ZHP Suspension + bay area roads =

[Head-pants-now]

Okay, I'm fully prepared for the barrage of "Suck it up you pansie"-type comments this thread will likely attract. I deserve it.

The whining portion:
I bought a 2004 330i ZHP. It's awesome.
I bit it mountain biking about two years ago slipped a disc in my neck. It sucks.
Driving roads like US 85 and US101 in the bay area is killing me.. the suspension is just too stiff. Short of a constant mophine drip hanging in the car, I need to soften the ride on my ZHP.
By the way if you're wondering why I bought one in the first place... well, the dealer was in an area where the roads were smooth and fast. My mistake.

The pleading portion:
Do I buy new shocks and springs?
Do I try and get the sport package set up by ordering from bmw? (some threads seem to think they're the same as the ZHP's)
Any suggestions?

[mtnbound]

Hrm...if 85 and 101 are causing you pain, the sport package is definitely not for you either.

I won't give you any crap about buying the ZHP in the first place, b/c that simply won't help. (buyer's remorse, even a bit of it, SUCKS). The ride in my 330CiC with SP is noticably stiffer than that in my friend's "barebones" 325i. Keep in mind though, that in buying a BMW, you've bought engineering that is proud to make you "feel" the road, regardless of what package is installed. Indeed, you may want to see if you can get non-sport/non-ZHP shocks and springs, and perhaps even different seats.

[RandyB]

Maybe you can swap with someone that has a regular 330i SP? I would drive their car first and make sure it is acceptable(without the morphine drip). I thought the 'drip' sounded like a pretty good idea though. J/k! :rofl:

I was afraid the ZHP suspension would be more like the ///M3, so I decided to just get the regular SP. Plus, I love the SP wheels and wanted Electric Red...

I bit it on my mountain bike yesterday (on the pavement, no less) but thankfully I'm not hurt beyond being skinned a little. :cry: :)

[eelnoraa]

I agree with Mtnbound. If you have problem with ZHP on 85 and 101, than SP suspension will not do you any good. I would say ZHP and SP suspension is about the same in term of comfort level. Maybe what you need is a 325 non-sport suspension.

eel

[bbkat]

Hrm...if 85 and 101 are causing you pain, the sport package is definitely not for you either.

I won't give you any crap about buying the ZHP in the first place, b/c that simply won't help. (buyer's remorse, even a bit of it, SUCKS). The ride in my 330CiC with SP is noticably stiffer than that in my friend's "barebones" 325i. Keep in mind though, that in buying a BMW, you've bought engineering that is proud to make you "feel" the road, regardless of what package is installed. Indeed, you may want to see if you can get non-sport/non-ZHP shocks and springs, and perhaps even different seats.

Couldn't have said it better. Perhaps a Lexus or MB would better suit your needs.

[hugh1850]

sell the m135's and get 16's and put more rubber between you and the road. :dunno:

[Desertnate]

sell the m135's and get 16's and put more rubber between you and the road. :dunno:

Will 16's have enough clearence around the brakes?

[Moderato]

Will 16's have enough clearence around the brakes?

If not get 17's and dont inflate the tires too much, (at higher risk of damaging the rims on a pothole though). You could sell the wheels and tires off of your car and won't have to pay too much out-of-pocket expense. :thumbup:

PS - My 330i SP is very comfy, and handles great
PPS - My last car was an 04 WRX STi and that felt like riding in a shopping cart, so for me the 330i SP feels perfect and my last car before that was a Jetta TDI with a SRS full track set up that was about the same as the STi, maybe even a bit stiffer.

[Wallenrod]

Yes, if highway driving seems stiff to you, SP suspension swap won't help. ZHP is a little stiffer than SP but not by much. The car feels tighter in curves and during directional changes and better connected to the road but it is not especially stiffer or more jarring when going over bumps. Your personal injury apart, I think it all depends what car experience you are coming from. To me both suspensions could be stiffer. I'm just used to it and prefer it. Even in San Francisco which must have absolutely the worst roads I've driven on. My wife is from the East Coast and she didn't even have a clear idea of what a pothole is before she moved here. Many people who take a ride in my 330iSP think that it is extremely stiff. To me, it's too soft. Point of view.
Now, I rode in a non-SP 330i and the ride was very noticeably softer. Almost like a different car. Non-SP 330s have the same suspension but different wheels and tires. I really belive that wheel/tire combo makes a huge difference. If I were you, this would be the first route I would take. It is probably the cheapest and also easily reversible.
The most extreme would be to trade a car and get something softer. Again, if it was me, I would probably then opt for an Audi A4.

[Fifty_Cent]

Wow, a hard one. Sorry to hear about your accident.
My non sport model though, is not very soft, I might say. Note that I have 17' rims there.

I dont think that you can go to 16' rims, the rotors are too big, but you can verify it with the dealer.

What I would do if I were you, is to go to the dealer, explain the problem. I am sure he will be more than happy to trade your car in with a non sport 330i. I think it would be a shame to start softening up you ZHP, it will loose what it was designed for.
Get one with the same colour, same bodykit, etc. Or maybe, you can get a 325i with 16' wheels.
325 is a powerful machine as well, and you will still feel like you are "at home" every time you drive it.

Yeap, a 325i is the best option. Non sport, with all the goodies!



Okay, I'm fully prepared for the barrage of "Suck it up you pansie"-type comments this thread will likely attract. I deserve it.

The whining portion:
I bought a 2004 330i ZHP. It's awesome.
I bit it mountain biking about two years ago slipped a disc in my neck. It sucks.
Driving roads like US 85 and US101 in the bay area is killing me.. the suspension is just too stiff. Short of a constant mophine drip hanging in the car, I need to soften the ride on my ZHP.
By the way if you're wondering why I bought one in the first place... well, the dealer was in an area where the roads were smooth and fast. My mistake.

The pleading portion:
Do I buy new shocks and springs?
Do I try and get the sport package set up by ordering from bmw? (some threads seem to think they're the same as the ZHP's)
Any suggestions?

[PhilH]

How long have you had your car? I'd bet not too long, considering it's a 2004 model. I say don't change a thing and just drive it for the next three months. You'll get used to it; it's not that bad. You must be used to driving a boat. I've switched between 17" and 18" wheels a few times on my car in the past four months and there's very very little difference in ride comfort in a 330i, and changing out shocks and springs on a new BMW to try and make the ride softer sounds insane to me.

If you don't get used to the ride quality of your car in a few months, sell the car (take the financial bath) and get a Lexus ES330. At that point I'd say you made a bad choice in getting a BMW.

[mtbscott]

I agree with Phil H here. I don't think anything you can realistically do is going to soften the ride enough for your needs. Either get used to it, or trade into something more suitable. I think the 17's would help more than shock changes (for the dollar) but you're still trying to create something that wasn't in the design to begin with. Sorry to hear about your injury. As a "masters" mtb'er myself, I deal with lots more aches and pains that the youngins' but luckily have not had anything as bad as yours. I can tell you as someone who moved from a ZHP to a M3, the M is MUCH stiffer, though still not objectionable to me as a daily driver.

[LouT]

sell the m135's and get 16's and put more rubber between you and the road. :dunno:

That doesn't work well enough. My snow tires are mounted on 16s and the ride is about the same. Handling isn't. Best bet is 325i non-sport or 325xi.

[eelnoraa]

That doesn't work well enough. My snow tires are mounted on 16s and the ride is about the same. Handling isn't. Best bet is 325i non-sport or 325xi.

In order to get a better ride by change wheel and tires, you need to get both 16" wheel and all season tires, and get someting narrower, like 205 or 215.

Anyway, replacing wheel to 16", tires to all season, suspension to 325 non sport, to a ZHP for a better ride, maybe you should change cars instead. 04 TL would be nice, powerful and comfortable. I think it won't cost you any extra money to do this trade.

eel

[doeboy]

Any suggestions?

Welcome to the 'Fest! :D

I'd say try higher profile tires on maybe 17" rims... regular SP type M68s if you can get'em. It might help a bit.

PS... did you marry an axe-murderer? ;) :rofl:

[whitewagon]

You may want to consider getting some better shocks. I noticed when I put koni's on that the car seemed to take the bumps better.

They are firmer but less harsh? if that makes any sense. I don't think it does. :confused:

[Nick325xiT 5spd]

16" all seasons on AT Italia Type 5s (they have a 16" fitment that clears your brakes) and swap suspensions with someone that has a non-SP 325i.

Or buy a lexus.

[alkao]

I bought a 2004 330i ZHP. It's awesome.
I bit it mountain biking about two years ago slipped a disc in my neck. It sucks.
Driving roads like US 85 and US101 in the bay area is killing me.. the suspension is just too

Which spots are you referring to? The rough patches or the dips? On the 87 I don't go N onto 101 so I end up hitting the rough patch at full speed. There are also a few dips on 87 1/2 between 101 and 85 that I don't like.

I just got an e-mail that my ZHP will be in today or tomorrow! :) :rofl: But... Your comments make me regret not test driving on bad roads. :eeps:

I might see you on the road soon. I travel the whole 87 northbound in the mornings. What colour is your ZHP?

[woohoo]

Give it a few months. You may get used to it... if the ride is still too harsh, then do one of the above. :)

[bmw325]

Swapping the suspension, tires and wheels will probably cost around $2k, maybe a bit more. That's probably still less than the amount you'd lose by trading in such a new car on something else. Agree that you should try to test drive a non sp 325i first to see if the 16" wheels and softer suspension is enough-- or if you really need to look at something else entirely.

[Head-pants-now]

Hey Everyone,
All in all, you're a very understanding group. I will likely go test drive a 325 non sport as a test of whether cervical bliss can be achieved.

To those that have ZHP's on order: I'm an invalid.. you'll be fine. It's the best car I've ever driven. I used to drive a integra LS 1996.

The stretch of 85 that kills me is between 101 and 280

cheers,
Head Pants Now! -Charlie McKenzies' dad

[zhangqj]

[QUOTE=Head-pants-now] I used to drive a integra LS 1996.

The stretch of 85 that kills me is between 101 and 280
QUOTE]
If that part of 85 hurts you, you should seriously consider a 5 series, 525i 6sp.