Opinions on JRZs/VAC Motorsports?

[911r]

Before deciding upon a set of dampers to purchase, I'm trying to cover all my bases. Options now are (most $$$ to least $) Öhlins TTX, MCS 2-Way external reservoirs, JRZ RS Pros, Bilstein Clubsports, Öhlins dedicated track.

Car will primarily be a daily, canyon drives 3/4 times per week, track days every other month if I'm lucky.

I'm currently leaning towards the JRZs because my shop is familiar with them. That leads me to my question, has anyone ordered JRZs through VAC Motorsport? Looking at their website they have RS Pro dampers listed for ~$4.6k (roughly $2k cheaper than EAS or anywhere else I can find.) Don't know if the deal is legit or not; haven't been able to get into touch with a sales rep for the past week or so which makes me worry. I emailed MCS/Vorshlag and they got back to me within an hour.

[SYT_Shadow]

I would not buy anything from VAC...

[911r]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

I would not buy anything from VAC...

Good to know. Any reason in specific?

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by 911r

Good to know. Any reason in specific?

So many. In other forums there were whole threads talking about their screwups. It's been going on since the E46 days

More practically though, just look at your current experience. They can't answer you to make a sale... what do you think will happen when you need customer service because they shipped the wrong springs/shocks/bolts/etc?

[911r]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

So many. In other forums there were whole threads talking about their screwups. It's been going on since the E46 days

More practically though, just look at your current experience. They can't answer you to make a sale... what do you think will happen when you need customer service because they shipped the wrong springs/shocks/bolts/etc?

[QUOTE=SYT_Shadow;27256126][QUOTE=911r;27256118]

Yea, you're totally right aha. Wish JRZ had a little better support stateside. You've ran MCS 2-ways in your E90(?) M3 right?

[Vybz]

I second not buying anything from VAC motorsports. I bought my suspension from them what seems like a lifetime ago, and it turned into a 6 month ordeal of them sending out the wrong parts, mailing me other peoples orders, and just displaying complete lack of attention to detail and quality assurance.

I vowed never to buy anything from them again after that.

If the car is primarily a daily driver, you'll be fine on JRZ's RS1 btw. They truly are an amazing set of dual purpose dampers. My car is a dedicated track car and while my knowledge of suspension setup and track experience is starting to out grow the RS1, they still get the job done and perform at a very competitive level.

[911r]

Originally Posted by Vybz

I second not buying anything from VAC motorsports. I bought my suspension from them what seems like a lifetime ago, and it turned into a 6 month ordeal of them sending out the wrong parts, mailing me other peoples orders, and just displaying complete lack of attention to detail and quality assurance.

I vowed never to buy anything from them again after that.

If the car is primarily a daily driver, you'll be fine on JRZ's RS1 btw. They truly are an amazing set of dual purpose dampers. My car is a dedicated track car and while my knowledge of suspension setup and track experience is starting to out grow the RS1, they still get the job done and perform at a very competitive level.

Very glad I asked on the forums aha, seems like a dodged a bullet. Truthfully, I don't even think I'm capable of out driving a stock EDC suspension let alone JRZs .. my primary reason for wanting the dampers listed above (apart from them all being monotube, and in the case of Öhlins & Bilsteins, inverted strut) is how comfortable they can be on the street. I've taken a ride in a friend's E92 with MCS 2-ways w/ remotes & 450/800 springs and the ride quality felt AMAZING. I've heard similar things about JRZ RS Pros & Öhlins TTXs.

[SYT_Shadow]

[QUOTE=911r;27256179][QUOTE=SYT_Shadow;27256126]

Originally Posted by 911r

Yea, you're totally right aha. Wish JRZ had a little better support stateside. You've ran MCS 2-ways in your E90(?) M3 right?

I had JRZ on my E92 and MCS on my E90 at the same time. Both were the 2WNr systems. After the first drive I noticed the MCS was more comfortable despite having stiffer springs and put the JRZ for sale.

Right now I'm running MCS 3WR on both the E90 and CS track cars. Never looking back. The remote canister MCS ride extremely well, it's a have your cake and eat it situation.

Note suspensions seem to be almost a religion.

[slcook54]

Given your usage I think a lot of the setups your looking at are overkill. Personally, I would call 3dm and get a midrange Ohlins setup. I don't think you need TTX for canyons and occasional track use.

[911r]

[QUOTE=SYT_Shadow;27256524][QUOTE=911r;27256179]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

I had JRZ on my E92 and MCS on my E90 at the same time. Both were the 2WNr systems. After the first drive I noticed the MCS was more comfortable despite having stiffer springs and put the JRZ for sale.

Right now I'm running MCS 3WR on both the E90 and CS track cars. Never looking back. The remote canister MCS ride extremely well, it's a have your cake and eat it situation.

Note suspensions seem to be almost a religion.

Good analogy aha. Interesting that the MCS dampers were more comfortable than the similarly equipped JRZs. Leaning more towards the MCS kit now given what you've said, their support for the NA market, and cost in comparison to Öhlins / JRZs. I think with soft(ish) springs the 2WNRs should be a comfortable ride with the added bonus of "Motorsports" grade dampers, compression & rebound adjustment, and height adjustment.

[911r]

Originally Posted by slcook54

Given your usage I think a lot of the setups your looking at are overkill. Personally, I would call 3dm and get a midrange Ohlins setup. I don't think you need TTX for canyons and occasional track use.

I've driven cars with midrange Öhlins, ride quality just isn't there. Although completely unnecessary, from what I've seen, the more "Motorsports" / race oriented the dampers are, the better the ride quality you can dial in on the street. MCS 3 ways / JRZ Motorsport 3-ways could be dialed in to ride BETTER than stock from what I've seen haha. You can always start with a softer spring rate and move up to a stiffer rate when you start tracking more. Just my .02 from cars I've driven. Plus—if you buy an Öhlins TTX kit for $7500, or MCS 2WNRs for $6400, you can always sell the kit for ~90% of what you bought it for. Pretty minimum risk so long as you have the cash in the first place.

[leftfootbr8king]

Originally Posted by 911r

I've driven cars with midrange Öhlins, ride quality just isn't there. Although completely unnecessary, from what I've seen, the more "Motorsports" / race oriented the dampers are, the better the ride quality you can dial in on the street. MCS 3 ways / JRZ Motorsport 3-ways could be dialed in to ride BETTER than stock from what I've seen haha. You can always start with a softer spring rate and move up to a stiffer rate when you start tracking more. Just my .02 from cars I've driven. Plus—if you buy an Öhlins TTX kit for $7500, or MCS 2WNRs for $6400, you can always sell the kit for ~90% of what you bought it for. Pretty minimum risk so long as you have the cash in the first place.

Resale of 90% of what you paid for it? Not without a fresh rebuild, at which point you're getting 70% back. This is line with most other decent mid range coilover resale values.

[SYT_Shadow]

[QUOTE=911r;27256670][QUOTE=SYT_Shadow;27256524]

Originally Posted by 911r

Good analogy aha. Interesting that the MCS dampers were more comfortable than the similarly equipped JRZs. Leaning more towards the MCS kit now given what you've said, their support for the NA market, and cost in comparison to Öhlins / JRZs. I think with soft(ish) springs the 2WNRs should be a comfortable ride with the added bonus of "Motorsports" grade dampers, compression & rebound adjustment, and height adjustment.

More comfortable and quieter. And I also haven't rebuilt the first set of 3WR I bought years ago, they're still perfect

The remote reservoirs ride ridiculously well.

BTW MCS 2WNR should cost around 5k all in.

[911r]

Originally Posted by leftfootbr8king

Resale of 90% of what you paid for it? Not without a fresh rebuild, at which point you're getting 70% back. This is line with most other decent mid range coilover resale values.

Fair enough, even so. That's a price I'm willing to pay.

[911r]

[QUOTE=SYT_Shadow;27256790][QUOTE=911r;27256670]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

More comfortable and quieter. And I also haven't rebuilt the first set of 3WR I bought years ago, they're still perfect

The remote reservoirs ride ridiculously well.

BTW MCS 2WNR should cost around 5k all in.

Just what I wanted to hear And $5k?! That's super solid. That $6.4k number came from Vorshlag incl. their camber plates, rear spring perches, and rear shock mounts. Perhaps bimmerworld would be cheaper. I'm yet to contact them.

[SYT_Shadow]

[QUOTE=911r;27256800][QUOTE=SYT_Shadow;27256790]

Originally Posted by 911r

Just what I wanted to hear And $5k?! That's super solid. That $6.4k number came from Vorshlag incl. their camber plates, rear spring perches, and rear shock mounts. Perhaps bimmerworld would be cheaper. I'm yet to contact them.

5k should include everything if I remember correctly. I would speak with BW, they have so much experience with street/track cars.

If you don't track a ton but want a better suspension, don't discard the 1WNR. Easier to set up and cheaper.

[911r]

[QUOTE=SYT_Shadow;27256815][QUOTE=911r;27256800]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

5k should include everything if I remember correctly. I would speak with BW, they have so much experience with street/track cars.

If you don't track a ton but want a better suspension, don't discard the 1WNR. Easier to set up and cheaper.

I'll shoot em' a message. I've heard excellent things about 1WNR dampers, but wonder if Öhlins dedicated tracks would be be a better route at that point because the Öhlins are mono-tube & inverted strut, while the MCS' are only mono-tube. I'm sure it's splitting hairs at the end of the day though, and goes back to that 'religious' aspect of suspension.

[b4hand]

[QUOTE=911r;27256836][QUOTE=SYT_Shadow;27256815]

Originally Posted by 911r

I'll shoot em' a message. I've heard excellent things about 1WNR dampers, but wonder if Öhlins dedicated tracks would be be a better route at that point because the Öhlins are mono-tube & inverted strut, while the MCS' are only mono-tube. I'm sure it's splitting hairs at the end of the day though, and goes back to that 'religious' aspect of suspension.

It's not going to matter imo, your skill will be the biggest thing to hold the car back at this level. I am still on 1 way JRZ's just because I know I am the problem.

[SYT_Shadow]

[QUOTE=911r;27256836][QUOTE=SYT_Shadow;27256815]

Originally Posted by 911r

I'll shoot em' a message. I've heard excellent things about 1WNR dampers, but wonder if Öhlins dedicated tracks would be be a better route at that point because the Öhlins are mono-tube & inverted strut, while the MCS' are only mono-tube. I'm sure it's splitting hairs at the end of the day though, and goes back to that 'religious' aspect of suspension.

I don't have any experience with Ohlins, other than a friend had just gotten the R&T installed in his car, drove my CS that had the 2WNR at the time with much higher spring rates, then based on that drive ordered 2WNRs for his car and sold the R&Ts.
Must have been a pretty monstrous difference for someone to lose that much in this operation.
True story

[CPWINCH]

[QUOTE=SYT_Shadow;27256963][QUOTE=911r;27256836]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

I don't have any experience with Ohlins, other than a friend had just gotten the R&T installed in his car, drove my CS that had the 2WNR at the time with much higher spring rates, then based on that drive ordered 2WNRs for his car and sold the R&Ts.
Must have been a pretty monstrous difference for someone to lose that much in this operation.
True story

I track a lot and I have run every type of suspension you can think of on my M4 and e90 m3. I even have a 991.2 GT3rs. Only mentioning this to validate my opinion.

You do not need anything better than Ohlin R/T unless you are faster than randy Pobst. The Ohlin RT are absolutely perfect for dairying and track work. Ive noticed most guys who don't track always have the biggest opinions that Coilovers need all the adjustability and the super high spring rates. When in reality you'll be just as fast (or should I say slow) with one ways.

Your friend should have saved his money and did solid subframes and full rear suspension rebuild with monoballs and all solid bushings.

Your friend didn't like your two ways, he liked the stiff spring rates and the solid rear subframe of the f8x chassis

[CPWINCH]

[QUOTE=b4hand;27256868][QUOTE=911r;27256836]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

It's not going to matter imo, your skill will be the biggest thing to hold the car back at this level. I am still on 1 way JRZ's just because I know I am the problem.

this.

[SYT_Shadow]

[QUOTE=CPWINCH;27257186][QUOTE=SYT_Shadow;27256963]

Originally Posted by 911r

I track a lot and I have run every type of suspension you can think of on my M4 and e90 m3. I even have a 991.2 GT3rs. Only mentioning this to validate my opinion.

You do not need anything better than Ohlin R/T unless you are faster than randy Pobst. The Ohlin RT are absolutely perfect for dairying and track work. Ive noticed most guys who don't track always have the biggest opinions that Coilovers need all the adjustability and the super high spring rates. When in reality you'll be just as fast (or should I say slow) with one ways.

Your friend should have saved his money and did solid subframes and full rear suspension rebuild with monoballs and all solid bushings.

Your friend didn't like your two ways, he liked the stiff spring rates and the solid rear subframe of the f8x chassis

I'm not faster than Randy Pobst. I know this well as he was my team mate for 3 years in AER

I should have specified a bit more
-friend used to have e90 m3 with R&T
-friend bought f8x, had r&t installed one weekend
-friend drove my CS with 2WNR, bought mcs two days later and replaced his r&t with mcs. His words were 'the damping is so much better'.