Stock Z4 Rear Spring Issues + Poll

Shipkiller · 06-27-2010, 04:31 PM

Over on the European Z4 Forums, the Z4 drivers over in Europe seem to have a common problem with their rear springs breaking. I think the issue stems from dirt/gravel getting underneath the spring, grinding the protective paint away and allowing the spring to start to corrode, weakening the spring and causing it to break. But that is just a theory.

Of course it could also be that their roads are just terrible. At least that is what the Europeans say....

While I have not heard of this happening on the Z4 forums here in the US, I wonder if this has happened and not just reported.

Has anyone here in the US had their rear springs break?

Incompatible · 06-27-2010, 04:49 PM

Shipkiller, you need to vote also.
Southern California car, weather not really a factor.

nmulax · 06-27-2010, 04:58 PM

No problems; but I swapped them for the H&R springs around 12k miles.

CalRick · 06-27-2010, 06:04 PM

This issue had come up a few times on the various US forums, primarily from northeast cars. It seems to be common with the E46s from which the Z4s are derived. It seems likely to be a salt corrosion issue possibly combined with the OPs suggestion of dirt/gravel wear. It doesn't seem to be a particularly common problem on Z's, but may be like other early design/production problems (it seemed to be more common on early E46s) that BMW "fixed, but not quite" (like sticky steering).

scottyD · 06-27-2010, 06:26 PM

Yep, I replaced mine around 55k miles. I just replied to your other thread on the other forum...

The rocks and pebbles get crushed between the spring and the spring mounting surface and it punctures the paint coating and corrodes the steel.

Bad roads (frequent here in the northeast) and salting the roads during winter (mine is a daily driver, year-round) are big contributors as well, I'm sure.

Finnegan · 06-27-2010, 09:18 PM

Springs are okay. But only 18K miles, and CA roads, no salt no gravel.

dekaliber · 07-09-2010, 11:47 PM

Anyone got a picture of this? I took a peek at the left and right side of the rear axle today to diagnose an intermittent pop/clunk sound but only really looked at the sway bar components. Didn't really take a close look at the springs but nothing jumped out at me.

AFAIK, my car has spent 15.5K of its life in southern California, and I've only been subjecting to the shit roads we have in IL for less than 1500.

scottyD · 07-12-2010, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dekaliber

Anyone got a picture of this?

Yup. Here's what my passenger side rear spring looked like at 55k miles.

CJW2OO4 · 12-08-2010, 05:28 PM

what did you end up doing? did you simply replace springs or did you replace the suspension? coilovers or struts and springs?

scottyD · 12-09-2010, 05:45 PM

Springs were the only part broken - they were the only things I replaced.

View Poll Results: Z4 Rear Spring Issues. Stock Springs only
Yes, my rear springs broke and needed to be replaced.	3	13.04%
No, my rear springs are ok.	20	86.96%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 23. You may not vote on this poll

06-27-2010, 04:31 PM	#1
Shipkiller Colonel 188 Rep 2,138 Posts Drives: Me Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Virginia Beach iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 BMW Z4M Coupe [8.50] 2003 BMW Z4 Roadster [8.33]	Stock Z4 Rear Spring Issues + Poll Over on the European Z4 Forums, the Z4 drivers over in Europe seem to have a common problem with their rear springs breaking. I think the issue stems from dirt/gravel getting underneath the spring, grinding the protective paint away and allowing the spring to start to corrode, weakening the spring and causing it to break. But that is just a theory. Of course it could also be that their roads are just terrible. At least that is what the Europeans say.... While I have not heard of this happening on the Z4 forums here in the US, I wonder if this has happened and not just reported. Has anyone here in the US had their rear springs break?
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06-27-2010, 04:49 PM	#2
Incompatible Major 55 Rep 1,224 Posts Drives: 07 AW Z4C 3.0Si Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Diego iTrader: (1)	Shipkiller, you need to vote also. Southern California car, weather not really a factor. __________________ If you can't take the time to teach a kid something good, someone will take the time to teach them something bad. Last edited by Incompatible; 06-28-2010 at 08:09 AM..
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06-27-2010, 04:58 PM	#3
nmulax Brigadier General 379 Rep 4,320 Posts Drives: '07 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: May 2006 Location: Metro-Detroit iTrader: (5) Garage List 2007 Z4M Coupé [7.66]	No problems; but I swapped them for the H&R springs around 12k miles. __________________
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06-27-2010, 06:04 PM	#4
CalRick Second Lieutenant 13 Rep 282 Posts Drives: '15 M235 & '95 M3 tracktoy ; Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Los Angeles or Monterey iTrader: (1) Garage List 2016 X3 Xdrive28d [0.00] 2015 BMW M235i [0.00] 1995 BMW M3 [0.00]	This issue had come up a few times on the various US forums, primarily from northeast cars. It seems to be common with the E46s from which the Z4s are derived. It seems likely to be a salt corrosion issue possibly combined with the OPs suggestion of dirt/gravel wear. It doesn't seem to be a particularly common problem on Z's, but may be like other early design/production problems (it seemed to be more common on early E46s) that BMW "fixed, but not quite" (like sticky steering).
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06-27-2010, 06:26 PM	#5
scottyD Private First Class 2 Rep 136 Posts Drives: 07 3.0si Coupe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: DC/Baltimore area iTrader: (0)	Yep, I replaced mine around 55k miles. I just replied to your other thread on the other forum... The rocks and pebbles get crushed between the spring and the spring mounting surface and it punctures the paint coating and corrodes the steel. Bad roads (frequent here in the northeast) and salting the roads during winter (mine is a daily driver, year-round) are big contributors as well, I'm sure.
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06-27-2010, 09:18 PM	#6
Finnegan Dog Listener 707 Rep 7,850 Posts Drives: Z4M/. Z3M, E36/46 M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Teaching the dog to slalom iTrader: (22)	Springs are okay. But only 18K miles, and CA roads, no salt no gravel.
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07-09-2010, 11:47 PM	#7
dekaliber Major 75 Rep 1,143 Posts Drives: '07 Z4MC, '11 JCW, '18 Z06 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (1)	Anyone got a picture of this? I took a peek at the left and right side of the rear axle today to diagnose an intermittent pop/clunk sound but only really looked at the sway bar components. Didn't really take a close look at the springs but nothing jumped out at me. AFAIK, my car has spent 15.5K of its life in southern California, and I've only been subjecting to the shit roads we have in IL for less than 1500.
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12-08-2010, 05:28 PM	#9
CJW2OO4 Major 148 Rep 1,101 Posts Drives: E86M,M2,F13 E86&E85M,E86,2E46 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boston iTrader: (4)	what did you end up doing? did you simply replace springs or did you replace the suspension? coilovers or struts and springs?
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12-09-2010, 05:45 PM	#10
scottyD Private First Class 2 Rep 136 Posts Drives: 07 3.0si Coupe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: DC/Baltimore area iTrader: (0)	Springs were the only part broken - they were the only things I replaced.
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