Project E46 M3 Track Car
Discussion
Apologies for the well overdue update. The last few weeks were frantic ones in absolute determination to have the car out for the CSL Cup round at Croft last weekend, but not without event!
Firstly as the build came to a close it became evident that my Corbeau seats weren't going to fit the car despite lot's of head scratching! Despite being only millimetres apart the seats would have to be change for Recaro Pro-Race variety as run in many of the other CSL Cup cars. Also, to achieve the optimum driving position the original seat mounting points would have to be cut out and new mounts welded further back and lower in the car. Thankfully Demon Tweaks had a seat in stock and were willing to take the Corbeau seat back in part exchange and the Steven and the guy's at Prime Finish worked day and night to adapt the floor mountings.
With the car being road legal I was able to run the car for a couple of days to iron out any teething problems. Amazingly the only fault we had was with the power steering pump being noisy/heavy. With the car having had a new pump 1,500 miles before I bought it we really were scratching our heads. Attention was quickly drawn to the new exhaust manifold and the close proximity to the steering rack where the A/C pump (now removed) would have afforded some protection, the theory being that the fluid was being over-heated. We introduced at heat shield and re-filled the system but the problem returned after only a few miles. With only days to go to Croft and with a new pump costing the steep side of £600.00 it was removed and sent away for reconditioning. The next day we received a call to say the pump was beyond repair and a new pump was needed!! In the interim and having spoken at length with the guy's at Thorney we discovered that the non-return valve in the steering rack was seized, presumably because of being off the car for so long and this in turn was reducing flow to the pump which relies the flow of fluid to cool itself. The new pump and valve arrived and were fitted on Wednesday evening by some mechanics drafted in to help out. The car was fired up and all appeared good to go!
With all now in order, the car went off for a final test drive only to come back in limp mode and misfiring like a bag of nails, bugger!! Out with the OBD scanner and there were lot's of error codes relating to throttle position sensors and the throttle drive-by-wire system. Now we really into the world of unknowns. Lot's of searching on google and frustrated faces later and we appeared to be beat and it's now Friday morning and the other CSL Cup guy's are testing today. I can't believe we have been beat this close to the line and words can't explain the frustration by everyone at Prime Finish who have worked day and night to have the car ready.
In a last ditch effort we blagged the car into the local BMW dealer who jumped straight on the job only to confirm what was already known. With no spare sensors available we were sent away with 136 fault codes and told to investigate the throttle bodies more closely. Back to the workshop (it's now 1pm on Friday) and started to dismantle the air box only to find this!!
It would appear the mechanics drafted in the change the power steering pump left something behind!! Thankfully and not after some considerable cursing she was back together and firing on all cylinders! It's now 6pm but we are determined to make qualifying tomorrow at Croft. An hour or so later the car was loaded onto the trailer and we set off for Croft, ace!
Having arrived very late at Croft we setup camp and got the car pushed onto site as not to wake everyone else who were all wisely in bed by this hour..
After a few hours sleep the reality set in and we really were here ready to qualify!
Our somewhat modest facilities..
I think the other competitors were surprised to see us after all the drama... Everybody was superbly helpful and being my first race experience we really did depend upon it!
First job of the day was to got the new wheels fitted up with Dunlop rubber and after a short while it became evident some lowering was needed along with some more aggressive geo settings!
Thankfully the Thorney guy's were superbly helpful and with their extremely impressive facilities, get straight on with the job.
With only minuites to spare, we were ready to qualify, nerves now setting in.
My first time out on slicks was an amazing experience and after some initial nerves I posted a time of 1:37:756, some 7:149 behind the front row of the grid. Unfortunately and just as I felt I was getting the hang of things I had a big spin through tower corner only minutes from the end of the session. Luckily I avoided any bodywork damaged but did bend a wheel, snap a rear camber arm and burst a rear CV boot, bugger!
With racing not starting until early Sunday afternoon we luckily had some time on our hands to get it sorted. In true CSL Cup form, Geoff Steel Racing had a spare set of camber arms (luckilly where I purchased the originals) and Thorney had a spare Team Dynamics rim. Having got the new bit's bolted on and the CV boot cable tied back on we looked good to race.
Sunday morning came and the first race was ready to run. I've rarely experienced such nerves and excitement all in one go - you should try it! Off we went and with some initial nerves out the way managed to get the car across the finish line in one piece.
My quickest lap in that race was 1:38:430 but for some reason the car wasn't behaving quite the same as in qualifying and was tending to oversteer much more violently through the long right handers. Some investigation later and it with some embarrassment I realised I was running 30psi all round with the exception of wheel replaced yesterday that was running 38psi!! That'll be that then. I'll be sure and have a pressure gauge next time.
Race 2 and it's definitely more excitement than nerves this time.
I was keeping with the back of the grid much better this time but had a big spin out of the chicane. No damage this time, just an adreneline rush..
Luckily made it across the finish line once more and the car was going home in one piece!
All in it was a fantastic experience and I can highly recommend it to anyone. Just be prepared to sell your house, wife, cats, dogs and anything else that is important to you ;-)
Next race and final race of this year is not until the end of September down at Snetterton. The car is now with Thorney at Milton Keynes who will be fitting the Shirck cams, carbon airbox and an ECU remap amongst other small jobs.
Thanks again for all the support, comments, inspiration and ideas given on this thread. Would not have done it without it!
Cheers
Firstly as the build came to a close it became evident that my Corbeau seats weren't going to fit the car despite lot's of head scratching! Despite being only millimetres apart the seats would have to be change for Recaro Pro-Race variety as run in many of the other CSL Cup cars. Also, to achieve the optimum driving position the original seat mounting points would have to be cut out and new mounts welded further back and lower in the car. Thankfully Demon Tweaks had a seat in stock and were willing to take the Corbeau seat back in part exchange and the Steven and the guy's at Prime Finish worked day and night to adapt the floor mountings.
With the car being road legal I was able to run the car for a couple of days to iron out any teething problems. Amazingly the only fault we had was with the power steering pump being noisy/heavy. With the car having had a new pump 1,500 miles before I bought it we really were scratching our heads. Attention was quickly drawn to the new exhaust manifold and the close proximity to the steering rack where the A/C pump (now removed) would have afforded some protection, the theory being that the fluid was being over-heated. We introduced at heat shield and re-filled the system but the problem returned after only a few miles. With only days to go to Croft and with a new pump costing the steep side of £600.00 it was removed and sent away for reconditioning. The next day we received a call to say the pump was beyond repair and a new pump was needed!! In the interim and having spoken at length with the guy's at Thorney we discovered that the non-return valve in the steering rack was seized, presumably because of being off the car for so long and this in turn was reducing flow to the pump which relies the flow of fluid to cool itself. The new pump and valve arrived and were fitted on Wednesday evening by some mechanics drafted in to help out. The car was fired up and all appeared good to go!
With all now in order, the car went off for a final test drive only to come back in limp mode and misfiring like a bag of nails, bugger!! Out with the OBD scanner and there were lot's of error codes relating to throttle position sensors and the throttle drive-by-wire system. Now we really into the world of unknowns. Lot's of searching on google and frustrated faces later and we appeared to be beat and it's now Friday morning and the other CSL Cup guy's are testing today. I can't believe we have been beat this close to the line and words can't explain the frustration by everyone at Prime Finish who have worked day and night to have the car ready.
In a last ditch effort we blagged the car into the local BMW dealer who jumped straight on the job only to confirm what was already known. With no spare sensors available we were sent away with 136 fault codes and told to investigate the throttle bodies more closely. Back to the workshop (it's now 1pm on Friday) and started to dismantle the air box only to find this!!
It would appear the mechanics drafted in the change the power steering pump left something behind!! Thankfully and not after some considerable cursing she was back together and firing on all cylinders! It's now 6pm but we are determined to make qualifying tomorrow at Croft. An hour or so later the car was loaded onto the trailer and we set off for Croft, ace!
Having arrived very late at Croft we setup camp and got the car pushed onto site as not to wake everyone else who were all wisely in bed by this hour..
After a few hours sleep the reality set in and we really were here ready to qualify!
Our somewhat modest facilities..
I think the other competitors were surprised to see us after all the drama... Everybody was superbly helpful and being my first race experience we really did depend upon it!
First job of the day was to got the new wheels fitted up with Dunlop rubber and after a short while it became evident some lowering was needed along with some more aggressive geo settings!
Thankfully the Thorney guy's were superbly helpful and with their extremely impressive facilities, get straight on with the job.
With only minuites to spare, we were ready to qualify, nerves now setting in.
My first time out on slicks was an amazing experience and after some initial nerves I posted a time of 1:37:756, some 7:149 behind the front row of the grid. Unfortunately and just as I felt I was getting the hang of things I had a big spin through tower corner only minutes from the end of the session. Luckily I avoided any bodywork damaged but did bend a wheel, snap a rear camber arm and burst a rear CV boot, bugger!
With racing not starting until early Sunday afternoon we luckily had some time on our hands to get it sorted. In true CSL Cup form, Geoff Steel Racing had a spare set of camber arms (luckilly where I purchased the originals) and Thorney had a spare Team Dynamics rim. Having got the new bit's bolted on and the CV boot cable tied back on we looked good to race.
Sunday morning came and the first race was ready to run. I've rarely experienced such nerves and excitement all in one go - you should try it! Off we went and with some initial nerves out the way managed to get the car across the finish line in one piece.
My quickest lap in that race was 1:38:430 but for some reason the car wasn't behaving quite the same as in qualifying and was tending to oversteer much more violently through the long right handers. Some investigation later and it with some embarrassment I realised I was running 30psi all round with the exception of wheel replaced yesterday that was running 38psi!! That'll be that then. I'll be sure and have a pressure gauge next time.
Race 2 and it's definitely more excitement than nerves this time.
I was keeping with the back of the grid much better this time but had a big spin out of the chicane. No damage this time, just an adreneline rush..
Luckily made it across the finish line once more and the car was going home in one piece!
All in it was a fantastic experience and I can highly recommend it to anyone. Just be prepared to sell your house, wife, cats, dogs and anything else that is important to you ;-)
Next race and final race of this year is not until the end of September down at Snetterton. The car is now with Thorney at Milton Keynes who will be fitting the Shirck cams, carbon airbox and an ECU remap amongst other small jobs.
Thanks again for all the support, comments, inspiration and ideas given on this thread. Would not have done it without it!
Cheers
Mark_Karting said:
Congratulations on your first race weekend and getting the car there 
The car looks great, and im sure its mighty quick 
is the championship ever up at Knockhill?
Would be nice if they ventured up our way. That's two scottish prepared/owned cars on the grid now, by my math that's >10%. Knockhill is a very different proposition to most English tracks too, give the drivers a new challenge! The car looks great, and im sure its mighty quick is the championship ever up at Knockhill?emicen said:
Mark_Karting said:
Congratulations on your first race weekend and getting the car there The car looks great, and im sure its mighty quick is the championship ever up at Knockhill?
Would be nice if they ventured up our way. That's two scottish prepared/owned cars on the grid now, by my math that's >10%. Knockhill is a very different proposition to most English tracks too, give the drivers a new challenge! The car looks great, and im sure its mighty quick is the championship ever up at Knockhill?I'll be looking to book some track days up at Knockhill in early October (the car is being kept down south for Snetterton at the end of Sept). Hopefully there will be some fellow PH'ers up there.
Cheers again.
Edited by m30dus on Sunday 6th September 20:28
mat205125 said:
Really nice car, and great to see it out in the CSL cup. That series has a lot of potential if the grids can grow a little.
Have you kept the car 100% road legal during your build?
Yep, it's road legal but the cams might give me emissions/ MOT problems. Need to wait and see. It's taxed and insured for road use at the moment..Have you kept the car 100% road legal during your build?
Was suprised to see this car for sale so soon after it was finished:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1388265.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1388265.htm
Edited by sniff diesel on Thursday 4th February 18:20
Thomo206 said:
Funky D
Your still making too much cash and spending loads on cars then. Changed days from the 106....
Both cars looks good. Knowing Duncan from years back this call will have anal attention to detail and will be no expense spared.
Cheers
Craig
Thomo! One thing's not changed - I still owe the the bank manager way too much ;-)Your still making too much cash and spending loads on cars then. Changed days from the 106....
Both cars looks good. Knowing Duncan from years back this call will have anal attention to detail and will be no expense spared.
Cheers
Craig
The 106 day's were good times
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