That's the opposite of how I would like it to look: (note the rear departure angle, also, hopefully the below is 'highway' mode with off road mode having more lift to allow for suspension travel)
Imagine this but Tesla....
Increasing suspension travel and/or lifting (was: Model 3 Offroaders!)
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Imagine this but Tesla....
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Carporn. 
Registered in Estonia. But this way the body has to be modified severely. No Chance to make this undone if needed, e.g. for TÜV or selling.
Btw my previous post was ironic, if that wasn't obvious. I just added the missing smiley.
Registered in Estonia. But this way the body has to be modified severely. No Chance to make this undone if needed, e.g. for TÜV or selling.Btw my previous post was ironic, if that wasn't obvious. I just added the missing smiley.
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Got a reply from the eBay seller now: Their offer is just a standard Air Lift (US manufacturer) 1000 with a customized spacer (made in South Korea) for the Model 3. No compressor and control. Still interesting. Combined with a CC set from the manufacturer in my neighborhood it's still under $600. It would help with the trailer hitch being the lowest point of the body currently.
So far it's my understanding that the Air Lift 1000 is flexible enough to be installed without disassembling the suspension. But it's a bit confusing: In their installation video and manual they only show and state a complete suspension disassembly, but on their product page there's a drawing showing a bag being installed inside an assembled coil spring. I guess it depends on the distance of the coils in relation to the diameter, whether it's possible to squeeze the bag through.
So far it's my understanding that the Air Lift 1000 is flexible enough to be installed without disassembling the suspension. But it's a bit confusing: In their installation video and manual they only show and state a complete suspension disassembly, but on their product page there's a drawing showing a bag being installed inside an assembled coil spring. I guess it depends on the distance of the coils in relation to the diameter, whether it's possible to squeeze the bag through.
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I did more digging on the internet and learned that the UAS air suspension kit is a great option for the model 3. It can go as high as the shocks and bump stops allow and drop the car down low to the road too. Not TUV certified though.
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Yes, and it's the most expensive air lift for the M3. I researched about it, when I researched about available air lift suspensions for the M3. (See (far) above)
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I asked the seller about it: The bag itself is not the main problem with this kit. The spacer (they call it "protector") is the component that is too thick to squeeze through the coils, when they are fully decompressed. They have to be spreaded to bring it inside. I have to research, whether there are standard tools to accomplish this task. I never heard of any...
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This is the best tool I found so far: 8 Ton Hydraulische Flanschspreizer Hydraulik Flansch Spreizer Spreader Trenner | VEVOR DE
I know the price is very low for this kind of tool, but I still feel it's a waste of money, because I'd only use it once...
I know the price is very low for this kind of tool, but I still feel it's a waste of money, because I'd only use it once...
If you try it once and have the original packaging and can neatly put it back .. can’t you just return it to the store as you are unhappy with it?
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Maybe, if there are no scratches. But it's cheating in any case.
Tomorrow I am going to investigate how much space is between the coils by removing a rear wheel.
Tomorrow I am going to investigate how much space is between the coils by removing a rear wheel.
In the US you can return half eaten watermelon to Costco on grounds it’s no good and most other things to most places under umbrella of “it’s not what I thought it was”
Mostly so on big chains like target / Home Depot etc
with how much you are saving by not having someone else install it, it’s basically free
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Such an American thing to do. Lmao!
Personally I'd post it on Facebook marketplace for 25% off...
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In Europe it's nearly the same, but the item needs to be unused and the packaging undamaged. So you're only allowed to look at the item in detail and maybe test, whether it works, if that's possible without any alteration of the product. As soon as you start to actually use the product, you chance its state from "new" to "used" and can't give it back anymore.
Selling it on eBay is perfectly legal, but you lose the item and some money. However you can consider that money loss to be a rental fee for the item...
My main concern is, whether that tool can be safely used for my purpose, which it wasn't designed for. I fear it's too slippery and thus dangerous considering the forces of up to 1000 lbs involved. Maybe I need some rubber strips to generate friction!? Well, first things first: Measuring the distance at full droop.
Selling it on eBay is perfectly legal, but you lose the item and some money. However you can consider that money loss to be a rental fee for the item...
My main concern is, whether that tool can be safely used for my purpose, which it wasn't designed for. I fear it's too slippery and thus dangerous considering the forces of up to 1000 lbs involved. Maybe I need some rubber strips to generate friction!? Well, first things first: Measuring the distance at full droop.
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The distance between the coils is quite exactly 5 cm in my case. It should be slightly more (~5,3 cm) on a stock M3, because of the Spaccer I have installed on the rear spring. 5 cm is much more than I expected. The coil end cap or whatever I should call it (spacer/protector) looks slimmer (than 5 cm) on the photos of the seller. So far I even think, it should be no problem to install the kit without any tools apart from something to press the bags through the coils and a jack.
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I was talking about the black "rings" when I said "spacer / protector / coil end cap". They don't look like having a thickness of 5 cm to me at all! It seems to me that the bags are still the most difficult part to squeeze through the coils. (Photo from the seller)
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The seller send me a message confirming my impressions from the photo. They tested it and everything fits without disassemling the suspension. They offered me a 5 % discount, valid until tonight. I will give it a shot now... I'll have a temporary lift of 1.5" on the rear axle next year. That's around 2" at the hitch. Downside is that the ride becomes even harder by that lift and the articulation even worse, so I'm unsure about the planned 4.5 cm spacers on the rear axle.
I already have the fender flares (same type as in the front) and still have the spacers from my experiments on the front axle, so it would be "free", but I would have to pump the air bags every time before going over larger bumps or the loaded tire would remove the paint from the fender edges! Also, the current "emergency" spacers (2 cm) are damaged, causing the rear wheels to wobble slightly, so their replacement is overdue. How would you decide?
I already have the fender flares (same type as in the front) and still have the spacers from my experiments on the front axle, so it would be "free", but I would have to pump the air bags every time before going over larger bumps or the loaded tire would remove the paint from the fender edges! Also, the current "emergency" spacers (2 cm) are damaged, causing the rear wheels to wobble slightly, so their replacement is overdue. How would you decide?
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Not hard. I already organized to pickup a 2C-CC in the neighbor village in January. It's roughly $500, so more than the Korean kit, but from a local dealer.
Max ground clearance at the hitch would be 11.6". (Stock 5.5)
Did you understand my options regarding the wheel spacers on the rear axle?
Option 1: Replace the damaged 2 cm spacers by the good old 4.5 cm spacers for free, having to think about the fender clearance as soon as leaving flat (Hypercar compatible) roads and having to adjust the air springs accordingly. (No, I won't cut the fenders. )
Option 2: Replace the damaged 2 cm spacers by to be bought brand new spacers (1-2.5 cm, to be determined). No worries, but extra $$$ and no improvement other than a wobble-free suspension.
Max ground clearance at the hitch would be 11.6". (Stock 5.5)
Did you understand my options regarding the wheel spacers on the rear axle?
Option 1: Replace the damaged 2 cm spacers by the good old 4.5 cm spacers for free, having to think about the fender clearance as soon as leaving flat (Hypercar compatible) roads and having to adjust the air springs accordingly. (No, I won't cut the fenders.
)Option 2: Replace the damaged 2 cm spacers by to be bought brand new spacers (1-2.5 cm, to be determined). No worries, but extra $$$ and no improvement other than a wobble-free suspension.
Whatever makes most sense to you, personally probably option two, seems less issues that wayNot hard. I already organized to pickup a 2C-CC in the neighbor village in January. It's roughly $500, so more than the Korean kit, but from a local dealer.
Max ground clearance at the hitch would be 11.6". (Stock 5.5)
Did you understand my options regarding the wheel spacers on the rear axle?
Option 1: Replace the damaged 2 cm spacers by the good old 4.5 cm spacers for free, having to think about the fender clearance as soon as leaving flat (Hypercar compatible) roads and having to adjust the air springs accordingly. (No, I won't cut the fenders.
Option 2: Replace the damaged 2 cm spacers by to be bought brand new spacers (1-2.5 cm, to be determined). No worries, but extra $$$ and no improvement other than a wobble-free suspension.
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But did you realize how far the rear tire is sticking out of the body (sideways) on your photo of the Estonian Offroad Focus?
1/4 of the tire 😅But did you realize how far the rear tire is sticking out of the body (sideways) on your photo of the Estonian Offroad Focus?
Not my car though
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