What have you done with or to your M3 today?

[Honda]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

This still a car? Not sure whats going on here...

[chocstraw]

GAS monoballs pre-installed in Lemförder arms, new Lemförder tie rods, and my ever-growing collection of Rock Auto fridge magnets. This doesn't even include the ~5 duplicates I've thrown out.

I have seen a lot of reviews of these, and none accurately described the benefits or how good of an upgrade they are. You must remove the tie rods to install these, so might as well replace them too. This requires an alignment, but you can align by feel and hand if you're intuitive enough.

The benefits
Somehow, these monoballs actually reduce steering chatter. They don't make steering feel harsher, in fact, I'd venture to say that they reduce steering feel, but only feel that distracts you. They reduce unnecessary noise in the steering from deflection.

If you think about where the control arm sits in the suspension setup, they sit below the center axis of the wheel hub. During heavy loads, like cornering, the stock rubber bushings will deflect inwards, which will lead to POSITIVE camber, and generally worse contact. These ensure that the wheel maintains negative camber, and make better contact with the road.

As a result, the steering wheel has less shock when hitting bumps. I live in an area with several tree roots that have raised sections of our asphalt. I no longer feel major shock when going over these, and hit my typical freeway offramp at ~15%+ faster speeds (80->100mph, being generous).

Actual install took about 30 minutes. I spent another hour or so getting my toe alignment where I was comfortable with the handling, 'return to center', steering feel, etc.

Highly recommend the GAS monoballs.

[CamasM3e93]

Originally Posted by chocstraw

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/WF0TB23S/temp-Image-Az31-V4.avif[/img]
[img]https://i.postimg.cc/RNSJLYs2/temp-Image-C4-See-M.avif[/img]

GAS monoballs pre-installed in Lemförder arms, new Lemförder tie rods, and my ever-growing collection of Rock Auto fridge magnets. This doesn't even include the ~5 duplicates I've thrown out.

I have seen a lot of reviews of these, and none accurately described the benefits or how good of an upgrade they are. You must remove the tie rods to install these, so might as well replace them too. This requires an alignment, but you can align by feel and hand if you're intuitive enough.

The benefits
Somehow, these monoballs actually reduce steering chatter. They don't make steering feel harsher, in fact, I'd venture to say that they reduce steering feel, but only feel that distracts you. They reduce unnecessary noise in the steering from deflection.

If you think about where the control arm sits in the suspension setup, they sit below the center axis of the wheel hub. During heavy loads, like cornering, the stock rubber bushings will deflect inwards, which will lead to POSITIVE camber, and generally worse contact. These ensure that the wheel maintains negative camber, and make better contact with the road.

As a result, the steering wheel has less shock when hitting bumps. I live in an area with several tree roots that have raised sections of our asphalt. I no longer feel major shock when going over these, and hit my typical freeway offramp at ~15%+ [...]

Appreciate the post as it’s on my list!

Hoping your feel is better than mine. I had a perfect alignment by feel after replacing everything oem up front. Dragged my feet on the shop alignment, even road tripped the car 2000k miles without issue. But those were dry road miles. Nearly died when I hit heavy rain and a few episodes of front wheel hydroplaning nearly sent me off the road.

[chocstraw]

Originally Posted by CamasM3e93

Appreciate the post as it’s on my list!

Hoping your feel is better than mine. I had a perfect alignment by feel after replacing everything oem up front. Dragged my feet on the shop alignment, even road tripped the car 2000k miles without issue. But those were dry road miles. Nearly died when I hit heavy rain and a few episodes of front wheel hydroplaning nearly sent me off the road.

I lost the rear at 80mph on NYE a couple years ago and just stopped driving in the rain altogether when I can. The one time I didn't have my dash cam recording too, it was an amazing save after 3 massive slides. I went from mentally accepting that my car was totaled to patting myself on the back for catching it in 15 seconds.

Now I uber everywhere when it rains or if it catches me by surprise, I throw on my hazards, rear fogs, and go 20 under in the rightmost lane. I run relatively bad street tires— Federals, because I like to destroy them and it pains me to burn through $1600 michelins in 8000 miles.

~

Back in a community college class I learned how to align wheels by hand using grease plates, plumb bobs, all that good stuff.

[NiBe]

Not much. My car still sleeps in winter storage. But found this on Facebook BMW Z4 Owners Club, caption "Long winter and stupid ideas…". Impressive. Isn't it?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2960...4398224434409/

[Donut Lord]

Originally Posted by NiBe

Not much. My car still sleeps in winter storage. But found this on Facebook BMW Z4 Owners Club, caption "Long winter and stupid ideas…". Impressive. Isn't it?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2960...4398224434409/

Hearts open!

[smokinjoe64]

Originally Posted by chocstraw

Highly recommend the GAS monoballs.

Concur fully for all reasons noted

Installed a set of Synchro Design Works ~2000 mls ago...handling improvement, a major step change!

'Feel' apparent in street and autocross use thus far...don't track my Whip, only imagine benefits are likely exponential

Sourced GAS monoballs set from FCPEuro.
Installed those along with 100% replace/upgrade of ALL suspension components from various renowned suspension brands/suppliers.

[Reddevils7]

Night ride and ran into big bro

[fs34]

Made the last payment. Feels good man.

[PACarGuy]

Did a quick no-contact late winter wash with the power washer while the temp was in the 70’s here to remove the winter dirt and dust. Will do a real clean up once she’s had her spring maintenance and her summer wheels and tires are back on.

[reidetailing]

Got inspired for my M3s from this Brazilian Youtube channel featuring some beautiful M3s...cinematography is top notch too...enjoy.

[omgzirra_exe]

ordered $110 worth of stupid nuts and bolts from FCP lol

[Reddevils7]

Full tank capacity in case anyone was curious. Was down to 3 mi range.

Need a wash badly...typical Midwest. Go from 60s to snow in 24 hours

[CamasM3e93]

Originally Posted by Reddevils7

Full tank capacity in case anyone was curious. Was down to 3 mi range.

Need a wash badly...typical Midwest. Go from 60s to snow in 24 hours

Actually, I see you…and I raise

[Reddevils7]

Originally Posted by CamasM3e93

Actually, I see you…and I raise

Lmao I stopped whenever the pump stopped. Did you fill anymore after that?

[doBBs340i]

Installed an Eventuri carbon fiber intake and had a nice first drive after the winter with 50F weather.

[smyles]

Did annual state inspection 2 months late.
Checked last year paperwork.
A whooping 853 miles in 14 months.
Daily Tesla gets that in 3 weeks...

[pbinmich]

Noticeable improvement?

[CamasM3e93]

Originally Posted by Reddevils7

Lmao I stopped whenever the pump stopped. Did you fill anymore after that?

Nah that was a click off and done. I had been arguing with myself about driving the additional 21 miles home. Thankfully I didn’t quite trust the 41 miles left message. The full seems spot on but I think the lower level calibration is somehow off since I replaced the fuel pumps. Fumes for sure

[reidetailing]

Progress is slow, but still continuing...some VERY exciting parts coming for Project Sky.

Stay tuned.

[B8bydesign]

Originally Posted by CamasM3e93

Actually, I see you…and I raise

Not bad! According to my Fuelly log, most I've ever filled up was 17.200 gallons, apparently I like to really sweat it to the pump.

[irokwrx]

I added some "Frogs" to my front stage. Crystal clear mids and high's. Powering them active is a JL XVI 800/8.