Below we cover a few key modifications for your car and why they matter. We have prepared a special guide to help you choose your first five key modifications for your car. Aljaž from Car Scene Slovenia, who with years of experience modifying different cars backed the guide up with hands-on advice (Ford Fiesta ST, Ford Focus RS, BMW F82 M4 700 hp, BMW G82 M4, BMW I3, …).
BMW F82 M4 – 700hp. BMW G82 M4. A Ford Fiesta ST with numerous modifications for a safe and competitive track day.Tyres
Yes, we know, it is the most boring first upgrade. Where are the filters for air, plus sports silencers and huge brake calipers?
We’ll get to those things in time, for for once we want to focus on the basics and really stick to the five modifications every car needs.
Tyres are the foundation of a sporty, communicative and even comfortable car. From experience we can recommend the Continental SportContact 7 and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (and its successor, the Pilot Sport S5). These are UHP tyres in the higher price range. We can also recommend more wallet-friendly tyres that are still excellent UHP rubber: the Falken FK510 and FK520.
For more demanding drivers who want to take the car on track there are also semi-slick tyres, but those are a story of their own.
Why do we recommend tyres first? The right rubber and the right pressures are a prerequisite for good feedback and grip. They are also a prerequisite for getting the full benefit of every upgrade listed below. From experience we can also say that a slow car with good tyres gains a whole new dimension.
Semi-slick tyres. Semi-slick tyres.Brakes
And no, we are not talking about huge calipers – we are still on the basics.
For more dynamic drivers we recommend performance pads, which respond superbly in extreme conditions. We can recommend EBC Yellowstuff, Ferodo DS2500, Hawk HP+ or Hawk HPS pads. We have hands-on experience with all of them and they are an excellent upgrade for the road and the odd track day. So by upgrading the pads we increase the brakes’ thermal capacity and reduce the risk of cooking them.
By increasing the brakes’ thermal capacity we can expect heat to be dissipated into the area around the caliper. This is where we get to brake fluid overheating and rubber brake lines expanding. Fixable? Of course! Our range also includes braided brake lines and brake fluid with a higher boiling point.
In three steps we have already covered the vast majority of what enthusiasts need for fun cars that we don’t take on track regularly.
A brake upgrade on a BMW E91 – performance discs, pads, braided brake lines, performance brake fluid, …Basic suspension modifications
Everyone interprets basic suspension modifications differently, as preferences vary. Depending on what each person wants, there are a few things to upgrade on the suspension.
- Do we just want to lower the car without noticeably changing how it behaves? Then there are sports springs the perfect upgrade. We have already written more about sports springs here.
- Do we want to lower the car more than sports springs allow? Height-adjustable coilovers cover everything we need there.
- Have no wish or need to lower the car, but want a sportier feel? Stiffer anti-roll bars and bushes take care of exactly for that. (We have written more about bushes here.)
Every enthusiast has their own wishes and needs, and even with basic suspension modifications there are almost endless ways to change a car’s looks and behaviour to taste.
Coilovers, BC Racing vs MTS Technik. A suspension refresh on a BMW E46 drift car. MTS Technik suspension after 60k km and a proper wash. 🙂Temperature
High temperatures are a silent killer of your car’s components. “Cool as a cucumber” would be the right phrase for this chapter, and not just a cool head for the wheel, but also the lowest possible temperatures under the bonnet.
We can lower them in several ways: larger and more efficient oil coolers and other fluids, intercoolers on turbocharged engines, better filters and different positions for them combined with larger pipes (in plain terms, intake systems).
Anyway – a cool engine is a happy engine!
Oil coolers and accessories. Electric fans.Seat time
Don’t forget yourself! After all, the best upgrade is the driver’s own skill. A car does exactly what the driver tells it to for the wheel. Test yourself and your car on a track or a closed course to learn your limits and the car’s. The driver’s skill is crucial for enjoyment with every upgrade.
Grobnik track day. A drift competition.At Tuners Capital we believe car modification is a real art. We also know everyone’s needs differ, so we are available for all your questions. If you need help, you can contact us.
P. S.
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