[vase330]

Nice!! The camera placement is so good it makes you feel like you are in the car. I mean the road dropping down under you, coming towards you make you literary feel the terrain so well. Nice job!

[Clap135]

tyler pretty much beat you guys by 12-13 seconds a lap in the same car.
makes you realize how far off a pro you guys really are.

[orionredwing]

Thanks everyone!


At this time, for my skill level, I don't feel like I'm driving my car at 100% potential. As mentioned in my review, I can't even use Stg 2+'s power yet. So for now, the M3 bits and sways are being considered, but probably not for another year or so (I told Harold I'll treat it as standard maintenance, hehe).

Originally Posted by darklocust

Finally got to see the video. That thing hauls in the straights! Any plans of upgrading the front sways + strut bar?

One of the GoPro users at the track helped me with the setup. He purposely placed it on the driver's side instead of the center of the car, and mentioned the higher angle will allow me to see my track lines better in the video, which will be a great instructing tool too.

I didn't quite understand at the time, but after you guys mentioned it, I now know what he meant!

Originally Posted by XPO186

I noticed that too... the location is kinda cool IMO

Originally Posted by vase330

Nice!! The camera placement is so good it makes you feel like you are in the car. I mean the road dropping down under you, coming towards you make you literary feel the terrain so well. Nice job!

[bmwmike]

Great Video!
Now I can see the big brakes coming in handy there.
It would have been real cool if you could mount the mic so we can hear the exhaust or engine better instead of wind noise. It sounded like a metal on metal grinding noise on a few of the turns where there was an inside wall.

[SSSS]

procede FTW

[ViperJPB]

Awesome! Very Jealous. Love your car man. It's perfect...exactly what I'm shooting for. Procede, same rims, LSD, etc.. Perfect.

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by Clap135

tyler pretty much beat you guys by 12-13 seconds a lap in the same car.
makes you realize how far off a pro you guys really are.

i'm sure the pro is pushing the car FAR harder than the owner.

also, thats why he's a pro.......just call me John Madden.

[zsapphire7]

haha its easy to see in the video, that he is pushing the car much harder and to the limits.. + thats the HPauto car... for 1 just the stoptech trophy brakes alone but a crap load of time. Later braking, no fade, theres no way the stock brakes can hold up. Then you have the suspension..

[Smythe]

Your description of the V4 boost response sounds great. I so want to upgrade my Rev1 box.

And I totally miss Laguna, haven't been there in years. My first time there was in my one month old B5 S4. I ran a 1:53, and my only mod was coilovers.

[clifton23]

Originally Posted by jpsimon

great review, I'm jealous of your test track! I've only been able to do laps at laguna in Gran Turismo

.


extremely jealous..

laguna is by far my favorite track..

[cyberkaa]

Looks like a good run.

I was there on Sunday taking pics. A miata had a nasty crash and was up against wall right before the big tire bridge. Those might even be the same tire marks in your vid.

[BMWAutoXer]

thank you very much for this write up - it's suspension portion is exactly what I wanted to hear in my thread from yesterday under the brakes forum haha.

[Stanky19]

if anyone wants some private coaching, let me know. I'm local to Laguna and Infineon, and I instruct at a racing school based at Infineon daily!

[OpenFlash]

Originally Posted by Stanky19

if anyone wants some private coaching, let me know. I'm local to Laguna and Infineon, and I instruct at a racing school based at Infineon daily!

You work with Chip and Paul?

[Synergy 69]

awesome vid! thanks for sharing!

What's it like driving in the bowl? I've heard described like a roller coaster feel.

[orionredwing]

You're welcome! You won't regret upgrading to any coilover kit w/ Swift springs. Swift Springs are so amazing, I'm surprised not more people are running them. I guess it's just a matter of getting the word out.

In general, people purchase coilovers w/ 2 intents:

1) Lowering for looks
2) Performance

But there are 2 major considerations when they adjust their coilovers:

1) Ride comfort
2) vs Performance

For those into looks, the stock like settings of most coilover kits still yield a pretty harsh ride. So they adjust it softer, sacrificing performance, yet still comfortable in the fact it outperforms a stock sport suspension.

Those into performance would make the ride firmer, but man, the jarring street ride sure drives some crazy.

But with Swift Springs....

I selected track spring rates. Those who replaced their springs with something firmer know that this change automatically yields a harsher ride. In general, track spring rates are not street drivable for the majority of us, including myself.

To try to make it more comfortable, many would adjust the coilovers softer, sacrificing performance for street use (still harsh w/ track springs). Then when they hit the track, they would tighten it up. It's a common approach.

With Swift Springs, I get STOCK like ride quality on track spring rates. I could not believe it when I first experienced it. Not only that, the default KW V3 settings makes the ride too mushy / soft! What the heck?

I had to firm it up, setting my KWs 5 clicks from firmest (out of 16).

At 5 clicks from firmest, it still feels very close to stock. I just can't wrap my mind around the fact that, here I'm supposed to have a super harsh ride due to upgrading my spring rates for track use, yet I can get BOTH comfort AND performance.

You guys need to check it out!

Originally Posted by BMWAutoXer

thank you very much for this write up - it's suspension portion is exactly what I wanted to hear in my thread from yesterday under the brakes forum haha.

[Mr. 5]

The swift springs sound great, but I think that I'll stick with the BMW performance suspension for now.
I think we're up there with the same mods though.

Isn't the Wavetrac unbelievable?

I love that camera mount by the way!

[2wheelsrbetter]

great post, i love to see good track runs. also love the camera mount/postion, much better than inside the car.

what tires are you running?

[vase330]

Same camera mount location used the WRC rally cars, just awesome.

[DaFish]

hi, this is such a great thread. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

I would like to ask how much you have in this for upgrades:

Suspension Front
Suspension Rear
Engine
Brakes
Rear end

Thanks

Oh, what size and type of tires are you running now?

[techlogik]

I missed in your post, do you have a BBK?!?! That should be #1 upgrade with brake pads for track and SS lines, before anything else IMO.

Wheels/tires? Some sticky track tires/18s" would also go a long way.

What is your setup for that stuff TS?

Guy in that Vette obvious beginner. That thing will turn circles around everything with the right driver. Perfect example of driving skills and getting the most out of a car.

Good video overall, nice camera mount so you can evaluate your lines/laps later...sweet stuff! Do you have a way to get a mic mount in a different place, like in the back of the car, interior to hear the engine/exhaust note?

[lyndon_h]

Originally Posted by jpsimon

great review, I'm jealous of your test track! I've only been able to do laps at laguna in Gran Turismo

Haha. I'm the same. I hate all of these California boys. They have access to all of the vendors, all the tracks and I'm stuck here in Texas with 105 degree heat!