exe36m3
Well-Known Member
So 20+ year BMW owner here. I've got an X3 (wife) and a 4 (son) in the driveway. Just sold our 09 328i. All 3 of those cars represent the same 2-3-4 platform from BMW for the last 10 years.
So I get your wife.
The Supra/Z4 does ride *differently*.
Some thoughts:
1. Short wheelbase - the Supra is about a full foot less than the 3 series BMW. So the time it takes when the front wheel hits a bump to when it hits the rear is shorter. Thus the feeling of bumpy.
2. Ride quality - A big part of ride quality are tires. I've run the Yokohama (a lot like the stock Michelins) and Hankook (more touring). The Michelin and Yokohama ride and handle pretty similar... great road holding, but darn noisy and harsh on most payment. If you are OK with going from a 95% performance tire to a 85%-90% tire the Hankook is A LOT quieter and smoother as a daily driven tire.
3. Suspension parts - how can you tell if the suspension you got on your CarMax car is stock or not? Some signs like when you look into the wheel well, if the springs aren't black but are yellow or red or orange or blue... will tell you the previous owner swapped springs on you. Springs (and most coil-overs) generally don't ride much more harsher than stock unless they are spec'd to the STUPIDLY stiff. But another way to check this is to park your car and put your hand sideways between the tire and car body. Stock you should have about 2 fingers between tire/body. If it's less, the previous owner changed the suspension.
Personally, if it's really an issue and you drive 99% around town to work and back, run the stock tires down and buy the Hankook tires. This will easily address 50% of any harshness, noise and perceptions of bumpy problems. I know this again because I've bought and used those tires.
So I get your wife.
The Supra/Z4 does ride *differently*.
Some thoughts:
1. Short wheelbase - the Supra is about a full foot less than the 3 series BMW. So the time it takes when the front wheel hits a bump to when it hits the rear is shorter. Thus the feeling of bumpy.
2. Ride quality - A big part of ride quality are tires. I've run the Yokohama (a lot like the stock Michelins) and Hankook (more touring). The Michelin and Yokohama ride and handle pretty similar... great road holding, but darn noisy and harsh on most payment. If you are OK with going from a 95% performance tire to a 85%-90% tire the Hankook is A LOT quieter and smoother as a daily driven tire.
3. Suspension parts - how can you tell if the suspension you got on your CarMax car is stock or not? Some signs like when you look into the wheel well, if the springs aren't black but are yellow or red or orange or blue... will tell you the previous owner swapped springs on you. Springs (and most coil-overs) generally don't ride much more harsher than stock unless they are spec'd to the STUPIDLY stiff. But another way to check this is to park your car and put your hand sideways between the tire and car body. Stock you should have about 2 fingers between tire/body. If it's less, the previous owner changed the suspension.
Personally, if it's really an issue and you drive 99% around town to work and back, run the stock tires down and buy the Hankook tires. This will easily address 50% of any harshness, noise and perceptions of bumpy problems. I know this again because I've bought and used those tires.
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