Cross Coilover Initial Review

[m3bs]

OK, I finally got my suspension installed. Since everybody always cries for pictures, I've attached a bunch. Sorry, but with the bright sunlight at mid-day, the tire clearance doesn't show very well.

Tough. I didn't buy them for looks, I bought them for improved handling. So far, I'm impressed. I installed the Cross Competition coilovers, H&R front bar, and the Cross strut brace (OK, a little bling there). I'm still playing with damper settings, but the car is really solid now. No pointing to the sky under acceleration (even with a JB3), no nosedive under hard braking, and it corners quick and flat. I won't say that the car rides "better" than stock, since everyone has their own opinion of what that means. It is very firm, but well controlled. I currently have both front and rear shocks set on setting 6 of 15. I started out at setting 2, but I'm gradually working my way up. There are some sharp bumps that I have to cross every day, and the stock setup always crashed into the bump stops. At setting #2, the coilvers did too, but at #6 it sucks them up nicely.

On the highway, it is a bit busier than before, but much more connected and responsive. I suspect that when I lose the runflats, the ride will improve further, but I'm going to stay with them until they wear out. There really aren't any good places to tell if the car understeers now, as it's limits are just so high that I don't dare push it any harder on the street. I'm hoping to get it back out on the track again soon to really test it out. Hopefully, I won't get into too much trouble before then!

In the meantime, if anyone in the GA/Carolina area wants to see for themselves what they do for the car, come see me! One drive of 1addict member Call's car did it for me.

I'd like to thank Dan (and Nick!) at Vivid Racing for supplying the hardware and installation support.

I'd also like to put in a plug for Steve Pappas at Pappas Ultimate Auto in Grovetown, GA for working with me on the installation.

[vividracing]

Looks great! The run flats are super noisey. Cant wait to see some track video.

[perryo91]

You said you use this everyday, does how low the car is interfere with anything?
Or like because it's so low, do you need to do different things on your everyday commuting roads?
Maybe take alternate routes because of contruction roads, or go in a different entrance to a place with alot of speedbumps?

etc etc, I'm considering getting coil-overs but im not sure because of those questions wrote. Feedback is appreciated

And are coil-overs only for the rear wheels? or all four?

[m3bs]

I currently have the height set at 13" from wheel center to fender lip front and rear. So far, I haven't bottomed out on anything, but time will tell. I haven't tried a speed bump yet.

These are a front and rear package, although the rear is not a "true" coilover. It retains the stock spring location, but adds a height adjuster.

[perryo91]

But I see 6 pieces in your first two pictures, so like, the inner two are for the back? Outer two are for the front? and .... explain pweez

[m3bs]

The two inner units replace the front struts. Moving out from there, the next parts are the new rear shocks, which directly replace the originals. At the outside are the new rear springs and adjustable perch. They replace the stock springs in the original locations.

[perryo91]

Cool, thanks and the new springs... the last outer two.. you didn't say whether they were for the front or back.

[miro2296]

Looks soo nice! Love the ride height, not too low, just right!

[philaf_666]

Originally Posted by perryo91

Cool, thanks and the new springs... the last outer two.. you didn't say whether they were for the front or back.

They are for the rear. The damper and spring are not mounted together on our car. Some cars have similar setup to the front where the spring goes on the damper and some cars, like the 1, have a different setup where the rear spring is sitting next to the damper.

Look under your car and you'll see

[Call]

My setup is the same...13" to center after settling and I love it.



Call

[m3bs]

Originally Posted by Call

My setup is the same...13" to center after settling and I love it.
Call

I figured you'd show up here before long. It's all your fault you know!

[Call]

I can't stand to be the only one broke around here I think we need to get these two ONE's back together...it's my turn to drive yours. Besides, I'm pissed...I didn't get any Cross decals. I'll have to give someone a call

If you didn't get the H & R front sway bar you need to install it as soon as possible. The OEM is a piece of crap. I'll take a picture of it and post it...wish I had thought of doing a comparison photo beforf installation

Call

[MINI135i]

Looks great!

When you got the car aligned what was the max negative camber up front you could achieve with the cross camber plates?

Also, what are the spring rates?

[m3bs]

Call, I did install the H&R front bar at the same time. If you ever get over to this side of the river, we can arrange that test drive. I suspect you will have a JB3 on order soon after.....it's highly addictive.


Mini135, I haven't had a chance to really play with alignment yet. I set it at a very conservative 1.5 front, 2.0 rear for now. I'm going to guess that there is another degree, maybe 1.25 adjustment left. The spring rates are approximately 500F/675R if my math is correct.

[Call]

You are full of surprises, I didn't know you got the H & Rs and the JB3 I guess I need to make a trip to N. Augusta...or maybe I need to stay home

Call

[m3bs]

Finally got the front alignment set to 2.0 degrees. I can get up to about 2.8, but I'm going to leave it at 2 for a compromise setting. It is primarily a street car, after all.

I mounted up my Kosei K1s with 235/40-17 R888s for a test fit. It clears the strut with about 1mm to spare. That may be too close for comfort, but I'm going to try it. Test drive forthcoming...

[bradford]

[quote=m3bs;4971347]Finally got the front alignment set to 2.0 degrees. I can get up to about 2.8, but I'm going to leave it at 2 for a compromise setting. It is primarily a street car, after all.
[quote]

Are the camber adjustments indexed so you can go back and forth from Street to Track setup after aligning both ways and noting adjustment points?

[m3bs]

There is a "scale" along the slide which you can use to note position. It's a bit of a pain to adjust, since you have to drop the strut out of the tower a couple of inches to get access to the adjustment bolts. I'm getting pretty good at it, but I don't plan to make further adjustments.

I just got back from a test drive. No evidence of any interference, and even with my cold, heat cycled-out tires, the grip is amazing. It doesn't have the look of big wheels, but it flat works. You definitely notice more tramlining with the wider tires, but I think with a more street oriented tire, it wouldn't be a problem.

This thing is much more responsive than my track-only M3, and even with stiff sidewall R888s, it rides better than with the RFTs. I definitely need to get some real street tires for it, and lighter wheels. The R888s are not especially light, but on the K1s, they are 11 pounds lighter than the OE fronts, and 16 pounds lighter than the rears.

This car is going to get me in trouble..........

[Call]

Yep, I need to stay at home

Call

[m3bs]

Originally Posted by Call

Yep, I need to stay at home

Call

Hey, you started this!

[Call]

Call

[rodi]

what'd you pay? $2500? less?

what about for the install/labor?

i'm looking to get these with the M3 suspension bits. good idea? bad idea?