Track forum general chit chat.

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Barney

Rank in order of priority please:

Front monoballs
Solid rear subframe bushings
Solid diff bushings
E93 front sway bar
Coilovers
Camber plates

1. monoballs (cheap, easy)
2. coilovers and camber plates (should be done together)
3. solid sub/diff bushings. (should be done together)

you'll save on some alignment labor if you do two and three together.

e93 bar? meh

[kyippee]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Barney

Rank in order of priority please:

Front monoballs
Solid rear subframe bushings
Solid diff bushings
E93 front sway bar
Coilovers
Camber plates

Coilovers (with GC race camber plates)
Front monoballs
Solid diff bushings and rear subframe bushings
Sway bar

[SQ13]

Got my helmet signed by James Clay and Bill Auberlen at the GT World Challenge event at COTA last weekend. Bill was supposed to drop by the medical center later on to sign the trim on my E46, but I guess he forgot or didn’t feel like it :/






M2 CSR. It’s replacing the M240iR.

[Bimmer Barney]

Ok Monoballs will be on order 👍🏼

[tdott]

a few laps from Track Night in American at Palm Beach International Raceway yesterday evening:

[StripclubDJ]

More bigger more better

[Redd]

Originally Posted by kpewpew

Coilovers (with GC race camber plates)
Front monoballs
Solid diff bushings and rear subframe bushings
Sway bar

I'm surprised so many put front monoballs above solid rear subframe bushings. I felt the most benefit in terms of controlling suspension movements from rear subframe and diff bushings.

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by Redd

I'm surprised so many put front monoballs above solid rear subframe bushings. I felt the most benefit in terms of controlling suspension movements from rear subframe and diff bushings.

A lot less money and less labor. Squirm in heavy braking is reduced. I'm sort of thinking in terms of economical upgrades as well.

[M3MPH1S]

Originally Posted by Redd

I'm surprised so many put front monoballs above solid rear subframe bushings. I felt the most benefit in terms of controlling suspension movements from rear subframe and diff bushings.

Agreed, if money is not a concern, I'd do rear subframe and diff before coilovers even.

Also, I would advocate skipping monoballs and go straight for replacing the whole tension strut

https://www.splparts.com/products/fr...x-e8x-f8x.html

[dparm]

The string of RE-71R clones continues, lol.

https://www.falkentire.com/tires/pas...nis-rt660-tire

[gmx]

In that case you'd just do camber plates first to save tyres and maybe monoballs since you'll need an alignment anyway. Then the rest all at once, buy new perches from Vorshlag/GC to suit the dampers/coilovers etc.

Point is, spreading costs doesn't really save you anything. Went from just camber plates to everything in one swoop. No regrets.

Anybody coded off dynamic braking in the DSC controller and have good feedback?

[kyippee]

Originally Posted by M3MPH1S

Agreed, if money is not a concern, I'd do rear subframe and diff before coilovers even.

Also, I would advocate skipping monoballs and go straight for replacing the whole tension strut

https://www.splparts.com/products/fr...x-e8x-f8x.html

Sooo I'm on stock subframe and diff bushings. If I go to the next best solution below solid mounts, it'll be good gainz? (would love to hear parts recs that don't have completely insane NVH)

Any downsides to the SPL part? I heard they clicky-clicky a lot?

[Kelse92]

Originally Posted by dparm

The string of RE-71R clones continues, lol.

https://www.falkentire.com/tires/pas...nis-rt660-tire

Watch out, this one is supposed to be pretty good! GRM put out a nice test article on it in this months issue.
Assuming the event I’m going to in two weeks doesn’t get cancelled... I’ll get to drive on it (not in an M3, but an 86) soon.

[tsk94]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Barney

Rank in order of priority please:

Front monoballs
Solid rear subframe bushings
Solid diff bushings
E93 front sway bar
Coilovers
Camber plates

Camber plates
Solid subframe and diff bushings (do them at the same time)
Front monoballs
Coilovers
E93 sway (put above coilovers if doing an adjustable set)

I'd recommend getting a set of adjustable sway bars, like Hotchkis. Do them at the same time you do the solid bushings since you'll need to drop the subframe anyways that's the best time to replace the rear sway bar. Front is easy and can be done whenever..

Rear subframe bushings have a much bigger positive effect on track then front monoballs. Get's rid of all the rear end squirm, puts the power down better, more stable rear end, more confidence inspiring = faster.

While a good set of coilovers makes a big difference, it's also the most expensive item. You could do all of the above (camber plates, sway bars, bushings, and front monoballs) for quite a bit less then a good set of dampers - hence why I put coilovers so low on the list. You could run stock suspension, with a good track alignment (camber plates), with upgraded f+r sway bars (Hotchkis), with upgraded bushings and front monoballs and have a really good car on track for semi-frequent track use. With a good set of tires it would be a quick setup. If you're really serious then add a good get of coilovers, MCS, JRZ KWCS for added performance.

That's my 2 cents at least.

[tsk94]

Originally Posted by kpewpew

Sooo I'm on stock subframe and diff bushings. If I go to the next best solution below solid mounts, it'll be good gainz? (would love to hear parts recs that don't have completely insane NVH)

Any downsides to the SPL part? I heard they clicky-clicky a lot?

Solid subframe have almost 0 change in NVH - just a better driving car. Solid diff bushing do increase NVH but not by much. The difference is night and day, the rear end is more stable and planted and on track inspires more confidence near/at the limit - arguably one of the most important upgrades on the E9X chassis for track use.

Depending on how much your car is being used on the street would determine whether or not to go monoball or replace the whole arm with SPL imo. On my previous car that was street driven some I did monoball. I now run all SPL arms on my track car but it never gets street driven - they make more noise and might be annoying to you for more daily use.

[OG Shark]

Originally Posted by Kelse92

Watch out, this one is supposed to be pretty good! GRM put out a nice test article on it in this months issue.
Assuming the event I’m going to in two weeks doesn’t get cancelled... I’ll get to drive on it (not in an M3, but an 86) soon.

Going to be interesting to see how these new(ish) 200TW tires play out. Nice that we are getting some more options that look to be competitive. Really interested in seeing how the yoko A052 hold up - could be a good tire for endurance races with TW minimums. If they can hold up as long as the RE71 they could be a good option with their wider selection.

Good luck on your event not getting cancelled - looking pretty bleak right now...

[rhyary]

Originally Posted by Kelse92

Watch out, this one is supposed to be pretty good! GRM put out a nice test article on it in this months issue.
Assuming the event I’m going to in two weeks doesn’t get cancelled... I’ll get to drive on it (not in an M3, but an 86) soon.

Good info on who owns who among the tire brands.

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/ar...oss-and-track/

[dparm]

From what I've seen, track days and autocrosses are too small to be considered a "mass gathering". Chin Track Days even clarified all of their events are still on.

[OG Shark]

Originally Posted by dparm

From what I've seen, track days and autocrosses are too small to be considered a "mass gathering". Chin Track Days even clarified all of their events are still on.

I really hope you're right but I have a feeling that is not going to hold up. Pockets are going to start tightening & could see the economic viability of some of the track events degrading to where it doesn't make sense for them to be run for awhile. And the definition of mass gathering is easy to change to fit the govt's whims at any time.

[Kelse92]

Originally Posted by OG Shark

Going to be interesting to see how these new(ish) 200TW tires play out. Nice that we are getting some more options that look to be competitive. Really interested in seeing how the yoko A052 hold up - could be a good tire for endurance races with TW minimums. If they can hold up as long as the RE71 they could be a good option with their wider selection.

Good luck on your event not getting cancelled - looking pretty bleak right now...

The A052 is great! Love AutoX-ing on it, wear life however... not so much.
Endurance tire choice in my book still goes to the 615k or RS4 unless you’re trying to set fastest laps. I may scoop another set of A052’s for SCCA Time Trials at some point since it’s 200tw limited, I currently have a dedicated autox set of A052’s only, and just plan to run RS4’s or Scrubs on track for now since it’s more cost-effective. I have access to takeoffs in the RS4 size I need from a local WRL team.
My co-driver and I delaminated my A052’s last weekend actually so we are tire shopping right now. Sadly the new Falken won’t have 285’s in until mid-summer.

[OG Shark]

Originally Posted by Kelse92

The A052 is great! Love AutoX-ing on it, wear life however... not so much.
Endurance tire choice in my book still goes to the 615k or RS4 unless you’re trying to set fastest laps. I may scoop another set of A052’s for SCCA Time Trials at some point since it’s 200tw limited, I currently have a dedicated autox set of A052’s only, and just plan to run RS4’s or Scrubs on track for now since it’s more cost-effective. I have access to takeoffs in the RS4 size I need from a local WRL team.
My co-driver and I delaminated my A052’s last weekend actually so we are tire shopping right now. Sadly the new Falken won’t have 285’s in until mid-summer.

How would you compare the A052 to RE71’s in wear and performance? The rs4s are definitely tanks, crazy how much abuse they can take.

[fsmtnbiker]

The A052’s wear approximately 2x as fast as the RE71. If not faster.