Suspension dummie

[N4LLY]

Have had a new rear shock absorber fitted this afternoon (The other three will be done tomorrow)

However i noticed when parked up back at home the car seems to be on stilts !

That's no good ! I expected garage would know to exchange for like for like if there are differences.
They should have asked me.

Car is on Factory M sport suspension.

Before i appear like a Tw@ in the morning, am i missing something obvious ? like they are adjustable ?





Cheers in advance team.

 

[Antm72]

The z3 suspension is height adjusted by spring not damper but the rear of the car the damper is specific as the E36 rear damper is a longer unit all be it the same in fitment.
Another member had this issue though if i recall @Craig Giblett swapped out his suspension and it lifted the car up on his eibachs had to revert to a lower spring to regain his ride height.
I've tagged him he should be along to explain

 

[N4LLY]

The z3 suspension is height adjusted by spring not damper but the rear of the car the damper is specific as the E36 rear damper is a longer unit all be it the same in fitment.
Another member had this issue though if i recall @Craig Giblett swapped out his suspension and it lifted the car up on his eibachs had to revert to a lower spring to regain his ride height.
I've tagged him he should be along to explain

Cheers Ant,
i'm sure they know what they are doing as they are BMW Specialist after all.
However did find a 6'2 lad working in the car with the hood down ! I asked why and they said
they could not get it to go down, EH ? They did not know obviously you need a foot on the brake to operate.
Should i be worried ?

 

[Antm72]

If it is the wrong rear damper it might explain it you could jack up the rear and measure old and new
damper lengths to confirm before they fit the other ?

 

[N4LLY]

If it is the wrong rear damper it might explain it you could jack up the rear and measure old and new
damper lengths to confirm before they fit the other ?

I will be having a proper chat in the morning. I want it back the same ride height, with or without the new shock's

 

[Craig Giblett]

Your's seems to sit hell of a high if it's 'factory' in terms of set up in my opinion.

Have they used a BMW shock or is it aftermarket? Doesn't help also if you only have one fitted as this won't allow the car to sit level if you've a new shock on one side and an old one on other so it's perhaps not a true reflection of the ride height albeit springs should determine that not shocks.

The saga of mine was the fact that originally I fitted -30mm springs on original shocks that car came on and it dropped to the deck which was fine in terms of looks but I knew the shocks needed replacing so I went down the bilstien b8 (f) & b6 (r) and what with all the suspension being new, spring re bound rate being heighten and the damper being a higher spec it lifted the car back up / didn't help that I had / have done 0 miles in it. Bilstien assured me it would settle once used but I'm an impatient bugger so I swapped our H & R spring for Apex versions...

It's still not quite low enough for my liking but I'm going to live with it and let it settle, track / align the use it see what happens.

 

[mrscalex]

Just as well they only fitted one. You might have been scratching your head more as to whether something was up if they were equally wrong both sides!

Trust no one! I'll lay odds they've scuffed something up.

 

[mrscalex]

Even when it sits right, ask for the part number. Look up the right M Sport part on realoem to check.

Most people are clueless about the Sport suspension being different. And most 3rd party suppliers seem confused about it too.

 

[Jimmy Weston]

I'm clueless when it comes to getting the correct rear shockers, it's a job I want to do, but I wouldn't have a clue where to source the correct ones, I'm sure my cars Msport spec,I feel at trip to Sytners is looming.

 

[mrscalex]

I'm clueless when it comes to getting the correct rear shockers, it's a job I want to do, but I wouldn't have a clue where to source the correct ones, I'm sure my cars Msport spec,I feel at trip to Sytners is looming.

If you PM me I'll walk you through how to check.

But the important thing is if it's a Sport. It can have eg M Sport wheel and gear knob but not be a Sport with the different suspension.

 

[Jimmy Weston]

Ive just been on reel oem, thanks mr scalex I've never used it before and it's gonna be real handy thankyou
Rear shocker standard suspension 33521094187
M sport suspension 33526773882

Its has M sport wheel gear knob, but il try and find out for sure,before ordering.

 

[Antm72]

Check here to see if you have sports suspension
https://zroadster.org/threads/how-to-find-the-options-specified-with-your-z-roadster.1420/

 

[Jimmy Weston]

Thanks for that antm72 I've just entered my last 7 digits , and M sport suspension isn't listed as an optional extra, good job I checked ,thankyou.

 

[N4LLY]

The guys were booked to replace thermostat and fix passenger seat. I booked them to do the shock's "Today"

When i went back to collect the car they had already started on the shock's, but i needed the car back as i
had a guy waiting for a lift and i had an early start this morning for work. So left with just the one fitted.

I have the original Vehicle Spec sheet' and i have as an extra "704 * M Sport suspension"

Will report back later with all 4 fitted, or not

 

[N4LLY]

Oh they are fitting "Sachs"

 

[billz]

Lets hope things get sorted this time @N4LLY

 

[N4LLY]

Four corner fitted now. Obviously sitting much better.

A run out at the weekend: sunday: Weybridge, Monday Morning: Cobham services and then on to
Brands hatch for the Zcars racing, should see the shocks settle. Will post pictures from Brands

At least i can ride the Kent pot holes and not crash over them

 

[Jimmy Weston]

That's great news , your zeds back to sitting at the proper ride height ,I'm going definitely do mine in the next few weeks, as mine sits a little high on the rear .i don't know wether to do Sachs like you've done N4LLY,or oem ,or bilstiens,any recommendations would be apriacted.

 

[N4LLY]

That's great news , your zeds back to sitting at the proper ride height ,I'm going definitely do mine in the next few weeks, as mine sits a little high on the rear .i don't know wether to do Sachs like you've done N4LLY,or oem ,or bilstiens,any recommendations would be apriacted.

I am A suspension Dummy. Garage recommended the Sachs, i googled and found them as quality German make, so ordered.

Have no experience, never replaced shocks on a car before. Other's will know better

 

[Gundun]

Hey I am a bit late to the thread but be aware that for the suspension and wheel alignment setting of the Z3 all values are on FULL car, loaded with 2 passengers and full tank. A good workshop knows this and they place weights on the passenger seat when making the settings.