On track with the Z4M - mini review
Discussion
I had my first trackday in the M last night. It was at Knockhill but in reverse direction. It had been raining pretty heavy all day so the track was very slippy. It was the first time I had been out in reverse so it boggled the mind for the first few laps. It was completely different and nothing was familiar so I took it fairly easy just trying to learn the lines and get some references for braking points etc. I didn't even give a second thought to trying to learn the car a bit too, that came later. Anyway, as I was getting more confident with my lines I started to push on a little more. This is where it all started to go downhill. The car is bog standard as far as I am aware. I knew the main issues would be brakes fading very quickly and the rear tyres. They are cheapo Acceleras that the dealer put on the car before I collected it.
I knew the car would be twitchy but nowhere near as twitchy as I actually found it. All I can say is thank god for the traction control. I have critised it in the past on here for road use, but by god, it is very very good on track. If it wasn't for the TC my night would have ended very early. I turned it off once and fell off at the first corner!! As I exited the corner and got on the power, the rear stepped away in spectacular fashion, I fishtailed a bit then took a wee detour over the grass. From that moment onwards, the traction control stayed firmly on! The track was pretty damp so the TC light was flickering away like mad. As the track started to dry out a bit I was getting a bit braver and pushing a bit harder and was starting to find a little bit more grip, that is when I felt the understeer characteristics coming into play. Nothing drastic but I imagine on a completely dry track it would be a lot more prominent. The power of the car was plentiful and the long third gear was excellent, especially on a short track like Knockhill. I did find that I slid around a fair bit in the seats, so some extra lumber support would be good but it's not a big deal as the car will only be doing occasional trackdays. I was also pleasantly surprised at how efficient the oil cooler is. My temps never rose about 100 although I realise on a hotter and drier day that they will go higher.
Overall, I found the car very difficult to drive smooth and fast. That is, I believe, very little to do with the car itself and more my own skills. It felt very nervous and when the rear did let go it wasn't very progressive, I found it really snappy which made it very hard to control at times, even with the TC on. I do believe that once I get to grips with the car and learn how to properly control it, then it will be a very rewarding car to drive. I can't wait to get back on track but before that happens, some grippier tyres will be put on the rear and the brake pads will be upgraded. All said and done though, I'm still absolutely loving the M
I knew the car would be twitchy but nowhere near as twitchy as I actually found it. All I can say is thank god for the traction control. I have critised it in the past on here for road use, but by god, it is very very good on track. If it wasn't for the TC my night would have ended very early. I turned it off once and fell off at the first corner!! As I exited the corner and got on the power, the rear stepped away in spectacular fashion, I fishtailed a bit then took a wee detour over the grass. From that moment onwards, the traction control stayed firmly on! The track was pretty damp so the TC light was flickering away like mad. As the track started to dry out a bit I was getting a bit braver and pushing a bit harder and was starting to find a little bit more grip, that is when I felt the understeer characteristics coming into play. Nothing drastic but I imagine on a completely dry track it would be a lot more prominent. The power of the car was plentiful and the long third gear was excellent, especially on a short track like Knockhill. I did find that I slid around a fair bit in the seats, so some extra lumber support would be good but it's not a big deal as the car will only be doing occasional trackdays. I was also pleasantly surprised at how efficient the oil cooler is. My temps never rose about 100 although I realise on a hotter and drier day that they will go higher.
Overall, I found the car very difficult to drive smooth and fast. That is, I believe, very little to do with the car itself and more my own skills. It felt very nervous and when the rear did let go it wasn't very progressive, I found it really snappy which made it very hard to control at times, even with the TC on. I do believe that once I get to grips with the car and learn how to properly control it, then it will be a very rewarding car to drive. I can't wait to get back on track but before that happens, some grippier tyres will be put on the rear and the brake pads will be upgraded. All said and done though, I'm still absolutely loving the M
It really needs the TC off to get going, the intrusion is too much on track - you push for power and get nothing, so you can't push the back put as its designed for. Very disappointing without a track mode built in. It's worth taking on a handling day or two to get to grips with it off. Andy Walsh does a good session that really helped me get confident with handling. Then it's smokey slides and M diff fun all the way! PS you can add quite a bit of camber which really helps with the understeer, standard setup is pretty conservative...
The Z4MC rewards very smooth driving. The smoother you are, the quicker you will go... If you spun it on a corner exit it means three things: too much gas, s
t tyres and the steering wheel was not straight... Two of these you can dial out via practising. The third, you need to place a call with Camskill/Black Circles etc ASAP. st tyres and a Z4MC in particular don't make for a good mix in terms of handling, especially when pushing hard on the car....
t tyres and the steering wheel was not straight... Two of these you can dial out via practising. The third, you need to place a call with Camskill/Black Circles etc ASAP. st tyres and a Z4MC in particular don't make for a good mix in terms of handling, especially when pushing hard on the car....Defo need some decent rubber to drive in the wet quick, I did Sliverstone with some Verd's and it was awful. In the dry it's a different story.
The Z4M was faster than I thought it would be in the dry at the ring, but you've got to be smooth and matching the revs on the downshift is a must.
The Z4M was faster than I thought it would be in the dry at the ring, but you've got to be smooth and matching the revs on the downshift is a must.
wheelsmith said:
Defo need some decent rubber to drive in the wet quick, I did Sliverstone with some Verd's and it was awful. In the dry it's a different story.
The Z4M was faster than I thought it would be in the dry at the ring, but you've got to be smooth and matching the revs on the downshift is a must.
If you are prepared to go for it, a Z4MC easily can go to very low 8s BTG...The Z4M was faster than I thought it would be in the dry at the ring, but you've got to be smooth and matching the revs on the downshift is a must.
I'm in the same boat as far as rubber is concerned. It really is hilarious with those tyres on and you have to be on your game, 100% focussed to predict the wheelspin that can occur at pretty much any point*. My 120D running Bridgestones and Pirellis has far more wet grip and is way more predictable.
*When you hit wet patches with overhanging trees, 5th gear, low rev, 75mph powerslides occur.
*When you hit wet patches with overhanging trees, 5th gear, low rev, 75mph powerslides occur.
tjlazer said:
It really needs the TC off to get going, the intrusion is too much on track - you push for power and get nothing, so you can't push the back put as its designed for. Very disappointing without a track mode built in. It's worth taking on a handling day or two to get to grips with it off. Andy Walsh does a good session that really helped me get confident with handling. Then it's smokey slides and M diff fun all the way! PS you can add quite a bit of camber which really helps with the understeer, standard setup is pretty conservative...
At some point, I plan to change the toe and camber settings to something a bit more involving. Would you mind posting your settings for me to try?bennyboysvuk said:
At some point, I plan to change the toe and camber settings to something a bit more involving. Would you mind posting your settings for me to try?
This is what you need, reduces the understeer and makes things far more progressive.Front Camber -1.5 or higher if you want.
Zero toe
Rear camber -1.3
Slight toe in.
These are similar settings to the M3 CSL.
Edited by daz05 on Friday 17th May 11:55
daz05 said:
This is what you need, reduces the understeer and makes things far more progressive.
Front Camber -1.5 or higher if you want.
Zero toe
Rear camber -1.3
Slight toe in.
These are similar settings to the M3 CSL.
That's a good start, thanks. I had an E46 M3 that was slightly more aggressively set up and it was an absolute neutral joy when on the slippery side of traction. Front Camber -1.5 or higher if you want.
Zero toe
Rear camber -1.3
Slight toe in.
These are similar settings to the M3 CSL.
Easty-5 said:
trackday
It was at Knockhill but in reverse direction.
It had been raining pretty heavy all day so the track was very slippy.
tyres. They are cheapo Acceleras that the dealer put on the car before I collected it.
I found the car very difficult to drive smooth and fast.
These are the important parts It was at Knockhill but in reverse direction.
It had been raining pretty heavy all day so the track was very slippy.
tyres. They are cheapo Acceleras that the dealer put on the car before I collected it.
I found the car very difficult to drive smooth and fast.
If you mean Alpha Accelera's, I've never driven on a worse tyre in the wet. Even the slightest sign on damp is enough for them to turn to well oiled cheese.
Having had a particularly fun day last summer at Knockhill reverse, it's a cracking track, but you must have gargantuan gonads to attack it in a RWD Z4M in the wet shod with accelera's! I reckon once you get them changed your experience will change completely.
wheelsmith said:
Defo need some decent rubber to drive in the wet quick, I did Sliverstone with some Verd's and it was awful. In the dry it's a different story.
The Z4M was faster than I thought it would be in the dry at the ring, but you've got to be smooth and matching the revs on the downshift is a must.
We're they the Ultracentrifugation Sessanta's (excuse spelling if wrong)?The Z4M was faster than I thought it would be in the dry at the ring, but you've got to be smooth and matching the revs on the downshift is a must.
I found these excellent on the road in the wet - in what way did you find them awful?
Herbs said:
We're they the Ultracentrifugation Sessanta's (excuse spelling if wrong)?
I found these excellent on the road in the wet - in what way did you find them awful?
Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta are the ones.I found these excellent on the road in the wet - in what way did you find them awful?
I found them quite good on the road in the wet too, just an overall lack of ability to put the power down in the wet.
I had Michelin pilot super sports on my z4m coupe. I also had the camber changed for occasional track use. I also fitted eibach springs along with better pads and fluid with braided hoses all round. It was brilliant in the dry with so much grip
. I never experienced a track day in the wet though. I found it very neutral with very little understeer and massive amounts of grip at the rear. It will always do the sideways action on demand. It gave you plenty of confidence to push on with the traction control off. The only niggle i had was sliding in the seats! Some lightweight bucket seats would have been great but I didn't do enough track days to warrant it.
. I never experienced a track day in the wet though. I found it very neutral with very little understeer and massive amounts of grip at the rear. It will always do the sideways action on demand. It gave you plenty of confidence to push on with the traction control off. The only niggle i had was sliding in the seats! Some lightweight bucket seats would have been great but I didn't do enough track days to warrant it.
Easty-5 said:
Michelin pilot Supersports ordered for the rear and some tuition will be arranged for next week
Good mini review as ever :-)On the tyres - its down to personal preference, but I always find contisport 3's are a cracking tyre on the Z4m and the M3, their wet handling is superb,
I will happily come out with you if you want at the next trackday, once you ahev confidence in your ability and the car is amazing what the z4 will take, make sure the diff is working well too - it may need modified oil if its getting 'snappy'
here is a short vid of my last wet knockhill in reverse in the z4m,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42400855@N02/85086866...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42400855@N02/85084978...
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