[M3-FAST]

On Saturday I visited Car Planet Racing who are based in Warrington for them to fit an Eibach lowering spring kit to my E90 M3. They have just become an approved agent for Evolve so came highly recommended. Marcus (Kadesdad) was also picking up his M3 after having Evolve's latest custom exhaust fitted to it which I am sure you will read about in his thread (it's awesome!!)

Upon arriving at the place I was in awe of all the specialist Jap motors they had in there including their 900BHP Evolution Time Attack car that is sweeping the scoreboards in the race series at present. Their was a lovely white GTR in the showroom as well as another on the ramps in for mods.

Before they started work on the car, the tech asked me lots of questions about the car's current handling, if it was pulling, if the wheel was straight, etc before taking it for a preliminary drive.

This is the car before lowering:


He then popped it onto the ramps and started to disassemble the front end first. I had opted for the Eibach kit as I have heard that it keeps a compliant ride but stiffens up when pushing on which is exactly what I was after. I had also supplied some E46 M3 bump stops at Car Planet's request as they 'give back' some of the suspension travel as they are 15mm or so shorter than the stock E90 ones.

Front Springs being fitted....


Once the fronts were all done he started work on the back springs. All the way through the process I was free to chat with the tech, he explained lots of what he was doing and why, and quickly became evident that he was a very knowledgable chap.



After fitting the rear springs he then dropped the car down and re-torqued all the nuts before taking it out for another quick run to settle the springs before carrying out the 4 wheel alignment.

Alignment Machine:


This was done by a brand new state of the art laser system. Large plates were attached to each wheel that deflected the lasers back to the rig. The computer screen indicated what the current measurements were, what the manufacturers spec allows, and then indicated which alterations to make to get the car spot on. Again the tech drove the car and then came out on it with me driving to make sure I was happy with the work carried out
It was toe-ing in a lot before so they dialled out some of this and made the fronts almost dead ahead. This has made for a lot sharper response to steering input round the twisties but has made it a little more sensitive on the motorway, and I am not 100% sure yet iif it is 'too sensitive' and may get it put somewhere between the two.

Car with all the gear attached:


Marcus's car had been on the dyno testing his new exhaust, and it seemed a shame to not give mine a blast on there, so after alignment was finished we popped it onto the Dyno Dynamics machine and did a few runs. The initial runs were giving about 404/405 BHP and after Sal had made a few alterations to the software and given advice about which gear to run the car in (4th gear usually on a manual, but we were using 5th on my DCT car) another subsequent run produced 414.3BHP. Pretty good really as I was only using 97 RON fuel and it always runs better on V-power and it was also sweltering hot by then which didn't help the engines breathing.

Dyno Runs....




I have attached a few pics of Marcus's E90 parked with mine (before we went off with Sal and did some drive off video's to compare exhausts - sure they will be posted up soon on Marcus's thread) and a few pics of my car on the dyno.

Overall it was a great day! Was nice to meet Marcus at last, your car looks and now sounds the nuts mate! Also nice to meet Sal from Evolve and a big thanks to all the guys at CPR - they really are a very professional and caring outfit which can often be hard to find nowadays.

Just can't wait for my Alufelgen SF-71's to arrive in a couple of weeks to complete the look I am trying to achieve!

[mikeysix]

Cars lookin quality bud! Sounds like u had a good day, runs were not too shabby either considering it was like a sauna! Bet your lookin forward to yet another new set of rims!

[beemerbird]

All interesting stuff Paul and sounds great.

The toe-in makes the car feel more planted, especially at speed so now you've had it altered slightly you're saying it feels slightly more sensitive on the motorway. Do you mean the car feels as if it's trying to wander slightly or do you mean the steering wheel is more sensitive ie. moves slightly but the car doesn't actually wander?

[M3-FAST]

Helen, it is still responsive to steering input, it just feels a little too responsive at speed compared to what it did before. It was quite 'dead' in a straight line - difficult to explain really but I will give the chaps at CPR a call tomorrow and see what advice they offer but I reckon I will get them to change it to a setting between where it was and what it is now.

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by mikeysix

Cars lookin quality bud! Sounds like u had a good day, runs were not too shabby either considering it was like a sauna! Bet your lookin forward to yet another new set of rims!

Cheers matey, final set this time!!! I promise else a divorce will be on the cards ha ha

[beemerbird]

Originally Posted by M3-FAST

Helen, it is still responsive to steering input, it just feels a little too responsive at speed compared to what it did before. It was quite 'dead' in a straight line - difficult to explain really but I will give the chaps at CPR a call tomorrow and see what advice they offer but I reckon I will get them to change it to a setting between where it was and what it is now.

Yep and exactly why I asked Paul. Reason I mentioned it was a classic example was when I had the Cayman S I test drove my first M3. First thing I noticed when driving on the motorway was how different the steering felt in the M3 ie. weighty and 'dead' as you said but gave the feeling of solidity and stability at speed. The Cayman S, and indeed every Porsche I've driven the steering on the motorway is lighter and more responsive but takes some getting used to as a characteristic - the car 'aint going anywhere but is different to what we're all used to. You could argue there is too much feedback at times. Never ever would that feeling be there through the twisties, quite the opposite and as you've described.

My guess, and it's only a guess is that the M3 has to be set up by BMW as a compromise between very good handling and providing an everyday car if that makes sense. The Porsches are very single minded and you get what you're given so to speak. Just sounds like this tweeking may have taken your car more towards the Porsche way of 'thinking'. Only way I know how to explain what I mean lol.

Either way, it's all interesting stuff imo.

[M3-FAST]

You have hit the nail exactly on the head Helen, and like I said it doesn't feel wrong on the motorway, just different!

[KadeSdad]

Hi Paul

Yes mate, what a great day! Thoroughly enjoyed meeting Sal, Sultan, yourself and all the guys at Car Planet Racing.

Car looks great now Paul, looks even better in the flesh mate

Marcus

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by KadeSdad

Hi Paul

Yes mate, what a great day! Thoroughly enjoyed meeting Sal, Sultan, yourself and all the guys at Car Planet Racing.

Car looks great now Paul, looks even better in the flesh mate

Marcus

c'mon mate - I am waiting for your thread now!!

(like your new avatar - thought that shot might be making an appearance!)

[KadeSdad]

Originally Posted by M3-FAST

c'mon mate - I am waiting for your thread now!!

(like your new avatar - thought that shot might be making an appearance!)

All good time (though Evolve have the best videos & pictures to come)

[chrisbin]

Paul, maybe not what you want to hear (with the change in the offing) but I'm loving the dish on those rear alloys....

[M3-FAST]

They will be for sale soon matey Do you a good price delivered

[dxb335d]

Car looks great, Is it hard to keep clean Paul?

Also I would lose the M3 badge now, only really because you have M3 on the plate.

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Car looks great, Is it hard to keep clean Paul?

Also I would lose the M3 badge now, only really because you have M3 on the plate.

Cheers Carl white is a tough colour to keep clean - it really gleams when polished up but soon looks grubby again. Got the cleaning regime down to a fine art now and can rinse/snowfoam/rinse/agitate-snowfoam/rinse/dry/polish/tyredress in 1/2 hour!

I contemplated losing the M3 badge when I had the chrome one but when I removed it, it looked bare so I fitted the gloss black one instead.

[doughboy]

Paul,

Isn't your car not your car? Its a lease hire jobby isn't it?

What about all these mods? Are you going to have to take them all off before returning the car??

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by doughboy

Paul,

Isn't your car not your car? Its a lease hire jobby isn't it?

What about all these mods? Are you going to have to take them all off before returning the car??

Yes Paul has mentioned before his car is leased.

Is leasing a good idea? I know it works for some.

[chrisbin]

Originally Posted by M3-FAST

They will be for sale soon matey Do you a good price delivered

Naaaah thanks, but I like mine!!

I find white easier to keep "looking" clean than black.....but it always looks so much better when it actually is clean!!!

30 mins is pretty impressive though! I reckon it takes me a good 20 to do the wheels alone.....

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by doughboy

Paul,

Isn't your car not your car? Its a lease hire jobby isn't it?

What about all these mods? Are you going to have to take them all off before returning the car??

Yes it is on a BMW lease and this was the only thing that has held me back having the springs fitted, as all other mods could be removed in a few hours. My mate who sorted the car at BlueBell Crewe reckons they will endeavour to keep the car instead of sending it back to BMW as he knows it is such a well spec'd and well cared for example. If I have another BMW off them I will prob try and negotiate the spring removal in the deal!

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Yes Paul has mentioned before his car is leased.

Is leasing a good idea? I know it works for some.

I wasn't actually supposed to be leasing this particular car. It was ordered in for me to the spec I wanted, and the dealership was then going to register it and the DP run it as his car for 3 months and use it for demo's etc. I would then have been buying it as a 3 month old AUC car as this was the only way I could get the figures to come into budget.

BMW then offered an incentive on lease deals - my mate re-proposed my car on a lease agreement and the monthly's came out £30 a month cheaper and I also get RFL included for the 3 year contract (another £1200 saved) so it was a no-brainer. I also could then have the car brand new instead of waiting for 3 months which was another bonus

Leasing works for some Carl, the main downside is that if you change your car a lot it is useless. You are pretty well tied into that contract for the time agreed. PCP's are easier to get out of as you can part ex the car and re-jig the finance. As I effectively run my car through my business I would be keeping it for 2-3 years anyhow so a 3 year lease is fine for me at the moment and at the end of the lease, they simply come and take it away!

[dxb335d]

So roughly how much deposit did you need and how much are the monthly payments (Pm if wish).

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

So roughly how much deposit did you need and how much are the monthly payments (Pm if wish).

PM'd

[dxb335d]

Cheers mate!

Also Paul, fackin impressive doing all that in half hour mate!

[wafik]

Nice one Paul! How you finding the ride now? That guy working on your car sounds like he really knows his stuff!!