Suspension bushes,inserts and online suppliers

[phil5062]

Hello all...
I have recently got a 2001 Z3 2.2 with 45k and full SH from an old lady.
I would like to improve the handling. As to be fair, it is very vague and wooly, not what I expected at all. (my daily drive is a120d Msport)
I can rock the front wheels by hand !
So as a starting point I'll change the front wishbone bearing and put some rear subframe bush inserts in.

Can anyone point help me in sourcing some inserts please? (I can't find anyone on the Internet) and, where /who supply ALL parts (quality) online with a decent website?

I don't want to go down the polybushes road. I'm thinking M bushes (solid rubber) are the way forward???

Many thank.
Phil
lichfield, Staffordshire

 

[t-tony]

Personally I wouldn't fit solid bushes unless you intend to track the car, they produce a very harsh, hard ride. I've seen it on several, different makes of car through work. I would use genuine BMW parts.

Tony.

 

[Stormy_be]

Personally I wouldn't fit solid bushes unless you intend to track the car, they produce a very harsh, hard ride. I've seen it on several, different makes of car through work. I would use genuine BMW parts.

Tony.

I believe Phil mean solid rubber bushes, not solid metal bushes (which are very very hard).

Regards, Koen

 

[pgunter]

You will also put more stress on the weaker parts of the Zed ... The diff hanger... Checked your boot spot welds of late ??

 

[phil5062]

Thanks all,
Correct, rubber bushes (without the voids)
I'm looking at. Meyle HD bushes? (for the front control arms where the considerable play is)
They ought to be firmer than ORininal equipment? And probably replace the sub frame bushes with the same,Meyle HD.

I've had a look at diff hanger and all looking good (I have the extra welds post 2001 car have)
Cheers

 

[t-tony]

I believe Phil mean solid rubber bushes, not solid metal bushes (which are very very hard).

Regards, Koen

I thought so Koen, I also was referring to solid rubber bushes in my comments.

Tony.

 

[Stormy_be]

As M-versions were supplied with it as standard, they can not be that had hard.

 

[t-tony]

Agreed but a 2001 2.2 wasn't fitted with them as standard. I just speak as I find that solid bushes do make for harder and harsher ride which in the cases I've seen spoils the general ride of the car. If it's not for track use I can't see the point, just my opinion. Also the M versions are the ones which tear the boot floor welds apart, I'm guessing there'll be a connection there. The original bushes have lasted 45,000 miles so some more of the same would likely last just as long.

Tony.

 

[Stormy_be]

Agreed but a 2001 2.2 wasn't fitted with them as standard. I just speak as I find that solid bushes do make for harder and harsher ride which in the cases I've seen spoils the general ride of the car. If it's not for track use I can't see the point, just my opinion. Also the M versions are the ones which tear the boot floor welds apart, I'm guessing there'll be a connection there. The original bushes have lasted 45,000 miles so some more of the same would likely last just as long.

Tony.

True.
Only extra remark on the M-bushes: I don't think it is ONLY the bushes making the spot weld issue, but also because it has double the power. It will be a combination of both.

 

[Althulas]

I was talking with Lee about this issue regarding going poly bush and I agree with his opinion that if you stick to smooth gear changes and not drop the clutch like a loon for burn outs etc it should be fine. I have no popped welds on my ///M but will take a seam weld plus strengthening mod in the future for my heavy right foot and limp left

 

[One Spanner Frank]

I had Powerflex bushes fitted to my wishbones and my Z3 now goes where I point it.
Can you get a soft ride with runflats?

 

[t-tony]

I had Powerflex bushes fitted to my wishbones and my Z3 now goes where I point it.
Can you get a soft ride with runflats?

No soft ride with run flats, the hard ride is built into the tyre sidewalls, that how they support the vehicle without any or very little air pressure.

Tony.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

I had Powerflex bushes fitted to my wishbones and my Z3 now goes where I point it.
Can you get a soft ride with runflats?

Had runflats/extra load tyres on mine when I bought it, fitted some normal Avon ZZ3s instead and there's a vast improvement in ride quality (got rid of the tramlining, too). Nothing wrong with XL tyres as such, worked well on my E90, but the Z3 wasn't built for them.

 

[t-tony]

Extra load tyres are nowhere near as stiff in the sidewall as run flats, you really can't compare.

Tony.

 

[Low Rider]

Hello and welcome Phil