Nitron RTR R1 Litchfield Kit

[Zspy]

Does anyone have any experience with the Nitron RTR R1 kit on their M? I have a coupe with about 44k miles on it on the OEM setup.

I can’t seem to find many reviews online. I am not keen on the Bilstein PSS10 kit because of reports of poor longevity and the KW V3’s need spacers for the stock 224 alloys (I may change to 18” Arc 8’s in the future).

The priorities for me are:
Adjustability for comfort on longer drives
Possibility to run stock ride height
No requirement for spacers on the 224’s

I sent off an email to the Litchfield sales team a few weeks ago with similar questions but haven’t heard anything back yet.

Any insight is appreciated!

 

[Ed Doe]

I don't have any feedback on the nitron kit, but it might be worth you looking at intrax too, similar price but if you spec the arc you can run softer spring rates so can make it more comfortable on the road with the ability to adjust the damping for track use. Mikey_boy on here has intrax with arc (mine are more track focused and I didn't go for arc so mine are quite firm) - worth getting his thoughts on it as an alternative option to the nitrons!

 

[Zspy]

Thanks for the recommendation! Where did you source yours from?

 

[Ed Doe]

Martin Holland of Ms Motorsport is your man for intrax

He will send you a questionnaire from intrax to establish your use and they then custom valve the dampers to your requirements

 

[gazpat]

I’ve had an NTR R1 kit fitted since 2017, to an M roadster. I paid Centre Gravity to supply and fit the kit and set up the geometry. I specified standard ride height (we have big speed bumps in our street) and spring rate for fast road use (so not too stiff). I use the car daily all year round. I’ve had no problems to date. The guys at Centre Gravity know their stuff, and were a pleasure to deal with. The kit transformed the feel and handling of the car completely, the best money you could spend on this car for sure. HTH. Cheers.

 

[Zspy]

I’ve had an NTR R1 kit fitted since 2017, to an M roadster. I paid Centre Gravity to supply and fit the kit and set up the geometry. I specified standard ride height (we have big speed bumps in our street) and spring rate for fast road use (so not too stiff). I use the car daily all year round. I’ve had no problems to date. The guys at Centre Gravity know their stuff, and were a pleasure to deal with. The kit transformed the feel and handling of the car completely, the best money you could spend on this car for sure. HTH. Cheers.

Thanks [ref]gazpat[/ref]. Are you running the stock wheels without spacers? Also do you know what spring rates you have?

 

[gazpat]

Stock wheels, no spacers. The clearance between the front strut spring and front tyre is tight, but I’ve had no issues. Sorry I don’t know the spring rate, I left that to Centre Gravity to spec, I just made it clear to them I was looking for some compliance on the road and didn’t intend to track it.

 

[gazpat]

Re. Spring rates, just had a look through my records and found a Nitron build spec. sheet:
Front: 70 lbs, helper 10 N/mm.
Rear: 300 lbs, helper 150 lbs.
(Yes, that mix of units is per their spec sheet).
Cheers.

 

[Zspy]

Fantastic! Thank you

 

[Mikey_Boy]

Martin Holland of Ms Motorsport is your man for intrax

He will send you a questionnaire from intrax to establish your use and they then custom valve the dampers to your requirements

+1 for Martin Hollands - super helpful and really knows his stuff.

My Intrax set up has been tailored for the car usage (mix of road and track) and also for 19” rims. I looked at Nitron when I was moving away from the Bilsteins. Great bits of kit but super pricey if anything becomes bespoke.

Intrax are in a different league to Bilsteins honestly - no regrets at the choice or the price. 8)

And by the way - 10mm spacers all round on standard alloys fills the arches better AND improves stability so I wouldn’t dismiss using them!

 

[plenty]

And by the way - 10mm spacers all round on standard alloys fills the arches better AND improves stability so I wouldn’t dismiss using them!

A wider track can be beneficial on smooth tarmac e.g. on circuit, but on bumpy roads spacers promote tramlining, bump steer and reduce stability under acceleration and braking due to changes in the scrub radius. This wouldn't bother most people but if you're the sort of person who's fussy enough about handling to be investing in Nitron suspension, you might notice.

 

[Argenta]

Yeah, no spacers needed for KWV3.
I have no idea who started that rumour but he should be punished.
What IS needed is slightly taller front bump stops, the KW ones makes the wheels cut into the liners on full suspension travel, say pushing on a track. I use 10mm cut E87 sport suspension bump stops, works a treat.

 

[Zspy]

[ref]Argenta[/ref], even on the stock wheels? I think every thread I’ve read about the KW V3’s suggests you need spacers.

Do you have any pics of the fronts?

 

[Mikey_Boy]

And by the way - 10mm spacers all round on standard alloys fills the arches better AND improves stability so I wouldn’t dismiss using them!

A wider track can be beneficial on smooth tarmac e.g. on circuit, but on bumpy roads spacers promote tramlining, bump steer and reduce stability under acceleration and braking due to changes in the scrub radius. This wouldn't bother most people but if you're the sort of person who's fussy enough about handling to be investing in Nitron suspension, you might notice.

Given I have had both Bilstein PSS10 kit and Intrax, likely I am fussy enough.

Your observations are spot on, but, it’s on the assumption that BMW got the track widths correct in the first place. Given how ****ing awful the standard set up is, and that the Z4 was a parts bin special, I doubt it is right. Had no issues running 10mm spacers all round on 224s on road or track. Initially I followed Exdos’ recommendations and I can’t credit him enough for his education & knowledge on Z4 set up.

 

[plenty]

Your observations are spot on, but, it’s on the assumption that BMW got the track widths correct in the first place. Given how ****ing awful the standard set up is, and that the Z4 was a parts bin special, I doubt it is right. Had no issues running 10mm spacers all round on 224s on road or track. Initially I followed Exdos’ recommendations and I can’t credit him enough for his education & knowledge on Z4 set up.

Apologies if my earlier post came across snarky. There are strong benefits and rarely downsides to increasing track width. But doing so with spacers is a bodge. It adds to the gap between the hub face and kingpin which brings its own problems.

Having said that, you'd have to be very sensitive to notice 10mm spacers on a RWD car. It's the folks stancing their FWDs with 25mm spacers who don't seem to realise or care about what they're doing to handling.

 

[TomK]

But doing so with spacers is a bodge.

BMW themselves used spacers on the front of the e92M3 GTS to clear the strut, if it's good enough for them...

 

[plenty]

BMW themselves used spacers on the front of the e92M3 GTS to clear the strut, if it's good enough for them...

No doubt because was cost-prohibitive to re-engineer the hub assembly for such a low-volume model. And you'd have to be very good indeed to detect the difference that 5mm spacers will bring on a RWD car.

Spacers were a factory option on some 996 Porsches.

A manufacturer-endorsed bodge is still a bodge.

 

[Mikey_Boy]

Your observations are spot on, but, it’s on the assumption that BMW got the track widths correct in the first place. Given how ****ing awful the standard set up is, and that the Z4 was a parts bin special, I doubt it is right. Had no issues running 10mm spacers all round on 224s on road or track. Initially I followed Exdos’ recommendations and I can’t credit him enough for his education & knowledge on Z4 set up.

Apologies if my earlier post came across snarky. There are strong benefits and rarely downsides to increasing track width. But doing so with spacers is a bodge. It adds to the gap between the hub face and kingpin which brings its own problems.

Having said that, you'd have to be very sensitive to notice 10mm spacers on a RWD car. It's the folks stancing their FWDs with 25mm spacers who don't seem to realise or care about what they're doing to handling.

Nothing to apologise for!! And you are 100% spot on with the stance brigade
It’s been quite the journey getting my Z4M how I like it. It is perfect? No, far from it, but its *way* better than standard

 

[Zspy]

I think I need everyone to come up to Scotland so I can experience all the options first hand 8)

Still leaning towards Intrax or Nitron at the moment, have sent an email to Nitron and will see what comes back. I’ll also get in contact with Martin from Race Parts.

 

[Argenta]

[ref]Argenta[/ref], even on the stock wheels? I think every thread I’ve read about the KW V3’s suggests you need spacers.
Do you have any pics of the fronts?

Thats my point, that person really got the ball of rumour going...
Yes! Stock wheels, no spacers. At least 8-10mm clearance to KWV3 which is pretty OEM I'd say.
What pics would u like?