Must read for performance guys

[Q45tech]

http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/...s.pdf

237 pages [in variou technical chapters] of the upgrade saga of a BMW Z8 and others thoughts.

I believe " Grease Monkey" and myself must be mentally related!

This is a must read.

[Fred D.]

Does the BMW tech info relate to the Q45's? My friend just bought a Bimmer, & claims its fast he say it handels well.

[Q45tech]

Suspension is supension, lowering is lowering, Brembos are Brembos, cams, exhaust, springs and shocks, tires, alignment apply to all cars equally........just because one is 4.5 liters and another is 4.9 liters. One weighs 3660 another 3954 pounds................an 8% weigh difference.

How to set up a vehicle to maximize it's potential.

[Jesda]

You cant fake balance. You cant modify a car into being balanced either.

[Q45tech]

Sure you can modify and stiffen any car into balance with enough money.

Especially when you only have to remove 160 pounds from front of center line CG.

$50,000 in mods seems chump change!

Read how these technical guys modified their brand new $100,000+ cars with Brembo brakes and cams and headers and exhaust and brand new suspension and fine tuned and replaced the work BMW did.

[Jesda]

Balance is the 'sweet spot' feeling of being at the center of centrifugal forces during a turn, and the rear and front behaving predictably and in concert because of equal weight distribution.

You can improve feel, responsiveness, and grip, but balance is there from the factory or it isn't.

[hannibal]

Read how these technical guys modified their brand new $100,000+ cars with Brembo brakes and cams and headers and exhaust and brand new suspension and fine tuned and replaced the work BMW did.

Thats what impressed me the most. They tore into a rare, limited production car like it was a Honda. $6K for brakes, $4k for suspension, etc

[UK-SRi]

A very good read.

Mike

[maxnix]

Read how these technical guys modified their brand new $100,000+ cars with Brembo brakes and cams and headers and exhaust and brand new suspension and fine tuned and replaced the work BMW did.

Haven't finished reading the whole thing, but his guy seems like a dilletante with too much money, and not as scientifically rigorous as Q45tech. I just can't see Dennis drinking a demitasse with his pinky extended, but then I never have met him.

I am very suspicious about his comments about the Stoptech brakes, as my alignment guy (class lap record holder at Texas Motor Speedway) is not that fond of them for feel nor durability. I really doubt the rotors are really stronger than AP, owned by Brembo.

Secondly,GM's esthetic reasons for not going to 19" wheels to accomodate the proper AP or Brembos is true dilletante behavior.

I also think if is funny his guys spend who know how many thousands to get 15 more HP out of a 460 HP engine. Not even noticeable in the least in real world driving.

I don't know, but the only thing with which I am impressed is his checkbook so far.