TracTive Semi-Active Suspension Review

Random Observation

I'm running Vorshlag camber plates and when I had the Ohlins, I noticed that they would creak a little on rough roads after they got hot, i.e. after my weekend hill runs. The creak would go away after a few hours when the car cooled down.

Ever since I installed the TracTive, the Vorshlag plates have been dead silent. Not sure if this is related to the TracTive suspension or not but just wanted to mention it.

Good stuff! Looking like I'll go this route when it's time for suspension work instead of MCS.

The improved compliance in sport EDC is intriguing. I'm guessing if you code in the ZCP sport setting (fully active), it would be perfect for back road runs.

Shrike360 wrote

I'm guessing if you code in the ZCP sport setting (fully active), it would be perfect for back road runs.

How is ZCP Sport fully active different from non-ZCP Sport? Curious cos I'm not that familiar with EDC.

Redd wrote

How is ZCP Sport fully active different from non-ZCP Sport? Curious cos I'm not that familiar with EDC.

Non-ZCP EDC has dynamic damping adjustments in comfort and normal operating modes. Sport mode is a fixed stiffness. ZCP coding changes that so Sport mode is now also dynamic. https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1481852

It's basically just one parameter you need to code to enable the feature. I tried it once with ProTool, and managed to kill the EDC module somehow. Next time I'll just ask Alpine to code it in instead.

TracTive Display Ashtray Holder by Rendition

Installed a custom 3D printed holder that fits neatly into the front ashtray for the Tractive ACE display. Looks quite clean and makes it easy to access the different modes without needing to always open the ashtray door.

Anyone interested can reach out to Rendition directly. I've paid for the custom design so you should be able to just order it at their normal prices. You can also choose to customize it - change sides for LHD cars, add/remove more USB ports, etc - but that will be at extra charge.

Website: https://renditioncustom.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rendition_fab/

Great reviews and install work!

I actually just ordered the Ohlins R&T kit. I found myself rarely switching away from normal mode lately, so losing EDC was less of the issue it used to be to me. And my car is just street driven, so your description of the Ohlins [lack of] harshness and overall compliance spoke to me. If it can be both more compliant and sportier than ZCP in normal mode, I will be eating my cake and having it too. If it's not right for me, then I may just stick with the ZCP hardware and reconsider Tractive at some point. TBD soon!

Another positive review for the touring tractive coilovers! Had them installed and have driven about 350 miles now. No track work yet but plenty of around town and spirited driving. I have a zcp car with edc. I find the damping to be pretty good and better than stock. On comfort, the car feels 10-15% stiffer, but overall just as comfortable due to better damping. Turn in feels direct and better than it used to. Sport is great for most highway driving. Sport plus is pretty much unusable as car becomes too bouncy due to road quality around where I live, but will be interested to see how it feels on track. Car corners pretty flat now and does not dive whatsoever with hard braking (have a stoptech trophy bbk). My other m3 has KW coilovers and this kit is way more livable as a daily driver and occasional track day kit. I installed kit with otherwise all stock suspension parts (no camber plates etc). I paid $3900 plus shipping through inertia labs and overall, I’m very happy with it. This is exactly what I was looking for and I feel it makes the car drive a bit more Porsche like now (I have a gt3 for comparison).

great review zuschnell . i'm looking to get one too. pricing now is $4900 including shipping. did you just buy the kit? $3900 including shipping is a good deal.

rodeo82 wrote

great review zuschnell . i'm looking to get one too. pricing now is $4900 including shipping. did you just buy the kit? $3900 including shipping is a good deal.

Whoa! I just checked and I was initially quoted $3900 but then they subsequently emailed me and said that was pricing for a stand alone kit. The edc kit I needed ended up being $4365+shipping. I placed order first week of March and received in under a month. I know Matt Di Vita from ********** and the m3 group on Facebook was trying to put a group buy together for this but I don’t know the status. I contacted him in February and he said he was still working on it and was going to shoot for sometime this spring but I didn’t want to wait. I’m surprised they are now charging even more! Is it the touring or the track version? I know people were getting it for $3900 last year so that is a significant up charge and way more than the b16 kit.

Redd wrote

Random Observation

I'm running Vorshlag camber plates and when I had the Ohlins, I noticed that they would creak a little on rough roads after they got hot, i.e. after my weekend hill runs. The creak would go away after a few hours when the car cooled down.

Ever since I installed the TracTive, the Vorshlag plates have been dead silent. Not sure if this is related to the TracTive suspension or not but just wanted to mention it.

Did you change the pinch bolt when you installed the tractive? I had the same creak noise before with ground control camber plates on oem EDC setup. Took awhile figure it out but I found out it was because the shop who installed the camber plates reused the pinch bolts. Those bolts are torque to yield, so by reusing them it couldn’t clamp down tight enough. My theory is the front knuckles expands just a bit once it is warmed up and allows the strut to spin since the pinch bolts are stretched out already. Long story short, I replaced the pinch bolts and the creak went away.

MaximusB wrote

Did you change the pinch bolt when you installed the tractive? I had the same creak noise before with ground control camber plates on oem EDC setup. Took awhile figure it out but I found out it was because the shop who installed the camber plates reused the pinch bolts. Those bolts are torque to yield, so by reusing them it couldn’t clamp down tight enough. My theory is the front knuckles expands just a bit once it is warmed up and allows the strut to spin since the pinch bolts are stretched out already. Long story short, I replaced the pinch bolts and the creak went away.

Which ones are the pinch bolts? But I don't think I replaced anything that was not a part of the TracTive set.

The TracTive 2-1-5-5 setting continues to amaze me. Was chasing a 997 Turbo S on downhill highway section, hitting 220kph. The car is so stable and confidence inspiring at 2-1-5-5. It just soaks up whatever road undulations or bumps, but still maintains zero roll. You can make direction changes - like changing lanes - mid high speed sweeper without upsetting the balance of the car. My Ohlins would never have been able to do that. There's just so much more confidence to push now because the car just responds immediately to your inputs. Of all the road situations, where the TracTive really shines most for me is the high speed sweepers, which also where I used to have the most fear. Still super impressed with the TracTive suspension.

Great review, very interesting!

Love the feel of the car now. Just installed.

Corners feel more stable and ride quality is not bad at all.

rodeo82 wrote

Love the feel of the car now. Just installed.

Corners feel more stable and ride quality is not bad at all.

Nice! Are you on EDC or ACE?

rodeo82 wrote

Love the feel of the car now. Just installed.

Corners feel more stable and ride quality is not bad at all.

Nice! Are you on EDC or ACE?

EDC

Great reviews here...Love what I am reading.

Now if only there was a way to adjust what the 3 EDC modes do to the TracTive settings...Seems like that would be the perfect setup.

Thumbie wrote

Great reviews here...Love what I am reading.

Now if only there was a way to adjust what the 3 EDC modes do to the TracTive settings...Seems like that would be the perfect setup.

There is. Get the ACE controller. It's worth it imho.

Redd wrote

There is. Get the ACE controller. It's worth it imho.

Are you saying ACE controller integrates with factory hardware and sensors to adjust the edc modes? Or do you mean it is used instead of the factory stuff, and I would code out EDC upon install?

EDC malfunction on and off. Not sure if any of you have seen this. The EDC module
goes into failsafe mode and car starts to become bouncy. Turn engine off and wait a couple minutes, then message goes away and shocks are not bouncy anymore. This only started happening after installing the tractive system.

Otherwise the shocks work great.

Thumbie wrote

Are you saying ACE controller integrates with factory hardware and sensors to adjust the edc modes? Or do you mean it is used instead of the factory stuff, and I would code out EDC upon install?

ACE controller is standalone and would replace EDC. You will need to code put EDC.

Redd wrote

ACE controller is standalone and would replace EDC. You will need to code put EDC.

I see. But what I would love is if there was way to integrate/program what the EDC button does.

It sounds like the EDC integration on your friends car is pretty good, but would be awesome if they were customizable. I wonder if that's something the TracTive guys are already working on...