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      02-21-2017, 11:24 AM   #1
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Long story short, the decision to transform my X2M into M2 using MP coilover was made last week when I felt great at Casino Galaxy Macau.

Today the MPS arrived and was installed. I used the recommended shock setting but was 5mm lower than default at both ends.

I did 100km today in city with that configuration. Less body roll, dealing road imperfections well, only slightly bouncier at speed hump, not much of a difference in firmness overall, which is to my surprise. I'll do some more tests to find out.

Car looks much better lowered. See it compared side by side to a KW CS lowered m4 in the picture attached below. Forgive me not taking a picture from the side, I'll do that soon though.

One question, what's the benefit performance wise from having front end 5mm lower than rear?

Share your setting and experience please.
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      02-21-2017, 11:36 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanWRT View Post
One question, what's the benefit performance wise from having front end 5mm lower than rear?
Just because the distance fender to bottom of the wheel is 5 mm lower doesn't mean the car is actually lower. It all depends on the design of the fender. With that said I think you get a bit more rake angle with the M Performance suspension.
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      02-21-2017, 02:09 PM   #3
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think you are going to like this setup. Most cars are set up with varying degrees of understeer because its safer for the majority of conditions and peoples driving taste.

Nose down should reduce understeer. But other variables can also influence this - sway bar stiffness front vs back and shock/spring settings front vs back
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      02-21-2017, 02:16 PM   #4
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      02-22-2017, 10:29 AM   #5
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Ok, from the side.
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Last edited by SeanWRT; 02-22-2017 at 11:47 PM..
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      02-22-2017, 11:03 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M+M View Post
think you are going to like this setup. Most cars are set up with varying degrees of understeer because its safer for the majority of conditions and peoples driving taste.

Nose down should reduce understeer. But other variables can also influence this - sway bar stiffness front vs back and shock/spring settings front vs back
Well...as I gave it more miles, I clearly feel it's bouncier than stock. I am thinking if I should dial one or two clicks toward to soft.

BTW, are the right and left rear shocks interchangeable? I remember there was no marking left or right (there were marks on front shocks though) so my mechanic and I couldn't tell the difference when installing them.
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      02-22-2017, 02:43 PM   #7
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I can certainly see how a softer set up may be preferred depending on roads commonly driven. On bumpy back roads I have also commented that I think softer will be better.
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      02-23-2017, 12:19 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanWRT View Post
Well...as I gave it more miles, I clearly feel it's bouncier than stock. I am thinking if I should dial one or two clicks toward to soft.

BTW, are the right and left rear shocks interchangeable? I remember there was no marking left or right (there were marks on front shocks though) so my mechanic and I couldn't tell the difference when installing them.
Higher performance / stiffer suspension will always translate to feeling more feedback, for good and bad. Just soften them up some.

I'll be getting MPS on my M2 as well. I had Ohlins R&T on my 335is, they are great! The default setting was 10 clicks from lowest (hardest setting), which was way to hard for the street. An adjustability of 0 to 25, I would run 16 on the street, which was still a good bit more firm than stock suspension. I would go down as low as 3 on the tracks where the pavement was super smooth.

In regards to the rear shocks, does not matter.
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      02-23-2017, 02:53 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanWRT View Post
Well...as I gave it more miles, I clearly feel it's bouncier than stock. I am thinking if I should dial one or two clicks toward to soft.

BTW, are the right and left rear shocks interchangeable? I remember there was no marking left or right (there were marks on front shocks though) so my mechanic and I couldn't tell the difference when installing them.
If it's bouncing it could be that the rebound needs adjusting. If the rebound is to fast it will feel bouncy and skip about, if it's to slow it will pack up and then will feel solid/harsh. Only do one setting at a time though.
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      02-28-2017, 01:19 AM   #10
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Update:

I drove 600KM on the highway last weekend. It's either me getting used to the firmness or the spring getting softer as it breaks in, I now feel again the ride quality is good enough for daily driving in city downtown.

The ride height also settled a little bit, measuring 592mm (wheel to fender) at front and 595mm at rear, with 75KG*2 passengers loaded, which is approximately 25mm lower than stock and 5 mm lower than MPS default. With my car, it appears that the default height should be 20mm lower than stock (it can go even lower a little bit with more miles), as opposed to 12mm that many told here.
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      02-28-2017, 07:40 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanWRT View Post
Update:

I drove 600KM on the highway last weekend. It's either me getting used to the firmness or the spring getting softer as it breaks in, I now feel again the ride quality is good enough for daily driving in city downtown.

The ride height also settled a little bit, measuring 592mm (wheel to fender) at front and 595mm at rear, with 75KG*2 passengers loaded, which is approximately 25mm lower than stock and 5 mm lower than MPS default. With my car, it appears that the default height should be 20mm lower than stock (it can go even lower a little bit with more miles), as opposed to 12mm that many told here.
what settings are you driving to make it good enough for d d?
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      02-28-2017, 08:16 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jevi Javi View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanWRT View Post
Update:

I drove 600KM on the highway last weekend. It's either me getting used to the firmness or the spring getting softer as it breaks in, I now feel again the ride quality is good enough for daily driving in city downtown.

The ride height also settled a little bit, measuring 592mm (wheel to fender) at front and 595mm at rear, with 75KG*2 passengers loaded, which is approximately 25mm lower than stock and 5 mm lower than MPS default. With my car, it appears that the default height should be 20mm lower than stock (it can go even lower a little bit with more miles), as opposed to 12mm that many told here.
what settings are you driving to make it good enough for d d?
I am using recommended setting:
Front - 6 clicks compression, 9 clicks rebound. Towards soft.
Rear - 6 & 12.
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      03-01-2017, 02:13 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanWRT View Post
I am using recommended setting:
Front - 6 clicks compression, 9 clicks rebound. Towards soft.
Rear - 6 & 12.
Have you tested any other settings?
Is it difficult to change settings? do you have to remove wheels?
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      03-01-2017, 07:54 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M+M View Post
Nose down should reduce understeer.
And how is that exactly? There are a number of variables here. When you change the "rake" you are also changing the roll center for the end that is raised or lowered which can be good or bad depending the individual design. Lowering just the front does put a bit more weight on the rear tires but too many variables here to make that blanket statement.
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      03-01-2017, 08:23 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanWRT View Post
I am using recommended setting:
Front - 6 clicks compression, 9 clicks rebound. Towards soft.
Rear - 6 & 12.
ok.
is there more room to make it feel softer?
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      03-01-2017, 01:47 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Spinnetti View Post
And how is that exactly? There are a number of variables here. When you change the "rake" you are also changing the roll center for the end that is raised or lowered which can be good or bad depending the individual design. Lowering just the front does put a bit more weight on the rear tires but too many variables here to make that blanket statement.
Agree lots of variables and its complex depending on what is changed. In this case both front and rear are lowered just that front is a bit more down at recommended settings.

Its also from my observations driving without and then with MP suspension. I would be interested to hear Sean's feeling on handling pre and post?
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      03-02-2017, 06:07 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanWRT View Post
Update:

I drove 600KM on the highway last weekend. It's either me getting used to the firmness or the spring getting softer as it breaks in, I now feel again the ride quality is good enough for daily driving in city downtown.
It's not just you - I drove home after having mine installed remembering someone else here saying it would soften up a bit and hoping it would, because it felt pretty stiff. It did soften, or all of us got used to it, because after several hundred miles with them, I don't think the ride is significantly worse than how I remember the car riding stock. No problems DD'ing the car with the MP suspension here.
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      03-03-2017, 02:57 AM   #18
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How easy is it to change settings? Do you need to remove wheels?
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      03-04-2017, 08:16 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M+M View Post
Agree lots of variables and its complex depending on what is changed. In this case both front and rear are lowered just that front is a bit more down at recommended settings.

Its also from my observations driving without and then with MP suspension. I would be interested to hear Sean's feeling on handling pre and post?
The car clearly has less body roll which is confidence inspiring when cornoring and changing lane. In dealing with rough road, it feels much more planted at higher speed but a little bouncy at lower speed. Overall, I am satisfied with the default shock setting so far.

Quote:
Originally Posted by aerobat View Post
How easy is it to change settings? Do you need to remove wheels?
I wouldn't say impossible, but much easier with car lifted and wheels removed.
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      03-04-2017, 08:31 AM   #20
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Installed these last month and then corner balanced. Ran at Sebring and Road Atlanta...very happy with this set up. I had run RA before install and found the car had much less body roll and quicker transitions.....at Sebring the car was planted but it did not "bounce" on the rough sections. I drove it back to Atlanta from Sebring and it was very comfortable. Overall this was a great upgrade with no real downside.
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      03-13-2017, 01:10 AM   #21
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Update:

I think the spring has been fully settled given 1500KM. I cannot say the stock suspension isn't good, but the MPS definitely feels more planted when carrying speed. Plus what a difference it makes lowering the car! BTW, I adjusted the front end to the same height as rear. See picture below of my car (it wasn't remotely the best angle) from the event of Fast4ward, the biggest 1/4 mile drag race national wide in China. Also the comparison pictures I took at dealership between my car and stock.
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      03-13-2017, 08:20 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanWRT View Post
Well...as I gave it more miles, I clearly feel it's bouncier than stock. I am thinking if I should dial one or two clicks toward to soft.

BTW, are the right and left rear shocks interchangeable? I remember there was no marking left or right (there were marks on front shocks though) so my mechanic and I couldn't tell the difference when installing them.
biggest reason is that you are running it 5mm lower than recommended

when a suspension system is designed, the shock body length and valving is specifically designed for an specific ride height. it is impossible for a suspension setup to be ideally set up for multiple ride heights

when you run the car lower than it is designed for, the shocks are precompressed at static ride height, meaning that you have already reduced the shock travel by 5mm in your case. this both reduces travel and has the car operating at a different stiffness than it is designed for as the shock is already compressed when it is not designed to be, thus the valving is off.

it will ride and handle better at the recommended height.
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