[csbear]

So I talked to my service advisor, and he said the tech went to the max lowest for the rears. It looks fine, but I thought there was ability to drop a little more. However, Ratcher said in your earlier post: "To your question: I am not sure what the standard height was, I know it now is 60,5-61 cm from the lower edge of the rim to the fender. "

And that's what precisely my rear height is at: 61cm with nobody in the car. Seems front is more adjustable than rears. That's fine, I'm sure it will settle a tad anyway.

Initial impression of the coilovers from a little bit of driving: Much less bounciness on roads and an immediate feel of a superior suspension compared to stock (obviously). I told the tech to do the BMW recommended compression/rebound settings.
Also, more feedback to the steering as well, but that could be a function of being lower.
Of course, the car is a lot more planted, but I am waiting to test the rears out when I drive again. I want to see if the car is less tail happy than before.

One thing is for sure, and many will agree, the front wheel gap on a stock M2C is just too much. I'm happy to eliminate that.

[19x]

Originally Posted by csbear

One thing is for sure, and many will agree, the front wheel gap on a stock M2C is just too much. I'm happy to eliminate that.

For looks, sure. But the front wheel gap exists for a reason. It's not there to piss off BMW enthusiasts, I can promise you that. Contrary to popular belief, it's not possible to reduce suspension travel through lowering while keeping the ride quality the same or better as stock. It may seem that way at first, but you'll realize sooner or later that you're compromising one area or another.

You can improve on the handling characteristics (debatable and depends on the damper used), but the ride quality will always suffer with reduced travel, especially when paired with average dampers.

It's a tradeoff. Always has been. Always will be. You can't cheat physics. A cheap spring/shock combo will almost certainly ride better (due to more optimal suspension travel) than a cheap set of coilovers. And yes, in the world of coilovers, MP coilovers = cheap.

[Ratcher]

With coilovers the height, unless pushed to the absolute max (may go against something if you hit a pothole, etc), doesn't have any influence on the setup. You clearly setup compression and rebound separately, height is purely aesthetics

[19x]

Originally Posted by Ratcher

With coilovers the height, unless pushed to the absolute max (may go against something if you hit a pothole, etc), doesn't have any influence on the setup. You clearly setup compression and rebound separately, height is purely aesthetics

Absolutely false. With all coilovers, the height changes the suspension geometry and 100% influences the entire setup, how it rides, how well it handles bumps, how "busy" it feels, etc. With most cheap coilover setups, the lower you go, the worse the handling will be. Facts.

Compression and rebound adjustments in 90% of coilover setups are borderline useless. The only dampers that can withstand significant lowering and actually dial in the ride properly are all on the high end of the spectrum: JRZ, MCS, etc.

[csbear]

I just went with the BMW recommended settings for height, comp/rebound. I know the M Performance coils (basically KW v3) are entry level.

That would be great to have some $5000 to $8000 JRZs, or even some slightly more expensive Ohlins, but my M2C will be primarily a daily driver car with some casual tracking.

The front fender cutout for BMWs (and most cars nowadays) is just too big, so I wanted to eliminate the gap for aesthetic purposes, but still have a non-stock suspension without breaking the bank.

I haven't had the chance to drive many miles on the new M Perf coils, but the stock suspension just had too much body roll for me. How much the new coilovers will help in that regard? I will gladly put on the miles to find out!

EDIT: Also, I want to reduce the positive rake a little. The fronts are at 595mm (bottom of wheel to fender lip) and rears are at 610mm. For some reason the tech couldn't get the rears lower.

(Sorry, didn't mean to hijack this photos thread talking about suspension only.)

[chris719]

Originally Posted by csbear

I just went with the BMW recommended settings for height, comp/rebound. I know the M Performance coils (basically KW v3) are entry level.

That would be great to have some $5000 to $8000 JRZs, or even some slightly more expensive Ohlins, but my M2C will be primarily a daily driver car with some casual tracking.

The front fender cutout for BMWs (and most cars nowadays) is just too big, so I wanted to eliminate the gap for aesthetic purposes, but still have a non-stock suspension without breaking the bank.

I haven't had the chance to drive many miles on the new M Perf coils, but the stock suspension just had too much body roll for me. How much the new coilovers will help in that regard? I will gladly put on the miles to find out!

EDIT: Also, I want to reduce the positive rake a little. The fronts are at 595mm (bottom of wheel to fender lip) and rears are at 610mm. For some reason the tech couldn't get the rears lower.

(Sorry, didn't mean to hijack this photos thread talking about suspension only.)

I am between M Perf and Ohlins R&T if I get an M2C. Let us know how you like the ride quality around town. I'd probably not track the car much, I'm more interested in eliminating secondary motion and a bit of body roll without destroying the ride quality.

[Ratcher]

Originally Posted by 19x

Absolutely false. With all coilovers, the height changes the suspension geometry and 100% influences the entire setup, how it rides, how well it handles bumps, how "busy" it feels, etc. With most cheap coilover setups, the lower you go, the worse the handling will be. Facts.

Compression and rebound adjustments in 90% of coilover setups are borderline useless. The only dampers that can withstand significant lowering and actually dial in the ride properly are all on the high end of the spectrum: JRZ, MCS, etc.

Absolutely understand that, especially going on both extremes, but can't say I notice the slightest difference with small height adjustments.
Drives a million times better than the stock suspension in any case, which is always a pro, although its sitting like 25mm lower.

[19x]

Originally Posted by Ratcher

Absolutely understand that, especially going on both extremes, but can't say I notice the slightest difference with small height adjustments.
Drives a million times better than the stock suspension in any case, which is always a pro, although its sitting like 25mm lower.

On a road with little to no irregularities, the M Performance Coilovers may ride better than stock. The problem occurs when there are bumps or sudden elevation changes. Any car with a cheap-to-average coilover setup will feel sloppy and less composed over such surfaces because there isn't enough travel left in the shocks to handle those loads optimally.

In a sense, cheap shocks - including OE BMW shocks - can compensate for the lack of quality internals with optimal travel. They are valved to require a higher rod pressure to open the compression stack of the piston. That's why the stock suspension is optimal for absorbing really harsh hits. However, it feels stiff and choppy in smaller, low speed terrain where the shaft moves at a low velocity. That's why so many people complain about the stock suspension without realizing that something always has to give.

The fact of the matter is that the stock suspension on most modern ///M cars is magnificent on the street and a slight compromise at the track. Most coilovers are magnificent on the track and a big compromise on the street.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by 19x

On a road with little to no irregularities, the M Performance Coilovers may ride better than stock. The problem occurs when there are bumps or sudden elevation changes. Any car with a cheap-to-average coilover setup will feel sloppy and less composed over such surfaces because there isn't enough travel left in the shocks to handle those loads optimally.

In a sense, cheap shocks - including OE BMW shocks - can compensate for the lack of quality internals with optimal travel. They are valved to require a higher rod pressure to open the compression stack of the piston. That's why the stock suspension is optimal for absorbing really harsh hits. However, it feels stiff and choppy in smaller, low speed terrain where the shaft moves at a low velocity. That's why so many people complain about the stock suspension without realizing that something always has to give.

The fact of the matter is that the stock suspension on most modern ///M cars is magnificent on the street and a slight compromise at the track. Most coilovers are magnificent on the track and a big compromise on the street.

What is your opinion on the Ohlins R&T? Same as above?

[2020M2Competition]

Originally Posted by 19x

On a road with little to no irregularities, the M Performance Coilovers may ride better than stock. The problem occurs when there are bumps or sudden elevation changes. Any car with a cheap-to-average coilover setup will feel sloppy and less composed over such surfaces because there isn't enough travel left in the shocks to handle those loads optimally.

In a sense, cheap shocks - including OE BMW shocks - can compensate for the lack of quality internals with optimal travel. They are valved to require a higher rod pressure to open the compression stack of the piston. That's why the stock suspension is optimal for absorbing really harsh hits. However, it feels stiff and choppy in smaller, low speed terrain where the shaft moves at a low velocity. That's why so many people complain about the stock suspension without realizing that something always has to give.

The fact of the matter is that the stock suspension on most modern ///M cars is magnificent on the street and a slight compromise at the track. Most coilovers are magnificent on the track and a big compromise on the street.

The M Performance coilovers were supposedly designed for a 0-20mm drop

What if you set them to the stock suspension ride height?

Would your opinion on them relative to the OE shocks and springs remain the same?

Wouldn't the issue of travel be less of a concern?

[ChrisK]

CF Lip Love!

[richard in NC]

My latest driveway iPhone shot. Just after washing, rotors need a good cleaning (bedding in).

[ChrisK]

PPF on the front LIP! BMW M

How can anyone NOT like this color!

[csbear]

Originally Posted by ChrisK

PPF on the front LIP! BMW M

How can anyone NOT like this color!

Honestly, this post deserves a lot more "Appreciates." In this type of lighting, SO is the absolute best color on the M2C. So much depth... Look at those hips.

[Fly320s]

Picked this up yesterday.

2020 M2 Comp, obviously. Lightly used. 1700 miles on it and in pristine condition.

Manual, carbon fiber everywhere (except hood and roof), Exec pkg, orange interior trim, no moonroof.

Didn't get any photos yesterday in the bright light, so this is from this morning in the flat light and humidity. Still looks good.

Only immediate plans for it are the ASD bypass cable and hopefully a track day in October. First, I have to get accustomed to driving a manual again. My skills are very rusty after 18 years of automatics.

[richard in NC]

Nice! So far I've kept my SO M2C stock, with no CF add ons but they look good.

[Fly320s]

Originally Posted by richard in NC

Nice! So far I've kept my SO M2C stock, with no CF add ons but they look good.

Thanks. I wouldn't buy them myself, but they came already installed on this used car. I thought I wouldn't like the CF parts, but I kinda do. They are subtle enough that they don't scream "look at me!"

[JCZ5]

Originally Posted by Fly320s

Picked this up yesterday.

2020 M2 Comp, obviously. Lightly used. 1700 miles on it and in pristine condition.

Manual, carbon fiber everywhere (except hood and roof), Exec pkg, orange interior trim, no moonroof.

Didn't get any photos yesterday in the bright light, so this is from this morning in the flat light and humidity. Still looks good.

Only immediate plans for it are the ASD bypass cable and hopefully a track day in October. First, I have to get accustomed to driving a manual again. My skills are very rusty after 18 years of automatics.

Congrats! Saw your thread about the MY21 and the poor dealer experience. Glad you were able to find a better solution.

Make sure you add a CF diffuser to complete the look 😉

[Fly320s]

Originally Posted by JCZ5

Congrats! Saw your thread about the MY21 and the poor dealer experience. Glad you were able to find a better solution.

Make sure you add a CF diffuser to complete the look 😉

This dealer was much better to work with. They still owe me a second key, though.

CF diffuser? Maybe. Maybe a CF front lip, too, because reasons.

[boss2k]

Originally Posted by ChrisK

PPF on the front LIP! BMW M

How can anyone NOT like this color!

it's personal choice, I don't like orange color on a car

[veenut28]

I go back and forth about CF bits on the SO. I kind of like the stock look. For now, anyway

[ChrisK]

Originally Posted by veenut28

I go back and forth about CF bits on the SO. I kind of like the stock look. For now, anyway

The CF pieces look great on SO.