Upgrades for race track

J

juper

Member
Hi everybody,

I plan to upgrade my 2007 M Coupe for having fun on track. :driving:

I know I will necessarily have to change brakes, suspension and tyres.
But as it's a little expensive to do everything in a once, I'd like to have your opinion about what to do first : tyres? suspension? brakes?

For tyres, I want to put TOYO R888 on stock 18" wheels, but I don't know what size to put on. 225 or 235 for front ? and for rear, 255, 265 or 275 ?

For suspension, I thought to install an h&R kit (monotube coilover) or simply short springs to begin. what do you think?

For brakes, I'm not sure. a BBK is price reluctant even if it's best solution. Maybe installing race pads and goodridge "aviation" brake line is good enough ?


Please let me know what's your opinion.

Thanks.

Juper.
 
Brake lines, brake fluid and more importantly good pads make a large difference. I went for the Pagid RS29's and they are wonderful, without switching to a BBK. With those mods, a standard Z4MQP can already play along on a track.

I'd only consider semislick tires after switching the suspension to something like Bilstein PPS9. Otherwise, semislicks on standard suspension is a bit overkill (you won't feel that much extra grip at the times your suspension is not doing its work). Don't forget strut bars. They're fairly cheap compared to other mods, and it would be a bit weird to have a PPS9 but no strut bars. Think also about camber. Some negative camber will eat tires during normal road use, but will make a slight difference on the track.

Then light wheels and semislicks - 18" works better here than 19". Get the seats out for some real racing seats, fix a bar behind the seats for your at least 4-way belt, and then think about a cage.

There are some replacement performance parts you should consider too (bushings and the like). Femme and whathisname with the white coupe have done great writeups on their mods for a trackready roadster and coupe.
 
AlanJ said:
Are you going to use the Zed for both track and road or just track?
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I'll use it by the road because it's my "weekend" car and I plan to bring it to track but won't be ridiculous.

I was at the french track "Paul Ricard HTTT" on saturday with a Nissan GTR and enjoy put the pression on 997TT, M6, and GT3 rs and finally overdrive them. So I'd like to try to be in concurrence with similar cars with my M Coupe.
I'll never forget the day, on the same track, when I was overdriven on the exterior by a 964 rs 1992 (ok, with slick tyres) while I was at the limit of tyres with a 996 TT.
 
I would seriously consider the Kuhmo V70A over the Toyo's. They are cheaper and offer very good grip, and wear well (go for hard compound). I went 265/35/18 and 225/40/18. I would then look at pads. No need to touch the suspension until you start getting serious. The CSL suspension is more than adequate.

P
 
With regards to tyres, toyo R888 are brilliant on the Z4MC, I run 235 F and 265/275 R, latter works better for me.

Couple of things to note
(1) these tyres will very quickly bring out the weakness in your stock suspension so change to something of good quality e.g PSS9's, Intrax (i run these :thumbsup: ) or KW club sports (KW V3's are abit limiting IMO).
(2) You will get road noise from these tyres due to their soft compound. PS they are also relatively good in the wet compared to cups :rofl:

In terms of order, i would start off with suspension and tyres at the same time - although BBK is where you really need to be, high performance pads will be fine upto a point...
 
flatout said:
With regards to tyres, toyo R888 are brilliant on the Z4MC, I run 235 F and 265/275 R, latter works better for me.

Couple of things to note
(1) these tyres will very quickly bring out the weakness in your stock suspension so change to something of good quality e.g PSS9's, Intrax (i run these :thumbsup: ) or KW club sports (KW V3's are abit limiting IMO).
(2) You will get road noise from these tyres due to their soft compound. PS they are also relatively good in the wet compared to cups :rofl:

In terms of order, i would start off with suspension and tyres at the same time - although BBK is where you really need to be, high performance pads will be fine upto a point...
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I'm sorry I have to disagree with you here. Rather than do everything at the same time you should really do one at a time so you get to feel the benefit from the upgrade. Do the tyres first, do a few trackdays. If you then want more then do the brakes and then the suspension. As each upgrade is applied you should notice the improvement each time whereas if you do everything at once you have nothing to compare it to. All IMHO

P
 
first thing to upgrade is your brake lines, brake fluid and pads. if your tires still have enough tread then that's fine, otherwise go get new tires.

everything else depends on how often and how hardcore you track the car.

at the end of the day, pro drivers never turn their road cars into trackday/race cars, too costly, uncomfortable and unreliable for normal use so just keep your M coupe stock and buy yourself another M coupe track car then go all out if you become hard core.
 
Some good advice here, my preference for upgrades (not necessarily specific to the Coupe) is:

1. Driver training
2. Brake fluid, braided lines + pads
3. Tyres
4. Brakes (calipers + discs)
5. Suspension

Depending on your driving style, tracks you use and frequency of track use you might want to bump number 4 ahead of tyres.
 
It partly depends whether you're chasing lap times or wanting to have fun and learn techniques. Personally I would do tyres last (or at least when current tyres are finished). A well sorted car on standard tyres will still be a lot of fun, perhaps more so.
 
Al Mac said:
It partly depends whether you're chasing lap times or wanting to have fun and learn techniques. Personally I would do tyres last (or at least when current tyres are finished). A well sorted car on standard tyres will still be a lot of fun, perhaps more so.
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To a point yes but you will kill road tyres in no time at all so it becomes a false economy. If you already have the spare wheels then its better for your pocket if you have a set of track tyres.
 
moonigan said:
flatout said:
In terms of order, i would start off with suspension and tyres at the same time - although BBK is where you really need to be, high performance pads will be fine upto a point...
Click to expand...


I'm sorry I have to disagree with you here. Rather than do everything at the same time you should really do one at a time so you get to feel the benefit from the upgrade. Do the tyres first, do a few trackdays. If you then want more then do the brakes and then the suspension. As each upgrade is applied you should notice the improvement each time whereas if you do everything at once you have nothing to compare it to. All IMHO

P
Click to expand...

Fair point from a progression and cost stand point. However, for the most impact I'd do both at the same time..
 
how much can be altered on suspension geometry? on some cars a different set up by someone who knows what they are doing (centre gravity or WIM for instance)can make a car completely different in track attitude.
 
The matter is that I find the car sways too much when you take a turn at high speed, and suspension is too soft at decompression.

To upgrade suspension do you think there isn't another good solution than PSS9 or KW V3 ?

For sway bars I haven't found nothing made by h&r and others. Do you know a firm who makes sway bars?

what are better pads for a mix use (road and track) ?
 
UP!!

I have searched in H&R and Eibach websites and no anti-roll bars are made.
The only I found was in ground control in the USA.
And for pads ?? what are best?
 
for brakes, i test after hollidays EBC yellow (R90), ate super blue fluid, on a new oem rotors...

for roll bar, the oem are very bigs... just upgrade with eibach springs if u want; and control tyres pressure!
 
I presume that you have already tracked your M and have experienced it at different circuits and weather conditions?

Personally (and from experience in tracking 2 Prelude VTEC's), the best thing I have ever invested in is tuition.

The standard car should be up to handling most track outings (if you are willing to accept tyre wear as an issue), but nothing can contribute more to a track day than professional tuition. This alone can shave seconds off your track times, but also more importantly assist you in controlling the car at the limit - safely.

But - at the end of the day, this your car, and if you already have many hours of track experience, then I would suggest (in order of doing them) brakes & tyres, suspension, weight.
If its a road & track car, maybe not the weight, as this will make your daily ride compromised (unless you like the car like that!).
I have run a stripped track prepared 94 Prelude VTEC for 6 months, and the nosie, ride, poor brakes (from cold), harshness of the cabin and lack of comfort a real bind. Great fun once warmed up and ready but generally a PITA.
So glad I have still got it though (being re-prepared at the moment).
Again - this is only my opinion.

Hope you really enjoy it at the track - Im waiting to get my MC to its first track event next yr when the weather is a little better.
 
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