MX5 Owners in here....bring your curling tongs

grudas · 1 Dec 2018 at 19:32

Frozennova said:
B6s are OEM AFAIK so maybe move up a teir or two to a B8 damper with the Eibach springs or B10 or B12s which are spring/damper combos.

B10s aren't adjustable though

B4 are OEM replacement, or was on Z4 when I owned one.

adam cool dude · 1 Dec 2018 at 19:50

grudas said:
B4 are OEM replacement, or was on Z4 when I owned one.

B4 are you billy standard OEM replacement. MX5 Sports come with B6's which are your more sporty orientated damper. B8's are B6's for lowering springs in simple terms although there are more differences.

Housey · 3 Dec 2018 at 09:30

Thanks for input people.

Does anyone have experience of Ohlins?

Cleisthenes · 3 Dec 2018 at 11:07

Housey said:
Thanks for input people.

Does anyone have experience of Ohlins?

All I've heard is that if budget isn't a problem then they're the best. I think @Will had them on his and he messed about with another few options too.

Will · 3 Dec 2018 at 11:08

Housey said:
Thanks for input people.

Does anyone have experience of Ohlins?

Yes - had them on my Mk3 (since sold

).

They were brilliant, not quite as compliant as a factory car (the more solid top mount design will see to that) but still very livable even on crap roads, and the body control was fantastic. I have tried several different suspension setups on my 5 (factory bilstein dampers plus Eibach lowering springs, Meister-R Zeta-S coilovers, BBR Koni and BBR lowering springs, and finally the Ohlins) and they were the best - what I should have bought in the first place.

grudas · 3 Dec 2018 at 11:21

Housey said:
Thanks for input people.

Does anyone have experience of Ohlins?

not on mx5 but my s2000 runs a set of road and track ohlins on medium dampening and they're beautiful! maybe a bit hard/less compliant than other coilovers I've experienced but when pushing the car feels lovely.

Housey · 3 Dec 2018 at 12:56

I know Ohlins are highly respected and typically a top of the tree sort of product, but comments about making the ride hard does worry me as it is my wife's car, not mine.

Hmmmm might be better to just replace stock with new versions of an all round quality damper.

Another questions...

If I am changing dampers and sprints, what else should I get done at the same time chaps?

Frozennova · 3 Dec 2018 at 13:06

Depends how deep you want go, new bushes wouldn't go a miss but isn't going cheap.

Housey · 3 Dec 2018 at 13:08

Less concerned about price because frankly an MX5 is really cheap compared to what I am used to spending on cars.

Quite refreshing actually as I don't feel I am getting the full 'pull your pants down' experience I am used to.

Will · 3 Dec 2018 at 13:45

Give blink motorsport a call, Fraser has a mk3 mx5 which he runs as a daily driver that has ohlins fitted, I imagine he'd let you drive it if you wanted to see what the ohlins are like.

Housey · 3 Dec 2018 at 13:53

Good shout, they did offer me some time in their development car!

Will · 3 Dec 2018 at 14:11

The car also has the rotrex supercharger kit (~300bhp) and AP Racing big brake kit on the front, you may come away wanting more than just the suspension

wesimmo · 3 Dec 2018 at 14:46

Will said:
The car also has the rotrex supercharger kit (~300bhp) and AP Racing big brake kit on the front, you may come away wanting more than just the suspension

Which Rotrex? Mine made 198 whp and I think I can get to about 250 ish with a pulley reduction before it starts over spinning.

FWIW I had Meister R Zetecs and love them, though I daily a Clio Cup so I'm probably not a good comparator for a wife's requirements.

Will · 3 Dec 2018 at 14:49

Its the C30-94 I believe. On a stock Mk3.5 engine but with an uprated fuel system and upgraded exhaust (inc 4-1 manifold) to hit the power.

grudas · 3 Dec 2018 at 14:52

surely if its the car for the wife then just stick the oem replacements or b6/b8 bilsteins and forget about it?

I doubt that she's going to appreciate the ohlins haha.

wesimmo · 3 Dec 2018 at 15:02

Will said:
Its the C30-94 I believe. On a stock Mk3.5 engine but with an uprated fuel system and upgraded exhaust (inc 4-1 manifold) to hit the power.

My bad, mines a MK2.5 vvti engine so not really comparable.

Will · 3 Dec 2018 at 15:04

Never seen a rotrex on a mk2, whose kit is it? I really liked the way the rotrex drove in the Mk3 to be honest, just felt like a bigger engine with lots more shove, you had to rev it to get the power still which made it plenty involving. Kinder on transmission parts too, when compared with a turbo.

wesimmo · 3 Dec 2018 at 15:15

It's by Kraftwerks.

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/building-a-supercharged-exocet.18816740/

There's pics of the install and power graph in that thread.

But yeah, totally agree about how it delivers the power, that's exactly how I described it.

Housey · 3 Dec 2018 at 15:29

grudas said:
surely if its the car for the wife then just stick the oem replacements or b6/b8 bilsteins and forget about it?

I doubt that she's going to appreciate the ohlins haha.

She won't but I will

adam cool dude · 4 Dec 2018 at 09:31

I know it is going a little off tangent but I would also highly recommend getting a BBR 200 kit or something similar from other MX5 specialists. Fantastic value for a N/A tune.

http://www.bbrgti.com/product/bbr-mx-5-nc-super-200/

I got to drive one in the summer and it is a massive difference compared to standard and a proper quick little car.