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      06-07-2013, 04:24 PM   #1
JMK007
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Track Set Up Thread

I thought I'd create a track set up thread so people can discuss and learn from each others set ups. For each set up, please include information on suspension, wheels/tires, brakes/pads, software, and any other parts that might be informative to people who track their F30. Please also include a review of your set up on track (and on the street).

Unfortunately, I have nothing to offer until my first track event with this car in two weeks. Until AST comes out with coilovers (and camber plates) for the F30, my set up will be as follows:

Suspension: stock sport line (with stock alignment)
Wheels: APEX ARC 8 18X9
Tries: Nitto NT-01 235 or 245/40/18
Brakes/Pads: Stop Tech BBK ST-60, 355X32 F; ST-40 345X28 R, with Stop Tech street and race pads
Software: stock

I will post my review from my NASA event at Gingerman in a couple of weeks. I suspect my tires and brakes will overwhelm the stock, marshmallow like suspension.
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Last edited by JMK007; 06-09-2013 at 09:26 PM..
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      06-09-2013, 07:36 PM   #2
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I had the ST40's on the front of my E46 and they were great calipers, especially when coupled with Pagid Orange pads. I ran Blue's on the street for a bit then learned to live with Orange for both track and street. I imagine with the 60's up front and 40's in the rear your setup should equal if not rival the OEM BBK that I have on my F30. In either case, you most definitely WILL be able to take advantage of the extra braking power with the NT01s. With that said, my car has the DHP and I found it plenty good for track use. Of course, I was on the RFTs. One day I'll see about mounting up the NT01s I have on a set of track rims but if there was one area I'd want to improve the suspension first with a DHP car it'd be the swaybars. The 'electronic' shocks actually do a decent job, especially considering they can pull double duty being that my F30 is my DD.
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      06-14-2013, 02:11 PM   #3
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I'll let you know after this weekend, but I just sold my track car and I already signed up for willow springs so ill be going out with my

328i
H&r sport springs
+1/16 toe out and -1.5 camber
255/40/17 nt01 on stock 17x7.5

This will have to do in a pinch
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      06-14-2013, 02:42 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by krnnerdboy View Post
I'll let you know after this weekend, but I just sold my track car and I already signed up for willow springs so ill be going out with my

328i
H&r sport springs
+1/16 toe out and -1.5 camber
255/40/17 nt01 on stock 17x7.5

This will have to do in a pinch
How'd you manage -1.5 deg camber on an F30?
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      06-14-2013, 03:03 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by utenigma
Quote:
Originally Posted by krnnerdboy View Post
I'll let you know after this weekend, but I just sold my track car and I already signed up for willow springs so ill be going out with my

328i
H&r sport springs
+1/16 toe out and -1.5 camber
255/40/17 nt01 on stock 17x7.5

This will have to do in a pinch
How'd you manage -1.5 deg camber on an F30?
Not sure. It's what I measured after the drop. Actually More like 1.4. I'll ask my alignment shop after i get back. He seems to know his way around beemers. It's called the wheel supply
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      06-15-2013, 07:35 PM   #6
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I thought this was on topic...

Rear seat fits 4 tires with the center console folded down to let a pop up through





And while 255-40-17 is considered too wide for a 7.5" rim. It fits in a pinch and the handling isn't bad at all since the tire sidewalls are so stiff

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      06-17-2013, 11:40 AM   #7
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I always wanted to track my car and think I finally will this year. Just sold my heavy 20" wheels and looking into purchasing some light weight 19"... I know it's probably best to go with 18" for the track but until I am super familiar with tracking I still want a clean and nice setup.
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      06-17-2013, 12:40 PM   #8
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Just got back from big willow springs. My setup gave me a best lap time of 141.1 in 99* heat with a lot left on the table once I figure out turn 1 and 9 it was fun running out there with e36 m3's and brz's

My biggest gripe about the car was lack of steering feel and the lack of throttle modulation/power.... What I did love was the light front end that loved to turn in and the car was well balanced with a slight hint of understeer. Keep in mind I'm used to tracking high hp cars that rarely go wot. At first I thought I wasted my day coming out with this car but once my mentality switched to momentum driving it was a real hoot and I would do it again, even with a dedicated track car

Posting video soon....
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      06-17-2013, 09:28 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by krnnerdboy View Post
Just got back from big willow springs. My setup gave me a best lap time of 141.1 in 99* heat with a lot left on the table once I figure out turn 1 and 9 it was fun running out there with e36 m3's and brz's

My biggest gripe about the car was lack of steering feel and the lack of throttle modulation/power.... What I did love was the light front end that loved to turn in and the car was well balanced with a slight hint of understeer. Keep in mind I'm used to tracking high hp cars that rarely go wot. At first I thought I wasted my day coming out with this car but once my mentality switched to momentum driving it was a real hoot and I would do it again, even with a dedicated track car

Posting video soon....
My set up is very similar to yours, except my suspension is completely stock and I have 18" Nitto NT01s. Did you find r cops completely overwhelming the suspension? Where you able to get an lift throttle oversteer?
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      06-18-2013, 12:52 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JMK007
Quote:
Originally Posted by krnnerdboy View Post
Just got back from big willow springs. My setup gave me a best lap time of 141.1 in 99* heat with a lot left on the table once I figure out turn 1 and 9 it was fun running out there with e36 m3's and brz's

My biggest gripe about the car was lack of steering feel and the lack of throttle modulation/power.... What I did love was the light front end that loved to turn in and the car was well balanced with a slight hint of understeer. Keep in mind I'm used to tracking high hp cars that rarely go wot. At first I thought I wasted my day coming out with this car but once my mentality switched to momentum driving it was a real hoot and I would do it again, even with a dedicated track car

Posting video soon....
My set up is very similar to yours, except my suspension is completely stock and I have 18" Nitto NT01s. Did you find r cops completely overwhelming the suspension? Where you able to get an lift throttle oversteer?
I liked the setup quite a bit considering I'm used to doing coilovers as my first mod. The setup was enjoyable and it definitely wasn't overwhelming the suspension. I'm not so sure how I'd feel about it on a tighter track like streets of willow though. But in comparison, the base f30 on h&r felt more in control than my boss 302 suspension. But that's probably from fighting with the solid rear axle
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      06-18-2013, 02:26 PM   #11
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Oh yeah, and lift throttle oversteer was not a problem. Very well balanced
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      06-18-2013, 04:34 PM   #12
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Krnnerdboy,

Glad to hear the suspension worked well. Do did you find roll resistance greatly increased after the just H&R compared to stock?
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      06-28-2013, 08:37 PM   #13
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OP, after your experience would you make any changes to your tire width? I'm in the market for your same wheel. I've been recommended to go 245's all around with SS's.
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      06-28-2013, 10:04 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ronin951 View Post
OP, after your experience would you make any changes to your tire width? I'm in the market for your same wheel. I've been recommended to go 245's all around with SS's.
I would not pick anything more narrow than 245. 255 would probably be the widest I would go, though steering feel would not be as sharp on turn in. I think 245 may be ideal.
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      06-30-2013, 09:50 PM   #15
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Quote:
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I would not pick anything more narrow than 245. 255 would probably be the widest I would go, though steering feel would not be as sharp on turn in. I think 245 may be ideal.
Yeah, I put 255's on my e46 and definitely noticed it up front. I'm really torn. I'm liking the idea of 235's up front, but I'm wondering if that's enough for the rears. Any reason you went with 9"? I see another member runs 235/40's 8.5.

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showpo...2&postcount=18
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      06-30-2013, 10:00 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by krnnerdboy View Post
And while 255-40-17 is considered too wide for a 7.5" rim. It fits in a pinch and the handling isn't bad at all since the tire sidewalls are so stiff

That's the way tires should look!
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      07-01-2013, 10:41 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ronin951 View Post
Yeah, I put 255's on my e46 and definitely noticed it up front. I'm really torn. I'm liking the idea of 235's up front, but I'm wondering if that's enough for the rears. Any reason you went with 9"? I see another member runs 235/40's 8.5.

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showpo...2&postcount=18
I think 245 is a slightly better choice than 235, as 235 is a bit thin for the rears (especially if you do a software upgrade). As for wheels, 18X8.5 is probably your best choice if you are no going to run more than 245. I chose the 18X9 by because I may end up running Hoosier R6 245s, which measure more like 255s.
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      07-04-2013, 02:44 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JMK007
Krnnerdboy,

Glad to hear the suspension worked well. Do did you find roll resistance greatly increased after the just H&R compared to stock?
Roll resistance is much improved over the base springs, and the geometry/alignment adds more steering feel
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      07-08-2013, 05:27 PM   #19
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Setup is as follows

328i
DHP
H&R sport
MPerformance Brembo's
Challenge SS brake lines
8.5x18 running Yoko Neova's 245 front 255 rear

Ran my first event on the stock runflats so needless to say a huge all-around improvement was found with the track wheel/tires. I also added the SS lines after my first event with the car and that further extended braking before ABS intervention.

aside from those obvious improvments I still consider myself a track newbie so I'm reluctant to point out the vehicles flaws...because the majority would probably be that of the driver
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      07-08-2013, 08:55 PM   #20
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Where'd you source the SS brake lines from? I assume you have the OEM 4 wheel BBK??
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      07-09-2013, 09:22 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SergioK View Post
Where'd you source the SS brake lines from? I assume you have the OEM 4 wheel BBK??
Challenge, they're a vendor.
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      07-10-2013, 06:03 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ronin951 View Post
OP, after your experience would you make any changes to your tire width? I'm in the market for your same wheel. I've been recommended to go 245's all around with SS's.
Car: Stock, Base Model F30 328
Suspension: KW V3s
Alignment, Camber: reduce toe for mileage, -0.7 ft. -1.9 rr.
Wheels: APEX ARC-8, 17X9" ET42
Tires: Hoosier R6, 245/45/17
Brakes: Stock

I recently tracked my F30. It was better than expected and the light front end along with the KWs was crisp, poised, and surprisingly good with understeer. The motor was great and even though I have an AT the car was really fun and crisp, as long as you turn off traction control. In 110 degree heat there was no perceivable loss of power and no overheating. Hallelujah!!!! I previously owned an E92 335



The brakes were less than desirable but I just used the sock pads and fluid. My fault. I got the funniest warning I had ever seen half way through my last session: "Excessive braking load: Drive moderately". It made me laugh as I was entering a braking zone at 110. Funny.



I used 245/40/17 Hoosier R6s, which are a little small in diameter. They should be 245/45/17 for the F30 but I had these . The Hoosier 245s measure to 255 so this is in reference to other manufacturers 255s. I had never driven a car where, in a way, the tires had more grip than the car.

The KW V3s are very, very good and I highly suggest them for a street/track car. KW targets the performance street user but I think they're more than good for the track. The V3s have the feel and control of a much more expensive coilover and even with the progressive springs, which I hate on the track but love on the street, the car was very poised and predictable. I could have even dialed up the compression damping more to mimic stiffer springs and I'm sure the handling would have been even better and with less body roll.

I would love some swaybars as an interim upgrade to control the body roll until the aftermarket matures for the F30. Without aftermarket bushings and M3 suspension bits available, I wouldn't use stiffer springs to control roll and increase handling as the weak links are all of the soft, rubber bushings. I do like stiffer springs as opposed to large swaybars to control roll but at this point I would opt for the bars.

With the suspension setup, throttle steering in sustained corners was easy and I only had to compensate for understeer a little. The suspension, tires, and car were remarkably good as a system and would have been much better with a manual tranny. The motor was really great and I expect great things from it.

I loved going at it with fully prepared track cars in the race group with my "Mom Rocket"

SUSPENSION NOTES: You may want to change to a stiffer, linear spring but as I said above, wait until better bushings and other suspension bits are available. With KW V3s and a very low ride height I only get a little rubbing on the fender liner at the 2:00 position close to the outside. This is mainly due to my ride height. It's only low because this isn't my track car so maximizing handling isn't vital to me. I'm after looks

Last edited by jbass524; 07-10-2013 at 07:27 PM..
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