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      03-23-2009, 11:37 AM   #1
consolidated
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Track suspension tuning thread

I took my M3 out to my local track this weekend, Harris Hill Road. It's a tight track, 1.7 miles with three 2nd gear corners, two of them track-out slightly uphill which makes the car more prone to understeer. Car had half-worn NT-01s and nothing else, DCT on and off. Here's what i found, experienced advice is welcome:

1. slight understeer in faster corners, but not bad
2. moderate understeer in slower corners, had to be patient to get back on the throttle
3. the car doesn't want to throttle steer, rear end stays solidly planted with front end pushing, even with DCT off.
4. car rotates nicely with throttle lift or trail braking.
5. stock suspension is really pretty good at the track, stock springs are soft so maybe stiffer sway bars are a good option.

I can drive around the push but wondering what can be done about it...my alignment shop says they can't get much additional negative camber in front.

Does anyone make camber plates, or perhaps a adjustable stiffer rear sway bar yet? Anyone tried different toe settings?

Has anyone performed a roll center study of the M3 and the effects of lowering the car?

I'm also curious about what the M-differential is really doing, is the electronic control still engaged with DCT off?
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      03-23-2009, 10:02 PM   #2
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alot of what you may be feeling is you sliding in the seat.....

give the guys at bimmerworld a call...they'll hook you up..

im in corpus, will be at the nasa and bmwcca races at tws in april....
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      03-23-2009, 10:11 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by snook View Post
alot of what you may be feeling is you sliding in the seat.....

give the guys at bimmerworld a call...they'll hook you up..

im in corpus, will be at the nasa and bmwcca races at tws in april....
thanks.

how's the snook fishing these days in CC? I'm still looking for my Packery channel jetty tarpon.
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      03-24-2009, 07:26 AM   #4
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What size are your NT01s? Are they staggered or square -- as square should help reduce the understeer a bit. I'm planning to go to RA1s in a square config of 275/35 to help as well.

My track alignment got to -1.3 F and -2.0 R, but could go no further. This seemed to reduce the slow corner understeer issue considerably.

Dinan has front camber plates that add up to -.7. This may be an attractive addition.

Q: How did your lap time compare to the Cayman? I'm guessing the M3 was a bit faster around the track. True?
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      03-24-2009, 09:16 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by 8INTO3=M View Post
What size are your NT01s? Are they staggered or square -- as square should help reduce the understeer a bit. I'm planning to go to RA1s in a square config of 275/35 to help as well.

My track alignment got to -1.3 F and -2.0 R, but could go no further. This seemed to reduce the slow corner understeer issue considerably.

Dinan has front camber plates that add up to -.7. This may be an attractive addition.

Q: How did your lap time compare to the Cayman? I'm guessing the M3 was a bit faster around the track. True?
Staggered 245/275, take-offs from my Cayman S. A square set-up would certainly make a difference.

I couldn't push the M3, I need brakes pads, the stockers started juddering three laps into it. I was doing easy 1:30s, my PR with the Cayman is 1:27, I'm sure the M3 can get there...the Cayman has quite a few track mods so it's not quite a fair fight yet.
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      03-24-2009, 10:15 AM   #6
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For what its worth I recently did the Pagid Yellows all around, with Castrol Fluid and SS lines. I was pleasantly suprised by the braking power and the complete resistance to fade. Clearly a necessary change for track use, as the OEM setup is ridiculous.
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      03-24-2009, 11:37 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by 8INTO3=M View Post
For what its worth I recently did the Pagid Yellows all around, with Castrol Fluid and SS lines. I was pleasantly suprised by the braking power and the complete resistance to fade. Clearly a necessary change for track use, as the OEM setup is ridiculous.
I'm on the list for Pagids when they get back in stock, but would prefer PFC 01/06. Last season I ran Ferodo 3000, Pagid RS29 and PFC01 and the PFC01 had noticeably more outright stopping power, they didn't last nearly as long as the Pagids however. The PFCs also tended to transfer material.
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