Preparing a BMW 330ci for its first track day
Discussion
Morning chaps.
Looking for advice on getting an E46 ready for track.
Now I know the brakes aren't the best and there appears to be a shudder coming from the front brakes under harder braking, so my plan was to change the discs but upgrade to Ferrodo pads-I heard DS2500s were sufficient?
Do you think a strut bar/brace is warranted?
Any other advice is appreciated.
Tyre wise, it's currently fitted with Goodyear Eagle F1s
Looking for advice on getting an E46 ready for track.
Now I know the brakes aren't the best and there appears to be a shudder coming from the front brakes under harder braking, so my plan was to change the discs but upgrade to Ferrodo pads-I heard DS2500s were sufficient?
Do you think a strut bar/brace is warranted?
Any other advice is appreciated.
Tyre wise, it's currently fitted with Goodyear Eagle F1s
My best advice would be 2 fold.
1. Read other recent threads on this subject in this same area of the forum, you will only need to go down a couple of pages to find several.
2. BRAKES, BRAKES, BRAKES are the only jobs you NEED to do for your first day as there is NOTHING worse than cooking your fluid/losing your pedal in the corner at the end of the straight (insert track here) and binning the car.
New/recent discs.
DS2500 aren't enough for track use, you will likely go through a full set of fronts in a day.
Full fluid replacement with fresh ATE Type 200 from ECP/GSF.
On top of these essentials a fluid service beforehand will not go amis, take your time, build up your speed slowly, keep your times on track short to start, keep regular checks on your/your car's fluids and you brake pads through the day, when you do your first stint check your tyre pressures & drop them back to normal cold pressures, remembering to top them back up for the drive home.
1. Read other recent threads on this subject in this same area of the forum, you will only need to go down a couple of pages to find several.
2. BRAKES, BRAKES, BRAKES are the only jobs you NEED to do for your first day as there is NOTHING worse than cooking your fluid/losing your pedal in the corner at the end of the straight (insert track here) and binning the car.
New/recent discs.
DS2500 aren't enough for track use, you will likely go through a full set of fronts in a day.
Full fluid replacement with fresh ATE Type 200 from ECP/GSF.
On top of these essentials a fluid service beforehand will not go amis, take your time, build up your speed slowly, keep your times on track short to start, keep regular checks on your/your car's fluids and you brake pads through the day, when you do your first stint check your tyre pressures & drop them back to normal cold pressures, remembering to top them back up for the drive home.
I'd recommend two items to change on the car for your first track day.... as above really 
Front pads and fluid
I have used this MOTUL RBF 660 RACING BRAKE in 3 cars that ive used at the track:
https://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/Product.do?method=v...
Pads are an interesting one... i normally run BlueStuff however, they are not cheap. Currently trying RedStuff for Abington next week.
BlueStuff are awesome pads, strong bite but are very dusty.
Hope that helps,
Peter
Front pads and fluid
I have used this MOTUL RBF 660 RACING BRAKE in 3 cars that ive used at the track:
https://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/Product.do?method=v...
Pads are an interesting one... i normally run BlueStuff however, they are not cheap. Currently trying RedStuff for Abington next week.
BlueStuff are awesome pads, strong bite but are very dusty.
Hope that helps,
Peter
daveco said:
Thanks for the advice, all noted.
I will check other threads but what pads do you suggest?
There as many recommendations out there as there are people doing track days but my personal favourites are, in no particular order.I will check other threads but what pads do you suggest?
Pagid RS29
DS Uno
DS1.11
Depending on your calipers will depend on what is available.
Yes, they are more expensive but Yes, they are worth it.
As an example an e36 I had before would use a set of DS2500 or EBC anything (tried them all) in under 1 day and cost around £110/set.
Each of the above cost around £200/230 a set & would last a year of track days with meat to spare.
For the first track day, its just brake fluid and pads.
During the day, you will find other items that need addressing, possibly upgrading the clutch fluid or tires for example.
For suspension, I would look at coilovers with damper adjustment - however, my car that I only use on track (Nissan 350z GT) is still running on standard suspension.
I would go, enjoy and see what needs to be done.
Enjoy,
P
During the day, you will find other items that need addressing, possibly upgrading the clutch fluid or tires for example.
For suspension, I would look at coilovers with damper adjustment - however, my car that I only use on track (Nissan 350z GT) is still running on standard suspension.
I would go, enjoy and see what needs to be done.
Enjoy,
P
Edited by Welsh_Meat on Friday 29th June 13:12
These would appear to be the DS1.11 for your car, check first obviously.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ferodo-DS1-11-Front-Bra...
DS 2500 will be fine on the rear to go with these, as rears don't do very much when heavy braking.
On the subject of anything other than brakes just wait & see how you get on.
There is always more you can do but learn to walk first.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ferodo-DS1-11-Front-Bra...
DS 2500 will be fine on the rear to go with these, as rears don't do very much when heavy braking.
On the subject of anything other than brakes just wait & see how you get on.
There is always more you can do but learn to walk first.
I was in the same boat as you a few weeks ago. I am now on my 3rd track day and have sorted somethings out. I was given the same advice as you and it is sound. I have done things a little differently however.
Fluid change should be done or at the very least checked. I was able to do everything except a brake fluid change which i did after my first track day. It was certainly worth it as my old stuff was gross and i had to flush the system several times to get it clean. I used what e bmw suggested.
My oem pads where still ok for a track day or 2 so i went with those. My fronts are oem bmw but my rears were just junk whatevers. The front survived fine for now my 3rd track day but my rears were ruined after the first one. I needed pads and rotors for the rear at that point so i went with brembo rotors and against nearly all advise i put ebc redstuff on there as well. So far so good. Stopping is vastly better and works fine on the street. Is it the best? no but it works for me on my budget. When the fronts need replacing i will probably go with the same setup if everything is still good. In the ideal world i would have gone with the better pads but to be honest they would have cost me more than i paid for the car and i dont think im at the level of driving yet to actually need them.
I did go against the grain again a little with fitting a rear strut mount brace. While that little money may have been better spent i was worried about ripping my struts apart and the brace prevents that. To add to my paranoia i found one of my struts bushings had started to rip so i really wanted to take care of that whole area first. Nothing is gained with the brace except piece of mind but im glad i did it.
I would add take out extra weight if you can. It really made a difference with mine. so much so the car sits way higher now in the rear.
Keep an eye on tire pressures, especially with this heat.
Have fun and go easy. No need to push everything to the limit. Brake early and move out of the way for over takers. You will spot what you need to upgrade next by the end of the day.
Fluid change should be done or at the very least checked. I was able to do everything except a brake fluid change which i did after my first track day. It was certainly worth it as my old stuff was gross and i had to flush the system several times to get it clean. I used what e bmw suggested.
My oem pads where still ok for a track day or 2 so i went with those. My fronts are oem bmw but my rears were just junk whatevers. The front survived fine for now my 3rd track day but my rears were ruined after the first one. I needed pads and rotors for the rear at that point so i went with brembo rotors and against nearly all advise i put ebc redstuff on there as well. So far so good. Stopping is vastly better and works fine on the street. Is it the best? no but it works for me on my budget. When the fronts need replacing i will probably go with the same setup if everything is still good. In the ideal world i would have gone with the better pads but to be honest they would have cost me more than i paid for the car and i dont think im at the level of driving yet to actually need them.
I did go against the grain again a little with fitting a rear strut mount brace. While that little money may have been better spent i was worried about ripping my struts apart and the brace prevents that. To add to my paranoia i found one of my struts bushings had started to rip so i really wanted to take care of that whole area first. Nothing is gained with the brace except piece of mind but im glad i did it.
I would add take out extra weight if you can. It really made a difference with mine. so much so the car sits way higher now in the rear.
Keep an eye on tire pressures, especially with this heat.
Have fun and go easy. No need to push everything to the limit. Brake early and move out of the way for over takers. You will spot what you need to upgrade next by the end of the day.
This is a well trodden path for me trust me!!
all the advice above is good especially the advice on brakes and knowing when you have had enough 90% off accidents happen on the last session.
if you are going uprate the car start with the brakes and move on from there,
braded lines, uprated fluid and RS29 Pads
please note buy cheap buy twice!!!
EBC pads on a BMW are crap! the car is to heavy and you will cook the pads after the morning
get some decent discs and Pagid RS29 pads, they are expensive but worth every penny I run them on my E36 and my CSL.
all the fun bits like suspension and exhausts can come later but get the stoppers sorted first.
all the advice above is good especially the advice on brakes and knowing when you have had enough 90% off accidents happen on the last session.
if you are going uprate the car start with the brakes and move on from there,
braded lines, uprated fluid and RS29 Pads
please note buy cheap buy twice!!!
EBC pads on a BMW are crap! the car is to heavy and you will cook the pads after the morning
get some decent discs and Pagid RS29 pads, they are expensive but worth every penny I run them on my E36 and my CSL.
all the fun bits like suspension and exhausts can come later but get the stoppers sorted first.
Right, new brake discs have been purchased (grooved only), along with redstuff EBC pads (apparently good for cars up to 250hp that are a bit lardy), and new brake fluid for track work, based on all your advice.
The first track session is only a half day affair due to work, so will consider upgrading pads and suspension if all goes well.
The first track session is only a half day affair due to work, so will consider upgrading pads and suspension if all goes well.
daveco said:
E-bmw said:
daveco said:
redstuff EBC pads based on all your advice.
Didn't see anyone advising them, just make sure you have another set to fit for the drive home......... Seriously!
Seriously, for your own peace of mind take a set of road pads with you as the best I ever had out of any EBC was lunchtime at a track day & there was less than 1mm left on them and that was a much lighter e36.
E-bmw said:
daveco said:
E-bmw said:
daveco said:
redstuff EBC pads based on all your advice.
Didn't see anyone advising them, just make sure you have another set to fit for the drive home......... Seriously!Seriously, for your own peace of mind take a set of road pads with you as the best I ever had out of any EBC was lunchtime at a track day & there was less than 1mm left on them and that was a much lighter e36.
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