Confirmed: Japanese suspension = ZCP suspension

aajami · 04-13-2010, 04:18 PM

Hey guys,

For a while now, there's been a lot of speculation that the Japanese M3 shared the same suspension as the Edition M3 and, more recently, the ZCP M3 -- all of whom were lower than standard M3s by about 10mm. Evan at Tischer confirmed that they at least share the same shocks today. The part numbers for the 2011 ZCP shocks w/ EDC match those of the 2008+ Japanese shocks w/ EDC.

The original thread regarding the Japanese suspension with PNs is located here:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226909

The PNs for the ZCP shocks as supplied by Tischer are:

Left 31312283917 $639.78
Right 31312283918 $639.78
Rears 33522283920 - N/A

The PNs match. It's safe to assume that the 2010 Edition shares these struts as well.

It's interesting that BMW didn't exactly develop the suspension of the ZCP from scratch -- not the hardware components of it, anyway.

aus · 04-13-2010, 05:08 PM

Good stuff. Thanks.
Still can't figure why BMW would make the Japanese model lower. How about the cars in other Asian Markets?

scott@bmwhn · 04-13-2010, 05:18 PM

Good to know. Thanks

scott@bmwhn · 04-13-2010, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus

Still can't figure why BMW would make the Japanese model lower. How about the cars in other Asian Markets?

BMW figured they had to make it as low as possible to appeal to the asian markets

..i kid....i kid..

FruitCake · 04-13-2010, 05:27 PM

so Japan had ZCP suspension since 2007?
I remember seeing the tread where they questioned if it was lower.

rzm3 · 04-13-2010, 08:41 PM

What about the front and rear springs?

aus · 04-13-2010, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott@bmwhn

BMW figured they had to make it as low as possible to appeal to the asian markets

..i kid....i kid..

I'm Asian, and laughed.

RandyB · 04-14-2010, 07:29 AM

It seems like the same strategy would work in the US.

aajami · 04-14-2010, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rldzhao

What about the front and rear springs?

According to Ant Man and alpina527, the springs across the three cars are the same (assuming similarly optioned vehicles) and it's only the shocks that are different.

rzm3 · 04-14-2010, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aajami

According to Ant Man and alpina527, the springs across the three cars are the same (assuming similarly optioned vehicles) and it's only the shocks that are different.

Front springs, sure.

Rear springs, I am not so sure. Springs are what controls the ride height the in rear suspension. Rear shocks don't affect to the ride height at all.

MrHarris · 04-14-2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott@bmwhn

BMW figured they had to make it as low as possible to appeal to the asian markets

..i kid....i kid..

It's true

graves4r6 · 04-15-2010, 03:31 PM

It's true. My Honda Civic was lower back home then the USDM version.

quality_sound · 04-16-2010, 03:21 AM

Everythign is lower ROW than in the US. Stupid DOT. Instead of making cars uglier and less efficient by raising them maybe we could educate pedestrians to keep the fuck off the roads! lol

Ant Man · 04-16-2010, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rldzhao

Front springs, sure.

Rear springs, I am not so sure. Springs are what controls the ride height the in rear suspension. Rear shocks don't affect to the ride height at all.

Agreed. The rears are not of coilover type and therefore the shock does not determine the ride height.

My source at BMW cannot get any more info either as have met a brick wall from zee Germans

alpina527 · 04-16-2010, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ant Man

Agreed. The rears are not of coilover type and therefore the shock does not determine the ride height.

My source at BMW cannot get any more info either as have met a brick wall from zee Germans

Me too.

aajami · 04-16-2010, 09:11 PM

Scott, do you have any insight regarding the ZCP springs?

I updated the body of the original post to specifically call out "shocks" instead of "suspension".

scott@bmwhn · 04-21-2010, 02:07 PM

Using the latest version of the parts catalogue I was able to determine that there ARE in fact Competition pkg. specific springs to go along with the shocks.

The Competition pkg. option code is S7MAA but there are numerous spring part#s depending on the vehicles options.

-Scott

aajami · 04-21-2010, 09:09 PM

Thanks, Scott. Two remaining questions:

1) Are both the front and rear springs different, or just the rears?
2) Is there anyway to match up springs with a specific vehicle if we have a complete list of options it come with?

scott@bmwhn · 04-22-2010, 10:47 AM

-Yes, both front and rear springs are different for ZCP cars

-Yes, ZCP springs part#s can be determined by decoding a vin# and applying the cars options to the spring table

-Scott

aajami · 04-22-2010, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott@bmwhn

-Yes, ZCP springs part#s can be determined by decoding a vin# and applying the cars options to the spring table

-Scott

Can this decoding process be done with a non-ZCP VIN?

scott@bmwhn · 04-22-2010, 12:43 PM

yeah its a required process for any and all BMW models when ordering OEM springs

If you were looking to retrofit a non-ZCP with ZCP springs you would enter the vehicles options into the spring chart and select the ZCP option as if the car had that option. It would then give you the correct part #'s for both the front and rear springs needed.

scott@bmwhn · 04-23-2010, 09:42 AM

Here is the Spring chart option code breakdown.

These are all of the option codes for the E92 M3 to determine the springs needed for a specific vehicle. I have yet to determine if the E90 M3 uses the same chart

E92 M3 Spring Chart option code breakdown:
S223A - EDC
S2MKA - M-DCT
S403A - Glass Roof
S415A - Rear Sunblind
S609A - Navigation
S672A - CD changer
S676A - Hifi sound
S677A - Hifi sound Pro DSP
S752A - Individual sound
S7MAA - Competition pkg.

-Scott

04-13-2010, 04:18 PM	#1
aajami Brigadier General 432 Rep 4,567 Posts Drives: Space Gray '09 E92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Manhattan Beach, CA iTrader: (4)	Confirmed: Japanese suspension = ZCP suspension Hey guys, For a while now, there's been a lot of speculation that the Japanese M3 shared the same suspension as the Edition M3 and, more recently, the ZCP M3 -- all of whom were lower than standard M3s by about 10mm. Evan at Tischer confirmed that they at least share the same shocks today. The part numbers for the 2011 ZCP shocks w/ EDC match those of the 2008+ Japanese shocks w/ EDC. The original thread regarding the Japanese suspension with PNs is located here: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226909 The PNs for the ZCP shocks as supplied by Tischer are: Left 31312283917 $639.78 Right 31312283918 $639.78 Rears 33522283920 - N/A The PNs match. It's safe to assume that the 2010 Edition shares these struts as well. It's interesting that BMW didn't exactly develop the suspension of the ZCP from scratch -- not the hardware components of it, anyway. __________________ '09 E92 M3: Space Gray, Black, Carbon Leather \| ZTP 2MK ZPP 2MT 6FL \| link 1 / link 2 Mods: M Performance exhaust \| ZCP retrofit \| Euro airbox \| GTS DCT flash \| JPN 240 ECU flash \| Euro LCI taillights \| CRT lip \| OEM alarm retrofit \| Space Gray bumper plugs \| BMW Performance: Mk. II spoiler / Mk. II non-electronic steering wheel / mirror caps / front grilles / side gills / intake louvers / emblem Last edited by aajami; 04-16-2010 at 09:09 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

04-13-2010, 05:08 PM	#2
aus Major General 890 Rep 9,032 Posts Drives: Odysse Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seal Beach, CA iTrader: (10)	Good stuff. Thanks. Still can't figure why BMW would make the Japanese model lower. How about the cars in other Asian Markets? __________________ Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by some of the top engineers in the world because some guys sponsored by a company told you it's "better??" But when you ask the same guy about tracking, "oh no, I have a kid now" or "I just detailed my car." or "i just got new tires."
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-13-2010, 05:18 PM	#3
scott@bmwhn Major 132 Rep 1,245 Posts Drives: Msport X3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Houston iTrader: (3)	Good to know. Thanks __________________ 03' 525iT stick, 22' 530i Previous: 20' X3 M40i, 19' 740i Msport, 17' 430i GC, 15' Msport X3 28i, 15' Sportline X1 28i, 13' Msport 328i, 09' Msport 335i, 07' Msport 335i
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-13-2010, 05:27 PM	#5
FruitCake Banned 88 Rep 1,680 Posts Drives: '10 E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (19)	so Japan had ZCP suspension since 2007? I remember seeing the tread where they questioned if it was lower.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-13-2010, 08:41 PM	#6
rzm3 Moderator 673 Rep 4,737 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (18)	What about the front and rear springs?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-14-2010, 07:29 AM	#8
RandyB Lieutenant Colonel 20 Rep 1,504 Posts Drives: '03 330i, '09 M3 Coupe Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	It seems like the same strategy would work in the US. __________________ '09 E92 M3 6MT \| Alpine White \| Black Leather \| EDC \| CL Trim \| 19s '03 E46 330i 6MT \| Electric Red \| Black Leather \| ZSP \| Bi-Xenons
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-15-2010, 03:31 PM	#12
graves4r6 Captain 55 Rep 765 Posts Drives: Bicycle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Heaven on earth iTrader: (14)	It's true. My Honda Civic was lower back home then the USDM version.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-16-2010, 03:21 AM	#13
quality_sound 8 tracks of madness 62 Rep 2,735 Posts Drives: Slowly Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: At home iTrader: (1)	Everythign is lower ROW than in the US. Stupid DOT. Instead of making cars uglier and less efficient by raising them maybe we could educate pedestrians to keep the fuck off the roads! lol
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-16-2010, 09:11 PM	#16
aajami Brigadier General 432 Rep 4,567 Posts Drives: Space Gray '09 E92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Manhattan Beach, CA iTrader: (4)	Scott, do you have any insight regarding the ZCP springs? I updated the body of the original post to specifically call out "shocks" instead of "suspension". __________________ '09 E92 M3: Space Gray, Black, Carbon Leather \| ZTP 2MK ZPP 2MT 6FL \| link 1 / link 2 Mods: M Performance exhaust \| ZCP retrofit \| Euro airbox \| GTS DCT flash \| JPN 240 ECU flash \| Euro LCI taillights \| CRT lip \| OEM alarm retrofit \| Space Gray bumper plugs \| BMW Performance: Mk. II spoiler / Mk. II non-electronic steering wheel / mirror caps / front grilles / side gills / intake louvers / emblem
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-21-2010, 02:07 PM	#17
scott@bmwhn Major 132 Rep 1,245 Posts Drives: Msport X3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Houston iTrader: (3)	Using the latest version of the parts catalogue I was able to determine that there ARE in fact Competition pkg. specific springs to go along with the shocks. The Competition pkg. option code is S7MAA but there are numerous spring part#s depending on the vehicles options. -Scott __________________ 03' 525iT stick, 22' 530i Previous: 20' X3 M40i, 19' 740i Msport, 17' 430i GC, 15' Msport X3 28i, 15' Sportline X1 28i, 13' Msport 328i, 09' Msport 335i, 07' Msport 335i
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-21-2010, 09:09 PM	#18
aajami Brigadier General 432 Rep 4,567 Posts Drives: Space Gray '09 E92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Manhattan Beach, CA iTrader: (4)	Thanks, Scott. Two remaining questions: 1) Are both the front and rear springs different, or just the rears? 2) Is there anyway to match up springs with a specific vehicle if we have a complete list of options it come with? __________________ '09 E92 M3: Space Gray, Black, Carbon Leather \| ZTP 2MK ZPP 2MT 6FL \| link 1 / link 2 Mods: M Performance exhaust \| ZCP retrofit \| Euro airbox \| GTS DCT flash \| JPN 240 ECU flash \| Euro LCI taillights \| CRT lip \| OEM alarm retrofit \| Space Gray bumper plugs \| BMW Performance: Mk. II spoiler / Mk. II non-electronic steering wheel / mirror caps / front grilles / side gills / intake louvers / emblem
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-22-2010, 10:47 AM	#19
scott@bmwhn Major 132 Rep 1,245 Posts Drives: Msport X3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Houston iTrader: (3)	-Yes, both front and rear springs are different for ZCP cars -Yes, ZCP springs part#s can be determined by decoding a vin# and applying the cars options to the spring table -Scott __________________ 03' 525iT stick, 22' 530i Previous: 20' X3 M40i, 19' 740i Msport, 17' 430i GC, 15' Msport X3 28i, 15' Sportline X1 28i, 13' Msport 328i, 09' Msport 335i, 07' Msport 335i
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-22-2010, 12:43 PM	#21
scott@bmwhn Major 132 Rep 1,245 Posts Drives: Msport X3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Houston iTrader: (3)	yeah its a required process for any and all BMW models when ordering OEM springs If you were looking to retrofit a non-ZCP with ZCP springs you would enter the vehicles options into the spring chart and select the ZCP option as if the car had that option. It would then give you the correct part #'s for both the front and rear springs needed. __________________ 03' 525iT stick, 22' 530i Previous: 20' X3 M40i, 19' 740i Msport, 17' 430i GC, 15' Msport X3 28i, 15' Sportline X1 28i, 13' Msport 328i, 09' Msport 335i, 07' Msport 335i
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-23-2010, 09:42 AM	#22
scott@bmwhn Major 132 Rep 1,245 Posts Drives: Msport X3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Houston iTrader: (3)	Here is the Spring chart option code breakdown. These are all of the option codes for the E92 M3 to determine the springs needed for a specific vehicle. I have yet to determine if the E90 M3 uses the same chart E92 M3 Spring Chart option code breakdown: S223A - EDC S2MKA - M-DCT S403A - Glass Roof S415A - Rear Sunblind S609A - Navigation S672A - CD changer S676A - Hifi sound S677A - Hifi sound Pro DSP S752A - Individual sound S7MAA - Competition pkg. -Scott __________________ 03' 525iT stick, 22' 530i Previous: 20' X3 M40i, 19' 740i Msport, 17' 430i GC, 15' Msport X3 28i, 15' Sportline X1 28i, 13' Msport 328i, 09' Msport 335i, 07' Msport 335i
	Appreciate 0 Quote