You’ve finally done it. You bought the project car, or maybe you’ve just paid off your daily driver and you’re ready to start tinkering. You have a burning desire to modify your vehicle and a hole in your pocket where your savings used to be. Now you face the enthusiast’s oldest dilemma: Do you make it fast, or do you make it handle? It is the classic battle of Suspension vs. Power first. While the temptation to chase high horsepower numbers is strong, the “right” answer might not be the one you want to hear. Let’s break down the pros, the cons, and the strategy to build a car that is actually fun to drive.

The Allure of Power: The “Dyno Queen” Route

Let’s be honest; power is intoxicating. There is nothing quite like the feeling of being pinned to your seat, the sound of a turbo spooling, or the roar of an uncorked exhaust.

Why we want it first:

• Bragging Rights: It’s much cooler to say “I’m pushing 800 wheel horsepower” than “I have adjustable dampening.”
• Instant Gratification: You feel power immediately in a straight line. Traffic light to traffic light, power rules.
• The Sound: Intake and exhaust mods (often the first step in power adders) make the car sound aggressive.

The Downside

If you add 100 horsepower to a car with stock, sloppy suspension and cheap tires, you haven’t built a race car; you’ve built a missile with no guidance system. High power in a car that can’t put it to the ground results in wheel spin, torque steer, and a chassis that feels terrifying rather than exciting.

The Reality Check: A fast engine in a slow chassis is only fun for about 10 seconds at a time. After that, you have to turn the steering wheel.

The Case for Suspension: The “Driver’s Car” Route

Suspension upgrades: coilovers, lowering springs, sway bars, and bushings; are often unsexy. You can’t see them easily, and they don’t make cool noises. However, they transform the character of the car.

Why it should (probably) be your first choice:

• Confidence: A tighter chassis communicates better with the driver. You feel what the car is doing, which encourages you to push harder.
• Cornering Speed: You can carry more speed through corners. In a canyon run or on a track day, a Miata with suspension work will often embarrass a Mustang with 300 more horsepower simply because the Miata doesn’t have to slow down for the turns.
• Aesthetics: Let’s not pretend looks don’t matter. Lowering the car to remove that unsightly wheel gap makes the vehicle look aggressive and planted, even when parked.
• Safety: Better suspension usually means less body roll and better stability during emergency maneuvers.

The Verdict: Build the Foundation First

If you ask seasoned racers or veteran tuners, the consensus is almost unanimous: Upgrade the Suspension (and Brakes/Tires) First.

Think of your car like a bodybuilder. Adding a massive turbo without upgrading the suspension is like a bodybuilder who skips leg day. You have a massive upper body (engine) supported by tiny, wobbly legs (chassis). It looks unbalanced, and it will eventually topple over.

The “Handling First” Roadmap

By prioritizing suspension, you prepare the chassis to handle the power you will add later. When you finally do install that supercharger or tune, your car will be ready to translate that energy into forward motion rather than tire smoke and terrifying body roll.

The Holy Trinity of the “First Mod”

If you are ready to spend, ignore the cold air intake for a moment and look at this trinity:

1. Tires: The single most important component. They are the only thing touching the road.
2. Brake Pads/Fluid: You need to stop as fast as you go.
3. Coilovers/Springs: Lower center of gravity and stiffer spring rates.

Summary: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Final Thoughts

It requires discipline to spend $2,500 on suspension and tires when you could have spent it on a tune and bolt-ons. But delayed gratification wins here.

Build a car that handles like it’s on rails. Learn to drive it fast with stock power. Then, when you finally add the horsepower, you’ll have a weapon that dominates the street and the track.

Don’t build a glass cannon. Build a complete machine.

The post The Eternal Debate: Suspension vs. Power appeared first on Solo Motorsports.

One minute you’re hyped about adding more power, and the next minute you’re wondering why your bank account is giving you the silent treatment. But once everything comes together, there’s nothing like the moment your car finally wakes up and says, “Let’s go!” But it can’t wake up with out Tuning those Performance Upgrades.

Take this Mercedes CLS550, for example. From the factory, it’s a luxurious, well-mannered cruiser pushing 402 horsepower. Sounds strong—until you remember it weighs over 4,000 pounds. That’s like asking a bodybuilder to sprint while giving his twin a piggyback ride. Power alone doesn’t tell the story; power-to-weight ratio does. This is why enthusiasts start chasing upgrades: bigger turbos, free-flowing intakes, high-volume fuel systems, exhaust systems that actually breathe, and sometimes even full engine builds with forged internals. (If you go that route, may your wallet rest in peace.)

The Starting Setup

For this CLS550, we kicked things off with a solid foundation of performance upgrades:

• Black Boost Gen 2 Intakes
• Black Boost Wide-Open Thermostat Bypass
• Turbo-back valved exhaust kit
• SMS ECU Stage 2+ Tune
• SMS TCU Stage 2 Tune
• Ghost Motorsports Ghost Link Coilovers

All great upgrades… but here’s the truth:

None of it works the way it should without proper tuning.

You can bolt the biggest turbo in the world onto a car, but without tuning, it’ll run like it’s doing a marathon while chain-smoking. Upgrade your fuel system without ECU calibration, and the engine will breathe like it has seasonal allergies. It won’t be fun, it won’t be fast—just confused.

The Role of Tuning: The Brain Behind the Build

This is where tuning performance upgrades becomes the hero of the story.

Anyone can install performance parts, but making all those parts work together seamlessly? That takes skill. At Solo Motorsports, tuning isn’t just a service—it’s a science and an art. You need someone who’s part engineer, part software developer, and just a tiny bit wizard.

So how does tuning actually work?

A tuner connects specialized software to the vehicle’s ECU (Engine Control Unit)—and often the TCU (Transmission Control Unit)—to monitor and adjust how the car behaves.

This is typically done on a dynamometer, AKA:

• A dyno
• A rolling road
• That giant machine that makes your car look like it’s doing cardio

Some DIY tuners attempt this on public roads, which is… let’s just say “memorable.”

What the tuner looks for:

• Air-fuel ratio (AFR)
• Boost levels and turbo efficiency
• Ignition timing
• Engine load and knock detection
• Intake air temps & coolant temps
• Transmission shift timing and torque limits

These measurements show how the engine responds under different conditions. From there, the tuner adjusts the software so the engine makes more power safely, without knocking, overheating, or being pushed beyond its mechanical limits.

When tuning the transmission, shift points are recalibrated for:

• Faster shifts
• Higher torque capacity
• Better power delivery
• Less hesitation
• Stronger, smoother acceleration

Basically, the car stops feeling like it just woke up from a nap and starts feeling like it’s had three shots of espresso.

Why It Matters

Tuning is the difference between:

• A car running a marathon with pneumonia, or
• A car running it with a jetpack strapped to its back

The hardware gives you the potential.

Tuning unleashes it.

When everything works together—fuel, air, timing, boost, and transmission logic—you get a car that’s not just faster, but smoother, more responsive, and far more reliable under power.

And that’s why tuning isn’t optional. It’s essential.

The post Why Tuning Matters: Unlocking the Real Potential of Your Build appeared first on Solo Motorsports.

Spending a ridiculous amount of money to make it even faster and louder, of course. BMW has always tried to mix speed, style, and luxury – and this new M5 might just be the perfect blend. Sure, BMW has had some plastic disasters in the past (looking at you, E36), but the 2025 G90 M5 is basically the final boss of sporty luxury sedans. When our customer dropped off his shiny new M5, he basically said, “I want to race it Saturday and drive grandma to church Sunday.” Challenge Accepted. Lets check out this SMS Tuned BMW M5

First, The Feel:

The M5’s interior is what happens when luxury and tech have a baby. Fancy Lights? Check. Seats that hug you like your mom? Double Check. Air conditioning that can melt your face or freeze your soul? Oh yeah. Even Aladdin’s magic carpet would be jealous of this ride.

The Mods (aka The Fun Stuff):

Here’s what we added to turn “Pretty Fast” into “Holy Shit!”:

• KW V4 Coilovers – Adjustable suspension for the perfect stance.
• SMS Tune – Because more power is always the answer.
• RK Autowerks Billet Coolant Tank – Keeps things cool and Doesn’t melt like the stock plastic
• RK Autowerks Down Pipes – To eliminate airflow restrictions out the turbos.
• CSF Charge-Air Coolers – Helps the turbos breathe and keeps power consistent.
• Akrapovic Evo Titanium Cat-Back Exhaust with Carbon Tips – Makes it sound like a thunderstorm and lets the air escape faster than your paycheck.
• HRE Wheels

The result?

A car that burbles and pops like an angry jungle cat deciding if you’re lunch.

How It Drives:

Even with around 850-900 horsepower (yes, that’s almost 200 more than stock), this SMS Tuned BMW M5 is smooth and comfy. It’s firm enough to feel fast but soft enough to make you forget how much power is waiting under your right foot. In Comfort mode, it’s chill. In Sport mode, it’s a rocket with leather seats. Driving feels like being The Transporter with a grocery list. It’s both Rolls-Royce calm and GT# RS wild – Depending on your mood.

Final Thoughts:

This M5 proves BMW still owns the “Speed, Style, and Luxury” crown. You can track it on Saturday, take Mom to church Sunday, and scare your neighbors Monday. Basically, it’s the ultimate four door thrill ride – with manners.

The post 2025 BMW G90 M5: SMS Tuned for Vengence appeared first on Solo Motorsports.

Down Low

Our awesome associate and friend Alex is no stranger to the lowered lifestyle. When it comes to fitment + suspension work he’s squeezed every last millimeter from each build he’s taken on at our Atlanta shop, and each one continues to be a small step further than the last – yet none come close to his latest creation: his very own bagged n’ body-dropped 2018 Audi e-Tron A3.

The Volkswagen/Audi world has been, for quite some time, the epicenter of low cars. Most would credit Volkswagen culture with the birth of the “stance” scene, with most high-profile builds generally aiming for one of two things: a level of cleanliness, execution, thought, and polish above all others, or to close the gap between car and earth moreso than anyone before. For Alex, his A3 build quite obviously fell into the latter on all counts, and all we can say is we dig it.

The A3 is equipped with the following:

@mod_junkieee 3P Performance Series

@ispiri.designbuild CSR1D 18×9.5 et42

@nankangofficial NS-25 225/35/18

50% @xpel ceramic tint done by @prectintllc (Drew Van Zilen)

We Sell Speed + Style! Get your Fitment on point with us! Coilovers, springs, air suspension – you dream it, we create it! Speak to a Solo-Certified Advisor to learn more about our bespoke suspension programme!

The post Fitment Matters | Air Performance Suspension Installation Audi A3 E-Tron appeared first on Solo Motorsports.

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“Your alignment affects your perception”

Whether your car is stock and in need of alignment or your car has been slammed to the floor and you need to ensure it is aligned properly to minimize tire wear, Solo Motorsports can get you squared up!

At Solo@Norcross we offer one of the most accurate alignments around, But not everyone knows that we offer 4-wheel Alignment on our flush-with-the-floor Hunter Alignment rack for $130 for standard suspensions and $150 for the lowered life slammed cars! That’s as cheap as the local Firestone or whatever, except we won’t scratch your wheels, give you a hard time for being lowered, rip half of your bumper off, or upcharge you for being slammed, and beyond that, our machinery is top-of-the-line and superior to virtually every other shop in Georgia.

Proper aligned wheels and tires track straight and true, meaning the car gets greater mileage, performance and handles better. Those tires of yours will last longer – and considering the cost of your average 19in performance tire, skipping the alignment will affect your bank account in a negative way.

Beyond that, poor alignment gets the worst out of your car. Crazy spooky things can go on – like it can pull to one side or the other under braking (also a symptom of a problem with one side of the brakes which we can also help you with), so it’s really in your best interests and your car’s to have it aligned at least every 10,000 miles – or as little as 5,000 if you live somewhere with deplorable roads (Helloooooo ATL, we still love you though).

“YA’LL DO LOWERED CARS?”

We get this ALOT, also.. hell yes we do. Most lowered cars don’t have efficient ground clearance & most shops have alignment racks mounted above ground – that means most alignment shops can’t even get a lowered car up onto their above-ground alignment racks – even with ramps and planks and all the other tricks to help a lowered car get up a steep driveway or something. BUT WE CAN.

We’re all auto enthusiasts at Solo Motorsports and most of us drive modified, lowered cars so this was a problem we wanted to fix, for our customers, and ourselves. When we were deciding what kind of alignment equipment we wanted to purchase were looking to spec out an alignment rig for our Shop@Norcross that could be mounted as flush with the floor as possible.

The average alignment shop has the machine mounted above ground, requiring you to drive your car UP A RAMP onto the lift, and that’s what we wanted to avoid at all costs, plus, we wanted an alignment machine that could be capable of motorsports-type alignment settings, and not rip off your bumper as payment.

Our search for the right tool led us to our obvious choice.. Hunter Engineering.  Solo Motorsports is proud to be a technology partner to Hunter Engineering and is one of the few exclusive facilities in North America to offer their in ground alignment. One of the most advanced aligning systems out there, our Hunter aligner is so precise and advanced, it is used as a measuring device for precision collision repair to pinpoint problem areas and even has the ability to compensate for lowered vehicles and vehicles with suspension geometry out of factory specifications – a feature which is extremely useful for a performance shop like us that almost exclusively deals with cars that have their suspension modified in one way or another.

For those customers in need of a more “track-oriented” alignment, Solo Motorsports offers specialized techniques and expertise including setting rake, adjusting ride height, corner balancing and more.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Gather around, it’s story time. After lifting the car specialized clamps are mounted onto each wheel – specifically the TIRE- not the wheel. This is referred to as a “touchless” system and is the preferred method, ascuh

The clamps grab the outside of the tire and center using the inside of the barrel but DO NOT TOUCH YOUR WHEELS AT ANY TIME. This is mucho important, especially since we offer some high end wheels and wheels can scratch easily. Note the plates the front wheels sit on to allow the wheels to turn. After installing the clamps, a specialized sensor is attached to the clamp at each wheel, measures where it is pointed exactly and sends that information back to a computer terminal, which then tells the tech what wheel is off by how much and what has to be done to correct the issue and bring the car back to the desired spec.

Check it out in action!

Alongside our alignment services we offer CORNER BALANCING.

CORNER BALANCING is considered to be the premier methodology of chassis setup of racing cars, and now our clients can benefit from this experience too! Solo Motorsports offers competition corner balancing and chassis setup for race cars and road cars which are equipped with coil over type adjustable suspensions. Corner balancing is a key component in improving vehicle handling a proper corner balance will optimize your ride’s handling characteristics while improving the car’s balance. Corner balancing is the optimum way to get your car’s prime handling performance-  which is why we’re thrilled to offer this to our customers who are really serious about proper chassis setup.

Our Alignments are only avail at Solo@Norcross so stop on by or give us a call to get you straightened out!

SOLO@NORCROSS 404-800-4817 6000 JIMMY CARTER BLVD NORCROSS, GA 30071

The post #SchooledbySolo Center your attention to Suspension & Alignment. appeared first on Solo Motorsports.

This RS3 was fast before it stumbled into our shop, check out the progression. It got a lot faster!

STOCK: WTQ 354 / WHP 394

SMS TUNE: WTQ 517 / WHP 463 / DYNOJET HP 532

END RESULTS: +163 WTQ / WHP +63

 This custom tune was all done in house by our experts. Notice the gain of about 40HP from Stock!

The owner of this RS3 was extremely pleased with our proven results. The CTS & our SMS Tune worked hand in hand perfectly to give this RS3 serious power gains under the hood.

Alongside a new tune, the client decided he wanted his ride planted firmly to the ground – so a set of H&R Sports Springs was equipped. Giving it safe speed & maintaining it’s smooth drivability.

The customer wanted gripping suspension while maintaining a smooth ride so the  H&R Sport Springs was our go-to choice naturally. These new springs lowered the RS 3 approximately 1.0” in the front and .80” in the rear. Lowering the vehicle’s center of gravity improves handling and creates a unique look while still remaining true to it’s European elegance.

Overall, this RS3 was a fun & breeze to work on by our team of Audi Experts who are Audi Enthusiasts themselves.  The client picked up their RS3  & was pleased with the quality work performed by our team.  Customer satisfaction is our #1 concern & we go above & beyond to meet their tuning needs. If you’d like similar results for your Audi RS3 or similar model then please give us a call.

“As a wise man never said, it doesn’t matter if you win by an inch or a mile. Always remove the crust from your tuna sandwiches. Or something along those lines.”

#staytuned Atlanta.

Solo@Norcross 404-800-4817 / SOlo@JohnsCreek 470-819-5913

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As Dr Porsche once said, you should always be able to look at the car and tell it’s a Porsche. However, the factory ride height is so annoyingly high with the models that don’t boast pneumatic suspensions, it’s as if they thought the prospective buyers all planned on going Baja racing, giving the Macan S a silly amount of wheelgap. That’s why it’s here to see the Solo Experts to eliminate the unnessecary gappage in the wheel well you can easily do push-ups in!

The simple addition of a set of lowering springs has made a huge difference in the aesthetic of this Macan S, giving it the sportier character you’d expect of a Porsche S model visually as well as its handling capability while taking nothing away from its usability.

If you’re still driving around at factory ride height, consider lowering your suspension – a lower slung look enhances your aesthetics and lowers your center of gravity, making any set of wheels look better and even otherwise stock vehicles look sharper.

Norcross 404-800-4817 / Johns’ Creek 470-819-5913

Give us a call to discuss all your lowering options!

The post On The Down Low: Macan S x H&R Sport Lowering Springs appeared first on Solo Motorsports.

Any Make, Any Model

An out-of-alignment car is a common result of everyday driving. But the term alignment doesn’t really refer to your car’s wheels but rather to the suspension and its components. As part of normal driving, parts of your car’s suspension may become worn and shifted out of place making your wheels sit at improper angles. Even a small accident or bumping a curb can disrupt your suspension and its components. An alignment restores these angles to their correct measurements, making sure that your wheels sit straight. Tire life length depends on proper alignment. A tire that is rated 50k miles can be worn out within 10k with bad alignment. It’s highly suggested to perform alignment on your vehicle annually when new tires installed or suspension components replaced.

We have the most advanced tools in the Automotive Industry, Call Solo Motorsports for your alignment needs. Whether its a routine alignment or race track setup or corner balance we got you covered.

The post Wheel Alignment appeared first on Solo Motorsports.

BMW  F10 M5

This gorgeous Alpine White on Red combo BMW M5 checked in for lowering suspension upgrades. KW Coilover Hotchkis Kit was installed and wrapped up Titanium Wheel Bolts. The M5 looks flawless!

For your Automotive needs call Solo Motorsports to schedule your appt.

The post BMW M5 Coilover Suspension Kit appeared first on Solo Motorsports.

Any Make, Any Car

Solo Motorsports offers a solution to any of your desired spec. Whether its just basic maintenance or complicated track setup for your weekend toy. Tire Balance, Wheel Alignment, Race Alignment, Corner Balance are our specialties.

Alignment and Tire balance is maintenance that needs to be conducted annually. Alignment – Alignment refers to an adjustment of a vehicle’s suspension – the system that connects a vehicle to its wheels. It is not an adjustment of the tires or wheels themselves. The key to proper alignment is adjusting the angles of the tires which affects how they make contact with the road.

Tire Balance – Distinct from tire alignment, tire or wheel balancing refers to compensation for any weight imbalances in the tire/wheel combination and is often performed in conjunction with wheel alignment. Tire balancing is essential for proper tire care for the same reason as wheel alignment: prevention of premature tread wear. Having tires aligned and balanced every 5,000 to 6,000 miles can help maximize their lifespan and overall performance.

The post Alignment and Tire Balance appeared first on Solo Motorsports.

Audi A4 Allroad 

This is about all of the Avants were getting from Audi nowadays. Stationwagons were never popular in the US. The current model is a rare car and will be sought after in future. This particular car checked in for tasteful upgrades. We installed full KW Coilover suspension, Porsche Big Brake Kit “BBK”, 20-inch wheels and tires and other smaller components wrapped up with alignment with our sophisticated alignment machine. This Audi Allroad is a Stunner.

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