Z4M converted road car, racing at the Ring

[Glenn McMenamin]

Did a race at the VLN 6 hour at the Ring last weekend.

Normally a Porsche man through and through, but was very impressed with the Z4M road car around there.

Basically stripped out, and on slicks, engine was nice and torquey, but the brakes are way off what you'd get in a P car.

Bit of vid here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vtZU9LH6_Q

[4340BB]

Not a bad lap.

[physprof]

Glenn - can you go further on spec... how stripped ? any details on mods?

cheers

[Glenn McMenamin]

physprof said:

Glenn - can you go further on spec... how stripped ? any details on mods?

cheers

Sure...


BMW Z4M (2007) road car as basis
additional 15l tank to make total of 70l
Bilstein MDS-2 suspension
Sachs race clutch
355HP/1400KG
Michelin slicks/Dunlop wets
BMW Motorsport brakes (believe as on CSL)

[physprof]

Glenn McMenamin said:

BMW Z4M (2007) road car as basis
additional 15l tank to make total of 70l
Bilstein MDS-2 suspension
Sachs race clutch
355HP/1400KG
Michelin slicks/Dunlop wets
BMW Motorsport brakes (believe as on CSL)

Physprof considers merits of going into garage and starting stripping down his Z4M, emerging with shopping list of parts (ex. BMW brakes) ..... versus row from better half on ther things monies could be spent on ... from posting on here to a relationship advice posting on lounge in one clean step.

[E21_Ross]

glorious noise! thanks for posting, made for an interesting watch!! looks like great fun!

[2skiddy]

I love the Z4M Coupe, especially the wide body racer look. Was this car one of the GT4s that were built? I am seriously thinking about one myself, now that the Porker has gone. Seeing this has got me all excited, again!!!!!!!

[Glenn McMenamin]

2skiddy said:

I love the Z4M Coupe, especially the wide body racer look. Was this car one of the GT4s that were built? I am seriously thinking about one myself, now that the Porker has gone. Seeing this has got me all excited, again!!!!!!!

Nope, just a basic standard Z4M, converted to race.

[4340BB]

Looks good.
I am currently making mine better.
First of all I fitted a Gruppe M induction system ( sounds just like a CSL now )
Then the Eisenmann race system.
CSL wheels
And am just in the process of having the suspension lowered.
I am also having a set of Recaro Pole Positions priced up.
I love this car.

[rassi]

Brilliant video and THAT engine note!

The additional 15 litre tank, could that be done to a normal road car too? Details, please :-)

[Glenn McMenamin]

rassi said:

Brilliant video and THAT engine note!

The additional 15 litre tank, could that be done to a normal road car too? Details, please :-)

I suppose so, it's an additional tank that sits in the boot, when the normal tank has enough space for 15 litres, and you press a button on the dash, and it pumps it from the spare tank into the main one....

I'm sure it's a standard race type setup, the car can only do 7 laps before needing to fill up again, that's for both tanks !!!

[Cheburator mk2]

Glenn McMenamin said:

Did a race at the VLN 6 hour at the Ring last weekend.

Normally a Porsche man through and through, but was very impressed with the Z4M road car around there.

Basically stripped out, and on slicks, engine was nice and torquey, but the brakes are way off what you'd get in a P car.

Bit of vid here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vtZU9LH6_Q

Nice finish in top 50 as well

Interesting to compare the speeds of the racer vs a road car. The road car gives very little away in straight line speed, but in the corners the racer is flying. Damn, maybe a Z4MC is a cheaper way back into the VLN vs. going via H4...

[Glenn McMenamin]

Cheburator mk2 said:

Nice finish in top 50 as well

Interesting to compare the speeds of the racer vs a road car. The road car gives very little away in straight line speed, but in the corners the racer is flying. Damn, maybe a Z4MC is a cheaper way back into the VLN vs. going via H4...

Thanks, we got 2nd in class too, very pleased for my 1st VLN, I was happy to not bin the car !!!

[Cheburator mk2]

Glenn McMenamin said:

Thanks, we got 2nd in class too, very pleased for my 1st VLN, I was happy to not bin the car !!!

Great result considering that the brakes on the car are shocking. I can hear that you are braking early for a few corners...

[2skiddy]

Hi Cheburator, Do you have your red Z4MC still? You gave me a few passenger laps at the Ring, when your car was still fairly new and standard. I remember how well it went and now I have got one myself, after going in a big circle! It is a GT4 race car that has some additional mods. I am wondering whether to give it the wide body carbon treatment as there are some on the market. The car is only for track days as I hung up my race boots years ago! It is great to see other cars on track as they are not that common.
Cheers

[Nords]

We all know swap to APs for trackdays/racing, although the 'ring is normally hard on brakes. Which pads Glenn?

[Cheburator mk2]

2skiddy said:

Hi Cheburator, Do you have your red Z4MC still? You gave me a few passenger laps at the Ring, when your car was still fairly new and standard. I remember how well it went and now I have got one myself, after going in a big circle! It is a GT4 race car that has some additional mods. I am wondering whether to give itbody carbon treatment market.
Cheers

Hi mate,

Still have it. Very difficult to get rid of as it gets under your skin. A GT4 skinned car would be awesome. It would also help the handling no end as the aero on the package actually works and you can run bigger wheels. If you have the cash I would say go for it. It would be great and would give the 996GT3 brigade something to think about it.

[2skiddy]

Hi Alex, I`ll try and get some prices on the carbon parts and see if there are any deals out there. The car looks OK as it is at the moment and has a front splitter and large rear wing. The GTR look is so much better though, and that would be my ideal on this car. Still, it`s early days yet!
Pleased you`ve still got the Z, how modified is it now?
Cheers

[Dakkon]

Nords said:

We all know swap to APs for trackdays/racing, although the 'ring is normally hard on brakes. Which pads Glenn?

I would have said the 'Ring is more of a power circuit rather than a hard on brakes?

[Cheburator mk2]

The car is not modified bar the 996 Brembo 4-pot brakes all round. I also have a AC Schnitzer rear wing and a front spitter, but that is about it. It has been absolutely brilliant over the 45k miles that I covered in it. Totally reliable too. The only credible replacement is a 996GT3 or a Z06...

The Ring is a power circuit, but once you put slicks and race suspension you are carrying even more speed through the corners, which means you are arriving at the next corner at an even greater speed... So while the standard brakes are OK on a road car, they are inadequate on a racer...

Just my 2c...