Coilovers: TC Kline vs. Ohlins vs. Ground Control vs. Nitron? $3000 Budget!

[suspenceful]

I have a ~$3,000 budget and want a proper adjustable coilover setup. The car mainly sees 1/4 mile and 1/2 mile racing. I'm trying to dial in traction from a dig, I want the front to have high compression and low rebound and the rear to have low compression and high rebound.

The car has many other suspension mods, M3 front and rear control arms/wishbones, BimmerWorld precision bearings, adjustable toe arms, poly bushings, LSD, etc. I'm making a lot of power (750whp/700wtq). I've also raced it at Road America and would like it to handle well on a road course. I know this isn't your average suspension setup, but I need advice.

I'm debating between the following...

TC Kline double adjustable coilovers: https://www.tcklineracing.com/webdoc...Details978.cfm

Ohlin Road and Track Mi01 coilovers: https://3dmmotorsport.com/collection...n-kit-bms-mi01

Ohlin Trackday coilovers: https://3dmmotorsport.com/collection...suspension-kit

Ground Control double adjustable coilovers: https://www.chicanemotorsport.com/Gr...-p/2091.70.htm

Nitron NTR R1 2-way coilovers: https://store.vacmotorsports.com/nit...n-m-p2848.aspx

Help steer me one way or another!

[e30gentry]

Nitron or TC based off wheels I've seen you run.

Are you going skinny up? If so Ohlin will be hard to beat just off dampening alone

[suspenceful]

Originally Posted by e30gentry

Nitron or TC based off wheels I've seen you run.

Are you going skinny up? If so Ohlin will be hard to beat just off dampening alone

I'd love to know your reasoning behind recommending all 3 of those, lol.

My street setup:
18x8.5" 235/40/18 MPSS
18x9.5" 265/35/18 MPSS







My track setup:
18x8.5" 235/40/18 MPSS
17x9" 275/40/17 MT ET Street R







My drag setup:
17x4.5" 26x4/17" MT Skinny
15x10" 26x10/15" MT Drag

[suspenceful]

I'm also considering KW Clubsport 2-ways: https://www.kwsuspensions.com/kw-sus...-35220839.html

[Rundskop]

Hey! Been following your channel and build for a while.

I'd recommend the newer Ohlins Track R&T for E82. It does mention reduced rear droop travel, which is nice to see so you can optimize rear height.

I was in a similar situation as you, and ended up going with JRZ RS1. Having ran Ohlins on a few other vehicles I wanted something different, but still consider switching to Ohlins down the line.

The only catch is Ohlins front fitment, which may require a 5mm spacer if running 8.5 +45 (+40 equivalent) to avoid rubbing wheel on shock body.

I could be wrong but for your "needs" you probably don't need to upgrade to stiffer Swift Springs as others have done with Ohlins, as they've made revisions which sound like it's dialed in out of the box.

[ShocknAwe]

Hey Jake. My recommendation is to skip all the OTC options, get in touch with Barry at 3DM and have him custom build you a set of what will work correctly for your use.

PM me if you have any specific questions about 3DM/Barry, or my Ohlins kit experience.

[e30gentry]

Originally Posted by suspenceful

I'd love to know your reasoning behind recommending all 3 of those, lol.

My street setup:
18x8.5" 235/40/18 MPSS
18x9.5" 265/35/18 MPSS







My track setup:
18x8.5" 235/40/18 MPSS
17x9" 275/40/17 MT ET Street R







My drag setup:
17x4.5" 26x4/17" MT Skinny
15x10" 26x10/15" MT Drag

There have been so many fitment concerns, not a lot of real feedback, with Oh with certain wheel and tire sizes. (I want them and they'd be perfect for me!l)
Most people move to different springs.

While I do not post much and my YouTube has a fraction of the following your does I've been in the BMW seen as a Level1 tech for a while, building BMW track rats and daily's and a lot of time at Summit Point and VIR, I have a lot of in car track time with different suspension set ups.
Custom was always best for me for each build.

You seem to always do your homework from what I can tell in the last year or so I've followed your channel and story.

[suspenceful]

Originally Posted by Rundskop

Hey! Been following your channel and build for a while.

I'd recommend the newer Ohlins Track R&T for E82. It does mention reduced rear droop travel, which is nice to see so you can optimize rear height.

I was in a similar situation as you, and ended up going with JRZ RS1. Having ran Ohlins on a few other vehicles I wanted something different, but still consider switching to Ohlins down the line.

The only catch is Ohlins front fitment, which may require a 5mm spacer if running 8.5 +45 (+40 equivalent) to avoid rubbing wheel on shock body.

I could be wrong but for your "needs" you probably don't need to upgrade to stiffer Swift Springs as others have done with Ohlins, as they've made revisions which sound like it's dialed in out of the box.

First off, thanks for following! I don't think I have room in my front fenders to fit a 5mm spacer with my current setup (18x8.5" ET45 with 235/40/18). Maybe that issue has been addressed in their new Mi01 kit? Either way, I appreciate the input. JRZ is a little more than I want to spend.

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Hey Jake. My recommendation is to skip all the OTC options, get in touch with Barry at 3DM and have him custom build you a set of what will work correctly for your use.

PM me if you have any specific questions about 3DM/Barry, or my Ohlins kit experience.

I filled out a "contact us" form on 3DM's website on Friday, haven't heard back yet. I asked what their recommendation was for an Ohlins kit that would work best for me. Something that includes a camber mount in front and solid rear bottom shock mount would be ideal, I'd think. I also asked if they'd be open to working together in a sponsorship/partnership fashion. Maybe you have a connection with them?

Originally Posted by e30gentry

There have been so many fitment concerns, not a lot of real feedback, with Oh with certain wheel and tire sizes. (I want them and they'd be perfect for me!l)
Most people move to different springs.

While I do not post much and my YouTube has a fraction of the following your does I've been in the BMW seen as a Level1 tech for a while, building BMW track rats and daily's and a lot of time at Summit Point and VIR, I have a lot of in car track time with different suspension set ups.
Custom was always best for me for each build.

You seem to always do your homework from what I can tell in the last year or so I've followed your channel and story.

I appreciate you following along, thanks for the input. I don't know enough to customize something myself, which is why I'm asking here. It'd be awesome if a vendor or manufacturer can help me out and get me a package that will work best for my needs without me going broke.

[ShocknAwe]

Definitely recommend working with a suspension specialist rather than a random vendor. Sent you a PM.

[chris_flies]

My vote out of those would be Ohlins. 3DM is the place, and Barry is awesome! Got mine revalved to 1M specs and got swift springs for road course use.

For drag racing, I'd think that the 3-series kit's soft rear spring rate would be better suited than the new 1-series kit's higher rates for lots of weight transfer.

The only thing to watch out for with the Ohlins is front wheel/tire fitment. The aluminum inverted strut is a bit girthy, and the spring perch's natural location makes it just a bit more difficult. I absolutely love my Ohlins, and have no regrets getting them. The damping is amazing, and they are so civilized but still have excellent body control.

[e30gentry]

Originally Posted by suspenceful

First off, thanks for following! I don't think I have room in my front fenders to fit a 5mm spacer with my current setup (18x8.5" ET45 with 235/40/18). Maybe that issue has been addressed in their new Mi01 kit? Either way, I appreciate the input. JRZ is a little more than I want to spend.



I filled out a "contact us" form on 3DM's website on Friday, haven't heard back yet. I asked what their recommendation was for an Ohlins kit that would work best for me. Something that includes a camber mount in front and solid rear bottom shock mount would be ideal, I'd think. I also asked if they'd be open to working together in a sponsorship/partnership fashion. Maybe you have a connection with them?



I appreciate you following along, thanks for the input. I don't know enough to customize something myself, which is why I'm asking here. It'd be awesome if a vendor or manufacturer can help me out and get me a package that will work best for my needs without me going broke.

Reach out to Mfactory for custom build with their YCW offerings.
I'm personally torn between doing the same or OH.
I autoX with my wife and we daily it, hence the reason I want OH or customer 2 way YCW from Mfactory

[yokomo963]

I love my TCK coils... But I think if I did it again, I would go for the MSC 1 way remote setup right off the bat... Mostly road course racing with the car though.