A new update about the Z3.
As it is a budget track car (unlike the CSL
) I am using things that make sense and sometimes have zero cost.
Here are the anti-roll bar drop links of the CSL being fitted to my Z3.
All E36s and Z3s apart from the M versions connect the anti-roll bar to the front wishbone.
The M versions have them attached to the shock absorber, which is a more effective way to use the anti-roll bar.
Now, the Bilstein PSS suspension that I have is from the Z3 M coupe and it has the ARB drop links ears.
So I got the standard CSL front ARB drop links and fitted them.
Two interesting things.
- The CSL drop links are much longer than the Z3 M / E36 M3 ones, but my Z3 is much lower than stock which makes the CSL ones perfect size as now the ARB sits in the ideal position, parallel to the ground.
- The E36 M3 and Z3 M have a 23mm front ARB, as the drop link setup is more efficient.
My Z3 coupe has a 26mm ARB due to the inefficiency of the wishbone attachment. Which means now it's stiffer than the one on the M version.
Today I had a trackday with the Z3 and it was finally dry at Anneau Du Rhin.
I used the Federal RS-R tyres which gave me a good impression last time I used them, but it was raining.
All the upgrades paid off and my previous best laptime (with toyo R888s) of 1:32.19 dropped to 1:31.38 with ideal 1:29.68.
Also VMAX increased from 175.960 to 178.480.
I had a few consistent laps today ... (1:31.38, 1:31.95, 1:31.98, 1:32.24, 1:32.24, 1:32.36, 1:32.39, 1:32.47, 1:32.80, 1:32.88, 1:32.94, 1:32.98, 1:32.98 etc).
I can honestly say that I am driving the car very close to the limit that it has and just to put things into perspective, a stock CSL in this track does ~1:30. A CSL with schnitzer suspension had done 1:29.50.
What is cool is that I now lift the front inside wheel in the air.
Obviously it has to do with the stiffness of the front ARB and the driver giving it some love :P
A photo from today.
