Trackday suspension
Moderator: martauto
Have a 325 that i use for abuse on the track, but is fitted with Apex springs and struts(only about Ԛ£200). Not too bad for the road, but way too wobbly for the track. The car simply rolls too much! Wondering what you folks use for your e30`s, wether it be a conventional spring/strut setup, or go crazy and fit expensive adjustable coilovers? Any recommendations on manufacturers? Not much good looking on the net for suspension, as i would rather have advice from anyone who`s actually bought, and used uprated kit. Cheers fellas.
Ive used a H&R Cup Kit and found it to be quite good on the track. Very well balanced and didnt roll too much.
I should have really fitted anti roll bars aswell but didnt get time but these make a big difference as Ive tired them twice on a road car now.
I would defo invest in a set of Anti roll bars for a start.
Coilovers are the best way to go in my opinion - GAZ/LEDA being the weapon of choice.
Also consider getting some 15" BBS and fitting Cut Slicks for good much better grip than road tyres.
Brakes - Brembo discs with Ferodo DS3000's - awesome and not overly expensive.
I should have really fitted anti roll bars aswell but didnt get time but these make a big difference as Ive tired them twice on a road car now.
I would defo invest in a set of Anti roll bars for a start.
Coilovers are the best way to go in my opinion - GAZ/LEDA being the weapon of choice.
Also consider getting some 15" BBS and fitting Cut Slicks for good much better grip than road tyres.
Brakes - Brembo discs with Ferodo DS3000's - awesome and not overly expensive.
I have spoken to GAZ.
Would cost Ԛ£800 + VAT + rear top mounts and front stub axles to do do this.
The rear top mounts would be have rose joints, its basically all ready to go in.
They are ride height adjustable and damping is adjustable. Rebound settings are adjusted at a ratio of 3:1 with the damping.
This is probably the best you can go for.
Would cost Ԛ£800 + VAT + rear top mounts and front stub axles to do do this.
The rear top mounts would be have rose joints, its basically all ready to go in.
They are ride height adjustable and damping is adjustable. Rebound settings are adjusted at a ratio of 3:1 with the damping.
This is probably the best you can go for.
Wow, thats a hefty price, but i suppose you get what you pay for. Don`t fancy spending upwards of a grand on suspension. Do you know what the best spring/strut kit is for my car? I hear that H&R Cup kits are good, but worried that they will still be too soft. Blimey...
The Cup kits are very very good when mated with Anti roll bars. Its not super soft, its not just not very hard. Its a fair bit harder han Mtec though.
Cup kit with ARB's = Ԛ£595
The next best thing after this would be Bilstein Sport Dampers (Monotube - best dampers you can buy) with some custom springs which I have sourced a place whch can make them now. The springs would probably be around Ԛ£150. This spring and damper kit alone would come to Ԛ£520-Ԛ£550
We have a member here who does track days who has the H&R Cup Kit with Anti roll bars and poly bushes - he is the best person to speak to in my opinion. His screen name is Ceeman.
Poly bushes and Anti roll bars are an absolute must! Maybe you could start with that.
Cup kit with ARB's = Ԛ£595
The next best thing after this would be Bilstein Sport Dampers (Monotube - best dampers you can buy) with some custom springs which I have sourced a place whch can make them now. The springs would probably be around Ԛ£150. This spring and damper kit alone would come to Ԛ£520-Ԛ£550
We have a member here who does track days who has the H&R Cup Kit with Anti roll bars and poly bushes - he is the best person to speak to in my opinion. His screen name is Ceeman.
Poly bushes and Anti roll bars are an absolute must! Maybe you could start with that.
My car was not fitted with m-tech suspension from factory, and it actually started life as a 320i, so it doesn`t have an ARB on the rear, but there is one on the front. If i were to buy a H&R Cup kit, do you know if it would go straight on the car, or would i have to get the ARB links from BMW. I take it that the bushes to change are the rear axle carrier bushes, the four trailing arm bushes, and the two front bottom arm bushes. Better get my cash out!! Sorry to be a pain!!
I can tell you what i have found on my 325 Sport on track, but as anyone will tell you, any road car setup is a compromise on track and a full track setup on the road is just dangerous!! 
I tried the H&R cup kit with old standard ARBs on track and then again after fitting the H&R ARBs with new links. It made a huge difference, not really noticable with normal road driving but much better on track. I feel that it is still too soft for fast track, and i should have gone down the Leda/Gaz Coilover route, but at the time i wouldn't have known the difference would I? It is obviously at least twice the price so also budget dependant i suppose. Performance for money, the H&R Cup kit is the best all-rounder. ARBs are a must also.
The next biggest difference were the cut slicks. One of the cheapest you can buy are the Colway F2's. I bought a spare set of BBS and fitted these F2's and after a 'scrub in' they are actually pretty good for the money.
As for brakes, i did a fair bit on these and i could highly recommend a big brake conversion.....After all of this though, your bank balance takes a bit of hammering, and then a couple of months later you decide to sell it and buy something else
I tried the H&R cup kit with old standard ARBs on track and then again after fitting the H&R ARBs with new links. It made a huge difference, not really noticable with normal road driving but much better on track. I feel that it is still too soft for fast track, and i should have gone down the Leda/Gaz Coilover route, but at the time i wouldn't have known the difference would I? It is obviously at least twice the price so also budget dependant i suppose. Performance for money, the H&R Cup kit is the best all-rounder. ARBs are a must also.
The next biggest difference were the cut slicks. One of the cheapest you can buy are the Colway F2's. I bought a spare set of BBS and fitted these F2's and after a 'scrub in' they are actually pretty good for the money.
As for brakes, i did a fair bit on these and i could highly recommend a big brake conversion.....After all of this though, your bank balance takes a bit of hammering, and then a couple of months later you decide to sell it and buy something else
Thanks for all the info lads, much appriciated. May get back to M5Pilot about that H&R Cup kit with the ARB`s, i am sure that they would make a big difference. I need to make the car handle because its the only real problem i have with it at the moment! Just about to fit another 2.5 engine with Shrick cam, modified pistons, lightnened and balanced crank and rods, nasty chip and no limiter! Dribble dribble!!!!!
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JimmyC
- E30 Zone Squatter
- Posts: 1537
- Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Southend ESSEX
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I will have a chat with Dave for you at GAZ and see what he says about that price.
I have sorted about 8 sets for PBMW race cars recently including my own and just had feedback from the first few to test them out. Feedback was very good and they are all very pleases.
You need to supply your old topmounts- they come back rose jointed and also your front struts- you wont recognise them when they com back.
You should note the equivalent LEDA will cost you upwards of Ԛ£1200 and rebuild costs are cheaper with GAZ too. The design is the same (by the same person) but both have different tweaks.
for info all PBMW cars run with no rear roll bar- you can get round this with the correct spring rates.
I'll update you tomorrow after I speak with Dave
Bushes are a must yep all the ones you mention- I put powerflex all round as a cheap option, there are better avaliable though
Cheers
Jimmy
I have sorted about 8 sets for PBMW race cars recently including my own and just had feedback from the first few to test them out. Feedback was very good and they are all very pleases.
You need to supply your old topmounts- they come back rose jointed and also your front struts- you wont recognise them when they com back.
You should note the equivalent LEDA will cost you upwards of Ԛ£1200 and rebuild costs are cheaper with GAZ too. The design is the same (by the same person) but both have different tweaks.
for info all PBMW cars run with no rear roll bar- you can get round this with the correct spring rates.
I'll update you tomorrow after I speak with Dave
Bushes are a must yep all the ones you mention- I put powerflex all round as a cheap option, there are better avaliable though
Cheers
Jimmy
Thanks for the quick review on the H&R setup Phil.
Ive been saying this about ARB's ever since you told me about how much a difference they made.
You have a PM also.
Ive been saying this about ARB's ever since you told me about how much a difference they made.
You have a PM also.
What kind of price are you talking for the sachs coilovers matey?
Thats about the same as GAZ.
I'd rather pay 150 over that sachs kit and get GAZ.
Are you selling these sachs as a trader?
Are you selling these sachs as a trader?
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JimmyC
- E30 Zone Squatter
- Posts: 1537
- Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Southend ESSEX
- Contact:
top mounts are included, you just send them your old ones and the pull them to pieces, nickel plate them and put a rose joint in, 800 + vat=Ԛ£940Aico wrote:How is your math skill? Topmounts are 50pounds I believe. 800+100=900. 900+VAT=over 1000pounds.
If there are a group of you I am sure I can get that price down as its one tooling divided out between the number of kits
Post here if you interested and i'll ask for a group price for you
How can I stick a pic up anyone??
Looks like 2 of us are speaking to GAZ at the same time.
All good!
All good!
Before splashing out on a set of H&R spring/struts, would it be worth buying the ARB`s first, because of the car having Apex spring/struts on it allready??.... might be all i need??
Thats a very good idea. You'll be able to see what ARB's do on their own because you already know what your suspension is like.
Then if you need more you can go coilovers or another suspension setup.
Then if you need more you can go coilovers or another suspension setup.