Suspension Setup for Track Days

[mcvaughan]

My vote would be for MCS as well. I'm running the 2WNR setup on my M2C. I ran KW CS 2-way and JRZ RS Pros on my M4. I believe the MCS is a superior damper.

[F80Speed77]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

I didn't mention Porsche anywhere and would prefer to not discuss that garbage. This is a BMW forum.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by krisa9977

And who you are to make such assumptions about what I drove and what I didn't drive? It appears to me that you are another amateur sunday driver who has less then zero racing experience and has no idea on how to set up race cars.

That statement was based on what info you provided. I have 30+ years of experience setting up cars. You have no clue what my background is. I didn’t personally attack you so perhaps you should ask yourself who’s the one that’s insecure when it comes to race car setup.

[krisa9977]

Originally Posted by mcvaughan

My vote would be for MCS as well. I'm running the 2WNR setup on my M2C. I ran KW CS 2-way and JRZ RS Pros on my M4. I believe the MCS is a superior damper.

Definitely MCS is a superior dumper over KW CS2. But is cost almost a double

Buying KW CS 2 way is waste of money for this car. With springs and camber plates you end up with almost the same performance for less money. Not sure about JRZ, never run them. But KW CS 3way is completely different. It works much better for those cars. Exr is the racing setup made for slicks and competition buy cost much less then MSC racing setup.

[Montaver]

The Team Shirmer M3's run Nitron 3-ways and they seem to do alright. Once you reach a certain cost level all these brands are going to be very comparable in terms of performance. It really comes down to support, availability and personal preference.

[krisa9977]

Originally Posted by Montaver

The Team Shirmer M3's run Nitron 3-ways and they seem to do alright. Once you reach a certain cost level all these brands are going to be very comparable in terms of performance. It really comes down to support, availability and personal preference.

Like I sad before, Nitron is one of the best along with KW Competition. The Team Shirmer is the best example on how to build and setup cars.

[sly1types]

What spring rates are you MCS guys running? This is for a full interior car that will get tracked about 10-15 days a year that isn't daily driven, but it driven a decent amount on the street.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by sly1types

What spring rates are you MCS guys running? This is for a full interior car that will get tracked about 10-15 days a year that isn't daily driven, but it driven a decent amount on the street.

Which MCS damper - 1WNR, 2WNR, 2WR, 3WR or 4WR?

What brand and compound tire? Tire width front and rear (and wheel specs)?

Stock or aftermarket sway bars? If aftermarket, what’s their stiffness relative to stock or cross-sectional geometry? Front bar only or front & rear bars?

Aero? Sounds like you currently have no aero (front splitter and/or rear wing) mods.

[sly1types]

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

Which MCS damper - 1WNR, 2WNR, 2WR, 3WR or 4WR?

What brand and compound tire? Tire width front and rear (and wheel specs)?

Stock or aftermarket sway bars? If aftermarket, what's their stiffness relative to stock or cross-sectional geometry? Front bar only or front & rear bars?

Aero? Sounds like you currently have no aero (front splitter and/or rear wing) mods.

I'm looking at 2way non remotes. Right now I'm running RE71r 265/35/19 and 305/30/19 with 9.5" and 11" widths I will keep running those or maybe cup2s.

I will try and keep sways stock as I hear you have to drop the rear subframe.

No Aero, just a RW lip. Probably won't either as I want to keep this car street able as I drive it a couple weekends a month. I also have a E46M3 track car that I have been tracking for the last 15 years, but I'm planning on making the F80 into a street/track car also as I was pretty impressed with it stock on the track with just tires and the CS tune.

On my street/track E46M3 I have 550/600 TCK with ground controls race sways and it's definitely under sprung for the track but still rides nice on the street, so I need more spring than that...

So I was thinking maybe 500/800 for the MCS?

Eventually I will be running a water/meth ethanol setup with about 550-575rwhp and all the CSF coolers. If I have to go with R7s to put the power down I will, but I don't want to.

[fanatic1]

Originally Posted by sly1types

I'm looking at 2way non remotes. Right now I'm running RE71r 265/35/19 and 305/30/19 with 9.5" and 11" widths I will keep running those or maybe cup2s.

I will try and keep sways stock as I hear you have to drop the rear subframe.

No Aero, just a RW lip. Probably won't either as I want to keep this car street able as I drive it a couple weekends a month. I also have a E46M3 track car that I have been tracking for the last 15 years, but I'm planning on making the F80 into a street/track car also as I was pretty impressed with it stock on the track with just tires and the CS tune.

On my street/track E46M3 I have 550/600 TCK with ground controls race sways and it's definitely under sprung for the track but still rides nice on the street, so I need more spring than that...

So I was thinking maybe 500/800 for the MCS?

Eventually I will be running a water/meth ethanol setup with about 550-575rwhp and all the CSF coolers. If I have to go with R7s to put the power down I will, but I don't want to.

Currently running MCS 1 way 700/1000 with Yoko A052 295x30x18 square on 10.5 BW TAR5. If you start tracking frequently, you will definitely want to go with a square set up or burn extra cash in front tires. Car is otherwise stock.

Had a pro driver run a few laps in my car over the weekend and may be going up slightly in rear spring rate.

With current spring rates, the car is surprisingly compliant with generally good road manners (soften rebound for street).

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by sly1types

I'm looking at 2way non remotes. Right now I'm running RE71r 265/35/19 and 305/30/19 with 9.5" and 11" widths I will keep running those or maybe cup2s.

I will try and keep sways stock as I hear you have to drop the rear subframe.

No Aero, just a RW lip. Probably won't either as I want to keep this car street able as I drive it a couple weekends a month. I also have a E46M3 track car that I have been tracking for the last 15 years, but I'm planning on making the F80 into a street/track car also as I was pretty impressed with it stock on the track with just tires and the CS tune.

On my street/track E46M3 I have 550/600 TCK with ground controls race sways and it's definitely under sprung for the track but still rides nice on the street, so I need more spring than that...

So I was thinking maybe 500/800 for the MCS?

Eventually I will be running a water/meth ethanol setup with about 550-575rwhp and all the CSF coolers. If I have to go with R7s to put the power down I will, but I don't want to.

So your plan is to continue running a staggered setup? The newer PSC2 240 should perform just as well as, if not better than, the RE71R. GRM did a comparison test this past year and the PSC2 240 performed well in that test.

500/800 will be on the softer side for the 2WNR. Also, the F8x is heavier than the E46 but it does have a better camber curve so the front rate doesn’t have to be close to the rear divorced rate like it is on your E46. With a staggered tire setup, you may end up with a larger F-R split after dialing in the suspension setup. I’d suggest starting with a 650 F/1000 R for a more street biased setup or 750 F/1100 R for a more track biased setup. The R spring is easy to swap so I’d give more consideration to the selection of the F rate first. A 750 F spring + 2WNR damper will still be a very street friendly setup (reduce C settings to make it even more street friendly).

[krisa9977]

My best lap times with different setup(same tires same driver):

BMW M4 (a052 tires)

MP HAS, bm3 St1, camber plates (camber -3.5 front -2.1 rear) 2:27.4
KW Exr, bm3 St1 (camber -3.5 front -2.1 rear) 2:25.4
KW Exr, stock tune, GT4 aero kit (camber -3.5 front -2.1 rear) 2:25.4
KW Exr, bm3 St1, GT4 aero kit (camber -3.5 front -2.1 rear) 2:23.2

Porsche GT3 991.1 ( Cup2)
stock 2:23.1

[mcvaughan]

Originally Posted by sly1types

What spring rates are you MCS guys running? This is for a full interior car that will get tracked about 10-15 days a year that isn't daily driven, but it driven a decent amount on the street.

I'm running 550 front, 450 rear (coilover rear setup). It's a good setup for a car that sees street as well as track work.

[edwinm3]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Springs are a complete waste of money. Leave it stock or get a proper track suspension.

True,

Also getting a full track suspension if only tracking very little is a complete waste of money. Stock would do just fine unless you're very good at it and feel you have outperformed your stock suspension.

[krisa9977]

Originally Posted by edwinm3

True,

Also getting a full track suspension if only tracking very little is a complete waste of money. Stock would do just fine unless you're very good at it and feel you have outperformed your stock suspension.

Unlike all the previous generations M3s, F80/F82 suspension kinematics also designed running lowered springs with higher spring rates. Lowered springs works very well on this car. Especially with the camber plates

[sc_tr0jan_m3]

I've actually enjoyed tracking my car entirely stock. I have a fully built e46 m3 with mcs and big sway bars. When I bring the f80 out to play it reminds me of weight transfer and to stay smooth.

It's a great learning tool for me and in stock form, the car is more capable than what people are willing to give it credit for. Many times people just want something cool and new instead of pushing the stock form to its limit.

[NYG]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Springs are a complete waste of money. Leave it stock or get a proper track suspension.

Facts.

One of the biggest mistakes I made early on with my CS.

[edwinm3]

Originally Posted by krisa9977

Unlike all the previous generations M3s, F80/F82 suspension kinematics also designed running lowered springs with higher spring rates. Lowered springs works very well on this car. Especially with the camber plates

these cars are very capable in stock form. They definitely would benefit tremendously with a set of camber plates and an alignment if pushing the car hard and tracking regularly. I think BMW did a great job testing these cars on and off the track before they released them, oem springs are fine unless wanting to look cool with a lower drop.

[Spun Crankhub]

Let me just say I love my KW CS 3 way. I can set them up for however brutal I want them to be on the track, and very easily change settings back for street driving the car 2-3 times a week.

[edwinm3]

Originally Posted by Spun Crankhub

Let me just say I love my KW CS 3 way. I can set them up for however brutal I want them to be on the track, and very easily change settings back for street driving the car 2-3 times a week.

I have the same ones, they're good.

[Spun Crankhub]

Originally Posted by edwinm3

I have the same ones, they're good.

Heck yes!