Car Limits Day at North Weald Airfield - E36 M3 3.0
Discussion
Morning,
Attended a car limits day at North Weald Airfield yeasterday, just thought I would share my experiences throughout the day, by the power of youtube >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtOLpHMMO-s&fea...
Was a epic day, great instructors, well planned circuits and beautiful weather.
I was lucky enough to drive my friends E36 M3, which was an absolute blast!!
Would recommend this experience to anyone, its cheap at £40 (although watch out for tire wear on the concrete surface!) and gives you a day to find out the limits of both your car and yourself.
Here's some pictures of the day >
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dynamicfocus/sets/721...
Attended a car limits day at North Weald Airfield yeasterday, just thought I would share my experiences throughout the day, by the power of youtube >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtOLpHMMO-s&fea...
Was a epic day, great instructors, well planned circuits and beautiful weather.
I was lucky enough to drive my friends E36 M3, which was an absolute blast!!
Would recommend this experience to anyone, its cheap at £40 (although watch out for tire wear on the concrete surface!) and gives you a day to find out the limits of both your car and yourself.
Here's some pictures of the day >
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dynamicfocus/sets/721...
Carlimits is really great fun!
Vid looks like you were hqving fun
Been there loads of times in my skyline but its just Tue sort of thing I'd take my e46 330 se to
Thanks for your comments on my thread BTW
I know you said that its not your car but was hoping you might know what sort of mpg the 3.0 m3 does? Also, any rust problems?
Thinking of possibly changing my 330 ....
Thanks,
Sam
Vid looks like you were hqving fun
Been there loads of times in my skyline but its just Tue sort of thing I'd take my e46 330 se to
Thanks for your comments on my thread BTW
I know you said that its not your car but was hoping you might know what sort of mpg the 3.0 m3 does? Also, any rust problems?
Thinking of possibly changing my 330 ....
Thanks,
Sam
Hey Sam,
Your right! We were having loads of fun on track, we got the second fastest time of the day on the more complex handling course, only to be beaten by a 355 with a rather committed driver.
We also recorded the highest speed of the day on the high speed corner at 76 mph, with no front anti-roll bar!
The car is standard with the exception of 40mm lowering springs, front strut brace, stripped interior and federal a set of 595RS-R's
70 miles @ 70+mph - 25 miles of stop start m25 traffic - 20 miles of fast road driving - A day with car limits = Average of 27.5 mpg less than half a tank of fuel was used.
Car will average 34 mpg @ 65-70mph
No rust
Great cars if well maintained, don't forget that the latest 3.0 M3's are
getting on for 17 years old.
Lew
Your right! We were having loads of fun on track, we got the second fastest time of the day on the more complex handling course, only to be beaten by a 355 with a rather committed driver.
We also recorded the highest speed of the day on the high speed corner at 76 mph, with no front anti-roll bar!
The car is standard with the exception of 40mm lowering springs, front strut brace, stripped interior and federal a set of 595RS-R's
70 miles @ 70+mph - 25 miles of stop start m25 traffic - 20 miles of fast road driving - A day with car limits = Average of 27.5 mpg less than half a tank of fuel was used.
Car will average 34 mpg @ 65-70mph
No rust
Great cars if well maintained, don't forget that the latest 3.0 M3's are
getting on for 17 years old.
Lew
Hi Lew,
Thanks for that, that's really good to know!
Well done with getting a good time too! Can you remember what they were?
There's a red 3.0 m3 for sale on pistonheads with 88k, a 94 for about 3.5k and I'm tempted..
I just want to make sure its not going to cost that much more to run than my e46 330 but from what you have said about mpg I think it'll be about the same.. the 3.0 seems more reliable than the 3.2 and cheaper so think its the one for me
Cheers,
Sam
Thanks for that, that's really good to know!
Well done with getting a good time too! Can you remember what they were?
There's a red 3.0 m3 for sale on pistonheads with 88k, a 94 for about 3.5k and I'm tempted..
I just want to make sure its not going to cost that much more to run than my e46 330 but from what you have said about mpg I think it'll be about the same.. the 3.0 seems more reliable than the 3.2 and cheaper so think its the one for me
Cheers,
Sam
Morning,
We hit 76mph on the high speed corner and a 1:01:06 around the complex handling circuit.
The running costs should be very similar, sometimes you find some M specific parts to be more expensive, on the other hand the 3.0 M3 shares a few parts with the 328i as a result these parts are significantly cheaper than the equivalents on the later M models.
E.G,
E46 330i E36 M3 3.0
VDO Fuel Pump £220.80 / VDO Fuel Pump £148.80
Pagid Brake Disc F/R x4 £213.16 / Pagid Brake Disc F/R x4 £249.98
LUK Clutch Kit £218.40 / LUK Clutch Kit £270
Even regular servicing will be very close in cost, I'm sure the servicing intervals are not that far apart between the 3.0 M3 and the 330i.
So go for it, if you need more inspiration take a look here
P.S These old reviews( http://www.modifiedm3.co.uk/Magzinereviews.htm ) are great, really puts the cars performance and usability into context.
Lew
We hit 76mph on the high speed corner and a 1:01:06 around the complex handling circuit.
The running costs should be very similar, sometimes you find some M specific parts to be more expensive, on the other hand the 3.0 M3 shares a few parts with the 328i as a result these parts are significantly cheaper than the equivalents on the later M models.
E.G,
E46 330i E36 M3 3.0
VDO Fuel Pump £220.80 / VDO Fuel Pump £148.80
Pagid Brake Disc F/R x4 £213.16 / Pagid Brake Disc F/R x4 £249.98
LUK Clutch Kit £218.40 / LUK Clutch Kit £270
Even regular servicing will be very close in cost, I'm sure the servicing intervals are not that far apart between the 3.0 M3 and the 330i.
So go for it, if you need more inspiration take a look here
P.S These old reviews( http://www.modifiedm3.co.uk/Magzinereviews.htm ) are great, really puts the cars performance and usability into context.
Lew
Sounds like you had a great day, I've been going to N Weald for years with a variety of cars, it's always good fun. That's a very nice looking (and sounding!) M3.
You do realize that on the high speed corner you treat that guttering that runs the length of the airfield as a 'wall', ie, if you cross it you've 'crashed'? Or were you not using the gutter as a limit that day? It's just that in the video you seem to cross it every time!!
You do realize that on the high speed corner you treat that guttering that runs the length of the airfield as a 'wall', ie, if you cross it you've 'crashed'? Or were you not using the gutter as a limit that day? It's just that in the video you seem to cross it every time!!
Time for the other course was 51:55 secs -
We was treating the gutter line as a wall. The video only shows early runs. Later on in the session once the tyre's had warmed up & we had adjusted pressures the speed started to climb and the car was kept on the left hand side of the gutter
Will be back at North Weald, some time in the near future, if anyone else is up for it? Then we should get a thread going!
We was treating the gutter line as a wall. The video only shows early runs. Later on in the session once the tyre's had warmed up & we had adjusted pressures the speed started to climb and the car was kept on the left hand side of the gutter
Will be back at North Weald, some time in the near future, if anyone else is up for it? Then we should get a thread going!
Always up for north weald!
Good times Lew!
Spotty for going off topic but seen a nice 4 door e36 evo for sale cheap and am tempted... Am I right in thinking the 4 door is about 40kg heavier?
Can't remember my times but think they were 59 secs bottom course 46 secs top course. The bottom course is too bumpy for my car tho, last time I was there was full of pot holes too
how was it when you were there?
The high speed corner thing I find really boring esp if they spend the whole morning on it! Fun to drift round, too much waiting though.. I can't see how there's much accuracy when comparing peoples times either...
I have the federal rs-rs and have found them better than road tyres.. definitely quicker
Hoping to get a 54 sec lap at brands with these!
Good times Lew!
Spotty for going off topic but seen a nice 4 door e36 evo for sale cheap and am tempted... Am I right in thinking the 4 door is about 40kg heavier?
Can't remember my times but think they were 59 secs bottom course 46 secs top course. The bottom course is too bumpy for my car tho, last time I was there was full of pot holes too
how was it when you were there?The high speed corner thing I find really boring esp if they spend the whole morning on it! Fun to drift round, too much waiting though.. I can't see how there's much accuracy when comparing peoples times either...
I have the federal rs-rs and have found them better than road tyres.. definitely quicker
Hoping to get a 54 sec lap at brands with these!
git-r said:
Always up for north weald!
Good times Lew!
Spotty for going off topic but seen a nice 4 door e36 evo for sale cheap and am tempted... Am I right in thinking the 4 door is about 40kg heavier?
Can't remember my times but think they were 59 secs bottom course 46 secs top course. The bottom course is too bumpy for my car tho, last time I was there was full of pot holes too how was it when you were there?
The high speed corner thing I find really boring esp if they spend the whole morning on it! Fun to drift round, too much waiting though.. I can't see how there's much accuracy when comparing peoples times either...
Thank you, I can't take all the credit, my friend set the fastest times in the car. Next time I'm there I shall have to try harder!Good times Lew!
Spotty for going off topic but seen a nice 4 door e36 evo for sale cheap and am tempted... Am I right in thinking the 4 door is about 40kg heavier?
Can't remember my times but think they were 59 secs bottom course 46 secs top course. The bottom course is too bumpy for my car tho, last time I was there was full of pot holes too
how was it when you were there?The high speed corner thing I find really boring esp if they spend the whole morning on it! Fun to drift round, too much waiting though.. I can't see how there's much accuracy when comparing peoples times either...
Bottom course Is quite smooth now, even the more stiffly sprung Elise's were not having to much trouble.
Your right in thinking that the saloon is 40kg heavier, not that it makes any difference really. Went around the ring in a 3.0 M3 saloon and I must say, it went rather well. Generally you will find the saloons to be in better condition as the average age of the owner tends to be higher, than that of the coupe.
I will be at brands for a evening session in may, will also be at car limits and Lyden Hill. Let me know if you want dates for any of the sessions. There will be a group of us, it's always good to add to that group!
Lew
looks like you you had a good day out. luv the place but never been able to get a good speed on that hi speed bend
few of my attemps around the air field
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn5xqFQVAEw&lis...
few of my attemps around the air field
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn5xqFQVAEw&lis...
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