Ride Height!

[Topcatguzzi]

got an S reg 1.8.
I want to raise the ride height by 2 inches - s*** roads and speed bumps. I drive on some fairly crap moorland and coastal roads. And will spend summer ramping round very rural Spain
No replies suggesting a Landy as just passed my Series 3 on to godson.
I know handling will suffer - also assuming steering, tracking etc will need addressing.
Will go for larger dia wheels at same time otherwise might look odd
Any help gratefully received.
No apologies for not being purist -
Ta,
Tom

 

[NZ00Z3]

Ride height is all about spring height. If you put longer springs in, you'll need to also put longer shocks in. I have not done anything like this, so the below is a bit of a brain dump to give you some ideas.

Check out your local transport rules/laws as to what you are allowed to change and what need some sort of certification.

Rear End
People often think the Z3 is made up of lots of E36 parts, then come to a sticky end when they try and fit E36 shocks to the rear of a Z3 and find the E36 parts to be too long. The Z3 rear end is E30. In your case, E36 springs and shocks could be a solution. You'll need to do a full comparison of the spring and shocks between the E36 and Z3 spring to see if it will work.

The Z3 has no tracking adjustments, so you can't correct for any changes. You can weld in slotted kits to give some adjustment.

Front End
The Z3 front end is E36. Some coil over kits have spring height adjustment via the bottom support, but I suspect that the length (ride height) is limited by the length of the shock. Winding up the spring from the bottom will harden up the ride as well as push up ride height.

You could fit heavier springs from a heavier car, say a E39 so that the amount of spring compression is less from the cars weight.

Hope this helps.

 

[Bozzy]

Maybe a set of 15inch wheels with deep tyre walls would help ?.
Would be easier and cheaper than replacing the suspension.

Steve.

 

[roadvoyager1]

Maybe a set of 15inch wheels with deep tyre walls would help ?.
Would be easier and cheaper than replacing the suspension.

Steve.

Would 17" with higher profile tyres be a better solution?

 

[Dino D]

Could be for fun, this one was fullnoff road spec:
https://thegarage.jalopnik.com/good-afternoon-i-have-discovered-the-best-bmw-z3-it-i-1793729592


Have a look at what the e36 compact guys use as some are used for rally x type driving. Very similar suspension to Z3 (if not identical).

You tend to find alot of these cars have sagged over time as dampers die. Many have see their ride heightvincrease after fresh dampers!