suspension conudrum

[Cati]

Guys

have a bit of a ponder going on....

1. Go FRPP kit - essentially good reviews - thing holding me up is that the FRPP kit for the s197 got the same and the reality was good but not perfect - still required a few bits extra.

2. That said it is a 1000 pound suspension package that costs 2 grand once it is over here

3. So the dilemma is do you therefore spend 2k on an EU suspension set up like K&W clubsport or variant 3 where you still have the option to adjust to make it perfect and are not affect the value equation buy overpaying through shipping and additional duty and vat charges


I have to say that GT101 have been fab answering my questions - would be interested in your thoughts.

My plan is to speed up my post op recovery getting this all imported and ready to go as soon as the quack says I can drive again!!!

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[stiggy]

Hi Cati.

Ultimately it really depends on how much money you want to chuck at it and (dare I say it) whether you have the ability to exploit the performance potential?

For example, I had Tokico D-Specs on my S197 and pretty much every conceivable suspension adjustment mod (BMR and FRPP). I also hold a race licence and have been clubman racing for many years (in cars that I scratch built), so I do have some expience in terms of what makes a car handle and what doesn't.

But the only thing I ever did with the setup was to soften the shocks for a wet trackday!

Personally speaking, whilst I seem to have caved in to the idea of some mods, I'm going to stick with Ford Racing Performance Parts as they will have had the most rigorous testing (and biggest R&D resource) and are dedicated for the car.

Performance mods like this are very subjective - and whilst people may talk informatively on the subject, are they really qualified to compare? In my experience, rarely. Again, that's why I'm sticking to FRPP this time around.

I'd also say that your dealer is likely to look more kindly when seeing a bunch of Ford stickers under the car rather than a mishmash of umpteen aftermarket companies (he says, having ordered a BMR cradle lockout and some Steeda stuff) ;)

 

[Gibbo205]

Guys

have a bit of a ponder going on....

1. Go FRPP kit - essentially good reviews - thing holding me up is that the FRPP kit for the s197 got the same and the reality was good but not perfect - still required a few bits extra.

2. That said it is a 1000 pound suspension package that costs 2 grand once it is over here

3. So the dilemma is do you therefore spend 2k on an EU suspension set up like K&W clubsport or variant 3 where you still have the option to adjust to make it perfect and are not affect the value equation buy overpaying through shipping and additional duty and vat charges


I have to say that GT101 have been fab answering my questions - would be interested in your thoughts.

My plan is to speed up my post op recovery getting this all imported and ready to go as soon as the quack says I can drive again!!!

1. If a road car with odd trackday, the FRPP kit is all you will ever need, its a transformation.
2. I got very lucky, $1080 for full kit and $500 shipping which included all my other stuff as well I got, I literally got a full palit shipped from US weighing a good few hundred kilo's for sub $500, I've noticed since CJ Pony have more than doubled their shipping quotes since I ordered. :( But saying that your gonna be nowhere near £2000, however, onto question three.
3. KW Clubsport is it a track car? If yes do it, DO IT NOW. I have Clubsport on my M3, it comes with top mounts and much firmer front springs over the V3 kit, brilliant on track. If this is a road car though, V3, Clubsport is way too much. V2 would be perfect but it is going to be firmer on the road than FRPP kit, but you do have more height adjustment and damper control. I use my car daily so FRPP is ideal for me, if my car was a weekend toy and track car then KW's would be the direction I would go.

My M3 on Clubsports does ride better than you'd expect on the road and the handling on the road in the wet is not bad, yes stock CSL suspension is better because for a road car especially in the wet you need more compliance and softness, having this in a road car, will make it a faster road car. Stiff cars are epic on track, but absolutely crap on the road. I've owned an M3 CSL, now got an M3 track car and driven my friends standard M3 and another full poly bushed M3 on coilovers. The stock M3/CSL will always be on the power sooner out of corners on a wet day on the road, softness and weight helps with traction. On the track however my car and friendly polybushed M3's are insane, my car is passing CSL's on track and proper track stuff like R300 caterhams, Ginetta's it is a very quick car and I still run it on road tyres, I have slicks but don't feel the need for them.

I had immense fun in my M3 last year at Donnington against Jonny from book-a-track in his R300 Caterham. He could not believe an E46 M3 on road tyres was hassling him in braking zones and corners in a car that was driven to the track and driven home end of the day. As track cars E46 M3's are hard to beat, mine cost me £7000, but I spent another £7000 on it haha turning it into a track warrior but amazingly I was using it as my daily and it was perfect fine, not back breaking or scraping etc, but I've done a lot of car setups so in a way I've set it up as a Clubsport, great on road and great on track.

 

[Ericc B]

If you're gonna spend that kind of money KW V3 is a no brainer. Car handles like a dream now and the adjustability range in both ride height and bump/rebound is phenomenal.

 

[Cati]

thanks guys - so money is fortunately not a limiting factor

yes I have the capacity to exploit it! so that is not an issue

The daily driver is a comp packed m3 so used to a decent magnetic suspension

above all interested in what everyone thinks. i recognise it is about personal preference but others experience is as always a good guide

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