New Suspension from Bimmerworld

[CBS]

Some time ago I sent an e-mail to James Clay from Bimmerworld to begin discussions about upgrading my suspension to be more track oriented. To my surprise James answered very quickly and we began a detailed phone discussion over the course of two months about what I was trying to accomplish (currently 75%track / 25% street). James was very helpful and we ended up specifying a complete suspension that met my budget as well as my anticipated expectations.

I had come in contact with Bimmerworld at the Track. They sponsored one of the DE’s that I participated in - I was not only interested in their help spec’ing the suspension but also their experienced installation support. James, his Team and I scheduled a date for me to deliver my M3 to them and within 1.5 days they installed everything, corner balanced my M3 and gave me a complete suspension setting guide for street or track.

I now have about 700 street miles and two track days on the suspension and can offer a review.

1. The Motion Control Dual Adjustable suspension has 15 settings for Compression and 15 settings for Rebound.

2. You can truly feel the difference at every click of the suspension setting.

3. For the Track, in dry weather running Cups, I get good response with the compression and rebound set between 6-7.

4. For the Street, my Wife enjoys the suspension at 2-3. Me, 4-5.

5. It takes 3 minutes to adjust both front and rear settings.

6. The suspension definitely feels stiff. The ability to adjust it down to 2-3 (or less) makes it livable.

7. I was skeptical with the spring rates James was specifying but he was adamant that the dual adjustability of the Motion Control Suspension would make the M3 livable on the street but give me the response I was seeking on the track. 700 miles later, I would have to agree however you do need to tread lightly around the inner-city pot holes.

8. The sway bars and links have significantly reduced body roll. This is best experienced at the track. I haven’t begun to adjust the RD Sport Sway Bars. They were installed at the middle setting.

9. GC Camber Plates are set to -3.0 degrees on front. Camber in the rear is -2.0.

I am pleased with all of the products that have been specified and with the support and installation of Bimmerworld.

Enclosed below is a list of the products that James Clay specified.

Also enclosed are poor cell phone photos.

My sincere thanks to James Clay / Jason Marks from Bimmerworld and to M3SQRD from M3post. M3post is an awesome place to learn from others and M3SQRD was exceptionally helpful.

Chris


Parts Specified:

1. Helper Spring Guide Set - 2.25"
2. Hyperco 2.25" Helper Spring Set
3. Torrington Bearing Kit
4. Special Item (PN / Description: Rear Spring Adjuster - E9X M3)
5. BimmerWorld Strut Mounted Adjustable Swaybar Links Select Adjustment Range (Inch): 10 - 11.5
6. Special Item (PN / Description: GC E9X Street Plate, MCS, 2.25")
7. MCS (Motion Control Suspension) Remote-Reservoir Damper Sets
Model: E9X M3*; Adjustments: 2-Way (Coilover Rear*: No; Spring size (2.5", 2.25", or 60mm): 2.25
8. MCS 1M/E9X M3 Strut Adaptor Sleeve
9. Hypercoil 2.25" ID Coilover Springs by Hyperco
Select Free Length: 6"; Select Rate (lb/in): 650
10. Hyperco Spring - 2.5", 60mm, and Special Order
(Spring: 8", 2.5"ID, 900# - 188B0900)
11. Powerflex E9X 3-Series and E8X 1-Series Rear Shock Mount
Select Shock Shaft Diameter: 12mm; Select Durometer: Black 95A (Track Use)
12. RD Sport Swaybar Kits Car Model: E9X M3
13. Special Item (PN / Description: Macht Schnell EDC Emulator

[M3SQRD]

Awesome setup Chris! You now have a suspension that's going to allow you to put all of that SC'd M power to great use on the track. I'm so jealous

Also I'm glad to hear you, and especially your wife, find the MCS setup livable on the street

Again, congrats and enjoy!!

[CarbonFoot]

Wow, looks like an awesome setup. Did you make all the suspension changes at the same time or incrementally?

I'm sure the changes resulted in better, sharper handling and decreased body roll, but how has these changes effected your traction. Particularly coming out of corners?

[JazaM]

Now thats a setup...congrats

[klammer]

Nice. Have spoken to James and this is the no compromise, serious business, suspension upgrade. Congratulations on an awesome setup.

[CBS]

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

Awesome setup Chris! You now have a suspension that's going to allow you to put all of that SC'd M power to great use on the track. I'm so jealous

Also I'm glad to hear you, and especially your wife, find the MCS setup livable on the street

Again, congrats and enjoy!!

Thanks very much however you started me on this quest and I sincerely appreciate your input and education!

Originally Posted by CarbonFoot

Wow, looks like an awesome setup. Did you make all the suspension changes at the same time or incrementally?

I'm sure the changes resulted in better, sharper handling and decreased body roll, but how has these changes effected your traction. Particularly coming out of corners?

I made all of the changes at the same time. Kinda wish I didn't so I could compare/contrast however work has me traveling alot so when I had 2 days available and Bimmerworld was able to fit me in, I took it.

The traction / body roll difference is truly amazing. The best word to describe the M3 on the track now is: PLANTED.

Originally Posted by JazaM

Now thats a setup...congrats

Thank you - my Wife says I am obsessed.

Originally Posted by klammer

Nice. Have spoken to James and this is the no compromise, serious business, suspension upgrade. Congratulations on an awesome setup.

Thank you. I'm looking forward to NJMP this weekend! Yahoo!!!

[mkPOTO]

congrats on the MCS, that is my plan as well for next year, very clean install as well

[JamesClay]

Thanks Chris - glad you are enjoying! Those are definitely spring rates for a track capable car. You can make them even more compliant by changing canister pressure if needed, but unless you have an N2 rig, it is better to set it for the intended use and forget it.

One comment on the incremental changes. I am aware of the approach, but if it isn't a budget requirement, this is not my preference. The suspension is a system where all parts move together. Changing from a stock part to a performance part one area at a time is a fine way to experience what they do, but from theory and testing, that answer is a lot easier to come by. A suspension really should be put together with complimentary parts so that the cumulative effect is the correct one. Plus, you save a lot of labor and time in the process that is just going to highlight what the newest limitation in a piecemeal upgrade is. I have done it the slow way when I built my first track car and I far prefer to just get the right parts on the car and have the desired result, but for some, maybe there is something to be said for the experience.

[RickyBobby]

Congrats on the new setup. Keep us posted on the long term reliability of the mcs. I'm glad I don't live in close proximity to bimmerworld. I'd need to sell a kidney..

[VictorH]

Congrats. Sounds like a pretty hefty set up (#650/900) but just right for your needs.

I'll be reporting on similar installation next week but with JRZ-RS1 set up and more street orientation also through Bimmerworld.

[Jaypod]

Sounds like a great set up. Enjoy. Definitely in good hands with James, he and the guys at Bimmerworld definitely know their stuff and go above and beyond to get you set up.

[CBS]

Originally Posted by mkPOTO

congrats on the MCS, that is my plan as well for next year, very clean install as well

Thanks, everything I heard about MCS made me comfortable this was the set up for me. I'd be curious to know what you think when you have yours done. Keep in touch.

Originally Posted by RickyBobby

Congrats on the new setup. Keep us posted on the long term reliability of the mcs. I'm glad I don't live in close proximity to bimmerworld. I'd need to sell a kidney..

Good thinking, I will post an update months from now.
Yes, I am fortunate not to live TOO close to Bimmerworld and iND, my two favorite places.

Originally Posted by VictorH

Congrats. Sounds like a pretty hefty set up (#650/900) but just right for your needs.

I'll be reporting on similar installation next week but with JRZ-RS1 set up and more street orientation also through Bimmerworld.

I'd be really interested in hearing what you think. The JRZ-RS1 is a great set up = RESPECT!

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by VictorH

Congrats. Sounds like a pretty hefty set up (#650/900) but just right for your needs.

I'll be reporting on similar installation next week but with JRZ-RS1 set up and more street orientation also through Bimmerworld.

I think you'll really enjoy your RS1 setup What spring rates did you select?

[RickyBobby]

James, have you found the F&R swaybars to make a difference even with higher spring rates? I know we talked about it when you first set my car up on the motons but at the time you hadn't installed a set on a car.

[VictorH]

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

I think you'll really enjoy your RS1 setup What spring rates did you select?

I think we are going 400 front and 700 rear, will confirm next week.

[klammer]

Originally Posted by VictorH

I think we are going 400 front and 700 rear, will confirm next week.

Nice, those sound like some comfy spring rates. 650/900 sounds a bit rough for my application but font know if I'd go that soft though. Probably somewhere in the middle. Keep us posted, and can't wait to hear a review of the MCS on track

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by klammer

Nice, those sound like some comfy spring rates. 650/900 sounds a bit rough for my application but font know if I'd go that soft though. Probably somewhere in the middle. Keep us posted, and can't wait to hear a review of the MCS on track

500/800 for me which I find to be extremely street friendly

I bet with the MCS 2-way remote reservoir dampers the 650/900 setup is just fine on the street. My old e46 M3 with Moton CS, similar spring rates, stripped interior with BW custom roll bar, and fixed-back race seats was great on the street - the tech in the new MCS dampers just blows away the tech in the old Moton CS!

[flipm3]

Great review!

Goes to show that a real race damper can actually have that dual character for street application as well, especially when setup properly.

Although I have not even purchased a single thing from JamesClay, I have been pestering him with emails about suspension setups for my own E46 M3 for who knows how long now. He has been extremely patient and provided only a wealth of honest information.

This thread reminds, I should email Lex at MCS to see how their 1 way dampers are coming along. I'm not cool enough to get the 2Way MCS.

I am looking forward to further updates! I may have to start contacting you for advice as well, including the suspension expert, M3SQRD!

[CBS]

Brief Update: Just returned from running two days at Lightning (NJMP):

1. Weather was cool and mostly dry.
2. M3 was stable, predictable and planted.
3. Very little body roll, flat in the corners.
4. Significantly reduced understeer, actually now feels well balanced.
5. Cups were working hard, held up well but started getting greasy toward the end in the late afternoon.
6. Still not fast enough to catch the GT3's in the Advanced Run Group but I believe that has nothing to do with my M3 and everything to do with the Driver (Me).

At the end of the day, I reset the suspension to full comfort and drove home.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by CBS

Brief Update: Just returned from running two days at Lightning (NJMP):

1. Weather was cool and mostly dry.
2. M3 was stable, predictable and planted.
3. Very little body roll, flat in the corners.
4. Significantly reduced understeer, actually now feels well balanced.
5. Cups were working hard, held up well but started getting greasy toward the end in the late afternoon.
6. Still not fast enough to catch the GT3's in the Advanced Run Group but I believe that has nothing to do with my M3 and everything to do with the Driver (Me).

At the end of the day, I reset the suspension to full comfort and drove home.

Thanks for the update Chris! Sounds like you're having a blast with the new MCS setup

PSCs - keep hot pressure below 40 psi otherwise they'll get extremely greasy. With the SC you might need to keep the rear hot pressures a little lower.

[flipm3]

Great update!

How much lower are you than stock?

We need some pics of your E90 M3 with the suspension on!

[THE TECH]

Nice choice.