Where do you think I should look first re arms?

If anyone knows a good garage in East Kent that you can trust to tell you what is really happening then that would be great!

Jake
 

Brian H

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Thanks for the info chaps. Didn't expect such prompt replies.

Where do you think I should look first re arms?

If anyone knows a good garage in East Kent that you can trust to tell you what is really happening then that would be great!

Jake
Hopefully someone can put you in touch with a local garage, take it to them and let them have a good luck at the near side trailing arm and mounts.
 
Z

zedonist

Guest
MR-P is correct there are eccentric bushes that can be fitted for excessive toe in-out, check for damage to the trailing arm first, other than that it might be worth taking your alignment printouts to a BMW garage and get their opinion on if your problem can be fixed with these bushes, an opinion should not cost anything. As Brian H has said camber cannot be adjusted on the Z3 without specialist fabrication of the rear, most people with a lowered back end just live with the look and the tyre wear, returning to stock height will minimise the problem.
 

Jake

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Points
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Location
Kent
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1.8
Thanks again for you replies.
Which bushes were they and is it a big job?
Also is it worth changing the rear springs? Looking at the bills for the car they haven't been done since new.
Anyone fitted the adjustable rear camber control arm or is that just for when you lower it or fit wider wheels ?
Cheers
Jake
 

Brian H

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…….
Anyone fitted the adjustable rear camber control arm or is that just for when you lower it or fit wider wheels ?
Cheers
Jake
As far as I know Jake there is no such thing as a adjustable rear camber control arm for the Z3, I would be more than happy to be wrong though (I too would like to correct the excessive rear camber). The rear camber can be changed by either eccentric bushes in the trailing arm or dropping the rear beam and welding in the rear camber kit to allow adjustment of the trailing arm.

The anly real downside of using eccentric bushes I can see is that a) they will be a pig to align in the first instance and b) there is nothing but friction to stop them from rotating over time.

Below is a link to the kit that requres to be welding in to the car.

Rear Camber Kit

HTH
 

Jake

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Location
Kent
Model of Z
1.8
As far as I know Jake there is no such thing as a adjustable rear camber control arm for the Z3, I would be more than happy to be wrong though (I too would like to correct the excessive rear camber). The rear camber can be changed by either eccentric bushes in the trailing arm or dropping the rear beam and welding in the rear camber kit to allow adjustment of the trailing arm.

The anly real downside of using eccentric bushes I can see is that a) they will be a pig to align in the first instance and b) there is nothing but friction to stop them from rotating over time.

Below is a link to the kit that requres to be welding in to the car.

Rear Camber Kit

HTH
It seams a big job to weld the kit on? But I can see why it is better. Does the link to the arms look right?


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Jake

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Ok I can see those won't for now. Have you fitted the welded kit?


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Brian H

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It seams a big job to weld the kit on? But I can see why it is better. Does the link to the arms look right?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No this arms in the link will not work, have not got a clue why it says it will fit a Z3.
 
Last edited:

Brian H

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