Trackdaying E90 M3
Discussion
I'm sure this has been 'done to death' but I can never seem to get the search function to work on here so, with apologies, who on here has experience of using their cars hard on track and what specific mods have served you well? I'm thinking of brakes and tyres obviously but anything else of interest would be great too.
Cheers guys.
Cheers guys.
Don't get me wrong: I love my M3, but I believe it's not the best car for trackdays.
The main problem is its weight which cause the brakes to fade very quickly and the tyres to heat up (watch pressures immediately after each run, they easily double in pressure!) and eventually degrade considerably. I have a DCT box, but if you have a manual I suspect that the clutch will have a difficult time too (unless you rev match each and every shift perfectly).
Also turn-in is less than razor sharp for track conditions and in fast turns you will feel the car "dance" on its suspension.
I did some Nordschleife practice laps for a race event and also an hour long session for road cars on Spa during one of our races. Neither track is excessively demanding on brakes.
As someone else already mentioned, the Z4M Coupe is considerably better because of less weight and lower COG. It fact it is one of the few roadcars which positively surprised me on track.
So unless you considerably modify critical parts (pads, discs, calipers, brake lines and fluids, dampers, tyres, etc...) you will end up underwhelmed by the E9x as a pure track toy of you drive it over 7/10's.
I massively enjoy it on the road every time though and that already for the last 50,000 miles!
The main problem is its weight which cause the brakes to fade very quickly and the tyres to heat up (watch pressures immediately after each run, they easily double in pressure!) and eventually degrade considerably. I have a DCT box, but if you have a manual I suspect that the clutch will have a difficult time too (unless you rev match each and every shift perfectly).
Also turn-in is less than razor sharp for track conditions and in fast turns you will feel the car "dance" on its suspension.
I did some Nordschleife practice laps for a race event and also an hour long session for road cars on Spa during one of our races. Neither track is excessively demanding on brakes.
As someone else already mentioned, the Z4M Coupe is considerably better because of less weight and lower COG. It fact it is one of the few roadcars which positively surprised me on track.
So unless you considerably modify critical parts (pads, discs, calipers, brake lines and fluids, dampers, tyres, etc...) you will end up underwhelmed by the E9x as a pure track toy of you drive it over 7/10's.
I massively enjoy it on the road every time though and that already for the last 50,000 miles!
Nur Links said:
Don't get me wrong: I love my M3, but I believe it's not the best car for trackdays.
The main problem is its weight which cause the brakes to fade very quickly and the tyres to heat up (watch pressures immediately after each run, they easily double in pressure!) and eventually degrade considerably. I have a DCT box, but if you have a manual I suspect that the clutch will have a difficult time too (unless you rev match each and every shift perfectly).
Also turn-in is less than razor sharp for track conditions and in fast turns you will feel the car "dance" on its suspension.
I did some Nordschleife practice laps for a race event and also an hour long session for road cars on Spa during one of our races. Neither track is excessively demanding on brakes.
As someone else already mentioned, the Z4M Coupe is considerably better because of less weight and lower COG. It fact it is one of the few roadcars which positively surprised me on track.
So unless you considerably modify critical parts (pads, discs, calipers, brake lines and fluids, dampers, tyres, etc...) you will end up underwhelmed by the E9x as a pure track toy of you drive it over 7/10's.
I massively enjoy it on the road every time though and that already for the last 50,000 miles!
Appreciate all that Nur. No road car is much cop on track tbo. Even GT3s and the like need modifying. However I believe that the M3 will get myself, mates & luggage to place like the 'Ring etc in comfort and be fun while there. I have a Radical and other things if I want to race a proper track car (in which case it wouldn't be at a track day). However I believe trackdays are more about fun and not necessarily about finding the quickest way round. So an 'imperfect' track car with decent power, rwd that moves around a bit fits the bill.The main problem is its weight which cause the brakes to fade very quickly and the tyres to heat up (watch pressures immediately after each run, they easily double in pressure!) and eventually degrade considerably. I have a DCT box, but if you have a manual I suspect that the clutch will have a difficult time too (unless you rev match each and every shift perfectly).
Also turn-in is less than razor sharp for track conditions and in fast turns you will feel the car "dance" on its suspension.
I did some Nordschleife practice laps for a race event and also an hour long session for road cars on Spa during one of our races. Neither track is excessively demanding on brakes.
As someone else already mentioned, the Z4M Coupe is considerably better because of less weight and lower COG. It fact it is one of the few roadcars which positively surprised me on track.
So unless you considerably modify critical parts (pads, discs, calipers, brake lines and fluids, dampers, tyres, etc...) you will end up underwhelmed by the E9x as a pure track toy of you drive it over 7/10's.
I massively enjoy it on the road every time though and that already for the last 50,000 miles!
So, my question was has anyone specific experience of modifying their M3s for the track - to at least allow the car to get through a full day, without turning it into a stripped out race car - and if so what have you done.
Cheers guys.
Edited by Pugsey on Tuesday 8th February 08:40
I have put kw suspension on mine and 8 pot brakes on the front and four pots on the back with 380mm discs all round similar to the brembo kit and its all fully floating.The car is now in a different league to drive and on cups its superb.I go to the ring a few times a year and only use it for fun,and im keeping it for a while so just wanted it right for me on track.
griff7 said:
I have put kw suspension on mine and 8 pot brakes on the front and four pots on the back with 380mm discs all round similar to the brembo kit and its all fully floating.The car is now in a different league to drive and on cups its superb.I go to the ring a few times a year and only use it for fun,and im keeping it for a while so just wanted it right for me on track.
Griff. Cheers for that mate. Still acceptable day to day on road?Pugsey,
A lot is said about M-cars on track...you know, you need to upgrade brakes etc etc
I have tracked my M5, just to release the beast in full M mode....S6, DSC off.....it was just awesome, handling beautifully for such a heavy thing.
The trick is not to go mad.....warm your car up gently, do a few sessions (maybe 10-15 mins max) and let it cool/breathe in between times.....basically treat it with mechanical sympathy. Keep an eye on tyre pressures and oil temp too....torquing nuts is no bad thing.
I had been told to expect to need new tyres and brakes etc.....nothing of the sort was required. In essence, you can absolutely enjoy your car on track, but only if you have a sense of moderation.
Top Tip: Want to go mad for a few laps? Use someone else's car!!
As for insurance, I used to worry about that, until my first session.....I realised that I was actually safer on track than on public roads! (No trackday insurance is purchased by most people on there.....they respect everyone and tread carefully, occasional nob excepted)
And the other thing about trackday insurance.....there are loads of things they won't do in the event of an accident....lots of little get out clauses, to the extent that you have to ask if it's worth buying in the first place.
Why not try Club MSV?
Enjoy your M3 on track....it really is fabulous!
Jazzer
A lot is said about M-cars on track...you know, you need to upgrade brakes etc etc
I have tracked my M5, just to release the beast in full M mode....S6, DSC off.....it was just awesome, handling beautifully for such a heavy thing.
The trick is not to go mad.....warm your car up gently, do a few sessions (maybe 10-15 mins max) and let it cool/breathe in between times.....basically treat it with mechanical sympathy. Keep an eye on tyre pressures and oil temp too....torquing nuts is no bad thing.
I had been told to expect to need new tyres and brakes etc.....nothing of the sort was required. In essence, you can absolutely enjoy your car on track, but only if you have a sense of moderation.
Top Tip: Want to go mad for a few laps? Use someone else's car!!
As for insurance, I used to worry about that, until my first session.....I realised that I was actually safer on track than on public roads! (No trackday insurance is purchased by most people on there.....they respect everyone and tread carefully, occasional nob excepted)
And the other thing about trackday insurance.....there are loads of things they won't do in the event of an accident....lots of little get out clauses, to the extent that you have to ask if it's worth buying in the first place.
Why not try Club MSV?
Enjoy your M3 on track....it really is fabulous!
Jazzer
Jazzer said:
Pugsey,
A lot is said about M-cars on track...you know, you need to upgrade brakes etc etc
I have tracked my M5, just to release the beast in full M mode....S6, DSC off.....it was just awesome, handling beautifully for such a heavy thing.
The trick is not to go mad.....warm your car up gently, do a few sessions (maybe 10-15 mins max) and let it cool/breathe in between times.....basically treat it with mechanical sympathy. Keep an eye on tyre pressures and oil temp too....torquing nuts is no bad thing.
I had been told to expect to need new tyres and brakes etc.....nothing of the sort was required. In essence, you can absolutely enjoy your car on track, but only if you have a sense of moderation.
Top Tip: Want to go mad for a few laps? Use someone else's car!!
As for insurance, I used to worry about that, until my first session.....I realised that I was actually safer on track than on public roads! (No trackday insurance is purchased by most people on there.....they respect everyone and tread carefully, occasional nob excepted)
And the other thing about trackday insurance.....there are loads of things they won't do in the event of an accident....lots of little get out clauses, to the extent that you have to ask if it's worth buying in the first place.
Why not try Club MSV?
Enjoy your M3 on track....it really is fabulous!
Jazzer
Cheers Jazzer. Good points. Never bothered with insurance for either trackdays or my race cars and never will. Wouldn't go on track unless I was willing to accept the risk. Whilst I've had some 'big ones' racing I feel you'd be pretty unlucky to sustain any real damage at a trackday. I certainly haven't witnessed much over the years - and what I have was nearly all absolute plonkers having their own accidents lol.A lot is said about M-cars on track...you know, you need to upgrade brakes etc etc
I have tracked my M5, just to release the beast in full M mode....S6, DSC off.....it was just awesome, handling beautifully for such a heavy thing.
The trick is not to go mad.....warm your car up gently, do a few sessions (maybe 10-15 mins max) and let it cool/breathe in between times.....basically treat it with mechanical sympathy. Keep an eye on tyre pressures and oil temp too....torquing nuts is no bad thing.
I had been told to expect to need new tyres and brakes etc.....nothing of the sort was required. In essence, you can absolutely enjoy your car on track, but only if you have a sense of moderation.
Top Tip: Want to go mad for a few laps? Use someone else's car!!
As for insurance, I used to worry about that, until my first session.....I realised that I was actually safer on track than on public roads! (No trackday insurance is purchased by most people on there.....they respect everyone and tread carefully, occasional nob excepted)
And the other thing about trackday insurance.....there are loads of things they won't do in the event of an accident....lots of little get out clauses, to the extent that you have to ask if it's worth buying in the first place.
Why not try Club MSV?
Enjoy your M3 on track....it really is fabulous!
Jazzer
Edited by Pugsey on Tuesday 8th February 14:28
Its still great on road as the suspension is clubsport so it is fully adjustable so when i have finished on track i just knock it down a couple of clicks to soften it off a bit,and the high speed damping is superb.The car gets well looked after and warmed up before it goes on track and then i only do 1 lap and have a steady drive to cool the brakes and engine down before parking up when im at the ring.The edc worked ok the first time i went on road tyres on stiff but it was not great.The brakes however lasted just over a lap before the wheel was wobbling like a jelly 
When i put the cups on the edc could not cope with the extra grip and so thats when i decided to upgrade.I use a different set of pads when i go to the ring as well.
The previous owner put new exhaust back boxes on with new air filter and remap to 440bhp so it sounds a little better and goes well on the open german roads with no limiter.
When i put the cups on the edc could not cope with the extra grip and so thats when i decided to upgrade.I use a different set of pads when i go to the ring as well.The previous owner put new exhaust back boxes on with new air filter and remap to 440bhp so it sounds a little better and goes well on the open german roads with no limiter.
griff7 said:
Its still great on road as the suspension is clubsport so it is fully adjustable so when i have finished on track i just knock it down a couple of clicks to soften it off a bit,and the high speed damping is superb.The car gets well looked after and warmed up before it goes on track and then i only do 1 lap and have a steady drive to cool the brakes and engine down before parking up when im at the ring.The edc worked ok the first time i went on road tyres on stiff but it was not great.The brakes however lasted just over a lap before the wheel was wobbling like a jelly When i put the cups on the edc could not cope with the extra grip and so thats when i decided to upgrade.I use a different set of pads when i go to the ring as well.
The previous owner put new exhaust back boxes on with new air filter and remap to 440bhp so it sounds a little better and goes well on the open german roads with no limiter.
Cheers for that. sounds v. well sorted and great fun.When i put the cups on the edc could not cope with the extra grip and so thats when i decided to upgrade.I use a different set of pads when i go to the ring as well.The previous owner put new exhaust back boxes on with new air filter and remap to 440bhp so it sounds a little better and goes well on the open german roads with no limiter.
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