Just finished ZCP retrofit

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by rldzhao

Do you have pictures with ZCP and non-ZCP shocks side by side?

Appearance-wise, there is literally no difference.

aajami: I'll be sending your pictures from the install today.

[kitw]

Couple of questions:

Are the springs stiffer? (measure the wire diameter, that should give you a good idea, you'll need a pretty good tool to measure it)

How long did the parts take to get in? I would like to do this to my car, too, eventually. (wasn't happy with lowering springs on stock shocks)

[RandyB]

Were there any EDC related coding issues or was everything just a matter of replacing the shocks/struts/springs? I will probably go this route if I change my suspension at all. I love the ZCP wheels - they're a must have.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by RandyB

Were there any EDC related coding issues or was everything just a matter of replacing the shocks/struts/springs? I will probably go this route if I change my suspension at all. I love the ZCP wheels - they're a must have.

No coding was required nor were any errors present after the retrofit. This is a quick and easy swap for those interested.

[gr8000]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

No coding was required nor were any errors present after the retrofit. This is a quick and easy swap for those interested.

Can the EDC and MDM coding of ZCP be uploaded in a stock M3 (with or without the ZCP shock and spring swap)?

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by gr8000

Can the EDC and MDM coding of ZCP be uploaded in a stock M3 (with or without the ZCP shock and spring swap)?

I'm certain its a bit more than that, even the e46 ZCP isn't available as a complete retrofit (not including controller/TRACK button).

[Technic]

Originally Posted by gr8000

Can the EDC and MDM coding of ZCP be uploaded in a stock M3 (with or without the ZCP shock and spring swap)?

How many times this question will be asked and answered in this forum?

[gr8000]

Originally Posted by Technic

How many times this question will be asked and answered in this forum?

It is never enough - each thread needs to carry the answer!!

Sorry, I haven't come accross to it yet - do I guess it right it is a no?

[Levi]

A very nice looking car. You are the only 09' M3 LCI owner. CF looks very good with Space Grey. Unfortunately there are no Black-line taillights, but the red LCI taillights are also very nice. If you would not have spend on ZCP suspenssion retrofit, would you have tried to get M3 GTS coilovers? They are OEM, even if they are KW V3 CS with ///M badge?

[outie]

Side by side 2011 ZCP vs 2010 non-ZCP:

[aajami]

Originally Posted by Technic

So are the springs shorter than the non-ZCP or the 10mm drop is from the perches?

I'm not sure, Technic. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to compare the suspension side by side (stock suspension was on the car when I had the ZCP components on hand, ZCP suspension is on the car now that I have the stock components on hand, and I didn't perform the install myself).

I thought the spring perch was a bit lower on the front struts, but Tom swears they're aesthetically identical. Given that he has held both parts at the same time and I haven't, take his word over mine.

Originally Posted by Slpnbyu

Do you know if these are the same part numbers as what would be used on the E90, or are they E92 specific?

These are specific to the E92. However, I'm sure you can work with the same vendors I did to determine the PNs for the E90.

Originally Posted by Slpnbyu

I wonder why they are matching the spring part numbers with your VIN. I have read in the past (E46 CSL) that they used to match VIN with part numbers so you couldn't order the parts unless you really had a CSL.

Originally Posted by Technic

I would guess that it has to do with the Vehicle Order that that VIN has to show (ZCP). The springs are matched to the shocks which are matched to the new EDC algorithm, which makes up the ZCP option code in the VO, which is in the VIN.

In simpler words, BMW wants to make sure that if/when you crash you are not going to use your ZCP retrofit as the possible cause for a lawsuit.

That might be one of the reasons, but the primary reason is that BMW uses different springs (I think the number is six) depending on what kind of option packages came on your car. More options = added weight, which means different spring stiffness. Your options are tied to the VIN, and you need it to determine which of the six (give or take) ZCP springs you need for the option packages that come on your car.

Originally Posted by kitw

Couple of questions:

Are the springs stiffer? (measure the wire diameter, that should give you a good idea, you'll need a pretty good tool to measure it)

How long did the parts take to get in? I would like to do this to my car, too, eventually. (wasn't happy with lowering springs on stock shocks)

I don't have any gauges, let alone one precise enough to measure wire thickness, unfortunately.

I ordered these parts back in April, and BMW AG was very slow in feeding their parts supply line, especially considering that customers were taking delivery of their ZCP cars in March. Once the parts were made available for shipment (which they are now) it took 1-3 weeks for them to arrive, depending on the vendor that they were ordered from.

Originally Posted by Levi

A very nice looking car. You are the only 09' M3 LCI owner. CF looks very good with Space Grey. Unfortunately there are no Black-line taillights, but the red LCI taillights are also very nice. If you would not have spend on ZCP suspenssion retrofit, would you have tried to get M3 GTS coilovers? They are OEM, even if they are KW V3 CS with ///M badge?

Thanks, Levi. Yes, shame about the cancelled Black-Lines, but the Euro LCI lights are stunning in person. I would not have gotten the GTS suspension, just because I want something that's livable on the street. My M3 is a daily driver, and I'm sure the GTS suspension would have been complete overkill for such a car.

I'll leave it up to rldzhao to retrofit the GTS suspension

[aus]

Car looks great.

And KW CS are now OEM... on the GTS.

[M3 Esq.]

Originally Posted by Technic

So are the springs shorter than the non-ZCP or the 10mm drop is from the perches?

I too would like to know how the lower ride height is achieved.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by aajami

I thought the spring perch was a bit lower on the front struts, but Tom swears they're aesthetically identical. Given that he has held both parts at the same time and I haven't, take his word over mine.

I did not get the change to measure the bottom spring perch vs assembled height to see where the 10mm was achieved.

[RandyB]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

I did not get the change to measure the bottom spring perch vs assembled height to see where the 10mm was achieved.

I guess this will remain a mystery for now. It would have to be the springs in the rear accounting for the lowering, right?

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by RandyB

I guess this will remain a mystery for now. It would have to be the springs in the rear accounting for the lowering, right?

Good point.

[aajami]

I'll be at EAS a week from Friday for something unrelated to this. If Tom's guys have some time afterwards, maybe we can perform some measurements that don't involve removing the suspension assembly like measuring spring wire thickness.

By the way, here are a couple of shots from the installation process. I'll add them to the OP as well.

[RandyB]

I really appreciate all of the info in this thread.

I look forward to any updates after your next visit with Tom and the guys. Your car looks great - I like your approach and plan to eventually do the same with mine (359M wheels/ZCP suspension/LCI tails).

[bavarian06]

aajami, i applaud you for being so resourceful. often times i agree that sticking with OEM is the best way to go. however, i wonder if this was the best thing to do to your car. this is just a big "what-if", but what if the japan version/ZCP has different software for the EDC. by installing these parts, you are by virtue potentially ruining the way your EDC was calibrated to work in conjunction with pre-zcp US spec suspension.


granted what everyone does to their vehicles makes sense and seemily logical with some merit (just springs, dinan, coilovers) but often times i wonder if the engineers at the M division just sit back with a Bratwurst ("Hans, come over and read what this guy is doing to his car) and just chuckle amongst themselves about how people think they can outsmart them or how they are potentially making things worse, not better. they tune in daily to see what new idea someone has come up with, like a comedy variety show.

the aftermarket is huge; i just wonder if we are actually making our vehicles better in the process of spending thousands. but at least everyone is unique in their own way, non-oem.

disclosure: i too want to be non-oem

[AMPowerJ]

Did you entertain going with Dinan's spring kits?

[aajami]

Originally Posted by AMPowerJ

Did you entertain going with Dinan's spring kits?

Yup. The Dinan Stage I kit and a ZCP/JDM/Edition retrofit were the only two routes I was considering going. I really, really wanted to stay with an OEM solution, especially since it meant that I'd get shocks that were specifically valved for the new springs.

If for some reason I wasn't able to get the appropriate PNs, wasn't able to order them, or was faced with an unreasonable total cost, then I would have pulled the trigger on the Dinans. Thankfully, I was able to get my hands on the right OEM parts.

[marconi118]

do you have the part/N° for the non EDC front dampers?