Cheap Track Day Suspension Jamex

[hd_andy]

Hi,

I have a cheap track car and I want a better suspension set up.

I dont want to spend a lot, so really before I spend the cash I was hoping for any experience / opinions on this kit

JX-140156 Jamex Suspension Kit E30 320i / 325i / 324TD Touring / Cabrio (51mm) 11/82-05/93 40/35mm £176.16

Obviously I would love to go for a Bilstein setup or similar but I really only want to spend £200 max.

Is this worth doing or would i just be wasting my time / money?

Andy

[Fushion_Julz]

Read this http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/f74 ... page3.html

before buying Jamex

[MunichMotorsport]

I can recommend the SPAX PSX kit, but it'll be a little more than you're looking to spend.
It's still a budget kit (I paid about £270 last year) but it's done me proud both at the 'Ring and at trackdays.
Not the answer you wanted, but I'm hoping its useful.
Rob

[hd_andy]

Thanks Rob - very useful.

Motorsport World want £331 for the PSX kit.

A bit more than I wanted to spend really, but they do have the VSX kit (non adjustable) for £222.

Its a bit closer to the £176 of the Jamex kit.

Really I just want a good value upgrade, do you bother adjusting yours much Rob? Where did you buy them from?

Cheers

Andy

[Fushion_Julz]

Adjustable suspension...as in adjustable ride heights allowed by coilovers...are only really useful if you have and use a set of corner weight scales. The intention is to even out the weight, and thereby the balance, of the car by ensuring all 4 wheels are as close as possible to 25% of the total mass.
However, it is possible to change the ride height without coilovers...It is harder to do and harder to do "on the fly", but it can be done...

The other part(s) of adjustability are:
Spring rates: You can change spring rates on standard suspension without the need for coilovers...In fact it may actually be easier to do so, especially on the rear...

Damping: Again, you can get adjustable dampers for standard suspension (not coilovers)...This is good IF you change spring rates regularly as you can then alter the damping settings to suit...
If you don't change spring rates, then this is of limited value...You can adjust damping without altering spring rates, but you then either are under or over damped...Under damped means the spring is uncontrolled on rebound (porpoising results)...Over damped means the car is being partly sprung by the dampers...
Of course there is a certain amount of leewaay and adjustable damping can be an easy way of changing set-ups between road and track whilst allowing for the fact that neither will be ideal.

It all depends on what you are trying to acheive by changing your suspension...

However, you can see that for a road/track car coilovers may well be overkill and you would be better off with good quality components in standard format rather than cheap coilovers...

And don't forget the anti-roll bars....

[MunichMotorsport]

I've set the front and rears up and left them alone since fitting, so thats a year of road use, Ring use and track days
I dare say you could get another ten percent out of the car by adjusting them for each scenario, but left on a fairly medium setting means I get reasonable road compliance without destroying the bushes or tyres in too short a time.
The car has also got the UR braces front and rear, and uprated anti roll bar/ bushes, mentioned above, so they all add up.
I'm pretty sure you'd notice an improvement with the VSX kit, as new suspension always feels good (especially if done at the same time as bushes).
I think we got the suspension from either Rally Nuts, or Toys4cars. I'll try and dig the receipt out if it helps.

[hd_andy]

Thanks chaps, thats really useful.

From what I have read I think I am going to give the Jamex and the Gmax kits a miss.

I basically just want a better setup than I have at the moment, which is standard dampers with some unknown very low springs.

I think I am going to opt for the Spax VSX or the Apex kit

[MunichMotorsport]

If you're local to Essex, you're welcome to have a PAX ride in mine to get an idea if it's any use.

[JimmyC]

GAZ do a very competitive non coilover kit

[Black_Potato]

I've got a set of adjustable PSX with 2 sets of SSX springs (-40 and -60) come with the hubs, new front bearings and new rear top mounts, probably £600+ worth of bits new, make me an offer if you like.

I'll be putting them up on the forsale bit when I get around to it.

[hd_andy]

Thanks again for your help everyone.

Unfortunately I cant take you up on that passenger ride Rob, I'm in Oxford, so a bit too far to come.

I am tempted to have that setup off you Richard, but I think from what people have said about cheap suspension kits it might be as well to buy new and get the warranty.

Think I am going to get the VSX kit, £232 delivered on the Spax website.