Has anyone converted an E92 M3 into a track car?

[tomvcarter]

Im considering in the future buying an M3 to convert to a road going track car, ie give it the GTS treatment.
Just a wondering if anyone has done the same in here, and how/what they did?
Tks

[motors]

Thorney motorsport have converted an E92. John Thorne should be able to provide you with options and feedback from his results

[Butters]

I met a couple of English guys out at the Nordschleife at Easter last year with E92 track cars. One was white with interior present but notably uprated suspension, brakes and wheels. His friend was in a grey one which had GTS seats, rear cage, rear spoiler and wheels with the rear seats removed. Basically looked like a Grey GTS. Both cars seemed quick on the track but speaking to the owners it seems brakes are a must as being a heavy car you get through them on track. I was running in a stripped/caged E36 M3 track car and it seemed pretty level pegging until you got to the long hilly sections at the back end of the circuit. The extra power/torque enabled them to pull away on the uphill straights.

Both lovely looking cars and I'd love to run a Club Sport type spec one on the road in the future. Very nice indeed!

There seem to be a fair few being run in the States on track and time attack events, I guess because of the cheaper fuel. So worth looking into American tuner sites also...

Hope this helps,

James.

[playalistic]

You'd have to really love the E92 to do this. They're heavy cars even after a diet. The obvious question is why not just buy a CSL?

[AyBee]

BMW have, it's called the GTS

[tomvcarter]

playalistic said:

You'd have to really love the E92 to do this. They're heavy cars even after a diet. The obvious question is why not just buy a CSL?

The CSL was my back up choice, if the E92 route seemed to tricky.
I had an E92 M3 in the past which I loved, but have now moved into a GT3 which is stunning, but as its damn near perfect there is very little I the way of modification to make it better, I miss the modification side to ownership, which is why I'm thinking of hawing back to the E92....
Prices are now pretty reasonable for early E92s so not too much more you could spec it up to GTS levels.
The CSL is probably like the GT3 in that it's already very track based so not that much is needed in terms of modification, but having bever been in one i may be wrong. Plus I find the E46 shape a little too dated now.

[playalistic]

Have you considered a Noble? They're a modders wet dream and a properly brutal track car in the right hands. I'm sure you've had a spanking from one before if you've ever shared a track with your GT3. They like to punish the 'waffe at any opportunity

[griff7]

Butters said:

I met a couple of English guys out at the Nordschleife at Easter last year with E92 track cars. One was white with interior present but notably uprated suspension, brakes and wheels. His friend was in a grey one which had GTS seats, rear cage, rear spoiler and wheels with the rear seats removed. Basically looked like a Grey GTS. Both cars seemed quick on the track but speaking to the owners it seems brakes are a must as being a heavy car you get through them on track. I was running in a stripped/caged E36 M3 track car and it seemed pretty level pegging until you got to the long hilly sections at the back end of the circuit. The extra power/torque enabled them to pull away on the uphill straights.

Both lovely looking cars and I'd love to run a Club Sport type spec one on the road in the future. Very nice indeed!

There seem to be a fair few being run in the States on track and time attack events, I guess because of the cheaper fuel. So worth looking into American tuner sites also...

Hope this helps,

James.

That was me and my friend and they have been modified a bit more now.My mates grey car even though more modified is the slower car on track as he is still learning the track.The tom schimer car is the one to go out in as that is on a different level.
Andy

Edited by griff7 on Saturday 9th June 12:45

[griff7]

tomvcarter said:

Im considering in the future buying an M3 to convert to a road going track car, ie give it the GTS treatment.
Just a wondering if anyone has done the same in here, and how/what they did?
Tks

If you drop me a mail i will give you my number and can tell you all the options and costs.
Andy

[iguana]

griff7 said:

The tom schimer car is the one to go out in as that is on a different level.

White Uk car with m3 BTG plate? He had Schirmer work done I belive.

Nice fella have chatted a few times 'ring & spa.

Edited by iguana on Saturday 9th June 14:27

[griff7]

iguana said:

White Uk car with m3 BTG plate? He had Schirmer work done I belive.

Nice fella have chatted a few times 'ring & spa.

Edited by iguana on Saturday 9th June 14:27

No the schirmer car is black with rear wing and front splitter and no rear seats etc etc and holds a lot of road going circuit records.The guy with btg is a really nice guy and i have chatted too him many times.He still has a full interior and not all the suspension and geometry options fitted to the black car.
Andy

Edited by griff7 on Monday 18th June 21:18

[shim]

playalistic said:

Have you considered a Noble? They're a modders wet dream and a properly brutal track car in the right hands. I'm sure you've had a spanking from one before if you've ever shared a track with your GT3. They like to punish the 'waffe at any opportunity

WAAAAAAAAAAA, that's funny.

Noble great if you like going home early. I've never seen one finish a trAckday.

[playalistic]

shim said:

WAAAAAAAAAAA, that's funny.

Noble great if you like going home early. I've never seen one finish a trAckday.

Common misconception shim. It's not mechanical issues that cause the early finish. More the quick and painless spanking of ze germans followed by an early bath.

[ciaranthemurph]

griff7 said:

That was me and my friend and they have been modified a bit more now.My mates grey car even though more modified is the slower car on track as he is still learning the track.The tom schimer car is the one to go out in as that is on a different level.
Andy

Edited by griff7 on Saturday 9th June 12:45

I agree, don't bother with Thorney, go straight to Schirmer with it. I've had a look about the GTS he built and it's beautiful, proper engineering. The exhaust is a work of art.

Edited to add:



http://www.motorvision.com/artikel/schirmer-race-e...

Edited by ciaranthemurph on Wednesday 13th June 16:36

[Yanto]

Hope onto cslregister. There is a guy pondering selling a caged CSL, suspension, brake upgrade, other improvements etc. sounds like the sort of thing you're looking for...

http://www.cslregister.com/forum/showthread.php?t=...

[andygtt]

shim said:

playalistic said:

Have you considered a Noble? They're a modders wet dream and a properly brutal track car in the right hands. I'm sure you've had a spanking from one before if you've ever shared a track with your GT3. They like to punish the 'waffe at any opportunity

WAAAAAAAAAAA, that's funny.

Noble great if you like going home early. I've never seen one finish a trAckday.

strange as when we all went to SPA and the ring for a week last year I dont remember any of us going home early and yet 3 of the group (me include) run over 600bhp.

as std they are a long way from being as reliable on track as a GT3 or CSL thats for sure, but thats because as std they as NOT a sorted track day car.

Im truth i'm not sure Id be recomending the OP buy a Noble, its an aquired taste and does require a lot more modding and tweaking to become a proper track tool than I get the impression he would be happy with???

[playalistic]

andygtt said:

Im truth i'm not sure Id be recomending the OP buy a Noble, its an aquired taste and does require a lot more modding and tweaking to become a proper track tool than I get the impression he would be happy with???

Well, he is asking about converting a stock M3 into GTS spec, so I'm pretty sure he isn't afraid of a few mods. Plus might as well end up with something that isn't a fat lardy German.

[mat205125]

tomvcarter said:

The CSL was my back up choice, if the E92 route seemed to tricky.
I had an E92 M3 in the past which I loved, but have now moved into a GT3 which is stunning, but as its damn near perfect there is very little I the way of modification to make it better, I miss the modification side to ownership, which is why I'm thinking of hawing back to the E92....
Prices are now pretty reasonable for early E92s so not too much more you could spec it up to GTS levels.
The CSL is probably like the GT3 in that it's already very track based so not that much is needed in terms of modification, but having bever been in one i may be wrong. Plus I find the E46 shape a little too dated now.

I love this logic of covetting cars that are slightly imperfect or unfit for the use of the individual so that they can be tailored and improved to suit the needs of the individual.

In many ways that sums up the M3 ... It's "jack of all ...." status means that it will never be as uniquely focussed as something like a GT3 can be, as it would lose it's all round abilities in the same way the GT3 has.

I'm off to the classifieds to look at CSLs!!

[ant man]

tomvcarter said:

Im considering in the future buying an M3 to convert to a road going track car, ie give it the GTS treatment.
Just a wondering if anyone has done the same in here, and how/what they did?
Tks

Have a look at Performance BMW magazine website. I don't recall the month but they did a good feature on some chap that had bought an E92 M3 and spent £35-40k turning it into an awesome track day car but still road legal. It ran a Pectel ECU, Ohlins suspension, AP brakes, solid mount subframe, racing seats, racing dash, full road cage etc and fully stripped and lost about 350 - 400kg. To say it was impressive around a circuit is a major understatement. I was thinking about emailing them to get the chaps contact details as the amount of testing and thought that had gone into the project was incredibly impressive. The chap had a clear goal of what he wanted and used some very knowledgeable motorsport companies.

[mat205125]

ciaranthemurph said:

Anyone that has ever questioned the desire to change cars from factory spec, needs to see this picture!!