coilover setup for auto-X?

[HERN///M3]

I'm getting GC track coilover kit this week, and I wanted to ask anyone who runs them, or any coilovers for that matter, what spring rates and rebound settings on the schocks have worked best for them. I'm gonna be running on street tires and stock camber btw. Thanks

[Max M3]

How many boards will you post this on??

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=203925

[HERN///M3]

As many as it takes to get you to mind your own business if you don't have anything reputable to say to me

[SG_M3]

LOL @ Max.

But, most run 450/525, 450/550, or hardcore auto-x can run 450/600. If you are buying them fromt GC, they will be set. But you can start at 2 turns front, 2.5 rear.

[Max M3]

Originally posted by SG_M3
LOL @ Max.

You're right; I don't know what I was thinking.

I run 300/400 and 1-1/2 turns F, 2 turns R

[HERN///M3]

Thanks guys, you too MAX. I didn't get them from GC though, I got them from someone selling them at bimmerforums. He said the rear springs were 600, but didn't know what the fronts were, i'm thinking they must be softer though. The fronts are black eibach's but you can't tell just from that. I guess i'll find out when i get them. Is there a big difference in just 1/2 a turn on the shocks?

[SG_M3]

you bought jared's kit?

Yes you will notice a difference in a 1/2 turn. If those 600's are too stiff, i have some 450's i'd trade

[HERN///M3]

Yeah exactly I got Jared's kit. If the 600's are too stiff for me i'd trade you for the 450' no prob. I use my M3 as my street car also so softer springs might definately be a possibility. Would you consider selling them to me also? In case I might want them for the front?

[m3ltw98]

Hey Rick. good to see you on dtmpower. I think the front springs may be stiffer cause the guy who we bought the car from has it setup weird. He completely took off the power steering rack so maybe he went w/ heavier springs up front. In any case, if they are too stiff for the street, I'd go w/ 450 front and either 525, 550 rear and sell the 600s or keep them to play around with. Gonna be very nice here tomorrow so it will be perfect to take the GCs off and box them up. Later

[Max M3]

You guys running spring rates like that make my back ache just thinking about it!!

[SG_M3]

Originally posted by HERN///M3
Yeah exactly I got Jared's kit. If the 600's are too stiff for me i'd trade you for the 450' no prob. I use my M3 as my street car also so softer springs might definately be a possibility. Would you consider selling them to me also? In case I might want them for the front?

I'm currently running 450/525's, but was looking into 525/600's. Oh well, let me know if you want to swap.

[megatron]

with koni sa's try 525/525. 450/525 or 525/600 won't have enough transitional stability to be as fast as you can be through the fast slaloms and transitions.

[Suneal]

megatron: What do you think is the best spring rate setup (road racing) for AD's?

[HERN///M3]

megatron: Will it be as fast as it can be through slaloms with any spring rate as long as it's equal in the front and rear? or is it just with 525/525?

Thanks for the update Jared

[megatron]

suneal: that's a good question. my 525/525 setup has a slight push through long sweepers, so i would guess it is suboptimal on a roadcourse where you don't have the sudden transitions of an autox or pro-solo. secondly, at track speeds you're putting down much less torque at the rear wheels as in an autox settings, so that will sway the setup as well; you don't have as much forward bite you need to put down, and thus will have more available lateral load from the rear tires. i've yet to track this particular car yet, however, so i really can't say. that said, my previous 968 had about the same balance, and worked great on a track.

hern//m3: it depends on your bars, etc. but in talking around the paddock, the fastest autox e36 m3s in the country (running street modified) right now are running bigger or = springs in the front as rear. the main thing to remember when you're dialing in your preference is that a rear spring rate change will have a smaller effect as a front spring rate change on the balance because the motion ratio in the rear will apply roughly only half of that delta when you look at wheel rate comparisons front to rear. secondly, with the g/c kit, changing rear springs is a 5 minute process (jack the car up from the subframe and drop the new springs in), whereas front springs are a bit more time consuming.

if you're thinking 450/450, bob tunnell ran 450/450 for a long time on his car, and won a BSP national championship with it (against an army of C4 vettes), but he was running jrz's so i think he was probably using the nitrogen pressure to get more effective rate. on the 450/450, i spoke with dale at g/c and he says a 2.5" dia, 6" long, 450 eibach will coilbind in the rear, so you may not want to go that low. however, a beehive 450 (ala h&r) should be ok.