Why do you push it? Cant you peddle it? That would be quicker?
GazHyde Z3 2.0 - Stage 2!
- Thread starter GazHyde
- Start date
Been thinking about weight reduction in general, and sorting out the uncomfortable driving position in the Z3. Obviously the spare wheel is dead weight, so will remove that and the under boot frame.
I've also spent a bit of time looking at the set of ///M seats I'm using currently as bedroom furniture. I think I have formulated a design to reduce the overall weight considerably, lower them about 1.75inch at the rear and tilt them up slightly at the front.
The plan is to replace replace the ludicrously heavy subframe with a lightweight adjustable frame. Will lose most of the weight from removing the two electric motors and the heavy subframe.
Will need to find a local engineering company who can sort some of the work, but it looks like a good plan!
I have a spare seat to practice on before commiting to the chopping the M seats. I was considering after market seats, but can't find any that would look right.
I've also spent a bit of time looking at the set of ///M seats I'm using currently as bedroom furniture. I think I have formulated a design to reduce the overall weight considerably, lower them about 1.75inch at the rear and tilt them up slightly at the front.
The plan is to replace replace the ludicrously heavy subframe with a lightweight adjustable frame. Will lose most of the weight from removing the two electric motors and the heavy subframe.
Will need to find a local engineering company who can sort some of the work, but it looks like a good plan!
I have a spare seat to practice on before commiting to the chopping the M seats. I was considering after market seats, but can't find any that would look right.
Are you going for the darker rear lights and boot panel 
GazHyde said:
I would suggest charcoal grey and a light smoked light.. Would look great on silver
Starting to investigate lowering springs/kits for the Zed. Couple of questions...
Eibach do a reasonably priced 30mm lowering kit (springs only) for about £230. Do I need to change the shocks at the same time? Had new front shocks fitted about 10k ago, so would prefer to use them.
The rears I will change as they were on the car when I got it, but again do I go for standard?
Eibach do a reasonably priced 30mm lowering kit (springs only) for about £230. Do I need to change the shocks at the same time? Had new front shocks fitted about 10k ago, so would prefer to use them.
The rears I will change as they were on the car when I got it, but again do I go for standard?
peteslag
Zorg Legend
GazHyde said:
If you match standard shocks with lowering springs they might not last as long. My shocks were in good nick when I fitted the Eibachs, it only took 2 months the blow the offside front shock. Your standard shocks might last 40,000 miles, they might blow the first time you hit a big bump. With a 30mm drop there is no way of knowing for sure.
Do you think your shock issue was down to the track days and/or TaffZees cruises? Just wondering if under more normal use they would be ok.
If I can get away with not changing the front shocks, I can invest that cash in to sorting other things...
If I can get away with not changing the front shocks, I can invest that cash in to sorting other things...
peteslag
Zorg Legend
My neighbour is a bit of a modding guru, he warned that my standard shocks might blow. It seems that 30mm is really pushing it for a standard unit. He helped me replace the springs and recommended that I fit shortened shocks there and then. I wish I'd listened because soon after fittng the Eibachs I had to replace the front shocks any way. The offside front had failed so badly the piston had absolutely no resistance at all. Eibach claim that a standard shock can handle a 30mm drop, I'm not sure that is true. :-?
I wish I could give you a definitive answer Gary, my neighbour is very knowledgeable on these things and he said that lowering springs will shorten the the life of a standard shock considerably. From bitter experience I have to agree. Before fitting the Eibachs both shocks were in tip top condition.
I wish I could give you a definitive answer Gary, my neighbour is very knowledgeable on these things and he said that lowering springs will shorten the the life of a standard shock considerably. From bitter experience I have to agree. Before fitting the Eibachs both shocks were in tip top condition.
When we fitted mine (also eibachs) we replaced the front shocks at the same time with sachs oem units. The rears were not replaced as they looked ok and the springs were just changed. This was coming up to 2 years ago and I haven't had any problems with the shocks or the springs.
My old E36 was lowered on the standard shocks also for about 3 years and I never had any problems with that either.
If you can afford to change them you may as well do the fronts all at once whilst they are out otherwise if one did fail it means it all needs changing again. But if you are looking at spending the money on something else I would check the conditon of yours before buying any and if they look OK I would probably leave them on and take the risk.
Although I do agree that fitting lowering springs to standard shocks then the life of the shocks are shortened considerably.
My old E36 was lowered on the standard shocks also for about 3 years and I never had any problems with that either.
If you can afford to change them you may as well do the fronts all at once whilst they are out otherwise if one did fail it means it all needs changing again. But if you are looking at spending the money on something else I would check the conditon of yours before buying any and if they look OK I would probably leave them on and take the risk.
Although I do agree that fitting lowering springs to standard shocks then the life of the shocks are shortened considerably.
I had new standard Sachs shocks with 30mm lowering springs on the 2.8 with no problems..
Z
zedonist
Guest
Hi Gaz,
I fitted the Bilstein B12 kit, which is Bilstein B8 Dampers and Eibach springs (30mm Drop) very comfortable and sporty ride
I fitted the Bilstein B12 kit, which is Bilstein B8 Dampers and Eibach springs (30mm Drop) very comfortable and sporty ride
peteslag
Zorg Legend
GazHyde said:
I am thinking of putting my car on a diet, my only remaining complaint about the car is that it feels a bit heavy. My plan was to remove the spare wheel, under boot frame, tool kit and maybe think about taking the sound proofing out of the interior and bonnet. My aim is to lose about 150 KG and try to maintain the look of the car. The seat bracket and motor idea sounds like a good plan so I'll follow your thread with interest. Maybe if I should lose some weight, that would shed a few kilos!
Wow, 150kg is quite a target. Work that out to be about 23 stone (2 skinny men, or one big one).
Not sure how much I will shave with the seat bases yet, but will weigh everything as I go. It's either that or lightweight racing seats, but I already have the M seats. Can't find any after market seats which are likely to look ok in the car.
Not sure how much I will shave with the seat bases yet, but will weigh everything as I go. It's either that or lightweight racing seats, but I already have the M seats. Can't find any after market seats which are likely to look ok in the car.
Z
zedonist
Guest
It will be more detrimental to the performance if you remove weight from the wrong place on the car, rather than add weight to where it is needed. As a suggestion it would be worth getting the car on corner scales and seeing where your centre of gravity is with you, the driver in the car and thus look to improving your traction.
peteslag
Zorg Legend
GazHyde said:
I've done a bit of research and reducing the overall weight is a bit of a problem. Shaving weight from the boot and cabin area is easy but the front end isn't so easy. I was never considering 150KG purely from the centre and rear of the car as it would mess with the C.O.G. Each suspension spring is designed to carry a certain amount of weight. As Zedonist said, it would be detrimental to the cars handling to start changing where this weight is distributed.
Unless there is an easy way of lightening the front end up I'll probably leave the weight alone and consider uprated ARB's. My only issue with the car is that it rolls a bit too much in tight corners, H&R ARB's should hopefully cure this. Before you start removing things from your car Gary, I would do a bit of research first........
zedonist said:
I'm not fat, just a little over cuddly.
Now the Z3 is insured again, it's time to start off with the mods ready for the cruise season! Already spec'd up some Eibach lowering springs which will be ordered in the next week.
My current priority is an induction kit, which my Zed has sorely missed since I sold the Simota kit I had fitted. Any suggestions on a good replacement, as I think the Simotas are getting difficult to get hold of, and at around £250 there must be a cheaper alternative? That said the Simota was really worth the money I paid for it.
Once the kit is fitted, then it's remap time to try and screw a couple of extra horses out of the old lump!
My current priority is an induction kit, which my Zed has sorely missed since I sold the Simota kit I had fitted. Any suggestions on a good replacement, as I think the Simotas are getting difficult to get hold of, and at around £250 there must be a cheaper alternative? That said the Simota was really worth the money I paid for it.
Once the kit is fitted, then it's remap time to try and screw a couple of extra horses out of the old lump!