BeamNG.drive offers an unparalleled level of vehicle customization, allowing you to tweak almost every aspect of your car’s performance. Whether you’re aiming for blistering speed, enhanced handling, or simply want to add unique components, modifying your vehicle in BeamNG is a rewarding experience. This guide will walk you through some of the best parts to modify in BeamNG to achieve your desired driving dynamics.
Before we dive in, it’s crucial to understand that modifying cars in BeamNG.drive often involves directly editing the game files. This gives you immense control but also requires caution. Always back up your original files before making any changes. Experimentation is key, and understanding the basics of vehicle mechanics or coding will certainly be beneficial.
To get started, it’s recommended to run BeamNG.drive in windowed mode. This allows you to easily switch between the game and a text editor (like Notepad) where you’ll be making modifications. After each edit, you can quickly reset your vehicle in-game (Ctrl + R) to instantly test the changes.
The very first modification many players make is adjusting the drag coefficient. In your vehicle’s main file (the one named after the vehicle, not the model), look for the line "dragCoef":8,. Setting this value to 0 significantly reduces aerodynamic drag, making it much easier to reach higher top speeds.
Let’s use the Ibishu Covet as our example vehicle to illustrate these modifications.
Engine Improvements
The engine is the heart of your vehicle, and modifications here can drastically change its performance. The Covet comes with a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine, with a turbocharged option available. To increase engine power, you’ll need to locate the engine file (usually within the vehicle’s folder).
Within the engine file, find the section defining the engine’s torque curve. This section typically looks like this for the stock 1.5L engine:
"enginetorque":[
["rpm", "torque"],
[0, 0],
[500, 65],
[1000, 93],
[2000, 132],
[3000, 143],
[4000, 148],
[5000, 153],
[6000, 144],
[7000, 122],
[7500, 91],
],
"engine":{
"idleRPM":1000,
"shiftDownRPM":3400,
"shiftUpRPM":6400,
"maxRPM":7500,
"inertia":0.08,
"friction":16
"brakingCoefRPS":0.15
"burnEfficiency":0.5
"throttleSensitivity":1.2The enginetorque section is an array that maps RPM to torque output. To increase engine power, you can increase the torque values at each RPM point. You can also increase the maxRPM to allow the engine to rev higher. Here’s an example of a modified torque curve for significantly increased power:
[0, 0],
[500, 150],
[1000, 250],
[2000, 350],
[3000, 450],
[4000, 550],
[5000, 650],
[6000, 750],
[7000, 850],
[8000, 750],
[9000, 700],
[10000, 700],
],
"engine":{
"idleRPM":1000,
"shiftDownRPM":3400,
"shiftUpRPM":6400,
"maxRPM":10000,
"inertia":0.05,
"friction":12
"brakingCoefRPS":0.15
"burnEfficiency":1.0
"throttleSensitivity":1.2Notice the increased torque values and the maxRPM raised to 10000. burnEfficiency is also set to 1.0 for optimal fuel consumption in this modified state (though in BeamNG, this is more about engine performance than fuel economy simulation). Modifying the inertia and friction values can also affect engine responsiveness and behavior.
With these engine modifications alone, you’ll likely find your vehicle hitting the rev limiter quickly and needing transmission adjustments to effectively use the increased power.
Transmission and Gearing
The transmission and gearing are crucial for translating engine power into usable speed and acceleration. After significantly increasing engine power, the stock transmission might become a bottleneck.
Let’s examine the stock 4-speed automatic transmission of the Ibishu Covet. Its code will be in a separate transmission file:
"name":"Ibishu Covet 4-Speed Automatic Transmission",
}
"engine":{
"transmissionType":"automatic",
"lowShiftDownRPM":1400,
"lowShiftUpRPM":3600,
"highShiftDownRPM":3300,
"highShiftUpRPM":6000,
// -1, 0 (neutral), 1, etc
"gears":[-2.9, 0, 2.72, 1.55, 1.05, 0.72]
"clutchDuration":0.25
"viscousCoupling":3.5
"lockingTorqueLimit":150
"enableLocking":trueKey parameters to adjust here are:
- Shift Points (
lowShiftDownRPM,lowShiftUpRPM,highShiftDownRPM,highShiftUpRPM): With a higher revving engine, you’ll want to raise these values. Set them closer to your newmaxRPMto utilize the engine’s powerband. - Gear Ratios (
gears): The gear ratios determine the relationship between engine RPM and wheel RPM in each gear. Lower gear ratios (smaller numbers) provide higher top speed but less acceleration, and vice versa. With increased engine power, you can often use lower gear ratios for quicker acceleration and higher top speed. You can also add more gears for finer control and better top speed potential. - Clutch Settings (
clutchDuration,viscousCoupling,lockingTorqueLimit): These settings control how the transmission engages and transfers power. For high-power applications, you might need to reduceclutchDurationfor faster shifts and increaselockingTorqueLimitandviscousCouplingto handle the increased torque without clutch slippage.
Here’s an example of a modified transmission configuration for the high-powered Covet:
"transmissionType":"automatic",
"lowShiftDownRPM": 7300 ,
"lowShiftUpRPM": 9800 ,
"highShiftDownRPM": 7300 ,
"highShiftUpRPM": 9800 ,
// -1, 0 (neutral), 1, etc
"gears":[-2.9, 0, 1.0, 0.80, 0.65, 0.50, 0.40, 0.30 ]
"clutchDuration": 0.05
"viscousCoupling": 4.0
"lockingTorqueLimit": 850
"enableLocking":trueWith these engine and transmission modifications, the Covet can reach significantly higher speeds and accelerate much faster.
Suspension, Steering, and Traction
Handling and stability are just as important as power. Modifying suspension, steering, and traction components can dramatically improve your vehicle’s cornering ability and overall driving feel. The suspension files are typically named [vehicle_name]_suspension_[F/R].jbeam (e.g., hatch_suspension_F.jbeam for the Covet).
Let’s look at the Covet’s front sport suspension (hatch_suspension_F_sport):
"hatch_coilover_F_sport": {
"information":{
"authors":"gabester",
"name":"Ibishu Covet Sport Front Coilovers",
}
"slotType" : "hatch_coilover_F",
"flexbodies": [
["mesh", "[group]:", "nonFlexMaterials"],
["hatch_coilover_F", ["hatch_shockbottom_F","hatch_shocktop_F"]],
],
"beams": [
["id1:", "id2:"], //front shocks
{"beamPrecompression":1.04, "beamType":"|BOUNDED", "beamLongBound":0.0, "beamShortBound":0.18},
{"beamSpring":140000,"beamDeform":52000,"beamStrength":84000},
{"beamDamp":3400},
{"beamLimitSpring":601000,"beamLimitDamp":1600},
["fh1r","fs1r",{"beamDampRebound":4300}],
["fh1l","fs1l",{"beamDampRebound":4300}],
{"beamPrecompression":1, "beamType":"|NORMAL", "beamLongBound":1.0, "beamShortBound":1.0},Key suspension parameters include:
beamPrecompression: Adjusts ride height. Values greater than 1.0 raise the ride height, while values less than 1.0 lower it.beamSpring: Determines spring stiffness. Higher values mean stiffer springs.beamDamp: Controls damping force, affecting how quickly the suspension compresses and rebounds. Higher values increase damping.beamDampRebound: Specifically controls rebound damping.
Lowering the ride height (beamPrecompression < 1.0) improves handling by lowering the center of gravity. Increasing beamSpring stiffens the suspension, reducing body roll in corners but potentially making the ride harsher. beamDamp and beamDampRebound need to be tuned in conjunction with spring stiffness to control bounce and oscillations.
For steering, look for sections like this in the suspension file:
{"beamPrecompression":1.0, "beamType":"|NORMAL", "beamLongBound":1, "beamShortBound":1},
{"beamSpring":22001000,"beamDamp":50,"beamDeform":90000,"beamStrength":110000},
["fh3r","s1r",{"factor":-0.26,"steeringWheelLock":270}],
["fh3l","s1l",{"factor":0.26,"steeringWheelLock":270}],beamStrength: In the steering section, this often represents tie-rod strength. Increasing this value makes the steering components more durable.factor: This value determines steering sensitivity and wheel turning angle. Increasing this value makes the steering more responsive and allows for tighter turns, but be cautious not to increase it too much, as it can lead to instability or broken steering components.
For traction, the tire friction coefficient is the most direct parameter to modify. Find the wheel files (e.g., hatch_wheels_F.jbeam) and locate the tire section for the desired wheel type:
{"frictionCoef":1.7},
// {"pressurePSI":30},
// {"maxPressurePSI":1400},
// {"reinforcementPressurePSI":33},frictionCoef: Controls tire grip. Higher values mean more traction. Experiment with small increments; even a slight increase can significantly improve grip.pressurePSI: Tire pressure. Increasing tire pressure (e.g., to 60 PSI or higher) can reduce tire rollover during hard cornering, especially with softer sidewall tires.
Experimenting with suspension, steering, and tire settings is crucial to find the right balance for your driving style and vehicle modifications.
Adding a Differential (AWD Conversion)
Converting a front-wheel-drive (FWD) car like the Covet to all-wheel-drive (AWD) can dramatically improve traction and handling, especially with increased engine power.
The differential code for the Covet is located in the engine file. The front differential section looks like this:
}
"hatch_differential_F_LSD": {
"information":{
"authors":"gabester",
"name":"Ibishu Covet Limited Slip Front Differential",
}
"slotType" : "hatch_differential_F",
"differentials": [
["wheelName1", "wheelName2", "type", "state", "closedTorque", "engineTorqueCoef"],
["FL","FR", "lsd", "closed", 120, 1]
],
"engine":{
"differential":4.37,
"axleFriction":10
},To add a rear differential, copy this entire section, paste it below the front differential code, and rename the relevant parts to indicate a rear differential. Crucially, change "slotType" and the component name to something like "hatch_differential_R":
}
"hatch_differential_R_LSD": {
"information":{
"authors":"gabester",
"name":"Ibishu Covet Limited Slip Rear Differential",
}
"slotType" : "hatch_differential_R",
"differentials": [
["wheelName1", "wheelName2", "type", "state", "closedTorque", "engineTorqueCoef"],
["RL","RR", "lsd", "closed", 120, 1]
],
"engine":{
"differential":4.37,
"axleFriction":10
},Next, you need to make the rear differential selectable in the parts menu. Find the transmission section in the transmission file and locate the slots definition:
"slotType" : "hatch_transmission",
"slots": [
["qtype", "default", "description"]
["hatch_differential_F","hatch_differential_F", "Ibishu Covet Front Differential"],Add a new line for the rear differential slot, mirroring the front differential entry but using "hatch_differential_R":
"slots": [
["qtype", "default", "description"]
["hatch_differential_F","hatch_differential_F", "Ibishu Covet Front Differential"],
["hatch_differential_R","hatch_differential_R", "Ibishu Covet Rear Differential"],Now, in the parts menu, you should have options for both front and rear differentials, allowing you to create an AWD Covet.
Making Your Vehicle Separate
To prevent your modifications from being overwritten during game updates, you can make your modified vehicle a separate entity.
- Rename the Vehicle Folder and DAE File: Rename the vehicle’s folder in the BeamNG.drive mods directory and the
.DAEfile inside it to a new name (e.g., fromcovettoawesome_hatch). Ensure both folder and DAE file names are identical. - Modify the Vehicle Name in the JBeam File: Open the main vehicle JBeam file and find the line starting with
%vehicleName. Change the name to something unique, like%vehicleName = "Ibishu Covet Custom";.
After these steps, your modified Covet will appear as a separate vehicle in the vehicle selector, preserving your changes through game updates.
Adding Selectable Parts
BeamNG.drive’s modular design makes adding selectable parts relatively straightforward. Often, you can clone existing parts and modify them to create new options in the parts menu.
For example, to add an extra suspension option, you can copy an existing suspension part’s code block within the suspension file and paste it directly below. Then, modify the "name" in the "information" section to create a new, selectable part.
Similarly, to add a selectable turbocharger or engine, you can copy the code block for an existing turbo or engine from another vehicle (or within the same vehicle’s files) and paste it into the desired vehicle’s engine file. Remember to change the "name" and potentially other parameters to create a unique and functional part.
Crucially, when adding new selectable parts like turbos or engines, ensure that there is a corresponding slot defined in the vehicle’s main JBeam file. Slots define the categories in the parts menu. For example, to add a turbocharger, there must be a "pickup_turbo" slot defined in the slots section. If a slot doesn’t exist, you can often copy a slot definition from another similar vehicle and adapt it for your new part.
"slots": [
["type", "default","description"]
["pickup_exhaust_v8","pickup_exhaust_v8","Gavril D-Series V8 Exhaust"],
["pickup_transmission","pickup_transmission_A","Gavril D-Series Transmission"],
["pickup_turbo","", "Gavril D-Series Turbocharger"], // Turbocharger slotBy understanding how slots work and how parts are defined, you can add a wide variety of custom components to your BeamNG vehicles.
A modified Ibishu Covet showcasing visual and performance enhancements achievable through file editing in BeamNG.drive.
Modifying cars in BeamNG.drive is a deep and rewarding process. Start with small changes, experiment frequently, and always back up your files. By focusing on engine improvements, transmission tuning, suspension adjustments, differential modifications, and adding custom parts, you can create truly unique and high-performing vehicles in BeamNG.drive. Remember, trial and error are your best friends in this process – have fun and push the limits of virtual automotive engineering!
