UUC Stage 4 suspension introductory special

[Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks]

Introductory special on UUC Stage 4 suspension!

http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/SUSPENSION/STAGE4.jpg

For technical details on the components, please see:

http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/suspension

For two weeks only, we're offering a special price on our Stage 4 suspension package (consists of Stage 3 UUC/Sachs-tuned spring & damper set and UUC Swaybarbarian swaybar set). Regularly priced at $1049, Stage 4 is available at $999 to E46Fanatics.com members during this period.

To order, click here:

http://www.nexternal.com/uuc/?Target=products.asp&ProductID=276

You must enter coupon code 50STG4 to get the special price!

Already using the UUC SwayBarbarian swaybar set? No problem! This offer applies to you also... order Stage 3 (your UUC swaybars complete the Stage 4 package) and the difference in price will be deducted from your order. Offer valid for phone orders only, call 908-874-9092.

Previous swaybar order must be verified by UUC when ordering. If swaybars were purchased from an independent UUC dealer, please have invoice available for verification.

These offers valid only when ordering directly from UUC, not offered through independent dealers. Offer expires 4/19/04.

[HIGH_HEAT]

dude that looks like a relabled Sach kit .. no?????

[Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks]

We make no secret that Sachs manufactures these parts! Just the opposite - that's what it says on the website in bold red letters.

UUC has been testing and supplying tuning input on the components that Sachs supplies us since we began the program over a year ago. The engineering and manufacturing partnership has resulted in a fantastic setup that we are proud to offer our customers, and think that it has no rival in comfort, OEM-correct fit, and performance (among similar-style setups).

- Rob Levinson

[Lexie330ci]

Rob, whats the drop on these?
-ALex

[Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks]

Rob, whats the drop on these?
-ALex

Approximately 1.5", looks like this with 18" wheels:

http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/suspension/E46_18.jpg

- Rob

[Cal]

Any info or pics on the e36 M3 application? What is the drop front and rear? Like on the e46, there is more wheel gap on the front than on the rear in stock form, so something that drops the front slightly more would look great. The e46 above looks good.

Another question: What is the life expectancy of these shocks? I know it really depends on road conditions, etc, but just a ballpark figure. The stock Boge (sachs) shocks on the e36 M3 don't last very long, typically only 40K-50K miles. That's why a lot of people just upgrade shocks to something like Konis or Bilsteins due to the short life span of the stock Boge shocks. Just curious if these will be much better in this respect over stock shocks.


Thanks!
:thumbup:

[mikhalil]

I would be seriously interested since my shocks have now got 76K on 'em and my rear seems to skip a bit when taking corners aggresively. like Cal said, what's the expected life on these? same as stock (50K) or more? i've got the OEM 16" wheels and wondering if that also makes a difference in the appearance of the drop. let us know, cause i'd be up to ordering sometime this week.

[simsima325]

is that what it looks like on type44's in your sig rob? thanks

[Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks]

is that what it looks like on type44's in your sig rob? thanks

Yep, that's it!

Bigger pics:

http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/SACHS/E46_1.jpg

And on 18s:

http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/SACHS/E46_LOWERED.jpg

Actually, any pic you've seen of B's car in the past eight months or so.

- Rob

[Jeff43]

is that what it looks like on type44's in your sig rob? thanks

i don't think those are type44s in his sig...those are type 45 16s; not type 44 17s...

type 45
http://zoouz.free.fr/Wheels/TMP_wheel/bmw_wheel_045.jpg

type 44
http://zoouz.free.fr/Wheels/TMP_wheel/bmw_wheel_044.jpg

either way, it looks like a good suspension set up! i'd be all over it if didn't just put in my ACS kit...

[DDog330]

It's probably a nice set up but it doesn't look like it's much lower than the OEM sport package..IMO. :dunno: There is probably a reason for that though.

[Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks]

It's probably a nice set up but it doesn't look like it's much lower than the OEM sport package..IMO. :dunno:

OEM Performance Package is not much lower than standard cars, .59".

The UUC/Sachs Stage 3 is close to 1" lower than Performance Package.

- Rob

[ak330i]

how does this stage 4 compare to coilover such as pss9 in ride comfort and handling?

[Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks]

how does this stage 4 compare to coilover such as pss9 in ride comfort and handling?

That's a simple question that requires a very complicated answer!

Let's first examine what it is that a suspension does for your car. The primary purpose is to control the factors that affect the two fundamental things you asked about, comfort and handling. This involves controlling body motion and tire motion.

Adjustment of any parameter in the suspension setup (spring travel, spring characteristics, damper characteristics, swaybar settings, etc.) will alter the balance of comfort and handling. However, the two are not on the same sliding scale; adjustment of one component a small amount may (or may not) alter the characteristics of comfort and handling in unequal amounts. More importantly, it is very easily possible to degrade the quality of both ride and comfort by making incorrect adjustments.

The proper tuning of a suspension is not a simple task. Suspension engineers used by the automakers, major suspension manufacturers, and professional race teams get paid the big bucks for a reason; knowing what to do to give the performance desired (defined as handling or comfort) is a difficult task, one part science, one part experience, and one intangible part that is an enhanced ability to feel how well the car responds, meaning the feedback that the driver works with to generate good lap times or the feedback that means "comfortable" to the average backside. Not exactly simple.

There are some component parts to consider between these two setups that do very different things; the UUC/Sachs Stage 4 setup includes swaybars, which the PSS9 does not. The PSS9 features height and damping adjustment, which the Stage 4 does not. These differences affect the ride/handling balance in different ways. There are many resources to learn about how these work, outside the scope of this answer.

The reality of the situation is that different suspension setups have different purposes, suited to the intended use of the car. Multi-adjustable racing setup in a race car? Perfect. Plush basic OE setup in Aunt Edna's ride? Good choice. Chances are pretty good that most of the people reading this message board are not professional racers, nor do they think Aunt Edna's car is any fun. The majority of the people reading this messsage board are enthusiasts who appreciate a good-handling setup and drive their BMW primarily on the street with an occassional track day or auto-x. That means somewhere in the middle between Ayrton Senna and Aunt Edna.

Basically, it boils down to "the right tool for the job". Both the multi-adjustable setups like the PSS9 and the pre-set setups like the UUC/Sachs Stage 4 are great products, but should be chosen based on the driver and the intended use of the car.

The real question when considering an adjustable setup is "do you know what to adjust for your goals?" For a racecar driver or experienced track junkie, the answer is still not always "yes". For some, they definitely know what to do. But this is a decision that each person considering that type of setup needs to answer for themselves, and to realize that an adjustable suspension does not have a dial on it that ranges from "okay handling" to "awesome handling". Far from it!

Adjustable setups are much more than ride height - If all you want is "slammed", then buy really short springs... using a complex system like the PSS9 only for ride height adjustment is like buying a Formula 1 car because you like the graphics. Knowing where to set damping rates, being able to corner-balance a car and to make sure all four wheel heights are set correctly, these are the tools that the enthusiast needs to properly take advantage of a multi-adjustable suspension. When done properly, these multi-adjustable setups are race-worthy and can take the checkered flag with the right driver behind the wheel. When set up improperly, they will give poor ride and worse handling than the car's original setup. If you have the years of track experience and practice in suspension tuning necessary to take advantage of a multi-adjustable setup, then that is definitely the setup for you.

But if you do not have this kind of experience, and are simply looking for a suspension with settings that a professional suspension tuning team has set for an excellent blend of handling and performance (much like BMW Motorsport has done with the M3), where you will never have any problems with hitting bumpstops, coil bind, harsh ride, bouncy damper tuning, random creaks and rattles... then choosing a non-adjustable system may be the better setup for you. Even when it comes to the enthusiast who has gotten a taste for DEs and auto-x and wants to start learning how to really drive, we often recommend a pre-set suspension. Learning to drive well is not a function of the car... it's a function of the driver. It's the skills of the driver that must be improved before he knows how to correctly improve the capabilities of the suspension.

To sum up, both are excellent systems when used properly and chosen correctly. The ease of use and tuning ability of the driver are the things to consider when choosing what to put on your own car.

- Rob Levinson

[///OSS]

very interesting, are these adjustable height at all?

I thought that BOGE/Sachs made an adjustable coilovers...

also if Im slapping 19" CSLs on a 325CI whatelse other than a suspension upgrade do you recomend?

Ive heard terms like Cambers? RSMs? etc etc

[snb3]

Rob
you mentioned in another post a perch or an insert should you want to retain oem height. Im looking for something slighty stiffer than OEM sport pkg w/o going lower. Would this work?

thanks

[Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks]

Rob
you mentioned in another post a perch or an insert should you want to retain oem height. Im looking for something slighty stiffer than OEM sport pkg w/o going lower. Would this work?

thanks

First, remember that the OEM Sport package is about 8mm lower than the standard suspension. This is achieved by the dampers and springs. The Stage3 setup replaces all of those parts... so the 30mm lowering is measured compared to a standard E46. With your Sport package, you will see only about a 22mm lowering, which is a good amount without having to worry about scraping anything more than the OE setup.

But if you did want less lowering, the alternate spring pads would work. I can get you that information on Monday or Tuesday when I get back to the office.

- Rob

[jrthayer]

I have this suspension on my car, minus the sway barbarians, and it is incredible. Performance wise it feels smooth as OEM in a straight line, but the second you turn that wheel and feel how tight the suspension really is, you will know it is far from stock :) Looks-wise it definitely changes the look of your car without giving it a slammmed look; looked great on my stock rims, and drops the car just enough to look good with my new 19's. (check my sig for a pic)

A noticeable, yet classy, drop on a performance suspension that is as comfortable and "everyday-practical" as stock :thumbup: to UUC.

[netengwiz]

If there is ever another GB on these, I will definitely get this setup for my car.

[snb3]

Rob,
I scrape my muffler going up my driveway with a passenger. What are these pads made of (do you have any pictures?). Would there be any complications while installing the set using the pads? Lastly, have there be any issues using these pads (pads falling out, stressing other pts, etc)? I need to not lower my if possible.

Thanks

[Maverick1]

yeah, let us know if you get another GB on these