E46 M3's on track...
Discussion
Thought some of you may enjoy this vid and hope Simon sees it
It was taken at Brands Hatch.. absolutely brilliant fun!!!!
Both cars are the same other than mine has standard brakes/MPSS tyres and the red car has ap 6 pots/Federal RS-R's..
Anyone in two minds about tracking their M3 hopefully this vid will help
Cheers,
Sam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZLT0nG8J94

It was taken at Brands Hatch.. absolutely brilliant fun!!!!
Both cars are the same other than mine has standard brakes/MPSS tyres and the red car has ap 6 pots/Federal RS-R's..
Anyone in two minds about tracking their M3 hopefully this vid will help

Cheers,
Sam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZLT0nG8J94
Great video! I would like to do Brands soon in mine too (it's my closest track but never been!).
Had my e46 out at Bedford on Saturday - also standard with MPSS, managed 170 miles on track and the car held up perfectly. So much fun! The Michelins seem to be invincible, not showing any real noticeable wear. The shoulders of my PS2 would have been a state.
As you were saying the OEM brakes will hang on lap after lap, but inspire no confidence at all once they're hot. I'm aiming to try some more track focussed pads before spending big on callipers.
Had my e46 out at Bedford on Saturday - also standard with MPSS, managed 170 miles on track and the car held up perfectly. So much fun! The Michelins seem to be invincible, not showing any real noticeable wear. The shoulders of my PS2 would have been a state.
As you were saying the OEM brakes will hang on lap after lap, but inspire no confidence at all once they're hot. I'm aiming to try some more track focussed pads before spending big on callipers.
NickXX said:
Great video! I would like to do Brands soon in mine too (it's my closest track but never been!).
Had my e46 out at Bedford on Saturday - also standard with MPSS, managed 170 miles on track and the car held up perfectly. So much fun! The Michelins seem to be invincible, not showing any real noticeable wear. The shoulders of my PS2 would have been a state.
As you were saying the OEM brakes will hang on lap after lap, but inspire no confidence at all once they're hot. I'm aiming to try some more track focussed pads before spending big on callipers.
The SS are epic tyres, beat PS2 hands down at everything. For track use they rape a tyre like the F1AS2 which so many rave about but put a set on an M3, go on track and in 2hrs they will be melted. Had my e46 out at Bedford on Saturday - also standard with MPSS, managed 170 miles on track and the car held up perfectly. So much fun! The Michelins seem to be invincible, not showing any real noticeable wear. The shoulders of my PS2 would have been a state.
As you were saying the OEM brakes will hang on lap after lap, but inspire no confidence at all once they're hot. I'm aiming to try some more track focussed pads before spending big on callipers.

The SS should give about 15-20 trackdays plus upto 10k miles or upto 30k miles no track use, how Michelin pulled it off I don't know but I so wish could get them in 18's for my M3.

Looks like fun, but you've got a huge amount of lap time to come purely in your lines. 
I only ever tracked my M3 once and the brake pedal got very long, very quickly. I used Conti Sport 2s and a chunk about 2 inches x 6 inches came off one of the rears after a particularly long powerslide. T'was a hugely entertaining day though.

I only ever tracked my M3 once and the brake pedal got very long, very quickly. I used Conti Sport 2s and a chunk about 2 inches x 6 inches came off one of the rears after a particularly long powerslide. T'was a hugely entertaining day though.

NickXX said:
Great video! I would like to do Brands soon in mine too (it's my closest track but never been!).
Had my e46 out at Bedford on Saturday - also standard with MPSS, managed 170 miles on track and the car held up perfectly. So much fun! The Michelins seem to be invincible, not showing any real noticeable wear. The shoulders of my PS2 would have been a state.
As you were saying the OEM brakes will hang on lap after lap, but inspire no confidence at all once they're hot. I'm aiming to try some more track focussed pads before spending big on callipers.
170 miles on track - good effort!!! Completely agree about the MPSS - I too was amazed at how well they wore and the amount of grip. I first experienced them as a passenger on a r35 GTR, couldn't believe the grip they got and couldn't believe how well they stood up to the abuse... Had my e46 out at Bedford on Saturday - also standard with MPSS, managed 170 miles on track and the car held up perfectly. So much fun! The Michelins seem to be invincible, not showing any real noticeable wear. The shoulders of my PS2 would have been a state.
As you were saying the OEM brakes will hang on lap after lap, but inspire no confidence at all once they're hot. I'm aiming to try some more track focussed pads before spending big on callipers.
Towards the end of the vid the brakes were fading but they still lasted ok. From what people say on forums etc I wasn't expecting them to last at all and the main thing is that they're still in good order now
I had ps3 before and they were brilliant, the shoulder of the front left wore down quite a lot but the grip was excellent even at the very end of their lives.. If you go for uprated pads you might kill the discs, worth keeping in mind...
I'd never driven it as hard as that before and was worried I was going to kill the tyres and brakes but it was fine

Gibbo - I hope you're right about the tyre life! 
Bennyboy - I'd like to go much quicker!! Unlikely with my skills but where would you say I could save huge time? Should I be following the turn-in, apex and exit cones? Tearing inch long strips off a tyre only comes from repeated drifting;)

Bennyboy - I'd like to go much quicker!! Unlikely with my skills but where would you say I could save huge time? Should I be following the turn-in, apex and exit cones? Tearing inch long strips off a tyre only comes from repeated drifting;)
e36er said:
I only watched 1 lap so maybe shouldn't comment, but you're far too tight on the exit of Clark. Looked pretty good to me apart from that though.
You've not sold the R32 have you?!
Yeah, lines through clear ways and exiting were a bit .. Crap... I didn't really want to 'use' the brakes too much so wasn't getting good turn in.. The more I do brands the more I realise how slow I am lol if that makes sense?You've not sold the R32 have you?!
Still have the Datsun, sadly broke the g'box last time

Hope it'll be back soon though

totally agree with the OP.
sounds the same as mine.
I am running 595 RSR, standard brakes friction Z pads and ZF brake fluid.
Will happily do hour long stints at knockhill, although the friction Z pads have increased the wear rate on the discs somewhat!
Changing the pads and fluid allowed me to run the car for much longer stints for a fairly small outlay.
sounds the same as mine.
I am running 595 RSR, standard brakes friction Z pads and ZF brake fluid.
Will happily do hour long stints at knockhill, although the friction Z pads have increased the wear rate on the discs somewhat!
Changing the pads and fluid allowed me to run the car for much longer stints for a fairly small outlay.
Thanks - I love the Datsun and can't imagine being without it
Yeah good to hear others are making do with the standard brake setup- any Internet forum info would suggest instant death when using the standard brakes on track lol!
That said I would like some nice big stoppers on it!
I was really impressed with how it did on track, despite my driving it did constant 57 sec laps without destroying the brakes and tyres

Yeah good to hear others are making do with the standard brake setup- any Internet forum info would suggest instant death when using the standard brakes on track lol!
That said I would like some nice big stoppers on it!
I was really impressed with how it did on track, despite my driving it did constant 57 sec laps without destroying the brakes and tyres

git-r said:
Bennyboy - I'd like to go much quicker!! Unlikely with my skills but where would you say I could save huge time? Should I be following the turn-in, apex and exit cones? Tearing inch long strips off a tyre only comes from repeated drifting;)
From what I could tell from the video, before you turn into Paddock, you could be a litter further to the left. You need to go slightly deeper into Druids and turn in later. As you exit Surtees you can get on the power again and head towards the left side of the circuit just after McLarens (I think the other M3 that you were following did this), then make a double apex out of Clearways. Then you're home and dry. 
bennyboysvuk said:
From what I could tell from the video, before you turn into Paddock, you could be a litter further to the left. You need to go slightly deeper into Druids and turn in later. As you exit Surtees you can get on the power again and head towards the left side of the circuit just after McLarens (I think the other M3 that you were following did this), then make a double apex out of Clearways. Then you're home and dry. 
Ahh I think I used to take the lines you describe... I've heard these lines referred to as track day lines.. When you follow them, you often see a racer appear as though they want to undertake on the entrance to the corner - they take a diffeent line and having tried both I think the racers line is quicker.. I've had instructors tell me opposite things about which lines to take and don't have the knowledge/skill to decide by myself! 
Going by lap times I'm not sure I could go much quicker - my track car does 52.8 secs - the time attack club class lap record of Brands is 52.6 - I do think a decent driver would go quicker in my car but unfortunately the staff at brands aren't allowed to drive customers cars on track (I've asked several times before!).
I also think there are lots of different ways to go round brands and still get the same lap time...
I'd never claim to know about any of this though - I'm no expert! ... I do absolutely love doing track days though.. An amateur!! Lol
DasChin said:
just goes to show that if you know what you are doing in a car and the track well you can keep up well.
good driving skills and loved the skyline video too.
brands indy way too short for that sort of grunt.
Thanks mategood driving skills and loved the skyline video too.
brands indy way too short for that sort of grunt.

That skyline is the quickest thing I've ever experienced - 8500rpm and still pulling!
Beedub said:
read some very good reviews about the federal rsr.....
I'm on my second set of these on my track car. They wear very well but the grip really decreases with use and more importantly they get out of shape, causing a lot of vibration! My second set were only about 300 so def worth that but I paid around 600 for my first set.. I won't be using them again unless I find them cheap.. git-r said:
I'm on my second set of these on my track car. They wear very well but the grip really decreases with use and more importantly they get out of shape, causing a lot of vibration! My second set were only about 300 so def worth that but I paid around 600 for my first set.. I won't be using them again unless I find them cheap..
bmtr birmingham quoted me 475 for a brand new set in 235/40/18 and 265/35/18, pretty incredible for new semi slicks!!Beedub said:
git-r said:
I'm on my second set of these on my track car. They wear very well but the grip really decreases with use and more importantly they get out of shape, causing a lot of vibration! My second set were only about 300 so def worth that but I paid around 600 for my first set.. I won't be using them again unless I find them cheap..
bmtr birmingham quoted me 475 for a brand new set in 235/40/18 and 265/35/18, pretty incredible for new semi slicks!!git-r said:
Ahh I think I used to take the lines you describe... I've heard these lines referred to as track day lines.. When you follow them, you often see a racer appear as though they want to undertake on the entrance to the corner - they take a diffeent line and having tried both I think the racers line is quicker.. I've had instructors tell me opposite things about which lines to take and don't have the knowledge/skill to decide by myself!
Going by lap times I'm not sure I could go much quicker - my track car does 52.8 secs - the time attack club class lap record of Brands is 52.6 - I do think a decent driver would go quicker in my car but unfortunately the staff at brands aren't allowed to drive customers cars on track (I've asked several times before!).
I also think there are lots of different ways to go round brands and still get the same lap time...
I'd never claim to know about any of this though - I'm no expert! ... I do absolutely love doing track days though.. An amateur!! Lol
I reckon they're the quickest lines for ultimate lap time, but like you say, they would leave the door wide open in a race and if someone was even close-ish, they could dive up the inside. It would be interesting to see a speed comparison down Graham Hill and the pit straight when trying these different lines. Does anyone have an LTI 20/20 and some tracktime to do a comparison? Going by lap times I'm not sure I could go much quicker - my track car does 52.8 secs - the time attack club class lap record of Brands is 52.6 - I do think a decent driver would go quicker in my car but unfortunately the staff at brands aren't allowed to drive customers cars on track (I've asked several times before!).
I also think there are lots of different ways to go round brands and still get the same lap time...
I'd never claim to know about any of this though - I'm no expert! ... I do absolutely love doing track days though.. An amateur!! Lol

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