Need new coilovers! Recommendations?

[cantfind1]

Hi all as above really,i am thinking Intrax 1K2 or Nitron, but I definitely want a proper rear coilover(have weld in cage so no worries there).

I know shimmy is running Intrax and loves them and I think this is the way i am going but I hear good things about Nitron now. I know they don't do a rear coilover in the same price range as the intrax but they say it is possible.

Any others I should be looking at?

Many thanks.

[Thorney]

There are some details here on some options

http://www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk/tuning/bmw/m3/e46/e46-m3-csl-handling.shtml

[M3ACS]

Has anyone tried the HSD coilovers from DriftWorks? Read a number of very positive reviews from M3 cutter, and other forums.. Just curious if they are any good as they seem a decent price.

[shimmy]

Has anyone tried the HSD coilovers from DriftWorks? Read a number of very positive reviews from M3 cutter, and other forums.. Just curious if they are any good as they seem a decent price.

HSD certainly are cheap, and if that is your driver then go for it.

If it were me and the car is for road use or Ring only i would stick with BMW suspension. If it is for soem track work then id get something which cost more than £150 a corner as that would worry me!

[daniel_csl]

I think cantfind1 is using them now?

[deleted_user_0_csl]

I've just fitted HSD coilovers to my M3.

First impressions are good. They seem well made, and the ride quality and handling on the soft setting is very good.
They come with camber adjustable top mounts which is obviously useful.

I too was worried about just how cheap they are. (About £760 now)
I had seen a few people on m3cutters get them, but unfortunately most of them only seem to want to go as low as possible and couldn't give a toss about handling.

There was one bloke who'd fitted them whose opinion I trust a bit more though. His name is Matt Seldon, and he does a bit of racing in an M3 GTR.
I spoke to him on the phone at length and he was very impressed with the HSD's on track. He'd just done Bedford and he had nothing but praise for them.

I decided if somebody like him was pleased with them, they'd be more than good enough for someone like me who will just be doing 4 - 6 track days a year.

I'm at Snetterton this Friday, so this will be their first proper test.

Obviously the biggest question mark is the reliability and how long they will last. They seem to have a good reputation though (I did LOTS of web searching) so fingers crossed.

Clearly they are not going to be as good as Intrax, Moton etc but at less than £800 I'm willing to give them a chance.

Incidentally, if anyone is interested this video shows Matt's M3 GTR. He starts 4th on the grid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRaN3WHfh24

[daniel_csl]

KW do a system with a rear coilover.

http://www.kw-suspensions.co.uk/uk/kw_competition.php

[cantfind1]

Thanks for the replies guys, sorry should have given some background. Car is mainly a track car but will be driven on the road not too concerned about handling potholes and the british road quality etc.

I started off with Bilstein PSS10's sent them back after 2weeks on the car they were aweful, then went for KW v3 they were much better but a complete pain to keep on adjusting especially as track conditions change so much ie hot dry damp wet etc!

Then thought I would give the HSD 's a go and to be honest they are good but still just not quite there on the track for me car does not feel planted or stable at high speed but pretty good in the corners until you upset it with some mid corner bumps such as the foxhole or Carousel. Doesn't deal with this very well.

So I need to try something else, i definitely want a rear coilover and definitely want inverted front shocks, I believe Nitron don't do the inverted front shocks! Correct me if I am wrong.

Moton one way adjusters do not come with a proper rear coilover and use factory suspension mounts so a waste of time. So it seems for the money that Intrax are the only ones ticking all the boxes.

From what I have read as well intrax obviously come from Holland where Moton is made and all the guys used to work together in some form or another so I assume that the technology is all pretty alike?

Can anyone out there tell me that Intrax are bad? Or not as good as they would like?

KW are good but to get a mono damper and proper rear coilover out of them you have to spend silly money!

[shimmy]

My intrax ik2 are easily adjustable and so far faultless

I've had them refurbed after 18 months (they were off the car whilst BMW fixed my subframe cracks

if you are really into the colovers I'd buy the 4way intrax for sale on here

[shane@mbtech]

You say you want the best, but surely a single adjustable bump/rebound is not really the best.

Single adjustment is easier yes, but not always best.

Nitron are pretty good, and their single adjustable ntr sport + are a decent price with customised spring rates. I had these fitted on my X and they were good.


My KW clubsport are faultless and the way its set up now is great, no doubt I could fine tune to get it better but thats too gay for me. Track days for me are for fun, not in and out the car changing bump/rebound because I think there is another 2/10'ths. I have a nice middle ground and I dont even change it when wet. Just leave it as is. I used to fuck about but I dont bother now as it spoils the day. If something was drastically wrong I would alter it, but its fine. It keeps me pretty quick both wet and dry and I have a laugh.

If I was racing I would probably try, but its pretty good in slow corners, pretty good in medium corners and pretty good in fast corners.

I may try the intrax single way back to back with my clubsport and see how they compare. Doubt I will find a difference though.

[cantfind1]

I know what you are saying Lawsy, but KW clubsports just do not compare to intrax in my opinion and they are expensive for what they are. Twin tube for one and no rear coilover. The reason you don t change your settings is because it is such a hassle on those. With the intrax it is very easy and fun can be had on all surfaces with no compromises with just a small effort. The fact that they are not two way makes no difference for the setup I am after. One way adjustable is even fine for racing one.

Who is selling Intrax 4 ways Shimmy can t see them for sale?

When you say they were refurbed mate did they need it or was it just piece of mind. Did they come back with any faults to report about, or were they all ok etc?

[NZ_M3]

Any reason you want a rear coilover setup?

Any of the top brand coilovers are going to be very similar ... but at the end of the day it comes down to the driver ...

To illustrate my point

http://www.performancecar.co.nz/tag/mike-eady

Mike is NZ's head BMW driving instructor and he recently won the North Island endurance racing title for his class beating the likes of factory backed 996 GT3 Cup cars and Ford GT40s to name a few ... and this was on a virtually stock standard car on stock standard brakes with race pads (I shit you not - I know Mike personally and am a great friend with his personal mechanic and I've studied this car up close in person) - the car runs crappy Taiwan made BC coilovers and is never adjusted - never. Other than the cage, seats, and a bastardised exhaust system, the car is stock standard - it even runs a stock ECU after the aftermarket tune caused issues with endurance runs.

I have seen this car in action at the track and it's testiment to BMW's engineering and phenomenal driving skills from Mike (Mike tells me that he has the aircon on when he's racing haha .. and he loves it!!).

Be it Moton, Intrax, high end KWs, Bilsteins or Ohlins ... find the one that you are comfortable with (both in terms of adjustability and damper and rebound range requirements - the rest is up to the setup and driver input).

[s.mac]

I cant fault AST and i believe the developer used to be at Moton

[shane@mbtech]

I know what you are saying Lawsy, but KW clubsports just do not compare to intrax in my opinion and they are expensive for what they are. Twin tube for one and no rear coilover. The reason you don t change your settings is because it is such a hassle on those. With the intrax it is very easy and fun can be had on all surfaces with no compromises with just a small effort. The fact that they are not two way makes no difference for the setup I am after. One way adjustable is even fine for racing one.

Who is selling Intrax 4 ways Shimmy can t see them for sale?

When you say they were refurbed mate did they need it or was it just piece of mind. Did they come back with any faults to report about, or were they all ok etc?

Have you tried both? Or is it just what you have heard?

Its not a hassle at all to change the bump/rebound, very simple. takes about 2 mins.

I have give up listening to people tbh, as everyone is different. And different people like different set-ups. One mans perfect set-up is shit for the next guy.

I now try for myself to see if there is a difference.

If the intrax is what makes you comfortable, go for it. If you are more comfortable you will drive better. Go for the Intrax, in fact I am going to try them myself this year:thumbs:

[karbonkid]

Nitron offer the choice of a Barrel or Coilover on the Rear on all their kits for the CSL and spec them as to customers requirements, Inc specifying your choice of spring rates to suit your driving needs.
I have uprated springs on mine and they really are night and day over OEM when on track, little to no understeer or body roll what so ever, first test on track was @Brands couple weeks back and I was amazed with the overall performance, I was set on 11/&10 click off full hard (24clicks total) and worked superbly.
Adjustment is dead simple F/&R with no screwdrivers needed and are assembled to allow ease if/when they are serviced or fully rebuilt.