Guys who Track, How's Your Aftermarket Suspension Holding Up?

[rzm3]

Just wanted to start a thread and collect some feedback on the durability and performance of various aftermarket suspension kits.

Some questions to consider:

0. Which kit do you have?
1. When was the kit installed?
2. How often do you track?
3. Run group?
4. Any major issues? Rebuilds?
5. Other minor issues?
6. Would you recommend it to others?

[Porschefile]

0. Which kit do you have? KW Clubsport
1. When was the kit installed? 2-3 years old (10k miles PO, 5k miles me)
2. How often do you track? 1-2 per month (has seen 30-40 track days)
3. Run group? Instructor
4. Any major issues? Rebuilds? Not yet. I will rebuild when R/C adjustments no longer work the way I want them to.
5. Other minor issues? No.
6. Would you recommend it to others? Yes, I like them a lot. Awesome on track and not too rough for me on the street. The damping adjustments make a noticeable difference.

[bigjae1976]

E90

0. Which kit do you have? Dinan Stage II w/ GC camber plates
1. When was the kit installed? Mid April 2012
2. How often do you track? 5 days so far
3. Run group? advanced
4. Any major issues? Yes. GC bolt plates failed during initial installation, fixed.
5. Other minor issues? None
6. Would you recommend it to others? Depends. For looks and warranty purposes, yes. Performance upgrade...meh. The springs didn't do much. The front bar, plates and square tires killed the low speed understeer...probably did too good of a job if you ask me.

[NRBRNG]

[quote=RLDZHAO;12913326]Just wanted to start a thread and collect some feedback on the durability and performance of various aftermarket suspension kits.

Some questions to consider:

0. Which kit do you have? KW Clubsports
1. When was the kit installed? April 11
2. How often do you track? They have seen about 30 days
3. Run group? Advanced
4. Any major issues? Rebuilds? No. Canary chirp on rough roads only.
5. Other minor issues? None really, except as speeds and times get better, the tires are starting to take the strain more and their life is pretty short these days...Yoko slicks. Might need to go MCS for next season...
6. Would you recommend it to others? definately for moderate towards heavy tracking.

[paradocs98]

0. Which kit do you have? Dinan Stage III
1. When was the kit installed? April 2011
2. How often do you track? Approx 10 events/yr--so far around 20 events or around 25 total track days
3. Run group? High intermediate
4. Any major issues? Rebuilds? none so far
5. Other minor issues? none
6. Would you recommend it to others? For a good street/track compromise that maintains EDC function and matching warranty, yes. For faster, more advanced track drivers willing to give up EDC, I would probably look at something like Moton or JRZ coilovers instead

Good thread idea

[VSmotorsports]

0. Which kit do you have? - Motion Control 3 Way Adjustable
1. When was the kit installed? - March 2012
2. How often do you track? - Often, this is our race car setup
3. Run group? - NASA GTS-4
4. Any major issues? Rebuilds? - None
5. Other minor issues? - None
6. Would you recommend it to others? - Yes, MCS makes a great setup (Props to Lex)

[klammer]

0. Which kit do you have? Dinan stg. 3
1. When was the kit installed? fall 2010
2. How often do you track? pretty often, looking at over 50 events on this setup.
3. Run group? Advanced
4. Any major issues? Rebuilds? nope
5. Other minor issues? nope
6. Would you recommend it to others? Yes, but only as a compromise setup. In retrospect would have gone with a full coil-over.

[PrimeBMW]

[quote=NRBRNG;12918283]

Originally Posted by RLDZHAO

Just wanted to start a thread and collect some feedback on the durability and performance of various aftermarket suspension kits.

Some questions to consider:

0. Which kit do you have? KW Clubsports
1. When was the kit installed? April 11
2. How often do you track? They have seen about 30 days
3. Run group? Advanced
4. Any major issues? Rebuilds? No. Canary chirp on rough roads only.
5. Other minor issues? None really, except as speeds and times get better, the tires are starting to take the strain more and their life is pretty short these days...Yoko slicks. Might need to go MCS for next season...
6. Would you recommend it to others? definately for moderate towards heavy tracking.

You know you want the MCS......you know you need the MCS!

[CBS]

^

[dawgdog]

I had several setups in my M3. First lowering springs, then Ground Control using stock dampers, then AST 5220 and finally AST 4200.

The AST suspensions transformed the car but the 5220 were problematic including several leaking dampers. I finally switched to the AST 4200s and used them for about 25 track days with the only issues being replacing faulty lower bearings on the rear dampers.

As far as the car was concerned it was a new car with the suspension and was easy to dial in, both the 5220 and 4200. The 4200 are, with a few clicks of the rebound setting, very comfortable on the street. On the 4200s I used 550 lb springs in front and 790 in the rear.

[FrenchBoy]

Great thread. Thanks for starting it. I will be in the market for an updated suspension at some point in the future so this is great info.

Here are my answers

0. Which kit do you have?
Ground Control Coilover kit, with GC camber plates. 600 in.lb rear springs, 440 in.lb front springs
1. When was the kit installed?
March 2011
2. How often do you track?
10/12 times a year. Kit has seen about 24 track days
3. Run group?
Advanced
4. Any major issues? Rebuilds?
No
5. Other minor issues?
Creaking noise after initial install. A quick call to Ground Control identify an incorrect install. There needs to be a small space between the endlink sleeve and the spring lower threaded perch. Corrected install. Not issue since.
6. Would you recommend it to others?
Definitely. It is a nice system for a combination street/track use that maintains the stock EDC shocks. It does not perform as well as a real setup (like dawgdog's above which I can confirm changed the character of the car) but nice nonetheless.

[Jaypod]

Past: On previous '08 E90

0. Which kit do you have? Moton Street Sport (Version 2)
1. When was the kit installed? 3 years ago, on Car for 2 years
2. How often do you track? 15-20 days per year
3. Run group? Advanced\Instructor
4. Any major issues? Rebuilds? No
5. Other minor issues? Endlink Tab broke, apparently I am only one to experience this. Part was replaced quickly and easy fix. Only other complaint would be that "clicks" are not as positive as i would have liked (really had to pay attention, especially when shock was cold)
6. Would you recommend it to others? Definitely, loved this kit and still miss it. Although there are more options available today so would also consider MCS and AST if I was to go to a full coilover kit again.

Current: '12 E92 with EDC(DDC)

I currently have the Dinan Coilover kit (really a Sleeve Over). Have run it for 1 track day and so far am impressed. Not issues so far and ride is very compliant on and off the track. Went with this kit to retain EDC as already have a deposit on another car and dont plan to keep this car long term. Will further update when appropriate.

[CJ421]

I'll chime in here. I have a complete M3 suspension conversion including M3 style rear dampers.

0. Which kit do you have? - JRZ RS1 fixed-height with AC Schnitzer M3 springs, Ground Control M3 camber plates, track alignment, BFG R1 tires.
1. When was the kit installed? - June 2012
2. How often do you track? 10-15 days/year (15 days on the JRZs)
3. Run group? BMW CCA Green/Advanced
4. Any major issues? Rebuilds? No issues. Solid performance through and through, I am thinking about upping the gas pressure on the damper at some point.
5. Other minor issues? - N/A
6. Would you recommend it to others? - For track junkies yes, these will transform the car. I thought they felt good driving home after I got them installed but when I got to the track I said "wow". Always a smile on my face. I know exactly what the tire's contact patch is doing on the track. Just fantastic damping.

[Raucky2000]

Thanks for all the good info, now I just have to buy something...