Just bought a 97 1.9 roadster. The ride is not as smooth as I remember my old 97 I sold a few years ago. How do you know you need new shocks. If I am going 60 miles an hour on the highway in a curve and I hit a bump the car hops a few inches left or right, if that makes sense. Should I just take it to a shop to have them check the suspension.
Suspension
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You don't give the miles, but it appears from the poor ride and the side-hopping that you need new struts and shocks.
The smoothest and also the least expensive items are Monroe SensaTrac.
Sensen are inexpensive but hard, and may have quality problems -- I had to get rid of mine.
Sachs are original equipment, but expensive, and mine rode poorly at 32,000 miles.
KYB are a good balance of ride, handling and cost -- what I finally got.
Koni and Bilstein are expensive. Their street models ride alright and handle well.
If your tires are old, they can also be contributing to a poor ride. The tires on the car I bought were originals with 32,000 miles and plenty of tread. But the car had a wiggle at low speed and a vibration at road speeds. New tires got rid of that. With new tires, struts and shocks, the car became smooth and pleasant to drive.
The smoothest and also the least expensive items are Monroe SensaTrac.
Sensen are inexpensive but hard, and may have quality problems -- I had to get rid of mine.
Sachs are original equipment, but expensive, and mine rode poorly at 32,000 miles.
KYB are a good balance of ride, handling and cost -- what I finally got.
Koni and Bilstein are expensive. Their street models ride alright and handle well.
If your tires are old, they can also be contributing to a poor ride. The tires on the car I bought were originals with 32,000 miles and plenty of tread. But the car had a wiggle at low speed and a vibration at road speeds. New tires got rid of that. With new tires, struts and shocks, the car became smooth and pleasant to drive.
The KYBs are called Excel-G.
STRUTS
Front R:
KYB 334604
Front L:
KYB 334605
SHOCKS
KYB 343330
eBay is probably the least expensive source.
Also see:
http://www.autoaccessoriesgarage.com/Suspension/KYB-GR-2-Shocks
http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/...+Roadster+1.9&autoYear=1997&autoModClar=&cat=
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...ement+strut&sprefix=KYB+334604,automotive,387
https://www.amazon.com/Shock-Absorb...id=1382998874&ref_=sr_1_2&s=automotive&sr=1-2
I bought from a local import auto parts store, struts for $165 and shocks for $55, because the car was on stands, with the defective Sensens returned, and I didn't want to wait on mail ordering new parts.
At 135,000 miles you will need new foam rubber strut bumpers, and probably new strut mounts. Also get a couple of plastic cable holders for the left strut, as these get broken in removal. Do you know how to find your part numbers or need them provided? The plastic strut dirt covers should be OK, unless they are missing. The rubber spring pads should also be OK.
http://s49.photobucket.com/user/vin... Related/Z3OEbumpercover.jpg.html?sort=4&o=14
STRUTS
Front R:
KYB 334604
Front L:
KYB 334605
SHOCKS
KYB 343330
eBay is probably the least expensive source.
Also see:
http://www.autoaccessoriesgarage.com/Suspension/KYB-GR-2-Shocks
http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/...+Roadster+1.9&autoYear=1997&autoModClar=&cat=
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...ement+strut&sprefix=KYB+334604,automotive,387
https://www.amazon.com/Shock-Absorb...id=1382998874&ref_=sr_1_2&s=automotive&sr=1-2
I bought from a local import auto parts store, struts for $165 and shocks for $55, because the car was on stands, with the defective Sensens returned, and I didn't want to wait on mail ordering new parts.
At 135,000 miles you will need new foam rubber strut bumpers, and probably new strut mounts. Also get a couple of plastic cable holders for the left strut, as these get broken in removal. Do you know how to find your part numbers or need them provided? The plastic strut dirt covers should be OK, unless they are missing. The rubber spring pads should also be OK.
http://s49.photobucket.com/user/vin... Related/Z3OEbumpercover.jpg.html?sort=4&o=14
The parts in #5 fit a standard suspension, not the sport suspension. An M likely has sport suspension.
Go to the vendor sites in #5 and put in your year and model Z3, and the site will say whether the parts fit.
Or put the last 7 of your VIN into the decoder at
http://bimmer.work
and the data sheet will show your suspension.
If you had a M, the data sheet would call it an M.
M Z3s are most recognizable by dual exhausts with four tips. If you don't have that, you could have a base Z3 with M embellishments on the door sill, steering wheel and shifter knob.
M Z3s have a different suspension with lower springs and different struts, probably not even called Sport.
Base Z3s can have an optional Sport suspension, which would show on the build data sheet.
I think the M suspension, Sport suspension and Standard suspension are all different.
M Z3s are most recognizable by dual exhausts with four tips. If you don't have that, you could have a base Z3 with M embellishments on the door sill, steering wheel and shifter knob.
M Z3s have a different suspension with lower springs and different struts, probably not even called Sport.
Base Z3s can have an optional Sport suspension, which would show on the build data sheet.
I think the M suspension, Sport suspension and Standard suspension are all different.
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