Remove Sports Package from used E93

By sport package I mean the lower/stiffer ride.

Is it just a case of swapping the struts/springs? I can DIY that and if it's that simple it gives a larger choice of used E93s to choose from.


My track/weekend car is a modified NC2 Miata; the E93 will be a winter beater. We just test drove a non-sport 2009 auto and it's perfect for around town. I bought a 2008 E92 new and its suspension was too rough for a daily + was too low scraping even on the daily commute unless extreme care was take. Sold the E92 @ 4K miles, this E93 should be keeper but I need to buy used as they depreciate like aerodynamic bricks.

If it helps anyone I wish I'd bought a dedicated track/weekend years ago. Mid level after market blows away the sports package on the E92. The Miata was picked new for $18.2K in fall + I spent ~$2.5K on adjustable shocks, springs, solid FSTB and an eight point rollbar. Performance bargain


== Update ==
Sport Package seems ok on Atlanta roads. I bought an E93 three days ago. Got a steal (57% of comparable new MSRP) on a 2009 with only 10.3K miles so wasn't too bothered it came with the sport package.

It's way softer than I remember the 2008 Coupe being. Certainly the roads here are much smoother than West CT/ NYC suburbs. Perhaps the convertibles are sprung differently to deal with the extra weight?

One thing that shocked me is the amount of roll/ transition time. My modified Miata is way, way better and much easier to handle on fast twisties. Likely I'll get used to the E93 but it was somewhat scary on my favorite local twisties. No big deal as it's really only for commuting. Oh the auto box is terribly slow - glad it is not my only car.

I will swap out the 18" staggered wheels for 225 17" all around with Kumho Ecsta 4x tires which last way longer and are way cheaper than the stock run flats. Right now it has stock Potenza RE050A RFT tires which are $350 each for rears that have a treadwear of 140. I shred tire with treadwear of ~400 in 10K miles on most cars so 140 would last me no time at all. The 18" wheels look too big IMO + swapping to new wheels will save money by the next tire change.

I am in a similar postion.
Spec Miata as a dedicated track car. 335i E93 with sport packge as a weekend car. Hated the harsh ride and the crashy suspension. Replaced the RFTs with Continental Extreme Contact DWS and installed a set of Koni FSD shocks.
Problem solved.

CA

I would think there would be owners that would be happy to swap out suspensions if they have non sport for sport. Regarding the sport vs non sport what I recall is yes struts shocks springs and extra cooler in the right front fender as well as seats and other interior items like paddle shifters.
I have non sport E93 because I had at the time two M3's now just one so I wanted a more compliant ride...

Thanks for the quick replies, great fourm

FSD + non-sport springs seems a perfect combination, thanks. Worst case it seems the FSD will work with original sport springs; if it's that low my wife won't drive it so hopefully regular springs fit/ operate ok.

RPT tires are a good point too: will swap out immediately.

Good point on pinging people who upgrade their non-sport cars. The oil cooler is only relevant to the turbo engines; I am hoping for the NA straight six. Part of the reason I am buying one now is to get that combination before they all become too used. NA straight six is the ideal engine IMO, turbos are great for power but lag annoys me + it's one (two!) more things to go wrong. I didn't notice lag in the 335i I drove but am sure it'll be there + once I notice it, it'll drive me nuts [OCD]

Originally Posted by MP3_E46

I didn't notice lag in the 335i I drove but am sure it'll be there + once I notice it, it'll drive me nuts [OCD]

I came from a turbo 4 and was really expecting lag on my 335. 3 years in and I really haven't seen it.

FWIW,
George

Originally Posted by MP3_E46

By sport package I mean the lower/stiffer ride.

Is it just a case of swapping the struts/springs? I can DIY that and if it's that simple it gives a larger choice of used E93s to choose from.


My track/weekend car is a modified NC2 Miata; the E93 will be a winter beater. We just test drove a non-sport 2009 auto and it's perfect for around town. I bought a 2008 E92 new and its suspension was too rough for a daily + was too low scraping even on the daily commute unless extreme care was take. Sold the E92 @ 4K miles, this E93 should be keeper but I need to buy used as they depreciate like aerodynamic bricks.

If it helps anyone I wish I'd bought a dedicated track/weekend years ago. Mid level after market blows away the sports package on the E92. The Miata was picked new for $18.2K in fall + I spent ~$2.5K on adjustable shocks, springs, solid FSTB and an eight point rollbar. Performance bargain

First time I've heard of someone purchasing a convertible for a winter beater.

Originally Posted by sunny5280

First time I've heard of someone purchasing a convertible for a winter beater.

Here in Atlanta there are more top down days in Fall/ Winter than summer. Summer is often too hot but even in December/ Jan there are many days in the high 60s/ lows 70s.

The Miata is a pain in winter due to poor rear visibility which sucks when it's dark out and especially when it's raining too - glare/ poor visibility makes it hard to judge other traffic on busy highways. The hard top convertible has fine visibility in comparison so should be a lot less scary on wet dark winter evenings; it'll be nice to have stability control again as I've nearly lost the MX-5 a few times after 12+ hours days in the office. Leaving work tired in a rwd without stability or even traction control in the wet is an accident waiting to happen.

Originally Posted by Zooks527

I came from a turbo 4 and was really expecting lag on my 335. 3 years in and I really haven't seen it.

FWIW,
George

Hmm.. maybe I'll look again at turbo cars. At ~40K+ miles they are often less expensive used than 328s. The proceed mod has a non-turbo mode too. It's just a 'beater'/ third car so maybe having one than can be mapped to almost 400hp would be fun.

Update from the OP:

Sport Package seems ok on Atlanta roads. I bought an E93 three days ago. Got a steal (57% of comparable new MSRP) on a 2009 with only 10.3K miles so wasn't too bothered it came with the sport package.

It's way softer than I remember the 2008 Coupe being. Certainly the roads here are much smoother than West CT/ NYC suburbs. Perhaps the convertibles are sprung differently to deal with the extra weight?

One thing that shocked me is the amount of roll/ transition time. My modified Miata is way, way better and much easier to handle on fast twisties. Likely I'll get used to the E93 but it was somewhat scary on my favorite local twisties. No big deal as it's really only for commuting. Oh the auto box is terribly slow - glad it is not my only car.

I will swap out the 18" staggered wheels for 225 17" all around with Kumho Ecsta 4x tires which last way longer and are way cheaper than the stock run flats. Right now it has stock Potenza RE050A RFT tires which are $350 each for rears that have a treadwear of 140. I shred tire with treadwear of ~400 in 10K miles on most cars so 140 would last me no time at all. The 18" wheels look too big IMO + swapping to new wheels will save money by the next tire change.

Originally Posted by MP3_E46

One thing that shocked me is the amount of roll/ transition time. My modified Miata is way, way better and much easier to handle on fast twisties. Likely I'll get used to the E93 but it was somewhat scary on my favorite local twisties. No big deal as it's really only for commuting. Oh the auto box is terribly slow - glad it is not my only car.

Your vehicle has the rubber ride. Literally....oil filled rubber bushings & wimpy rear subframe bushings....surely you're beginning to read about that.

Take a peek @ E90POST for a variety of suspension redo's etc.

Prediction: The day will come when you can no longer stand your 3's rear suspension + open diff. You'll know what to do.

Originally Posted by CALWATERBOY

Your vehicle has the rubber ride. Literally....oil filled rubber bushings & wimpy rear subframe bushings....surely you're beginning to read about that.

Take a peek @ E90POST for a variety of suspension redo's etc.

Prediction: The day will come when you can no longer stand your 3's rear suspension + open diff. You'll know what to do.

Not ran across that yet but sure I will Anyone wishing to make an 3,800lb car handle really well should be looking at another platform IMO. Even stripping an E92 out it'd still be pretty heavy.

Handling aside I feel the E93 is not that quick so just did some calculations of horsepower per metric ton (1,000kg):

133 - E93 328i
151 - E92 328i
153 - Miata NC
167 - E93 335i
185 - E92 335i
246 - E92 M3

Kinda surprised the Miata edges out the E92 too

Originally Posted by MP3_E46

Not ran across that yet but sure I will Anyone wishing to make an 3,800lb car handle really well should be looking at another platform IMO. Even stripping an E92 out it'd still be pretty heavy.

Handling aside I feel the E93 is not that quick so just did some calculations of horsepower per metric ton (1,000kg):

133 - E93 328i
151 - E92 328i
153 - Miata NC
167 - E93 335i
185 - E92 335i
246 - E92 M3

Kinda surprised the Miata edges out the E92 too

Now calc torque, what you really want. The great strength of forced induction, well over 400 ft lb no prob at all, wheels.

Meth a drop dead easy install, but you really, really should address the suspension & diff before anything like that.

Basically a M3 waiting to happen, can configure to totally humiliate rice rockets and many V8's. Let's just exclude GTR's & blown M3's here.

Originally Posted by CALWATERBOY

Now calc torque, what you really want. The great strength of forced induction, well over 400 ft lb no prob at all, wheels.

Meth a drop dead easy install, but you really, really should address the suspension & diff before anything like that.

Basically a M3 waiting to happen, can configure to totally humiliate rice rockets and many V8's. Let's just exclude GTR's & blown M3's here.

Good point. At this point running in beginner groups @ track days I enjoy catching 400hp cars in my 167hp roller skate

With work I am sure an E93 could keep up with faster cars but if I were playing the 'fastest thing at the track' game I'd buy a used Z06 or something and modify from there. With just a few trackdays a year I'll never get to that level; tooling around in beginner groups is fine.

Originally Posted by mp3_e46

good point. At this point running in beginner groups @ track days i enjoy catching 400hp cars in my 167hp roller skate

With work i am sure an e93 could keep up with faster cars but if i were playing the 'fastest thing at the track' game i'd buy a used z06 or something and modify from there. With just a few trackdays a year i'll never get to that level; tooling around in beginner groups is fine.

Ha, thanks.

This is likely only possible in beginner groups as many in powerful cars have no idea, but on pretty much my first real track day I caught several much more powerful peeps. Only passed one and it was terrifying; after that experience I simply pulled into the pit lane and waited for clear track. Seems like an addictive hobby

Originally Posted by fun2drive

I would think there would be owners that would be happy to swap out suspensions if they have non sport for sport. Regarding the sport vs non sport what I recall is yes struts shocks springs and extra cooler in the right front fender as well as seats and other interior items like paddle shifters.
I have non sport E93 because I had at the time two M3's now just one so I wanted a more compliant ride...

I doubt there would be a lot of folk who would want to swap. Most of us who did not opt for ZSP did not care for the stiffish ride.

Before I'd swap, I'd invest in a 3rd party solution.