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[Duncan Grier]

Currently have my 2.5 cdx estate (facelift) but decided to stick with the omega (selling my S3) and buying a 3.2 white one with some nice extras (hope to collect this week if possible)

No plans to sell this one and will run current engine setup until it requires a rebuild or convert to v8 (think RS4 or LS conversion) - done a few conversions over the years now (Renault 5 Turbo with audi tt conversion, vx220 turbo with astra vxr engine and box conversion and more recently my LA Gold (locost) race car converted to nissan 200sx (SR20DET) power.)

So the Omega will be my daily family drive, tow car and 1 thing I would like to review is the suspension setup

Notice there are a few kits from well know names but is there much experiance of them on here?

Oh both car estates

Any advice would be great as I know there are a few versions of oe kit but would also like to lower the car a little (not too much as still have the trailer to use)

Thanks
Duncan

[feeutfo]

If the White one is plod spec it might be wise to leave well alone. See how it drives IMO.

[P6UL K]

If the White one is plod spec it might be wise to leave well alone. See how it drives IMO.

Yeah its mine Chris! 

[Duncan Grier]

It is indeed the police spec one but had a good chat with Paul and 1 of the very few things to look at / fix short term is the current air rear dampers not doing their magic

Of course will have a quick look but longer term would like to refresh or replace with something a bit more sporty

Would of course be rude while towing the track car to Spa to not at least pop next door and do a few laps at the ring and get my sticker  track car is not road legal so cant go round 

Duncan

[Marks DTM Calib]

The favoured setup has been the use of Irmscher springs with Bilstein B4 dampers.

Sadly, the Irmscher springs are a little hard to get now so some have been using Eibachs instead with reasonable results.

If going the whole hog then new rear donut bushes and wishbone front bush polys are also good.

The above gives more precise handling without compromising ride to much and yet is not going to break the bank

[Duncan Grier]

Paul has already addressed the bushes with uprated items and rear donut changed so hopefully not much more to do there, did see the Eibach / Bilstein kit and thought it would be better than the Kw and other less know company kits

thanks for the advice, I would not think it would effect it but anything to consider as I tow the race car?

What is used for the self leveling xenons on the omega estate?

I will be keeping the car for a long time and really looking forward to even fewer mpg 

Thanks again guys

Duncan

[Duncan Grier]

Actually it was the B12 kit I saw, will need to have a look around

[P6UL K]

What is used for the self leveling xenons on the omega estate?

As i said on the phone mate, their controlled by a little box behind the nearside front wheel that has an arm connected to the lower arm.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Two sensors for the headlights, one monitoring wishbone position via a sensor behind the nearside front wheel

And a second on the left hand side rear trailing arm (just forward of teh nearside rear wheel)

[feeutfo]

Are we confusing self levelling suspension with the hid levelling system?

Self levelling suspension on the omega revolves around the rear shocks and the air bladders built around them. It's a very good system for towing or carrying load. Sadly as dampers they are poor ime, so binned them for b4's and I am delighted with the results. Does sit low fully loaded though.

There is another member experimenting with air bladders inserted into the springs instead and connected to the cars srlf levelling system, which may well be a way forward for me and others if it works.

But for now, if you want to keep self levelling and the automatic sensing system in the car then the only option is like for like replacement via vx. They are £150 on trade club last I looked.

[TheBoy]

If you like a sporty ride, the Elite's self levelling rear is all to anxious to let go IMHO. Bin it.

The Irmscher/B4 setup works well on saloons (not driven an estate with that setup), maintaining a comfy, non harsh ride, but still capable in bends.

[hotel21]

I have B4's and Eibach springs all round on my 3.2 Elite estate after needing to replace them prior to suspension setup at WIM. 

No complaints here....   

[Sehen]

The very best mod. to get the Omega to handle heavy trailers, is to change the donut bushing with the poly ones.
And then fit som Bilstein or Koni shocks.
But go for the sport versions of the shocks
The car was like night and day with 1500Kg trailer behind, espesially when loadshift occures in turns.
But i  did go all the way, so my saloon has now 40mm lowering springs, poly bushing all arround, even the donuts, yellow Koni's and a camber kit in the rear.
The issues now is the tires, my 215/55 16 slips in sharp turns even before the car's beginning to roll, but it is dead steady even in speed over 120Mph 

[mrgreen]

i've got b'4's and irmschers all round on my estate and i've had an empty six pack sitting in the back left hand cormer for a week now and it hasn't fallen over, the amount of roll they've taken out is incredible and i've now polyed the front roll bar and wishbones and don't think there would be much more to do the b'6's are the proper sports shocks but i'm geussing they would ride pretty hard (and the price difference is staggering) i wouldn't want to take too much more "comfort"out of my suspension, with the poly's you certainly feel more of the road than before and i think i'm in the same boat as Jimbob and need a wheel balance as i get a bit of vibration at around 100 mph (on my German test track ofcourse!!)

[Duncan Grier]

Thanks for the further advice, have to agree keeping a level of comfort keeping as its used for family trips also and do love the way the current car takes all the bad roads without any issues.

I have super stiff setup on the track car and would not want to drive this far on the road!!!

Where is the best place to get the B4/Billy setup from?

What geo settings do peple use in general? Stock MV6 / elite is ther ea police spec?

Thanks again
Duncan