Looking forward to new shocks

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Mike
Joined: Wed 14 Apr, 2004 10:53
Posts: 288

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: la Gacilly, France
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Looking forward to new shocks

Post by Mike »

Well after 188000 miles my rear shocks have finally decided to give up the ghost. Rattles from the rear on the drivers side being the main symptom. Ordered shocks and mounts that should arrive early next week. 1 couple of hours to get the old ones out and the new ones in I guess. Depends on the assistance I get from the bolts coming off. Im amazed the old shocks lasted this long but checks at 100000 and 150000 miles showed them to be in good fettle. Im looking forward to smoother handling and might get the fronts done if these work out OK.
Del
Joined: Sat 19 Nov, 2011 18:35
Posts: 2136

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Looking forward to new shocks

Post by Del »

If your experience is anything like mine was, I guarantee it will transform the car and make the ride/handling much more enjoyable. I would definitely look to change/match the front ones shortly as well. The bolts are tight (around 70/80 nm?) but should be no problem with an 18 - 24 inch breaker bar. The hardest bit I found on the rears was removing/replacing that pesky bit of carpet behind the seats when you have built in roll hoops :)
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Southernboy
Joined: Thu 07 Oct, 2010 12:39
Posts: 6436

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Johannesburg

Re: Looking forward to new shocks

Post by Southernboy »

......... I'm in the same queue.... wet left rear deected... new top mounts in the process.
"Normal is overrated"
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Bananasport
Joined: Tue 19 Nov, 2013 20:30
Posts: 56

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Taverham Norfolk

Re: Looking forward to new shocks

Post by Bananasport »

Also looking forward to new shocks Bilstein B8s. Had a bargain from price for the rears from the US. Bavauto $76.45 each Postage $100 but still very cheap. Ordered the fronts and fitting kit from Germany (better price negotiated) MK-fahrwerkstechnik.de. Never fitted them before but picking up guidance from the forum.
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Mike
Joined: Wed 14 Apr, 2004 10:53
Posts: 288

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: la Gacilly, France
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Re: Looking forward to new shocks

Post by Mike »

Well finally replaced the rear shocks and mounts this afternoon. Only took 1hr to do both sides.
process

Car up at the rear on ramps for access.
Crack the bottom botton bolt on the shock
Fiddle tha parcel shelf corner to access the top mounts and undo the 2 holding screws
Back under the car, remove the bottom bolt and the old shocks just drop out.
Clean the old gasket bits from the metalwork

Put new shock in vice and bolt on the new top mounts ( do not forget to place new gasket )
back under the car and feed new shocks through the holes locating fixing bolts as appropriate
Replace the bottom bolt a few turns
Back in the car and fix replace and tighten holding screws, rubber bits etc. Refit trim carpet into the corners
Back under the car and tighten the bottom bolt as appropriate
Wash hands and out to test drive, grin on face
On return check torque on bottom bolts. Might as well check all exhaust mountings and tank straps and anything else whilst you are there.
Have a cup of tea job done

Next job do the front shocks which are a tad more tricky so I am led to believe.


Overall impression is it like driving a new car again. Much better handling and smoother ride. Should have done it earlier I guess.
Total cost 1 Hr work and about 130 UKP for parts.
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pingu
Joined: Fri 30 Apr, 2004 16:01
Posts: 3412

  M roadster S50

Re: Looking forward to new shocks

Post by pingu »

As with all suspension parts, loosely tighten with the car in the air, lower the car so the full weight is on the wheels, then torque to the correct setting.

The reason...

It's easier to connect parts when the suspension is loose.

The suspension should be torqued in the natural position, so the bushes are unstressed. If you fully torque when the car is raised, the bushes will be pre-stressed in the natural position, and will be double-stressed when the suspension is fully loaded.

Mike, did you put the old top mounts back on? I'd have changed them as well.
Pingu
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Mike
Joined: Wed 14 Apr, 2004 10:53
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  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: la Gacilly, France
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Re: Looking forward to new shocks

Post by Mike »

HI Pingu?
I changed the top mounts as well. Fairly easy with a vice, spanner and mole grips to hold the shock bar whilst undoing the top nut.
Problem I now have is one of the new top mounts failed within 20 mins of driving. The bush suddenly appeared in the parcel shelf with a pop after being pushed out on a normal road. The metal bit of the top mount was just fine but the actual bush was destroyed and looked like an old busted superball. Very perished rubber on the inside. Not happy at all. Ive put the old mounts on for now and spoken to the supplier of the top mounts who is sending 2 replacements ASAP at his expense. He said he would check them out before sending personally. No reason the disbelieve him yet as he sounded honest enough. Lucking I was not motoring quick at the time. I limped back home, 5 miles, with the new shock flapping about at the top end behind the seats. Interesting drive as it felt like wheels were held on by elastic bands, slightly nervous drive. Im now looking up how this can happen.
All final torqueing sone in usual position albeit with the car on ramps at the rear. No dangly wheels required.
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pingu
Joined: Fri 30 Apr, 2004 16:01
Posts: 3412

  M roadster S50

Re: Looking forward to new shocks

Post by pingu »

Where did you get the top mounts? There are some cheap ones around that are about £10, but the cheapest I found were from Germany and were about £30 for the pair.

http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... =5&t=39987
Pingu
henrycrun
Joined: Wed 18 Apr, 2007 19:48
Posts: 522

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Ely

Re: Looking forward to new shocks

Post by henrycrun »

Has anyone used top mounts made by Meyle ?
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Southernboy
Joined: Thu 07 Oct, 2010 12:39
Posts: 6436

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Johannesburg

Re: Looking forward to new shocks

Post by Southernboy »

I have 2 Meyle top mounts going in today with the new gas struts... This is the second set of Meyle I will be using. The first set I fitted into my 2.8 some 10 years back, and they were still 100% good when I sold the car.... so if that's a good reference, then Meyle are a very good product. :wink:
"Normal is overrated"
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Del
Joined: Sat 19 Nov, 2011 18:35
Posts: 2136

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Looking forward to new shocks

Post by Del »

I have had Meyle HD (rear) ones on mine for around 2-years with no problem whatsoever - bought from a BMW aftermarket specialist. They claim to have improved on the original design making it virtually impossible for the problem you had to happen. I believe Lemforder is the OE supplier.
Rig sparky
Joined: Sun 02 Mar, 2014 18:12
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  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: inverness

Re: Looking forward to new shocks

Post by Rig sparky »

got Meyle ones on the rear of my baby as well better design than the originals
got some aftermarket ones on thee front from a different maker but carnt for the life of me think of the make right now but would recommend the Meyle ones for the back think they were about £35.00 quid for the pair off of fleabay
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BladeRunner919
Joined: Fri 17 Feb, 2012 20:18
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  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Looking forward to new shocks

Post by BladeRunner919 »

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Mike
Joined: Wed 14 Apr, 2004 10:53
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  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: la Gacilly, France
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Re: Looking forward to new shocks

Post by Mike »

Finally got my money back on them. Old perished rubber bushes. Got old mounts in now as they are OK but will replace with better new ones when Ive read all recommendations from you guys.
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Mike
Joined: Wed 14 Apr, 2004 10:53
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  Z3 roadster 2.8
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Re: Looking forward to new shocks

Post by Mike »

New front shocks in the post. Hopefully they will stop the crazy shudder I occasionally get at 85 Km/Hr. The shocks have done 300000 Kms so can't complain really. Also the bush on the rear of the wishbone is a bit loose so will replace both sides at the same time. Local good garage is doing a deal of 2 shocks replacement for only 45 euros this week including alignment and tracking so someone else can get oiley and dirty for a change. Just waiting for the shocks to arrive today with DHL.
I think the failed front shocks cause the vibrations to transmit to the rear wishbone bush and are destroying it so replacing both is the right thing to do.
TR4man
Joined: Wed 24 Oct, 2012 13:34
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  Z4 coupe 3.0si
Location: Woore, Near Nantwich, Cheshire

Re: Looking forward to new shocks

Post by TR4man »

Mike wrote:Local good garage is doing a deal of 2 shocks replacement for only 45 euros this week including alignment and tracking so someone else can get oiley and dirty for a change. Just waiting for the shocks to arrive today with DHL.
That seems a good price.

I've just had a quote from my local ATS Euromaster for replacement shocks

£240.00 pair fitted for the front and £192 for the rear. Not sure whether I need them or not, but I'm conscious that my car is now up to 126,000 miles on the original shocks. The guy at ATS says they should be replaced every 60/70,000 miles but I think he might be pushing for a sale.
siwilson
Joined: Fri 19 Jun, 2009 09:54
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  M roadster S54
Location: Horley

Re: Looking forward to new shocks

Post by siwilson »

At higher mileages they may not be completely knackered, but they certainly won't be as effective. It really depends on the life they have had, but I would think 50k is all you get before the performance starts to deteriorate.
2001 M roadster S54 Laguna Seca Blue
gIzzE
Joined: Mon 06 Aug, 2007 21:32
Posts: 169

  Not specified

Re: Looking forward to new shocks

Post by gIzzE »

TR4man wrote:]The guy at ATS says they should be replaced every 60/70,000 miles but I think he might be pushing for a sale.
I would agree with that.

I reckon most shocks start to go around 40-50k and by 70k new shocks will make a real difference.
At 100k+ they will be shagged.

The Z3 is a pretty soft and very comfortable car, it soaks up poor road surfaces extremely well compared with even modern cars like the E90 3 series, if yours does not feel like this than the suspension is shagged.
Del
Joined: Sat 19 Nov, 2011 18:35
Posts: 2136

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Looking forward to new shocks

Post by Del »

TR4man wrote:The guy at ATS says they should be replaced every 60/70,000
I also do not think he is over-stating this. One of my OE original fronts was leaking at an MOT at around 70,000 miles and I also changed the OE rears shortly after even though they passed the MOT. The improvement was amazing. :) I didn't use anything exotic or requiring a remortgage, just Sachs Super Touring.
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Mike
Joined: Wed 14 Apr, 2004 10:53
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  Z3 roadster 2.8
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Re: Looking forward to new shocks

Post by Mike »

Well, spent a really good morning replacing the front right hand side shock. Pretty easy job really just bolts and bits. Will do the left hand side tomorrow when more energy and temperature fall to below 20 degs. The old shocks had done 300000Kms so not surprised they were knacked. Hold the old shock upside down had the piston slide fully out on its own. Putting it the right way up the piston gracefully slide back in with no resistance at all.
As soon as the otherside is done and the water pump , viscous coupling and fan are replaced and the wishbone bushes replaced Ill give it a whizz to get the whole thing realigned and see the improvement.
Did not have spring compressors so used rachet straps instead. Easy to use and did the job very well.
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