Riding too High in the Sky?!?

Our03z4 · 02-22-2021, 06:04 PM

Changed everything in the front for the suspension including tie rods etc. I also did the back but shocks only. Both the front and the rear have the original springs since they still look perfect.

This thing is riding in the sky now. 1.5 inches higher. I figured this would be the case since I used B4 instead of B6 or B8s. I wanted a softer and higher ride since I drive this puppy anywhere our hearts take us...places every one would cringe at. These are quite capable cars I can say for a fact.

Now my issue, the front seems decently higher than the back. Could this be because I didn't change any bushings in the rear out? I have all the parts but I've run out of steam and will hire it out.

The ride is immensely better, the wife was much pleased with the difference. Handling seems tighter than I've experienced in either of my z4s, can't wait till the alignment is done tomorrow so I can go on a longer drive. I fully expect to see a nice time reduction on AutoX this year to boot.

F360C · 02-25-2021, 07:57 AM

You might want to give the car a couple weeks to settle. Usually this has more to do with shocks but maybe also springs? That said usually shocks don't affect ride height that much from my experience.

Vanne · 02-25-2021, 09:52 AM

Shocks shouldn't effect ride height at all,unless you have pneumatic shocks? Or a fancy hydrolic height adjusting shock,range rover or low rider style.
In the basic OEM setup we have on the z4, ride height is set by the spring.

maupineda · 02-25-2021, 03:11 PM

Bilsteins do increase ride height, but not as much as the OP states! They have about 40-50 lb of gas pressure that effectively support the car as if it was a higher spring rate.

I went through this when calculating the spring rates I needed to achieve the balance I wanted between ride height, suspension travel, ride frequencies, etc.

Our03z4 · 02-25-2021, 03:56 PM

Went on a 300+mile drive yesterday and it seems to have settled down some. Still riding higher compared with the almost 100k mile original suspension. After alignment the car is unbelievable to drive. So happy and now I'm not hitting my fender liner when hitting a bump. Previous owner really let the poor thing go. Now time for its paint job. Btw the measurements were done from the bottom of the side skirt at the wheel wells to the concrete floor and right after installation.

02-22-2021, 06:04 PM	#1
Our03z4 Captain 1692 Rep 685 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW Z4 3.0si Coupe, Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Riding too High in the Sky?!? Changed everything in the front for the suspension including tie rods etc. I also did the back but shocks only. Both the front and the rear have the original springs since they still look perfect. This thing is riding in the sky now. 1.5 inches higher. I figured this would be the case since I used B4 instead of B6 or B8s. I wanted a softer and higher ride since I drive this puppy anywhere our hearts take us...places every one would cringe at. These are quite capable cars I can say for a fact. Now my issue, the front seems decently higher than the back. Could this be because I didn't change any bushings in the rear out? I have all the parts but I've run out of steam and will hire it out. The ride is immensely better, the wife was much pleased with the difference. Handling seems tighter than I've experienced in either of my z4s, can't wait till the alignment is done tomorrow so I can go on a longer drive. I fully expect to see a nice time reduction on AutoX this year to boot.
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02-25-2021, 07:57 AM	#2
F360C Major 366 Rep 1,373 Posts Drives: E86 S54 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hoboken, NJ iTrader: (2)	You might want to give the car a couple weeks to settle. Usually this has more to do with shocks but maybe also springs? That said usually shocks don't affect ride height that much from my experience. __________________ 07 Z4 M Coupe AW/IR
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02-25-2021, 09:52 AM	#3
Vanne Down Under!! 1621 Rep 4,294 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4MC Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Dubai iTrader: (4)	Shocks shouldn't effect ride height at all,unless you have pneumatic shocks? Or a fancy hydrolic height adjusting shock,range rover or low rider style. In the basic OEM setup we have on the z4, ride height is set by the spring. __________________ 2007 EuroSpec Z4///MC - Building/Developing Z4 GT3 Powered by
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02-25-2021, 03:11 PM	#4
maupineda Captain 456 Rep 975 Posts Drives: E86 Z4MC Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Detroit, MI iTrader: (3)	Bilsteins do increase ride height, but not as much as the OP states! They have about 40-50 lb of gas pressure that effectively support the car as if it was a higher spring rate. I went through this when calculating the spring rates I needed to achieve the balance I wanted between ride height, suspension travel, ride frequencies, etc.
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02-25-2021, 03:56 PM	#5
Our03z4 Captain 1692 Rep 685 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW Z4 3.0si Coupe, Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Went on a 300+mile drive yesterday and it seems to have settled down some. Still riding higher compared with the almost 100k mile original suspension. After alignment the car is unbelievable to drive. So happy and now I'm not hitting my fender liner when hitting a bump. Previous owner really let the poor thing go. Now time for its paint job. Btw the measurements were done from the bottom of the side skirt at the wheel wells to the concrete floor and right after installation.
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