Z4M: Has anyone gone from coilovers back to Eibach/H&R springs or stock suspensions?

[GP20]

I've been driving my Z4MR / Z4MC since 2006, and have always had coilovers since 2007. I've had 4 sets of TCKline coilovers on 4 occasions, the KW V3, Ground Control's, and it seems like for the longest time I had been searching for the perfect set-up forever that was quiet (no clunk), sporty, comfortable, and of course also looked good. It seems like it's been a long time since I actually enjoyed driving my Z4M. I'm not enjoying driving my Z4M. I cringe every time I hit a speed bump too hard and bottom out or drive through those wash-board surfaced roads or even merely "less than perfect" roads and wonder what the hell I'm putting up with this shitty ride quality for?

My ego has slowly realized that while it's sort of cool to say "I have coilover suspensions", it's simply overkill for me and I don't need them. I really wanted coilovers for the looks mostly. No, sadly I don't track my Z4M and likely will never drive the car to its full potentials. I don't see myself turning into a track junkie. I might do 1 or 2 track events for the experience sake sometime in the future, and maybe do a couple of auto-x's "casually" at most. But my Z4M will spend 99.999% of its life in the streets.

Maybe as I'm getting older (I'm 31), I'm starting to want a slightly more comfortable ride. No, not Camry or even 3-series comfortable, just not a jarring ride with a semi track-ready set-up. I thought I had finally found the perfect set-up with my last set of TCK coilovers, but I ended up selling them and went back to my previous GC set-up 'cos suddenly it just didn't make financial sense for me anymore to own a $3K coilover kit.

For a few months now I'm comtemplating simply going back to stock dampers with Eibach springs and selling my GC coilovers, and then get a wheel alignment and be done with it. Anyone else here went through the same thing I did? Any regrets going back to OEM?

[Kgolf31]

Have you ever tried some AST 4100s?

Dampers are more important that springs, IMO. That is where the ride quality is at.

Going aftermarket springs with stock dampers will only result in you still being frustrated.

[RobMCoupe]

I know exactly how it feels with TCK. I revert back to stock dampers and Eibach lowering springs. I waited long time for AST 4150 before going that route. I am waiting for Ohlins now. I hear Ohlins provide good damping on street and track ready, for my skill level. Should consider that option. If you decide on lowering springs, I willing to sell them. PM me.

[dubsesd]

for whats its worth, my H&R coilovers ride excellent, and no sounds or clunks. much better ride than oem. i think at the highest setting its about 1" lower than stock

[RADRACR]

Eric, get up on the Ohlins group buy. Read up on the DFV tech.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by RobMCoupe

I know exactly how it feels with TCK. I revert back to stock dampers and Eibach lowering springs. I waited long time for AST 4150 before going that route. I am waiting for Ohlins now. I hear Ohlins provide good damping on street and track ready, for my skill level. Should consider that option. If you decide on lowering springs, I willing to sell them. PM me.

What is the difference with the 4150s versus the 4200s and 4100s?


I'm trying to save bank for the ASTs. I wanted to go TCK but the noise issue concerns me.

[Jroc]

I will take your coilovers off your hand, for the sake of helping of course.

[David70]

I agree with the OP, this is one of the first cars I have owned that I haven't modified the suspension. With this car, for the person doing 1-2 track days a year and driving it on the road the rest of the time I don't see a lot of good reasons to buy coilovers. What is the reason, looks, slightly better lap times? I find that I already have to be careful about dips and bumps in the road with the limited ground clearance as it is. I also don't take the car to it's limited on the road so don't see the reason to increase it's limits except for the possible track time.

Maybe I am also too old to understand anymore.

[Finnegan]

I think some of us are trying to find that elusive mix of improved performance and improved ride quality. Like you, I don't push the limits on the street. However I do want a suspension that performs when I need it to, and one that's livable, on a day-to-day basis as well. Holy grail? Probably. But the Ohlins group buy might offer a solution to this.

I also test drove a ground control system, with 560/670 spring rates, with dampers set to soft, and it was actually more comfortable than the stock suspension. And more composed over bumps, and less dive on braking. Mind you, this was with Swift springs and helper springs, so it was not a basic GC system. I expect the Ohlins to achieve more than that. So, it may be possible to achieve that elusive mix. At least I hope so, and that's why I'm in the on the Ohlins group buy.

[Kgolf31]

Linear springs with good dampers will be better than OEM suspension any day of the week.

When you get to progressive, it just sucks.

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

I think some of us are trying to find that elusive mix of improved performance and improved ride quality. Like you, I don't push the limits on the street. However I do want a suspension that performs when I need it to, and one that's livable, on a day-to-day basis as well. Holy grail? Probably. But the Ohlins grouby might offer a solution to this.
........

^this; cant wait

[jrainlay]

Originally Posted by dubsesd

for whats its worth, my H&R coilovers ride excellent, and no sounds or clunks. much better ride than oem. i think at the highest setting its about 1" lower than stock

Same here.

[mfanatic325]

I'm also waiting on the Ohlins now. Since it'll probably take some time to be ready for release, I'll use that time to "depart" with my TCKs. By that I mean enjoy every last bit of time I have with them; until I buy the Ohlins and have to sell the TCKs off

These TCKs aren't the most comfortable, but they sure as hell perform
And that's the only reason I never swapped them out. The Ohlins on the other hand (as Ron has already mentioned prior) sounds like it is bridging the gap between performance and comfort; and I'm sold.

[GP20]

Thanks for all the responses. I appreciate them!

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

Have you ever tried some AST 4100s?

Never tried the AST's, but I have heard of good things about them. If I wasn't so burned out about my suspensions, I might give them a try.

Originally Posted by dubsesd

for whats its worth, my H&R coilovers ride excellent, and no sounds or clunks. much better ride than oem. i think at the highest setting its about 1" lower than stock

The H&R's re-use OEM strut tops right? If that was the case, that's actually not a bad idea for someone like me who doesn't track since OEM strut tops eliminate a lot of that metal-on-metal contact. Where did you buy your H&R coilovers? Thanks!

[GP20]

Originally Posted by RobMCoupe

I know exactly how it feels with TCK. I revert back to stock dampers and Eibach lowering springs. I waited long time for AST 4150 before going that route. I am waiting for Ohlins now. I hear Ohlins provide good damping on street and track ready, for my skill level. Should consider that option. If you decide on lowering springs, I willing to sell them. PM me.

How do you like your Eibach springs? Does the car feel wobbly or floaty? How about the ride comfort, steering response, and body-roll?

[3002 tii]

AST 4100 with 450f/550r. No clunking noise, very comfortable and handles great. But I still try avoiding every imperfection in the road.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by DSC_OFF

AST 4100 with 450f/550r. No clunking noise, very comfortable and handles great. But I still try avoiding every imperfection in the road.

How is DD riding? Similar (better/worse) then OEM?

I was considering 450/550 whenever I was going to get coilovers (I'm kinda eyeing up 4200s now even though they are more in price versus the TCK DAs).

It's hard to try to find a Z4 to drive with those spring rates though...lol

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

How is DD riding? Similar (better/worse) then OEM?

I was considering 450/550 whenever I was going to get coilovers (I'm kinda eyeing up 4200s now even though they are more in price versus the TCK DAs).

It's hard to try to find a Z4 to drive with those spring rates though...lol

I don't daily the car anymore but I still take it out on nice weather days. It's hard to describe but I'd almost say the AST's are better at handling the regular imperfections you encounter on a daily basis. But if you ever hit that 1 nasty pothole, then factory ride does a better job of absorbing it. I know I could go up in spring rates but I find 450/550 good enough for both track duty and regular driving. If I were autocrossing competitively, I'd probably go in the 600/700 range.

Even though AST's handle bumps fine, I still avoid them at all cost just because I'd like to rebuild these as far out as possible.

[RobMCoupe]

Originally Posted by GP20

How do you like your Eibach springs? Does the car feel wobbly or floaty? How about the ride comfort, steering response, and body-roll?

Car with Eibach is more assuring than stock springs. It eliminated most swat/dip with stock spring on hard accel/stop. Stock shocks/struts do not provide sufficient damping. The rear bounces more as I don't recall this was the case with stock spring. I only drove car with stock springs for a few months when it was new. Gferil have Eibach and HD Bilstein. He might comment on the ride.

[RobMCoupe]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

What is the difference with the 4150s versus the 4200s and 4100s?


I'm trying to save bank for the ASTs. I wanted to go TCK but the noise issue concerns me.

AST 4100/4200 are discontinued. I was going with newer designed. The main differences are.

DDP Technology Piston

Our latest digressive piston developed for GRAND-AM gives drivers and race engineers the best of both worlds. Drivers love the low speed damping response and body control, while race engineers love the “blow off” at high shaft velocities. When the rebound adjustment is soft, the damper curve looks similar to an OEM street shock profile. When the rebound adjustment is hard, the damper curve looks like a race shock!

This “Jekyll and Hyde” personality is exactly what AST 4000 Series customers want: soft street ride and race car track performance in ONE shock – all with the turn of a knob!

Discontinuing Steel Shocks

In 2012, most AST 4150s will come with aluminum shock bodies. Strut bodies will continue to be built from steel, but all shocks will switch to aircraft grade aluminum. Economies of scale have allowed us to switch to aluminum without a large increase in cost of manufacture. For some models, this represents a 50% reduction in the weight of the damper (unsprung weight).

Structural Improvements

Several new designs proven in GRAND-AM racing will be added to various products on an “as needed” basis. All strut models will receive a new two piece top guide assembly that separates the dust seal assembly from the oil seal/bearing assembly. This two piece design is stronger in compression loading (bottoming out) and side loading (in the turn). Some models will receive weld-on stabilizer brackets which take the guesswork out of setting the stabilizer height and torque setting of the clamping ring.

[Kgolf31]

Thanks, just saw it.

No wonder why Vorshlag has the 4200 discounted a little.

[Shaung]

I've had PSS9's on my S4 and M3 and loved them. I feel they were a great setup for a daily driver that also did some time on the track.