 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  |  |  |  02-01-2006, 02:49 PM | #1 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 236 |  Z3 Coupe suspension
Okay, so I have a line on a FREE set of shocks and springs from a Z3 2.8 coupe.
Since the 2.8 coupe had the aluminum block, the spring rates should be pretty close. What I am wondering, though, is if the 2.8 coupe suspension will alter the ride height of my active package ti.
My suspension has 92,000 on it, this suspension has less than 15k.
Does anyone know how this will affect the stance and handling of the car?
What I might do is use the shocks/struts from the coupe and buy aftermarket springs.
Any opinions? |  |  | | 02-01-2006, 03:26 PM | #2 | | Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bouncing off the rev limiter in CT! Posts: 3,156 |
If your not going to use the springs, I would just not bother with the Z3 parts and get all new parts. The stock shocks/struts are not very good anyway... My rears were completely blown at less than 70K miles...  | | | | | 02-01-2006, 03:45 PM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 236 |
If the coupe springs are equivalent or more aggressive than the ti sport suspension, I'll use them as a unit. If they are more like the active/base ti suspension, then I won't. That's what I'm trying to figure out. | | | | | 02-01-2006, 03:47 PM | #4 | | Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bouncing off the rev limiter in CT! Posts: 3,156 |
They may be a bit stiffer in the rear, but probably similar to the ti sport springs (maybe even the same part number).
M coupe and M roadster springs are stiffer than the ti sport springs for the rear; fronts will be too tall/stiff with the light four cylinder. | | | | | 02-01-2006, 05:20 PM | #5 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 236 |
I'm going to have him send them to me and I'll see what I'm dealing with. I would think that the Z coupe was a little more aggressively sprung than a ti, but I don't know if there were two versions of the Z coupe suspension (sport and non sport). | | | | | 02-01-2006, 06:54 PM | #6 | | Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bouncing off the rev limiter in CT! Posts: 3,156 |
I'm not sure either. Check the part numbers on the springs when you get them. It's stamped in on a small area. | | | | | 02-02-2006, 12:56 AM | #7 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Greece Athens Posts: 302 |
Ι don't see any reason to do this __________________
Alpina front lip spoiler,ACS roof spoiler,OEM clear rear-side lights,In-Pro blackchrome front indicators,Lummar tinted glasses,318ti.org decalls,Eibach Sportline 45mm/30mm springs,Bilstein Sprint shocks,16mm rear sway bar,front eccentric wishbone bushes,E46 conv. RSMs,5mm rear lower spring seats,OMP alloy strut brace front,racing24 carbon/alloy strutbrace rear,x brace,K&N panel filter,L&W back box 2x84mm,BBS RK 8x17,Fulda Carat Exelero 225-45-17Y,Brembo drilled front rotors | | | | | 02-02-2006, 01:19 AM | #8 | | Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bouncing off the rev limiter in CT! Posts: 3,156 |
Just for the groups benifit. It's not too often you have two types of factory springs on hand for comparison.
A couple side-by-side photos would be excellent as well, if possible. | | | | | 02-02-2006, 02:39 AM | #9 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 236 |
I will do that when I get around to putting this together.
The reason I'm doing it is
a: my stuff is worn out. this only has about 12000 miles.
b: it is free
c: if it is, as I suspect, similar to the ti sport suspension, it will be an upgrade over what I have now (even if it wasn't worn out) | | | | | 02-19-2006, 05:24 PM | #10 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 236 | They came Friday
| | | | | 04-17-2006, 01:22 PM | #11 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 236 |
Well, the install is complete. The rear springs were about 1/2" shorter than the stock, and the front strut assembly was also about 1/2" shorter than stock.
The only issue is that the lower bushing for the rear shocks is longer (I'm guessing to accomodate the Z3 wider rear track) but that was easily rectified with a cut-off wheel and a small grinding wheel to make it smooth.
The car sits 1/2" lower all the way around.
Stock, was 25" in the rear from the gound to the fender opening, measuring through the center cap of the wheel. It is now 24.5". The front was 26.25", is now 25.75". I'm guessing it may settle just a bit, but since I had the non-sport suspension, I figure I'm setting at just about the sport heights now.
The ride is 100% improved. That is coming from the shocks which are not completely worn out like what I had on it before.
Unfortunatly, the brake rotors did not come in this weekend, so I have to put the car back on jackstands tonight and do the pad/rotor/fluid change.
And, also unfortunatly, I got the CEL (again.) Last time it 'went away' by itself. This time that doesn't seem to be going to happen. | | | | |
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