Broken front sport spring again Z3

[BinJuice]

Hello chaps,

Please bear with me I know this has been covered before.

So on inspecting the drivers side brake pads today I noticed the front spring is snapped off. (Funny didn't feel it but I now know where the odd clunk is coming from)
I aware the general consensus is sport springs aren't available grr
I'm hoping not to go the whole suspension swap way if at all possible (short arms long pockets) and like the current "sport stance" to the car.
Its had new Monroe Reflex shocks to rear fitted in the past 12 months retaining sport rear springs.
What do you think are my options? attempt to purchase 1 spring from any of you good selves? Go standard springs? lower springs?
I feel as I should replace front shockers at same time so advice here as well please, do I go standard or sport variety?.

TIA Keith

 

[Nodzed]

@mrscalex may have some. Rob?

 

[mrscalex]

Sorry I haven't got any spare Sport springs. But if it was me I'd certainly be trying to replace with second-hand. Although new springs are available from BMW at around £100 ea. Chance of finding a pair of secondhand Sport springs when you need them negligible. Better to try and locate a set and keep as spares ready if you can.

And yes, I'd certainly be looking at replacing the struts with matching fronts unless you know them to be recent, I use Monroe Reflex myself.

 

[Bumpa]

I have had both broken front and rear sport springs and have been completely unable to get new ones. My local BMW dealer told me there were none in the UK and when he went to the German company was told there were none in Germany either. He said I could put them on back order but had no idea when they would come, if ever. All internet searches came to nowt. So just to get the car back on the road I fitted standard springs with new Monroe struts. The car is a tad taller at the rear but not excessively so (perhaps half an inch), and the front looks just the same as it did on sport springs. It drives just as nicely as it always did. My broken front spring got below the platform and destroyed the tyre before I realised what was going on.

 

[Bozzy]

@BinJuice I have a set Eibach springs if you're interested ?. Going cheap.

 

[BinJuice]

@BinJuice I have a set Eibach springs if you're interested ?. Going cheap.

Oh yes please.

will work out how to private message you.

Keith

 

[Bumpa]

The only thing I would say is that the Eibach springs are very much shorter than sport springs. See my photo. That's why I sent the Eibach ones back and stuck with standard springs.

 

[BinJuice]

Cheers for the info @Bumpa
I know there are spring pads to lift the rear end but not heard of anything to lift the front?
Im running with the theory mines probably a little lower with age and wear n tear, or who knows maybe a set of springs with 2 carefull owners might appear in the for sale area.

 

[BinJuice]

So today I've taken out the front struts in readiness for the postie with Steve @Bozzy new springs.
Man its like the Titanic around the front hubs so put the impact gun to good use and after a few choice words they let go and are now sat in the shed.
I have I'm sorry to say a further couple of questions.
Firstly How the heck do I undo the top mount after compressing the springs?? Its got what looks like 2 nuts one inside of tother but not sure how to undo. (might surrender and get local garage to replace)

Secondly my car has sports shocks and I cant find any replacement's with local motor factors, they all sell standard not Mtech shocks and the only available online are from the likes of AutoDoc Germany with a postage delay.
What's the difference between standard and sports and is it advisable to replace with sports type shocks and any recommended for ECP or equivalent factors.

Thanks again Keith

 

[t-tony]

You will be fine fitting Monroe shocks. As for undoing the top nut, just fit the spring compressors and apply a small amount of pressure, then loosen the top nut with your impact wrench. Now compress the spring and remove the nut and decompress the spring. The spring which is broken you can cut in half with an angle grinder if you have one, by cutting a vee into the coil if you want to save some time.

Tony.

 

[Bozzy]

So today I've taken out the front struts in readiness for the postie with Steve @Bozzy new springs.
Man its like the Titanic around the front hubs so put the impact gun to good use and after a few choice words they let go and are now sat in the shed.
I have I'm sorry to say a further couple of questions.
Firstly How the heck do I undo the top mount after compressing the springs?? Its got what looks like 2 nuts one inside of tother but not sure how to undo. (might surrender and get local garage to replace)

Secondly my car has sports shocks and I cant find any replacement's with local motor factors, they all sell standard not Mtech shocks and the only available online are from the likes of AutoDoc Germany with a postage delay.
What's the difference between standard and sports and is it advisable to replace with sports type shocks and any recommended for ECP or equivalent factors.

Thanks again Keith

They worked well with my standard Sachs shock absorbers.
They're more likely to be available in motor factors. Or as Tony said, the Monroe ones.

 

[mrscalex]

There are no such thing as Sport shocks anymore. Even from BMW.

Monroe Reflex will be superior to the Sport shock of 20 years old design anyway.

As Tony says. The impact gun will make short work of the strut top nut. But for goodness sake make sure your springs are compressed securely.

 

[NZ00Z3]

For replacing shocks/struts on M-sport suspension, I use standard Z3 shocks/Struts. The 15 mm different in travel is nothing to worry about.

As for spring compressors.....I've had bad experiences with them. I now take the front struts to the local garage that has a hydraulic strut press and get them to do it for NZ$50 or approx 25 pounds. That way I get to keep all of my fingers, eyes and nose.

 

[Fraser]

For replacing shocks/struts on M-sport suspension, I use standard Z3 shocks/Struts. The 15 mm different in travel is nothing to worry about.

As for spring compressors.....I've had bad experiences with them. I now take the front struts to the local garage that has a hydraulic strut press and get them to do it for NZ$50 or approx 25 pounds. That way I get to keep all of my fingers, eyes and nose.

The mechanic I use would agree with you @Murray Wall!

My drivers side spring rusted through whilst sitting in the garage and after getting the strut out I tried to replace the front spring with 4 spring compressors and I just wasn't comfortable getting the new spring down far enough to get the new top mount back on. After some time trying and edging further back incase it blew out, I decided that it was more sensible to get the garage around the corner to do it. It only cost a tenner and after admiring me for having a go, he told me that replacing front springs is the No. 1 reason for serious injuries in the garage mechanic world!! After hearing that, the passenger side is going straight round to them when I can be bothered to get it out!

 

[mrscalex]

I made the investment in a floor mounted hydraulic compressor a couple of years ago. I think it was about £125.

I do enough to warrant the investment. But more importantly it’s the peace of mind as those clamp on compressors truly scare me.

 

[Bumpa]

I used four clamp-on compressors on my front springs, but even then it was a scary job. They have to be compressed by one helluva lot before the top nut can be removed. I found with just two clamps the angle of the spring coils meant that the clamps just slid round the spring and didn't give the security I craved. You will need to take a brave pill.

In line with what the others have said, I fitted Monroe struts on my sport with no problem.

 

[BinJuice]

Thanks for the replies re spring compressors I'm not a brave soul so taking to local garage

 

[DrWong]

I also used four compressors per spring, PLUS two ratchet straps for extra redundancy. Still bloody terrifying tho. Top nut whizzed off with gun after compressing springs and Monroes here too