Trackday car prep
Discussion
Hi guys,
After a little advice, I'm going to Snetterton 300 on the 1st of March (not long now!), my front tyres are not too far from the legal limit so need changing, but I've read that brand new tyres on a track aren't good either - so I'm not sure if it's best to change them now or afterwards?
If I change them today, I'll probably do some ~5-700 miles before the 1st so they'll be bedded in at least.
Also, my discs...
My car is almost at 100K, I bought it at 50K and changed the pads not too long after having it, maybe ~65K so I would imagine the pads have been on for a huge 35,000 miles and they still have plenty of compound from what I can see. I'm more concerned about the discs though as I've read they have a minimum thickness and that doesn't normally last any where near 100K.
Not sure if it would be wise to change the discs/pads/fluid all round before I go... obviously an expense I would rather avoid if possible but I don't want to miss out on fun come the 1st if they turn out to be pants on the track!
Thanks for any advice
Sean
After a little advice, I'm going to Snetterton 300 on the 1st of March (not long now!), my front tyres are not too far from the legal limit so need changing, but I've read that brand new tyres on a track aren't good either - so I'm not sure if it's best to change them now or afterwards?
If I change them today, I'll probably do some ~5-700 miles before the 1st so they'll be bedded in at least.
Also, my discs...
My car is almost at 100K, I bought it at 50K and changed the pads not too long after having it, maybe ~65K so I would imagine the pads have been on for a huge 35,000 miles and they still have plenty of compound from what I can see. I'm more concerned about the discs though as I've read they have a minimum thickness and that doesn't normally last any where near 100K.
Not sure if it would be wise to change the discs/pads/fluid all round before I go... obviously an expense I would rather avoid if possible but I don't want to miss out on fun come the 1st if they turn out to be pants on the track!
Thanks for any advice
Sean
Change tyres now, they wont be road legal after a day on track if they are that low already. Put some new track oriented pads in ( ebc yellowstuff bare minimum ) , as they wont last long either, but because of the heat created on a track chances are road pads just wont work at all. Depending on what car it is (weight,drive, power etc ) will affect how quickly things wear out. I have a little 1100 kg/ 160 bhp hatchback and can go through a set of yellowstuffs in 2 trackdays.
Flobalob,
Thanks, you may have just missed the last post but it's a standard E90 330d '07 plate. So fairly heavy at ~1600kg / 231bhp... I mostly drive on motorways though so pad wear is quite low! Tyres is another matter
Any advice on suitable discs/pads to go for? I've heard mixed reviews about yellowstuff but my main concern is making sure it's still suitable on the road, it is my daily drive after all!
Graham,
Thanks for the heads up! Look forward to meeting you; give me a wave as you fly past me!!
Sean
Thanks, you may have just missed the last post but it's a standard E90 330d '07 plate. So fairly heavy at ~1600kg / 231bhp... I mostly drive on motorways though so pad wear is quite low! Tyres is another matter
Any advice on suitable discs/pads to go for? I've heard mixed reviews about yellowstuff but my main concern is making sure it's still suitable on the road, it is my daily drive after all!
Graham,
Thanks for the heads up! Look forward to meeting you; give me a wave as you fly past me!!
Sean
If it was an MX5 I'd know exactly what to suggest. But a heavier car I've no experience of!
But when you said E90 I got intrigued as I just got an E90 325i and a quick punt about on various sites seems to suggest quite a lot of love for the ferrodo ds 2500.
http://www.bmwland.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&...
Fluid becomes an interesting question on will you be happy to change it more frequently, or could you settle with a lower boiling point but that lasts longer...
Last time I made that decision I went for ATE SuperBlue as it had a high wet boiling point so I could leave it in there for a bit longer. I found it made the pedal a tiny bit spongy though compared to the silkolene race fluid I had before. Motul RBF600 seems to be the default go to stuff for others on track.
To some extent if it's new, it's not halfords own brand, and it's a racing dot4 fluid you're probably on to something good.
I wonder if a cross post in the BMW area would get more specific answers from people running E90s on track.
But when you said E90 I got intrigued as I just got an E90 325i and a quick punt about on various sites seems to suggest quite a lot of love for the ferrodo ds 2500.
http://www.bmwland.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&...
Fluid becomes an interesting question on will you be happy to change it more frequently, or could you settle with a lower boiling point but that lasts longer...
Last time I made that decision I went for ATE SuperBlue as it had a high wet boiling point so I could leave it in there for a bit longer. I found it made the pedal a tiny bit spongy though compared to the silkolene race fluid I had before. Motul RBF600 seems to be the default go to stuff for others on track.
To some extent if it's new, it's not halfords own brand, and it's a racing dot4 fluid you're probably on to something good.
I wonder if a cross post in the BMW area would get more specific answers from people running E90s on track.
Munter,
Congrats on the new car & thanks for the link, I've been browsing myself and you get some serious variation in views (as always on the internet). I think I actually have DS2500's at the moment and I'm happy with them, although they dust like crazy - but I never wash the car anyhu so really it's basically black wheels without paying for spraying
Will report back when I've ordered... my local garage said labour is £100 for discs/pads/fluid all round, £25 a wheel I'm a happy bunny!
Tearitup,
Er, thanks for your contribution, enjoy your Skyline around the track tomorrow.
Ta
Sean
Congrats on the new car & thanks for the link, I've been browsing myself and you get some serious variation in views (as always on the internet). I think I actually have DS2500's at the moment and I'm happy with them, although they dust like crazy - but I never wash the car anyhu so really it's basically black wheels without paying for spraying
Will report back when I've ordered... my local garage said labour is £100 for discs/pads/fluid all round, £25 a wheel I'm a happy bunny!
Tearitup,
Er, thanks for your contribution, enjoy your Skyline around the track tomorrow.
Ta
Sean
Taken a few heavier rwd coupes on tracks....again no expert but I would
Change tyres
New pads - ebc yellow stuff, mintex or similar - I went through a set of fresh road pads in a day, were literally smoking every run.
Dot 5 brake fluid change
Take a pressure gauge and pump and check tyres after each run... Pressure will go up massively as they warm up due to track pressures...maintain road pressure as a rough guide, at least what I have been told and makes sense / seems to work.
Enjoy
Change tyres
New pads - ebc yellow stuff, mintex or similar - I went through a set of fresh road pads in a day, were literally smoking every run.
Dot 5 brake fluid change
Take a pressure gauge and pump and check tyres after each run... Pressure will go up massively as they warm up due to track pressures...maintain road pressure as a rough guide, at least what I have been told and makes sense / seems to work.
Enjoy
Sorry to sound like I am shouting, but, BRAKES, BRAKES, BRAKES!!!!
Whatever brake set up you end up with make sure you have enough of them.
As a minimum make sure you take an extra set of front pads. Rears will be less of a problem. I drive an e36 328, so i have similar weight and weight distribution to you.
My best advice would be replace your brake fluid, or it WILL boil, unless it has been changed recently..... Having done it, believe me you do NOT want to get to a corner, hit the brakes & go straight on!!!! I too use superblue, which is made by ATE & compatible with BMW brakes as they are made by ATE.
At the least I would fit Ferodo DS2500/Mintex 1144 pads at the front, both of which are road legal, and will last reasonably for a first time. I would also advise a spare pair of tyres, on cheap wheels for the fronts on the drive back home.
I would also take a spare pair of tyres on cheap wheels to use on track, or for the drive home.
The comment on new tyres on the track is pertinent, as when new the height of the tread makes the tread blovks move round a lot & generte lots of heat & thereby causd wear. This is why most people use second hand tyres with 3 or 4mm of tread or track day tyres, which only have 4mm of tread when new.
Whatever brake set up you end up with make sure you have enough of them.
As a minimum make sure you take an extra set of front pads. Rears will be less of a problem. I drive an e36 328, so i have similar weight and weight distribution to you.
My best advice would be replace your brake fluid, or it WILL boil, unless it has been changed recently..... Having done it, believe me you do NOT want to get to a corner, hit the brakes & go straight on!!!! I too use superblue, which is made by ATE & compatible with BMW brakes as they are made by ATE.
At the least I would fit Ferodo DS2500/Mintex 1144 pads at the front, both of which are road legal, and will last reasonably for a first time. I would also advise a spare pair of tyres, on cheap wheels for the fronts on the drive back home.
I would also take a spare pair of tyres on cheap wheels to use on track, or for the drive home.
The comment on new tyres on the track is pertinent, as when new the height of the tread makes the tread blovks move round a lot & generte lots of heat & thereby causd wear. This is why most people use second hand tyres with 3 or 4mm of tread or track day tyres, which only have 4mm of tread when new.
Edited by andyiley on Sunday 10th February 16:40
Thanks for all the feedback guys.
To keep you in the loop, I've purchased new Ferodo pads & discs all round and they're getting changed on Friday.
I've spoken to my local tyre guy & the BMW club and they both feel my current tyres should be fine for the day, but will obviously need changing afterwards - so I'm going to leave them and hope for the best! (driving nice and calm for the next 2 weeks!)
Looking forward to it
Sean
To keep you in the loop, I've purchased new Ferodo pads & discs all round and they're getting changed on Friday.
I've spoken to my local tyre guy & the BMW club and they both feel my current tyres should be fine for the day, but will obviously need changing afterwards - so I'm going to leave them and hope for the best! (driving nice and calm for the next 2 weeks!)
Looking forward to it
Sean
Prep list for you:
Change engine oil and filter...ensure you have spare oil on the day in case you need to top up.
Check gearbox and diff oil levels and change at least every 2 years or 25k miles.
Check engine coolant level and take spare coolant
Change brake fluid for high performance fluid (ATE SuperBlue/AP550, etc)...flush through properly and take some spare fluid.
Change brake pads for high performance items (Ferodo DS2500 is what I'd recommend)...if they aren't new, take a spare set (standard ones would suffice) in case they wear out on track.
Discs should be in good condition, standard ones will be fine.
Make sure you have your towing eye available front and rear...
As for tyres...If the track is dry or at least has no standing water, then worn tyres (even ones not road legal) will be fine and better than new ones. New road tyres are the worst thing you can have as the tread blocks will move around reducing grip and they will then overheat and, depending on the tyre, could start to break up...In any case you will murder new road tyres on a circuit. Consider a set of s/h rims and some track tyres. Your car will be overgeared for the track, a smaller wheel/tyre combo will help...New cars are almost always over-tyred, too. This means that your tyres don't get to heat up properly and are then working at less than optimum temps...Smaller tyres help this, too.
If the track is wet, then normal road tyres will be fine...
Change engine oil and filter...ensure you have spare oil on the day in case you need to top up.
Check gearbox and diff oil levels and change at least every 2 years or 25k miles.
Check engine coolant level and take spare coolant
Change brake fluid for high performance fluid (ATE SuperBlue/AP550, etc)...flush through properly and take some spare fluid.
Change brake pads for high performance items (Ferodo DS2500 is what I'd recommend)...if they aren't new, take a spare set (standard ones would suffice) in case they wear out on track.
Discs should be in good condition, standard ones will be fine.
Make sure you have your towing eye available front and rear...
As for tyres...If the track is dry or at least has no standing water, then worn tyres (even ones not road legal) will be fine and better than new ones. New road tyres are the worst thing you can have as the tread blocks will move around reducing grip and they will then overheat and, depending on the tyre, could start to break up...In any case you will murder new road tyres on a circuit. Consider a set of s/h rims and some track tyres. Your car will be overgeared for the track, a smaller wheel/tyre combo will help...New cars are almost always over-tyred, too. This means that your tyres don't get to heat up properly and are then working at less than optimum temps...Smaller tyres help this, too.
If the track is wet, then normal road tyres will be fine...
Gr44 said:
Flobalob,
Thanks, you may have just missed the last post but it's a standard E90 330d '07 plate. So fairly heavy at ~1600kg / 231bhp... I mostly drive on motorways though so pad wear is quite low! Tyres is another matter
Any advice on suitable discs/pads to go for? I've heard mixed reviews about yellowstuff but my main concern is making sure it's still suitable on the road, it is my daily drive after all!
Graham,
Thanks for the heads up! Look forward to meeting you; give me a wave as you fly past me!!
Sean
There will be 2 Cerbera's there, just hope it is dry.Thanks, you may have just missed the last post but it's a standard E90 330d '07 plate. So fairly heavy at ~1600kg / 231bhp... I mostly drive on motorways though so pad wear is quite low! Tyres is another matter
Any advice on suitable discs/pads to go for? I've heard mixed reviews about yellowstuff but my main concern is making sure it's still suitable on the road, it is my daily drive after all!
Graham,
Thanks for the heads up! Look forward to meeting you; give me a wave as you fly past me!!
Sean
Graham,
I popped over to see you in the afternoon but was told by a fellow TVR'er you had to leave early
Real shame we didn't get chance to have a chat!
I seriously enjoyed the day though, awesome fun! I've been eyeing up E46 M3's on the web already but I'm not sure finances will allow it for a little while
Going to have to book up another one though, the BMWCC I went with before doesn't have any for a while and I can't do the next one (7th May), any recommendations for other organizers? Something well managed like the BMWCC is what I'm after!
Thanks for everyone's help, a successful day!
Sean
I popped over to see you in the afternoon but was told by a fellow TVR'er you had to leave early
Real shame we didn't get chance to have a chat!I seriously enjoyed the day though, awesome fun! I've been eyeing up E46 M3's on the web already but I'm not sure finances will allow it for a little while
Going to have to book up another one though, the BMWCC I went with before doesn't have any for a while and I can't do the next one (7th May), any recommendations for other organizers? Something well managed like the BMWCC is what I'm after!
Thanks for everyone's help, a successful day!
Sean
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