E46 M3 fast road - track car
Discussion
Bit of a bulk update
Haven't updated this in a while
Done Rockingham this time last year on the same ex BTCC medium slicks and beat my last years personal best by 2 seconds.
trackaddict-rockingham-2017-jordanbutters-speedhunters-111 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr
trackaddict-rockingham-2017-jordanbutters-speedhunters-128 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr
trackaddict-rockingham-2017-jordanbutters-speedhunters-127 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr
trackaddict-rockingham-2017-jordanbutters-speedhunters-125 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr
trackaddict-rockingham-2017-jordanbutters-speedhunters-112 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr
trackaddict-rockingham-2017-jordanbutters-speedhunters-90 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr
Video from my point of view, can clearly see me holding back through the banked turn 1, as in all honestly the corner with the wall scares the crap out of me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4roj0meYcI
From my friend Oil M3 (super quick driver with aero)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAB1wuyOfCw
__________________________________________________________________
Managed to get hold of another old school Recaro SPA to replace my passenger one I was borrowing
Can't beat a bit of carbon kevlar.
Also brought some SW motorsport (M3cup) seat mounts as wasn't happy with the amount of spacing I needed to run with the long ally ones I had
Thought it was finally time to sort/snip the wiring out that I'd just stuffed up under the day. Removed a total of 1.5kg
Also binned off the front carpets again. Made up a flat plate and clipped a "tailored" mat down to it, installed an cluch rest/dead pedal last night too.
Another reason for the slow progress is I brought and have been tinkering around with a new daily. With only having the M3 and a works van I just needed a normal-ish car for myself & the dog.
M3 is booked into J-Tech Automotive from racing shells and ARP bolts to be fitted then I'll be taking it down to Hack Engineering to do some run in millage and fit some Samco coolant pipes along with a flush and replace.
___________________________________________________________________________
As the engine is now on 120k I felt I was on borrowed time with the factory bottom end shells. I'd ordered racing shells and ARP bolts through Hack Engineering. Wasn't a job that I wanted to tackle as a first timer nor on my back in front of the garage.
Contacted a few Specialist & BMW Specialist who were all going to get back to me but never did so that wasted a few weeks, finally I got onto J-Tech Automotive as I never knew they were only 20 odd miles from me, They had carried out many other shells replacements and if their 46 race car is anything to go by knew my car was in good hands.
Got some new front wishbones to go on at the same time
I was expecting my shells to be in pretty bad condition but they really weren't that bad, Jamie put it down to regular oil servings, changed mine after around 3 track days.
Next up I brought some GeoffSteel carbon door cards
Then annoyingly the front adjusters on my Nitrons seized up
had only been fully serviced and revalved in January. So I took them off and back to Nitron bright and early for them to be fixed then and there, back home to refit to the car and then back up to Spired for another Geo, well that was the plan anyway till this happened.
Luckily I'd got given myself a few spare hours before I needed to be at Spires, took the shock back off and stripped it down, took the top mount round to see Absolute Customs Bucks and he cut out the bad stud and welded another on in.
After all the rushing around I even made it to Spires early. Have to say though AR'1 tyres are not ideal on the motorway in the rain.
Beginning of the year I'd brought some Samco coolant pipes but have only just got round to fitting them. At first thought I was being a bit stupid but these four clips on the hoses to plastic connectors have no way be being undone, there solid the whole way round, have to get the grinder out.
Took this opportunity to do a full coolant flush and also removed the engine coolant plug, was surprised how much came out.
Lastly I fitted some new 3" Schroth harnesses as wasn't feeling the the 3 to 2" hans ones. And lastly I used some of my friends vinyl wrap to cover my door bars where they have been taking the brunt.
After a wash went out for a little drive as still bedding in the new shells.
Have Snetterton on the 8th June & Goodwood booked for the 17th June which really looking forward to.
Haven't updated this in a while
Done Rockingham this time last year on the same ex BTCC medium slicks and beat my last years personal best by 2 seconds.
trackaddict-rockingham-2017-jordanbutters-speedhunters-111 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickrtrackaddict-rockingham-2017-jordanbutters-speedhunters-128 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickrtrackaddict-rockingham-2017-jordanbutters-speedhunters-127 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickrtrackaddict-rockingham-2017-jordanbutters-speedhunters-125 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickrtrackaddict-rockingham-2017-jordanbutters-speedhunters-112 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickrtrackaddict-rockingham-2017-jordanbutters-speedhunters-90 by Sam Ratcliffe, on FlickrVideo from my point of view, can clearly see me holding back through the banked turn 1, as in all honestly the corner with the wall scares the crap out of me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4roj0meYcI
From my friend Oil M3 (super quick driver with aero)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAB1wuyOfCw
__________________________________________________________________
Managed to get hold of another old school Recaro SPA to replace my passenger one I was borrowing
Can't beat a bit of carbon kevlar.
Also brought some SW motorsport (M3cup) seat mounts as wasn't happy with the amount of spacing I needed to run with the long ally ones I had
Thought it was finally time to sort/snip the wiring out that I'd just stuffed up under the day. Removed a total of 1.5kg
Also binned off the front carpets again. Made up a flat plate and clipped a "tailored" mat down to it, installed an cluch rest/dead pedal last night too.
Another reason for the slow progress is I brought and have been tinkering around with a new daily. With only having the M3 and a works van I just needed a normal-ish car for myself & the dog.
M3 is booked into J-Tech Automotive from racing shells and ARP bolts to be fitted then I'll be taking it down to Hack Engineering to do some run in millage and fit some Samco coolant pipes along with a flush and replace.
___________________________________________________________________________
As the engine is now on 120k I felt I was on borrowed time with the factory bottom end shells. I'd ordered racing shells and ARP bolts through Hack Engineering. Wasn't a job that I wanted to tackle as a first timer nor on my back in front of the garage.
Contacted a few Specialist & BMW Specialist who were all going to get back to me but never did so that wasted a few weeks, finally I got onto J-Tech Automotive as I never knew they were only 20 odd miles from me, They had carried out many other shells replacements and if their 46 race car is anything to go by knew my car was in good hands.
Got some new front wishbones to go on at the same time
I was expecting my shells to be in pretty bad condition but they really weren't that bad, Jamie put it down to regular oil servings, changed mine after around 3 track days.
Next up I brought some GeoffSteel carbon door cards
Then annoyingly the front adjusters on my Nitrons seized up
had only been fully serviced and revalved in January. So I took them off and back to Nitron bright and early for them to be fixed then and there, back home to refit to the car and then back up to Spired for another Geo, well that was the plan anyway till this happened.
Luckily I'd got given myself a few spare hours before I needed to be at Spires, took the shock back off and stripped it down, took the top mount round to see Absolute Customs Bucks and he cut out the bad stud and welded another on in.
After all the rushing around I even made it to Spires early. Have to say though AR'1 tyres are not ideal on the motorway in the rain.
Beginning of the year I'd brought some Samco coolant pipes but have only just got round to fitting them. At first thought I was being a bit stupid but these four clips on the hoses to plastic connectors have no way be being undone, there solid the whole way round, have to get the grinder out.
Took this opportunity to do a full coolant flush and also removed the engine coolant plug, was surprised how much came out.
Lastly I fitted some new 3" Schroth harnesses as wasn't feeling the the 3 to 2" hans ones. And lastly I used some of my friends vinyl wrap to cover my door bars where they have been taking the brunt.
After a wash went out for a little drive as still bedding in the new shells.
Have Snetterton on the 8th June & Goodwood booked for the 17th June which really looking forward to.
e21Mark said:
Looks great, as ever.
I've always like the quality of the Geoff Steel bits. Have you considered a carbon air box swap?
Would love a carbon but don't think I'd actually be able to hear it now with solid bushings, an I'd rather put my money into a track diff.I've always like the quality of the Geoff Steel bits. Have you considered a carbon air box swap?
Although the first track day I ever done all the other M3's has a carbon box of some kind and drivers with more experience, yet I was quicker than them all. Ever since then I've overlooked the boxes.
Altrezia said:
Looks fantastic in that last set of photos. Oof. Do want 
Thanks 
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