e36 M3 Evo - brake and suspension upgrades

e36 M3 Evo - brake and suspension upgrades

Author
Discussion

rupchip

Original Poster:

22 posts

201 months

Thursday 27th March 2008
quotequote all
Hello guys

New to the forum(s!) - first post - so here goes!

Having used the classified to buy it I recently purchased a M3 Evo Saloon 1997 R. Would like to start immediately with the brake and suspension upgrades and thought to ask the people on this forum who have carried out similar work in the past 6 months or so. surprise - the car is to be used as a track car (decision on what car to buy taken after reading so much on this forum). It will be kept road legal.

If we have enough money in the budget for this phase, would like to start suspension upgrade and get some 2nd hand alloys, but the priority is the brakes (unless told otherwise!)Have a budget of around £1,500 for parts for the first step. Would welcome comments on what anyone has used in a similar situation and what the general consensus is for the best options.

Any input would be greatly appreciated (and sorry if i have rambled a bit.....)
Cheers





E36GUY

5,906 posts

224 months

Thursday 27th March 2008
quotequote all
Thorney Motorsport have packages for brakes and suspension but they are pretty expensive but good quality stuff.

Do the suspension first. The evo disks and calipers are generally thought to be ok but upgrade to Pagid R29 pads, get the hoses replaced with braided items and install some Dot4 fluid. as a starter. Then you can get replacement brakes when you budget allows. For £1500 you should be able to get the above sorted.

ASBO

26,140 posts

220 months

Thursday 27th March 2008
quotequote all
E36GUY said:
Thorney Motorsport have packages for brakes and suspension but they are pretty expensive but good quality stuff.

Do the suspension first. The evo disks and calipers are generally thought to be ok but upgrade to Pagid R29 pads, get the hoses replaced with braided items and install some Dot4 fluid. as a starter. Then you can get replacement brakes when you budget allows. For £1500 you should be able to get the above sorted.
nono

£1500 will get a set of new Eibach or Bilstein coilovers and that's it. Unless of course the OP goes down the second hand route (like I did) and picks up a set on the cheap.

IMO, Thorney Motorsport is un-necessary for stuff like this. Far better to find a smaller (ergo cheaper) outfit who will be able to set the car up properly.

Rupchip: In order to get the car handling properly, I'd advise you fit ajdustable ARB's, adjustable front top-mounts and uprated rear mounts.

At the same time you'll also need to replace all the bushes with uprated polly ones. You might be able to do all this within your initial budget but only if you pick up a set of second hand coilovers. Of course, if you can do this yourself then your costs will be reduced significantly.

I've done/am doing the above to my Evo at the moment (although I wont be stripping it out), so feel free to drop me a line if you have any further queries thumbup

houlbt

738 posts

271 months

Thursday 27th March 2008
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These guys look after my cars including my E36 M3 Racecar.... they know plenty about E36's. They have all the suspension setup equip you could need and are able engine builders.




dan101smith

16,857 posts

217 months

Thursday 27th March 2008
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NO NO NO! Don't show me pics like that, my chequebook doesn't like it...

houlbt

738 posts

271 months

Thursday 27th March 2008
quotequote all
You know you want to.... The airbox/cams with the Vanos removed sounds fabulous. We know we can get more power if we put motorsport cams in (as oppose to 296's in it now) and modified internals.



Edited by houlbt on Thursday 27th March 13:24

houlbt

738 posts

271 months

Thursday 27th March 2008
quotequote all
That reminds me... I am taking my Brembo brake setup off the red car as soon as my AP's arrive. If you might be intereted in them then let me know.

rupchip

Original Poster:

22 posts

201 months

Friday 28th March 2008
quotequote all
Thanks alot for the info ASBO and houlbt, and the offer of further help. appreciated.
If possible the coilover route seems attractive and if they are available 2nd hand all the better. increased BHP! something for us to aspire to when everything else is sorted. thought about some simple things (like induction) in the short term.
Have a mate who is a first class mechanic that will keep the costs down on the set up. Plan is to get the car sorted to take down with us with Oulton Park mid April track day!
All input gratefully received.
cheers


bradney2911

202 posts

199 months

Friday 28th March 2008
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have just been to thorney motorsport to have kw v3's fitted to my m3 3.0 along with braided hoses and pagids.Very pleased with the result after second visit to brands previously on the old suspension.
Road comfort/noise is also totally acceptable,my only feeling is that perhaps it could have been a little cheaper and more personal at a smaller specialist.