New owner - Z3 2.8

[Antm72]

I had a similar kit fitted to my first 2.8 they work well at the front but from reading and my own experience the rear doesn't lower much from stock.
Not sure if ended up changing the rear springs in the end to get it to lower but they are a budget option.
Also consider the inner clearence as well if fitting a coilover as the spring body will be alot lower inner rim clearence is critical. Spacers can be fitted to shim out but if your offset is already low and wheel wide it may not be an option.

 

[GazHyde]

the rear doesn't lower much from stock

No, very little drop at the rear.

 

[Jack Ratt]

Already found the first thing to spend money on, FUEL!! Emptied the tank from full in 150 miles!!

Yeah, but where can you get better fun for £45 ....... or may be you shouldn't answer that on a public forum

 

[t-tony]

My Z3 had a K&W suspension kit on when I bought it. It handles really well including cornering, very little roll at all. It sits perfectly too, I know this suspension isn't cheap but as is often said on here buy cheap, buy twice. If you're going down this route save your money till you can do it right first time. If you want to try / have a look at mine you're welcome to come over.

Tony.

 

[Siamanda]

Hi and a warm welcome from The New Forest Hampshire

 

[Shelly]

Hi and welcome from me too

 

[nickp]

So, to confirm is the E36 compact the same suspension setup as the Z3? ie Can they use the same coilover kit?

My options appear to be-

1. Spend £170 on a sh1te coilover kit and throw it in t'bin shortly after when my spine / fillings can't take it anymore.

2. Buy a set of these shocks - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Adjustabl...t-92-00-LJR-/201399802932?hash=item2ee45d1c34 and combine them them with a set of quality lowered springs like Eibach or H&R then swap the shocks again later for decent ones if required.

3. Or what about these? Presuming E36 compact is the same? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Adjustabl...t-92-00-LJR-/201399802932?hash=item2ee45d1c34 Is it normal to run the same spring rates front and rear as these do?

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Hello and

 

[oldcarman]

Hi and welcome from Canada! Sorry can't help with your spring/shock situation but would recommend contacting @Anthony Cherry regarding bars as he has developed some specific to your car and the Zed in general both front strut and rear! HTH JIM

 

[Anthony Cherry]

I would personally do the following:
Change the all bushes to poly.
Bilstien shocks all round.
Eibach springs all round.
My front and rear Bertini strut braces.
(And my rear lower brace when I have sorted my life out and listed them on my website/eBay)

As much as I would love you to dive straight into my braces I would encourage you to sort out any issues you may have with suspension and tracking prior to using strut braces as it can mask problems that can become more serious.

You may find that the Eibach springs and Bilstien shocks are actually cheaper than the OEM BMW parts.

 

[nickp]

I would personally do the following:
Change the all bushes to poly.
Bilstien shocks all round.
Eibach springs all round.
My front and rear Bertini strut braces.
(And my rear lower brace when I have sorted my life out and listed them on my website/eBay)

As much as I would love you to dive straight into my braces I would encourage you to sort out any issues you may have with suspension and tracking prior to using strut braces as it can mask problems that can become more serious.

You may find that the Eibach springs and Bilstien shocks are actually cheaper than the OEM BMW parts.

Cheers, it's already fully poly bushed. That was one of the reasons I bought it as a good solid base for improvement.

I can get an Eibach Pro kit (-30mm) and a full set of B4 Bilsteins for £366. Could be a sensible option?
Alternatively a Bistein/Eibach B12 Pro kit is £545, bit pricey tbh.

 

[Brian H]

Welcome @nickp , great to see another Z on track, people under estimate the little Z they are great. Your body roll looks familiar, it took me a while to get rid of this. The eibach pro kit is very good but please factor in replacement ARBs, they transform the handling of the car, I have H&R bars on mine.

@Antm72 i maybe just replied to a post of yours on another forum regarding track days.

 

[nickp]

Welcome @nickp , great to see another Z on track, people under estimate the little Z they are great. Your body roll looks familiar, it took me a while to get rid of this. The eibach pro kit is very good but please factor in replacement ARBs, they transform the handling of the car, I have H&R bars on mine.

@Antm72 i maybe just replied to a post of yours on another forum regarding track days.

Cheers Brian, I've just ordered the Eibach Pro Kit springs and I'll probably get the Bilstein B4 shocks to go with them. I'd prefer the B12s but can't justify the cost. I'll try it like this before looking at the ARBs I think. Are there any alternatives to the H&R ones?

 

[Brian H]

You won't regret the eibach springs, new shocks will compliment them too, you will notice a big difference once these are fitted. I have not seen other aftermarket ARBs but there maybe some on the market.

Keep us updated please

 

[nickp]

Just won a front strut brace off ebay too

All been well the car will be taking me and a mate to the Monaco Historique in May, via the Pyrenees. So it'll be nice to have it all tightened up and handling well for then

 

[yocky z3 2.0]

Hi nick welcome to the forum were abouts in barnsley are you located I am in cudworth might see you knocking about if you need any help just message me always willing to help cheers tony.

 

[nickp]

Hi nick welcome to the forum were abouts in barnsley are you located I am in cudworth might see you knocking about if you need any help just message me always willing to help cheers tony.

Wombwell, but work on Carlton Ind Est

 

[yocky z3 2.0]

Only two mins from my house just down the bypass under the bridge will after meet up some time.

 

[Brian H]

@yocky z3 2.0 @nickp my grandparents until recently lived in Little Houghton

 

[Connor]

Hi all,

I've just bought my first Z3 this week. It's meant as a sunny day fun car for the Mrs to use for occasional work days, and me for track days / European trips. It's not perfect but does seem pretty decent and I don't think I paid silly money for it considering it's only supposed to have done 64k miles. It's had the rear crossmember / diff mount reinforced / welded and all the rubber bushes replaced with poly bushes front and rear.



I took it straight on a track day at Blyton park and tbh it handled pretty well in a soft and wallowy kind of way and went very well in a straight line and will be even better when I get the M50 manifold fitted that I have in the garage :wink: I'm gonna get some coilovers and a strut brace which should stiffen it up on track quite nicely. I'm a bit concerned how unstable it is on bumpy roads though and I'm getting a lot of kick back through the steering on rough roads :shock: Will see what it's like once the suspension is done, hopefully not worse!!

The front tyres are old and cracked and the original alloys are hardly inspiring are they? I was going to get some 17's but then a mates Dad offered me a very cheap and nearly new 18" Bridgestones off his Z4. So 18's it is and I've managed to pick up a bargain set of these just now with a 8"/9" stagger-



I'll get these few jobs done over this winter and it should be ready to hit the road / track in the spring

WOW. our number plates are very similar.

yours Mine

S189 TJX S124TJX