Ohlins TTX in M3 CSL (Ohlins TTX46 MKII & TTX40 MKII)

[alexk]

Christmas came early for me in 2013 and here is the long desired dampers for my CSL.

The fronts are TTX46 MT MKII (the part number from the 320si WTCC) and the rears TTX40 MKII.
The fronts have integrated travel sensors, which is a good thing.
All of them are 4-way adjustable and Ohlins has a simulation software for these dampers, where you dial your setup and calculate the damping torque curve.
This is so as you have an understanding what is going to happen, even though you do not have a damper dyno to test the dampers.

http://www.clubcsl.com/CSL/ohlins/DSC_0146.jpg

http://www.clubcsl.com/CSL/ohlins/DSC_0148.jpg

http://www.clubcsl.com/CSL/ohlins/DSC_0149.jpg

2927g
http://www.clubcsl.com/CSL/ohlins/DSC_0152.jpg

http://www.clubcsl.com/CSL/ohlins/DSC_0153.jpg

http://www.clubcsl.com/CSL/ohlins/DSC_0154.jpg

http://www.clubcsl.com/CSL/ohlins/DSC_0155.jpg

http://www.clubcsl.com/CSL/ohlins/DSC_0157.jpg

1462g

http://www.clubcsl.com/CSL/ohlins/DSC_0159.jpg

[trackm3]

Very Nice Alex, will you be sleeping with them tonight :drool:

[shimmy]

they look fantastic but the infinite adjustment with limited skill to do so would concern me!

[northernjim]

:notworthy: gorgeous :) get the springs and get them fitted quick!

[shimmy]

they look fantastic but the infinite adjustment with limited skill to do so would concern me!

By the way, I meant MY limited skill!

[northernjim]

By the way, I meant MY limited skill!


We all knew that dickwad :blalalala:

[Bounce]

We all knew that dickwad :blalalala::hahaha::hahaha:

[deanobeano]

I's put them in a frame in my front room...hmmmm

[_Nathan_]

They do look stunning, proper suspension porn!

Have they been valved for the CSL boat anchor engine and overall heavyness of the car or is there enough latitude in the damping adjustment to negate the need?

What Spring rates are you going to run?

[alexk]

Hi Nathan

The current plan is for 130N/mm front and 80N/mm rear.
They have standard valving for the 320si WTCC but I think there is enough adjustment.
40 clicks for low speed and 50 clicks for high speed.
It should be more than sufficient for now.
During winter I am going to service them and if the valving is not ok, I will change it.

[glendog74]

Nice :smokin:

[DazBlackCSL]

Nice bit of kit Alex ;)

[Rutkowski]

very nice!

how much Euros, alex? :-D

[Loaded]

Very nice.! Great choice Alex. One of the best 3 choices :thumbs:.

[alexk]

Here you can see the same dampers in the latest BMW Motorsport Z4 GTE.

http://cdn-2.motorsport.com/static/img/mgl/1500000/1510000/1511000/1511800/1511862/s1_1.jpg

[_Nathan_]

Wonder why they changed from the KWs used on the current spec Z4 GT3 car?

[alexk]

Wonder why they changed from the KWs used on the current spec Z4 GT3 car?

I suspect because it's better ? :-D

The Z4 GTE keeps the front mcpherson setup, so the front damper is the TTX46 MKII.

Here is the M3 GT2 front suspension, featuring the TTX40.
7865

[_Nathan_]

Dunno, GT3 cars are as fast as GTE these days. Pic to match yours from a couple of months back. :thumbs:

Sure either will be fine for us mere mortals!

[alexk]

Dunno, GT3 cars are as fast as GTE these days. Pic to match yours from a couple of months back. :thumbs:

Sure either will be fine for us mere mortals!

I cannot express in words my lust for the Z4 GT3...

[Bealo]

I cannot express in words my lust for the Z4 GT3...

Quick..... Someone go get the tissues for Alex......

[alexk]

Dunno, GT3 cars are as fast as GTE these days. Pic to match yours from a couple of months back. :thumbs:

Sure either will be fine for us mere mortals!

I was pretty sure the Z4 GT3 runs the ohlins dampers mate.
Have a look on this assembly video, go to 1m40s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arFgcfYb66M

[Barry C]

They look like pretty serious shocks:smokin:

[_Nathan_]

I took that pic of a brand new car earlier this year at Silverstone and it had KW on it :whistle:

[alexk]

It took some time to source all the correct parts.
Here a big thanks to Martin, whose help was big and critical :notworthy:

So, I have GC front top mounts, AST rear top mounts, Eibach springs.
The front ARB drop links are GC.
The front springs are 130N/mm and the rear 80N/mm.

My calculations were spot on and the car sits just 1cm lower front & rear.
The clearance at the front is 11cm and rear 13cm.
I have static SAG at the front 6cm and rear 3.5cm.

http://www.clubcsl.com/CSL/ohlins/DSC_0171.jpg

http://www.clubcsl.com/CSL/ohlins/DSC_0177.jpg

http://www.clubcsl.com/CSL/ohlins/DSC_0179.jpg

Proudly put the Ohlins sticker, the only sticker on the car.

http://www.clubcsl.com/CSL/ohlins/DSC_0178.jpg

Here how it sits, just a little bit (1cm) lower than stock.

http://www.clubcsl.com/CSL/ohlins/IMG-20130519-00743.jpg

[_Nathan_]

Looking forward to hearing your report on how it drives! It is lovely stuff :smt055

[shane@mbtech]

Alex, looking good.

Do the front struts not need to drop down further to the seat?

[alexk]

Alex, looking good.

Do the front struts not need to drop down further to the seat?

No, have a look here.
The damper is 52mm and the lower part 50mm.
There is a 'safety' tooth in the clamp of the king pin.

http://www.clubcsl.com/CSL/ohlins/DSC_0148.jpg

[alexk]

And some numbers.

Front OEM damper with spring and top mount 6 kg.
Ohlins with spring, with helper and top mount 4.8kg.

Rear OEM Damper with spring and top mount 5.8kg.
Ohlins with spring and top mount 2.65kg.

So that's 1.2kg unsprung weight reduction on each of the front wheels and 3.2kg on each of the rear wheels.
Also, a total 8.8kg weight reduction.

[Brandtner]

Nice bit of kit mate! How does the car go?

[setra]

Looks great! Bet it drives great to!

[flipm3]

Looks absolutely stunning!

I can't wait to hear more driving impressions. I think the Ohlins R&T are baller...this takes everything to a whole other level!

[alexk]

So I have done more than 3k km with my Ohlins suspension.
In the meantime, I have sorted some details (i.e. rear bolts, geometry alignment).

The suspension is very firm, but you really do not believe that I am running so stiff springs.
It is very impressive the turn in, the responsiveness.
The higher the speed, the better it feels.
It doesn't like bumps in the highway at 200+ (at least with the current settings).
I have done a few jumps in Italy. Madness !!! :wanker:

I am running -3.5 front camber (the rest of settings and tyre pressures will not be disclosed) but it's very stable and responsive even at 280km/h.
I was also surprised to find out that it feels more safe/stable doing 140-150 with my Michelin cup tyres in normal-to-heavy rain.
I suppose it has to do with the amount of information the suspension delivers to you.

Next stop the racetrack. Let's see.

PS : it's also better for drifting, tested that in Leonardo secret parking in Munich :whistle:

[alexk]

Next stop the racetrack. Let's see.


So the moment of truth was last Friday, in the close to me racetrack Anneau Du Rhin.
I spent the morning playing with the low speed settings and I found a decent setup for this track.
I did not experiment with the high speed settings, as I wanted to focus in the afternoon session on driving and learning the car.
So in the morning I did ~35 laps and in the afternoon 89 laps.

The temperature was between 34-38C, a very hot day.
Last time I was there with the OEM suspension and cup tyres I managed a mediocre 1:32.2
Yesterday in the afternoon I managed best laptime 1:27.23 with optimal 1:20.50 !!!
It is unreal considering the heat, that I need to learn how to drive it and also perfect the settings.
The turn-in and speed when entering the corner is just funny.
Also, how fast I can get on the throttle and accelerate on the exit is just hilarious.
The suspension magically makes the bumps on the track disappear.
The traction on both axles is phenomenal. And it's very very stable
I see a very very different car and I just scratched the surface.
Surprisingly, my cup tyres had very little wear :-D


And to put things in perspective, a 997 GT3 RS MKII on dunlop slicks, cage etc had best lap 1:25.
M3 E46 stripped, caged with suspension, brakes and Michelin slicks had best lap 1:25 .
The other 911s, I just wiped them out.

In general, very happy, giggling since Friday.
The suspension was worth every swiss franc spent ! :notworthy:

PS : Now I need to get Ohlins for my Z3...

[Loaded]

Nice feedback Alex. Great!

[alexk]

7 years later - in 2020, Ohlins made a kit very similar to the one I had put together for my car.
This is absolutely fantastic news, because I can get one with Swiss road certification :thumbs:

https://www.ohlins.com/product/road-track/bmw-m3-2000-2006-e46/

[Chad]

7 years later - in 2020, Ohlins made a kit very similar to the one I had put together for my car.
This is absolutely fantastic news, because I can get one with Swiss road certification :thumbs:

https://www.ohlins.com/product/road-track/bmw-m3-2000-2006-e46/

That’s a coincidence I’ve been googling Öhlins shocks this morning. ,, couldn’t find much on price etc. Looking for something that has rear hight adjustable dampers

[alexk]

That’s a coincidence I’ve been googling Öhlins shocks this morning. ,, couldn’t find much on price etc. Looking for something that has rear hight adjustable dampers

Here you go - price is with German VAT.

https://ohlins-shop.de/shop/bmw/m3/e46/oehlins-advanced-trackday-motorsport-gewindefahrwerk-bmw-m3-e46/

[Chad]

Here you go - price is with German VAT.

https://ohlins-shop.de/shop/bmw/m3/e46/oehlins-advanced-trackday-motorsport-gewindefahrwerk-bmw-m3-e46/

Stunning kit ,, wow the cost ,, outside my bracket need to win the lottery :smt055

[Mike R]

Stunning kit ,, wow the cost ,, outside my bracket need to win the lottery :smt055

What is your budget :)?

[Chad]

What is your budget :)?

Just looking mike ,, messing about with ideas don’t want to spend big money on shocks at this point. , got the idea of using std rear csl springs at the minute, that it’s sitting on with possibly some height and compression and rebound adjustable rear dampers,, Not for csl Just Trackday build,, that I can play with,, I’m miles off being built, looking at ideas :smokin:

[alexk]

Are you interested in a budget KW Clubsport Kit ? ;)

[Chad]

Are you interested in a budget KW Clubsport Kit ? ;)

Plan is for new comp 2 coil overs when time is ready,, at the moment just need some dampers to sit it on. With new csl springs that’s it on atm ,, Didn’t want to buy genuine dampers. Though I could use them on csl , when I get some more track based adjustable,, but ideally have the idea of some adjustable rear damper units. But they don’t seem to be available on there own, possibly have to get the genuine new csl units for now. £180 each So not wasted money, really next big purchase will probably be a full custom cage. About £2k then will need welding in. Trying to budget limited cash atm ,, I’m in no rush don’t even use csl enough :whistle:

[alexk]

Ok understood and makes sense :thumbs: