Ekona Posted September 19, 2015 Author Share Posted September 19, 2015 Can a friendly mod move this to Other Cars please, where it should've been put in the first place :blush Car is now in the garage, so the long two week wait starts here. I've managed to haggle the cost of the roof wrap into the final bill, so that's getting done as well now. Suspension hasn't arrived yet so I'll have to ferry that down to them next week which is a shame, but that's my fault for not ordering it earlier. Tell you what though, I'm glad I didn't try and get the ARBs on myself, as I found out today that you have to drop the rear subframe to change them! Costs more to do the ARBs than to change the dampers and springs! So yeah, the garage is doing the following: - Valve stem seals - Coolant pipe - Swapping tyres to new wheels - Fitting new wheels - ARBs - Suspension - Roof wrap Guesses of the final bill to the usual address... Anyway, I'm a little bit excited now Roll on October 3rd! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 Not doing anything about that boot lid yet? Needs BGW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted September 19, 2015 Author Share Posted September 19, 2015 Looking like a couple of hundred quid for a second hand one, then the same again to spray, then whatever the wing costs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted September 19, 2015 Author Share Posted September 19, 2015 Oh, and I need to get my front bumper sprayed, as when I took the stickers off its taken the lacquer with it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KyleR Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 I'd love to have a spin in it when it all done, just to compare handling characteristics. When the EDC is set to full phat sport mode, the M6 really comes alive, no roll what so ever in the corners and grips forever. I imagine you won't be too far off that when you're done, thats assuming you don't surpass it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted September 19, 2015 Author Share Posted September 19, 2015 More than welcome matey, assuming you can get here! Tbh my goal isn't to remove roll, as that's part of a great handling road car that gives you the feedback to balance on the limit. The 991 (sorry for the Porsche stuff, only thing I can relate to!) corners dead flat with the optional PDCC active ARBs, but you have no idea where the limit is: A standard 991 is infinitely more fun, if a bit slower. Again, infinite grip isn't what I want on the road either, hence running relatively skinny tyres at 245/45/18. I like feeling the car move around a la GT86, so I don't want to get rid of that either. What I really want is more control over the way the car moves, so I'll probably run the ARBs on soft front middle rear, and the dampers at approx midway (allowing for weight distribution), so maybe 10 clicks from hard at the front and 15 clicks at the rear. I'm guessing the M6 has the chassis welded up better like the E46 M3 did, so ultimately I can't beat that kind of structural rigidity. But yes, I'd expect to be able to have more control AND more feedback from the suspension than the M6 when done, if not more grip. Much less speed in a straight line though! And of course, if I do want it to grip better and roll less than the M6, I can do that too 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnymonno Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 I've just read your whole thread with interest Dan, very good! and the part above with the bigger roll bars eliminating body roll is interesting My 370 is now fitted with the Eibach updated bars and although it corners flatter I've lost the feel of when it is ready to break away, which it did do on the Nurburgring this year with no warning but not on previous years with standard setup although more roll I could feel the car reaching its limit I also have the Torqen R coilovers fitted which are excellent but I might change the ARB's back to standard to try it Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted September 19, 2015 Author Share Posted September 19, 2015 If they're adjustable ARBs, try slackening them off a notch if possible. If not, you should be able to accomplish the same thing by running the dampers much softer than you are now. You could also remove some pre-load from the springs, if you have any on. Try things in that order, and you should see a noticeable difference. I ran Eibachs on my 350 on OEM dampers and springs, which gave me plenty of feel whilst eliminating a good portion of roll. The trouble with suspension tuning is one man's accurate is another man's twitchy mess, it's so hard to get right which is why the top guys charge a fortune. Not saying this next bit applies to you, but the biggest mistake some people make is thinking that stiff everything is the way to go. Whilst as a general rule that's true, it's also very compromising on road cars cars that see occasional track use. If you want to do it 'properly', slacken everything off to as loose as possible, then increase things one item at a time. Once you've got to where you want to be with one, then adjust the next item and so on. Boring, but the right way to do it. Also, don't feel that you should run the dampers on the same amount of clicks: You'll very likely want the fronts stiffer to cope with the extra weight. On my MR2, I run the rears 4 clicks harder than the front, remembering the engine is in the middle. On a 350 with the BCs on on a fellow member's car, I set them up approx 12 from stiff at the front, and 17 from stiff at the rear IIRC. That gave a lovely feel, but in balance with the ARBs he had fitted at the time and on 18" wheels. On the 19"s on the 370, you have less tyre wall to give you feedback along with a stiffer chassis from the off, so you may need to go softer than you think. All about balance and personal taste at the end of the day. Don't feel you have to run my numbers either: If you find the car better with the opposite, then stick with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted September 19, 2015 Author Share Posted September 19, 2015 Christ, I can ramble when I get going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 Dan ramble - never....well maybe just a little - must of caught that off me But moved your thread to read when I have a few hours spare 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnymonno Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 Christ, I can ramble when I get going No that's fine. My car is back from RT next week, I have a pit and will start with what you say and slacken everything back and start again I have the front 4 clicks up on for the weight of the engine but I think the springs may be a little too stiff The rear I backed off too much and was awful so set them in between and are much better. As you say I think trial and error is the way to go as it was a but rushed getting the car back from Adrian at Torqen before we went to the ring so ran it as it came back. When it's back from being supercharged I can have a fiddle with it and if all else fails send it in to one of the tuning specialists Thanks for the help, much appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted September 19, 2015 Author Share Posted September 19, 2015 No probs fella, any time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted September 22, 2015 Author Share Posted September 22, 2015 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMballistic Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Very surprised reading your plans Dan but excited to see how you get on and it's definitely going to be a miles better car for you to drive after all is fitted. Hoping the time passes quickly for you & all goes well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted September 22, 2015 Author Share Posted September 22, 2015 Cheers bud I've not felt this excited about kidding a car since, well, the 350. Surprised, go on, in what sense? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMballistic Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Cheers bud I've not felt this excited about kidding a car since, well, the 350. Surprised, go on, in what sense? Just surprised in the sense that I kind of thought the BM for you would just be well maintained & not really modified from standard, ....with your modding enthusiasm being reserved more for the MR2. It's not a bad thing though, quite the opposite really as it's always interesting to see something besides the norm being altered for better handling/performance etc. Really wish I could find myself a nice car to play with but after moving into our new house the bills for things are quickly stacking up. Going to be plowing some serious money into the garage (which is huge) to try & get it sorted as the previous owners did nothing to keep it in a good condition. Having some walls rebuilt, new roof and then I'm going to start building the rest myself including benches/storage & heating. Will probably reveal all in a future thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted September 23, 2015 Author Share Posted September 23, 2015 Gotcha Tbh I wasn't really planning on doing anything at all, it was supposed to be a cheap toy until I got something better, but I've fallen in love with it a bit so it kinda felt right to improve it as best I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WINKJ Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 a cat man !! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsexr Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Some nice pussy in this thread, always worth a look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nissanman312 Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 a cat man !! Those bc's bring all the p***y to the yard 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Gotcha Tbh I wasn't really planning on doing anything at all, it was supposed to be a cheap toy until I got something better, but I've fallen in love with it a bit so it kinda felt right to improve it as best I can. Is it that good a car? I've been tempted as a cheap (to buy at least) route to V8 goodness, but never felt close to taking the plunge. Sounds very much like you're in â¤ï¸ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted September 23, 2015 Author Share Posted September 23, 2015 It is, and it isn't. I don't think it's the kind of car you fall for straight away, and neither do I think it would be half as good if it was an auto. It's not light, it's not small, and it's a bloody silver BMW so it doesn't exactly stick out! However, it's got real depth. The chassis is superb, giving feedback as you want it, and in sport mode the steering is perfectly fine. It's not great, but it's good enough for me and I'm a bit fussy! The engine doesn't rev very high, just 6.5K, but it's lovely and smooth and with the right exhaust it's a nice grumbly V8. You have to learn to drive round the soft suspension, but if you get the fancy pants dynamic drive one then you don't, as that's bang-on in terms of sportiness. Get it right and the nose turns in a treat, and you can feed just enough power in to get the rear sliding. The gearbox is a peach, arguably second best I've tried behind the MX-5, so well worth sourcing a manual. Yeah, I really like it. The looks aren't to everyone's taste and the interior is 'functional', but as a grand coupe I think it's tough to beat for the cash. Dirty great V8, 2+2 coupe, manual 'box... It's a bit like a modern TVR that won't fall apart. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TT350 Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nowhereboy Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 I had one of these right up behind me on the motorway tonight on the drive home from work, he sailed past me in third gear no problems. I wasn't pushing the Z but it looked properly quick. I know nothing about bmw's so assumed it was an M badged one of some sort until stumbling across this thread tonight. Quite surprised after looking at the cars stats online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted September 28, 2015 Author Share Posted September 28, 2015 Sure it was a 645, not an M6? I mean, I think the 645 is quicker than a Zed once in third gear, but not by any huge amount. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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