Ride Height

misterB27 · 06-10-2012, 01:42 AM

I ordered my M3 a few weeks ago and I'm still waiting for it. I got curious about the ride height and wondered if it's going to be scratching the car when I go onto drive ways, ramps, etc.

I don't know how low the M3 is yet so, do you guys have any inconveniences with the M3 going on ramps and etc? (WITH THE STOCK SUSPENSION/SPRINGS)

Sorry if this is a repost..

Trevor .:R · 06-10-2012, 01:45 AM

i honestly couldnt tell you... i have my kwv3 almost slammed.. but if you ordered ZCP i do know its a little lower then a stock m3 no zcp package.

Endless619 · 06-10-2012, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misterB27

I ordered my M3 a few weeks ago and I'm still waiting for it. I got curious about the ride height and wondered if it's going to be scratching the car when I go onto drive ways, ramps, etc.

I don't know how low the M3 is yet so, do you guys have any inconveniences with the M3 going on ramps and etc? (WITH THE STOCK SUSPENSION/SPRINGS)

Sorry if this is a repost..

You should be fine. The M3 at stock height is like a jeep and not low at all. I would not worry about this at all.

misterB27 · 06-10-2012, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor .:R

i honestly couldnt tell you... i have my kwv3 almost slammed.. but if you ordered ZCP i do know its a little lower then a stock m3 no zcp package.

I did order the Competition Package and Premium Package so I guess it will be a little lower... They say it's 4 inches so I hope it doesn't make a big difference lol.

misterB27 · 06-10-2012, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heckler&Koch

You should be fine. The M3 at stock height is like a jeep and not low at all. I would not worry about this at all.

I hope the Competition Package 4 inches won't make a difference lol.

TTSam · 06-10-2012, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misterB27

I ordered my M3 a few weeks ago and I'm still waiting for it. I got curious about the ride height and wondered if it's going to be scratching the car when I go onto drive ways, ramps, etc.

I don't know how low the M3 is yet so, do you guys have any inconveniences with the M3 going on ramps and etc? (WITH THE STOCK SUSPENSION/SPRINGS)

Sorry if this is a repost..

There are some threads on this topic.

I find I scrape all kinds of places. I even have to back into my driveway and it is not steep at all. Do not have that problem with my 5 series or even my previous 911.

You will find yourself taking it very slow pulling into store parking lots and ramps to avoid scraping.

I am pretty sure almost every M3 has rashes all over the felt like covered units that sit below the bumper.

MKE_M3 · 06-10-2012, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TTSam

There are some threads on this topic.

I find I scrape all kinds of places. I even have to back into my driveway and it is not steep at all. Do not have that problem with my 5 series or even my previous 911.

You will find yourself taking it very slow pulling into store parking lots and ramps to avoid scraping.

I am pretty sure almost every M3 has rashes all over the felt like covered units that sit below the bumper.

+1, take it slow, especially in parking garages

bimdo · 06-10-2012, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TTSam

There are some threads on this topic.

I find I scrape all kinds of places. I even have to back into my driveway and it is not steep at all. Do not have that problem with my 5 series or even my previous 911.

You will find yourself taking it very slow pulling into store parking lots and ramps to avoid scraping.

I am pretty sure almost every M3 has rashes all over the felt like covered units that sit below the bumper.

+2.i just got mine recently,those felt units in front are fairly scraped up,and one was hanging down a few inches and had to be screwed back up.be careful with the front and don't pull up too close to parking curbs.i assume they're designed to take small hits,but don't know.

does anyone know how hard/expensive those felt things are to replace?

Mr. ///M3 RD · 06-10-2012, 09:36 AM

I agree with others, go slow and if not sure enter in a 45 degree angle and you be fine. If you have concrate blocks in parking spots then back in always be on guard for it after a while it becomes routine

mlhj83 · 06-10-2012, 11:34 AM

Those plastic/felt pieces underneath are primarily for aerodynamic purposes, and thankfully, are relatively cheap and easy to replace.

LarThaL · 06-10-2012, 11:41 AM

Don't worry about it. The angle of approach is more of a factor and isn't too bad unless you add a front lip. Honestly, though, any performance car is going to have a low front fascia. If it concerns you that much, you should have bought an SUV or something.

py0413 · 06-10-2012, 11:55 AM

The front bumper would be more to worry about but only in cases of extremely bad designed speed bumps in some parking lots. I got some scraping and scratches under the bumper because of this block thing they put at the end of a parking stall. Eventually, I tried to back in to a stall as much as I could.

PhillyNate · 06-10-2012, 12:43 PM

Everything TTSam said is correct, I have ZCP and have to back into my driveway as well. No other way. Just be aware and careful and you'll be fine.

Denk · 06-10-2012, 12:57 PM

The ZCP sits low, it just doesn't look like it because of the wheel gap that is present w/o slamming the car. Leave it as is and you should be fine most of the time...slam it and you'll have to be more vigilant negotiating hills, speed bumps and such.

LarThaL · 06-10-2012, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denk

The ZCP sits low, it just doesn't look like it because of the wheel gap that is present w/o slamming the car. Leave it as is and you should be fine most of the time...slam it and you'll have to be more vigilant negotiating hills, speed bumps and such.

ZCP sits 10mm lower....really isn't that much lower. if you think our cars are low in stock form, go check out a stock Corvette.

Denk · 06-10-2012, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarThaL

ZCP sits 10mm lower....really isn't that much lower. if you think our cars are low in stock form, go check out a stock Corvette.

Yeah, true sports cars sit really low...kinda purposely built that way. Our M3 is kinda general purpose GT...sits pretty low for a GT.

mlhj83 · 06-10-2012, 01:26 PM

Our cars have better ground clearance than an equivalent 3 series with the M Sport Package. You can clearly see this in the ground-to-roof height specifications. It is the bumper extensions and the felt pieces that are low to help reduce air flow under the car, for the purpose of reducing lift.

BeamingE39 · 06-10-2012, 09:55 PM

Take it slow and angled on driveways and reverse over parking blocks and you'll never scrape. The stock M3 has tons of ground clearance, 4.5 inches to be exact.

cuchanonM · 06-10-2012, 10:08 PM

I agree with others, go slow and if not sure enter in a 45 degree angle and you be fine.

ES_TRADER · 06-11-2012, 12:10 AM

I scrape all the time with zcp. My 335i m sport scrapes far less than the m3. I can easily drive over the parking blocks with the 335 and not hit it, while m3 always scrapes on those

mlhj83 · 06-11-2012, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by estrader

I scrape all the time with zcp. My 335i m sport scrapes far less than the m3. I can easily drive over the parking blocks with the 335 and not hit it, while m3 always scrapes on those

The 335i M Sport has a lower ground clearance than the M3. It's the front bumper and the felt pieces of the M3 that are low, but the rest of the undercarriage of the M3 sits higher than the 335i M Sport. Look up the roof-to-ground height specs.

Endless619 · 06-11-2012, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbiedawg

+2.i just got mine recently,those felt units in front are fairly scraped up,and one was hanging down a few inches and had to be screwed back up.be careful with the front and don't pull up too close to parking curbs.i assume they're designed to take small hits,but don't know.

does anyone know how hard/expensive those felt things are to replace?

Dealer quoted me $289 for the front piece. But my car is lowered 2 inches in the front and rear.

06-10-2012, 01:42 AM	#1
misterB27 Private 27 Rep 86 Posts Drives: Rental.. Join Date: May 2012 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Ride Height I ordered my M3 a few weeks ago and I'm still waiting for it. I got curious about the ride height and wondered if it's going to be scratching the car when I go onto drive ways, ramps, etc. I don't know how low the M3 is yet so, do you guys have any inconveniences with the M3 going on ramps and etc? (WITH THE STOCK SUSPENSION/SPRINGS) Sorry if this is a repost..
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06-10-2012, 01:45 AM	#2
Trevor .:R Captain 66 Rep 699 Posts Drives: 13 ZCP DCT Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Thousand Oaks/Camarillo/Westlake iTrader: (1) Garage List 11 M3 [10.00]	i honestly couldnt tell you... i have my kwv3 almost slammed.. but if you ordered ZCP i do know its a little lower then a stock m3 no zcp package. __________________ Current: 2013 E92 M3 AW DCT Past: 2011 E90 M3 AW DCT, 2011 E92 M3 MR 6MT, 2008 E92 M3 AW 6MT
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06-10-2012, 09:36 AM	#9
Mr. ///M3 RD Happy Camper 614 Rep 7,869 Posts Drives: C63 AMG & 280 SL on Weekends : Join Date: May 2010 Location: GTA, Ontario - Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 1969 Restored Merce ... [7.50] 2011 M3 Coupe TRADED [7.34] 1987 BMW 535is [1.00] Cars from the Past [6.50] The ///M3 Engine S65 [9.59]	I agree with others, go slow and if not sure enter in a 45 degree angle and you be fine. If you have concrate blocks in parking spots then back in always be on guard for it after a while it becomes routine __________________ Cheers, Rolf-Dieter Life will take us to some interesting places, fortunately The ///M3 will too with a many of us know this very well, now my C6.3 AMG with 487 HP does it too ---> Click here for some good stuff I found
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06-10-2012, 11:34 AM	#10
mlhj83 Scythe-Meister 90 Rep 1,053 Posts Drives: '11 E92 M3 ZCP \| F80 M3 CS Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Those plastic/felt pieces underneath are primarily for aerodynamic purposes, and thankfully, are relatively cheap and easy to replace.
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06-10-2012, 11:41 AM	#11
LarThaL Colonel 338 Rep 2,940 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: West Springfield, MA iTrader: (0)	Don't worry about it. The angle of approach is more of a factor and isn't too bad unless you add a front lip. Honestly, though, any performance car is going to have a low front fascia. If it concerns you that much, you should have bought an SUV or something. __________________ **Audi S6 Audi S3 * Porsche Cayman GTS* --Former BMW M3 owner**
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06-10-2012, 11:55 AM	#12
py0413 Major 111 Rep 1,291 Posts Drives: Slow Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: BC iTrader: (2)	The front bumper would be more to worry about but only in cases of extremely bad designed speed bumps in some parking lots. I got some scraping and scratches under the bumper because of this block thing they put at the end of a parking stall. Eventually, I tried to back in to a stall as much as I could. __________________ Must stop eating..............
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06-10-2012, 12:43 PM	#13
PhillyNate ENTHUSIAST 135 Rep 2,097 Posts Drives: 2010 Porsche Cayman Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 Porsche Cayman [0.00]	Everything TTSam said is correct, I have ZCP and have to back into my driveway as well. No other way. Just be aware and careful and you'll be fine. __________________ "what I'm driving here...is an ending." Jeremy Clarkson 2010 Carrara White Porsche Cayman 6mt 2014 Whiteout Toyota GT-86 6mt(Sold 05/23/15) 2011 Alpine White BMW M3 6mt ZCP Coupe(forced retirement 06/06/14) 2008 Alpine White BMW 328i 6mt Coupe(retired 06/21/11)
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06-10-2012, 12:57 PM	#14
Denk Brigadier General 1006 Rep 3,341 Posts Drives: 2021 X5M Join Date: May 2011 Location: PNW iTrader: (2)	The ZCP sits low, it just doesn't look like it because of the wheel gap that is present w/o slamming the car. Leave it as is and you should be fine most of the time...slam it and you'll have to be more vigilant negotiating hills, speed bumps and such.
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06-10-2012, 01:26 PM	#17
mlhj83 Scythe-Meister 90 Rep 1,053 Posts Drives: '11 E92 M3 ZCP \| F80 M3 CS Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Our cars have better ground clearance than an equivalent 3 series with the M Sport Package. You can clearly see this in the ground-to-roof height specifications. It is the bumper extensions and the felt pieces that are low to help reduce air flow under the car, for the purpose of reducing lift.
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06-10-2012, 09:55 PM	#18
BeamingE39 Second Lieutenant 16 Rep 212 Posts Drives: slower than I'd like Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Southern California iTrader: (0)	Take it slow and angled on driveways and reverse over parking blocks and you'll never scrape. The stock M3 has tons of ground clearance, 4.5 inches to be exact.
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06-10-2012, 10:08 PM	#19
cuchanonM New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: aodi Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: good iTrader: (0)	I agree with others, go slow and if not sure enter in a 45 degree angle and you be fine. __________________
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06-11-2012, 12:10 AM	#20
ES_TRADER Colonel 345 Rep 2,928 Posts Drives: 328i, 335i, M3, 535i, X5, 36M Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: OC iTrader: (3) Garage List 2014 Ford Raptor [0.00] 2012 328i E92 [10.00] 2013 X5 [0.00] 2013 335i F30 [8.00] 1990 Toyota Previa [0.00] 1997 E36 M3 [10.00] 2011 E92 M3 [0.00] 2011 535i [0.00]	I scrape all the time with zcp. My 335i m sport scrapes far less than the m3. I can easily drive over the parking blocks with the 335 and not hit it, while m3 always scrapes on those
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