right!

I have got my 190e 2.5 16v self booked in for a track day in Feb 05, the Brands Hatch Indy circuit and hopefully the ring in spring!

I have a budget of £400 to spend on the car to improve it so I get as much from the day as I can.

At the moment, it has stock front shocks, koni -40mm springs with 1/2 a coil cut and 1-bump pads. The rear is the SLS with the -40 koni springs, 1-bump pads and a lengthened SLS rod to lower the rear further. It sits perfectly, slight rake, very low at the front.

Wheels are 17x8 ET35 with 215/40 tyres. Tyres will be replaced for good quality intermediates outside the above budget.

Brakes are stock apart from EBC Greenstuff pads all round and stainless braided hoses.

Most of the front end has been re-bushed to original spec, anti roll bar, strut mounts, etc, etc. Rear is mostly stock, has had propshaft donuts recently.

All in a very well maintained car with the above simple mods.

In terms of breaking/suspension the car handles ok at the moment, even though its low you do get a little roll in hard corners and swap from hard one way to the other as the weight transfers from side to side is a little uneasy. It’s very low and also quite bumpy, bump steer under hard breaking is apparent but not so bad on a smooth racetrack I'd imagine. Its quite precise to steer and turn in but the back end seems to wallow more than the front…..

The breaks are ok, strong pedal feel but does get hot and spongy after a few high speed stops.

SO, bearing in mind the following;

Its a daily driven car with occasional track use and I ideally want the car to be low as possible as it looks cool but I am happy to raise the height of the car to reach better handling, the £400 budget is there and will be spent on the car anyway but I was interested to see what people think it makes more sense to spend the money on first.

So, my ideas at the moment are:

I will be fabricating my own strut brace – cost approx £20

Koni suspension, on car top adjustable fronts, off car adjustable rears, 40mm lowering springs. Cost £380.

Spax suspension, on car top adjustable fronts, off car adjustable rears, 30mm lowering springs. Cost £325.

Blackstuff drilled and grooved brake disks front and rear and new greenstuff pads and high dot fluid change. cost £290

So, where would you lot spend your money and on what? Or anyone got a good track car, what you running?

Discuss!

Thanks in advance for any input.

Steve

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Steve Howson

http://www.markthomastrimming.com/storage/sigpic.jpg

www.mercedes-cosworth.co.uk