Anyone taken their M car on track?
Discussion
I have had my e92 m3 for about 3 months now and mainly doing motorway miles with a few good A roads thrown in. Still surprising me with its turn of pace and it's incredible handling!
I never appreciated how much of an improvement it would be but now I have put a few thousand miles into it, it's just so confidence inspiring and fun!
It's made me want to take it on a track - I've done track days before but in cars a fraction of the cost - don't think I could really enjoy it with so much value in this car. Not sure I'd pay for the insurance either!
Track days are pretty safe but the risk is still there unfortunately.
Will take it to Nurburgring and do a lap but that is more for the drive over.
I never appreciated how much of an improvement it would be but now I have put a few thousand miles into it, it's just so confidence inspiring and fun!
It's made me want to take it on a track - I've done track days before but in cars a fraction of the cost - don't think I could really enjoy it with so much value in this car. Not sure I'd pay for the insurance either!
Track days are pretty safe but the risk is still there unfortunately.
Will take it to Nurburgring and do a lap but that is more for the drive over.
I have taken all my M cars on track. Just build up slowly, be sympathetic to your (rubbish) brakes and have fun. Bedford is a great place to go as there is LOADS of run off space, and marshals that are really strict, and a 4 mile track with long straights so you people will be more patient than at a short circuit like Brands hatch.
I totally agree with you it's just a bit daunting. I used to find driving a £5k s2000 round a track a bit stressful incase I crashed it. So with this....
But it's the first car where I have really understood how much different a car like this is to drive than a run of the mill car. It's got my itching to get it ons track!
But it's the first car where I have really understood how much different a car like this is to drive than a run of the mill car. It's got my itching to get it ons track!
Yep, it's a must.
Had my old E92 M3 around the ring several times/trips as well as a visit to Cadwell. My now M135i will making a UK trip in the spring.
I'll be moving to a F80 M3 this year and that will be on track as well.
I have previously insured for track use, the M3 at Cadwell if I recall.
You never really understand how good they are until to can drive them near the limit.
Had my old E92 M3 around the ring several times/trips as well as a visit to Cadwell. My now M135i will making a UK trip in the spring.
I'll be moving to a F80 M3 this year and that will be on track as well.
I have previously insured for track use, the M3 at Cadwell if I recall.
You never really understand how good they are until to can drive them near the limit.
Tracked my E60 M5 several times & my F10 M5 about 8 times in 22mths & will be doing about 5 track days this year.
Just be sympathetic with the warming up & cooling down & appreciate they're not as light as many other track cars, but they certainly perform well & will keep more track focused cars honest.
Just be sympathetic with the warming up & cooling down & appreciate they're not as light as many other track cars, but they certainly perform well & will keep more track focused cars honest.
All my cars have been tracked at some point...
VW Corrado VR6 (about 1 a month for 5 years) - sold with 140,000 on the clock
e34 3.8 M5 (about 3 a year, plus Ring trips for 6 years) - sold, broken with 170,000 on the clock
e34 3.6 M5 (only a couple) - sold with 160,000 on the clock
e86 Z4MC (about 3 a year, plus Ring trips for 7 years) - put 140,000 on it myself and still own it
VW Corrado VR6 (about 1 a month for 5 years) - sold with 140,000 on the clock
e34 3.8 M5 (about 3 a year, plus Ring trips for 6 years) - sold, broken with 170,000 on the clock
e34 3.6 M5 (only a couple) - sold with 160,000 on the clock
e86 Z4MC (about 3 a year, plus Ring trips for 7 years) - put 140,000 on it myself and still own it
Never tracked my E39 M5 as when I sold my M3 I bought the M5 and built a 2.0 16v Golf with cage etc purely for trackdays.
Took my E60 M5 to Brands Hatch last year and it was great on track, SMG was perfect. Booked up to go to Bedford GT circuit next month. When funds allow I will probably go down the dedicated track car route again as my local track I like to use is Lydden hill and its a bit tight and short for my M5.
Took my M3 to the Ring and did Brands Hatch a couple of times
Took my E60 M5 to Brands Hatch last year and it was great on track, SMG was perfect. Booked up to go to Bedford GT circuit next month. When funds allow I will probably go down the dedicated track car route again as my local track I like to use is Lydden hill and its a bit tight and short for my M5.
Took my M3 to the Ring and did Brands Hatch a couple of times
Yep
Treat it like you would the road, don't use it as a chance to go metal! Edge up to your limits and the cars. Take it easy, don't get involved with anyone else. The track time is your opportunity to explore your's and your car's limits. If other track users are preventing this, back off and find yourself some space.
You can go from hero to zero in a blink of an eye and in such an instance it is almost always red mist that is to blame.
Treat it like you would the road, don't use it as a chance to go metal! Edge up to your limits and the cars. Take it easy, don't get involved with anyone else. The track time is your opportunity to explore your's and your car's limits. If other track users are preventing this, back off and find yourself some space.
You can go from hero to zero in a blink of an eye and in such an instance it is almost always red mist that is to blame.
Depends what you want to get out of the day. My partner has a E90 m3 and personally I don't think it would be that great on track if you want to push on. Great road car but very heavy and I would have far more fun in something slower and lighter. Fortunately I have a track car but if I didn't I wouldn't track the M3 as I would rather hire a Caterham. Of course if you want to just go 'steady away' then I think the M3 is fine for track work - just ideal for pushing on.
Yes - this very day !
first M car, first time on a track with it, first time to give it a proper run out post having had it DMSed earlier this week with some fellow PHers.
Went out this morning on a very cold and very greasy Silverstone as part of the PHSS.
The car was terrific, much more delicate than its size would makyou think, very very fast, and just the right side of scary in the wet bends with a bit of common sense deployed.
Brakes need looking after as has been said and I'm going to look into perhaps making a cost effective upgrade or two, am assuming more peformance oriented pads and fluid would help ?
first M car, first time on a track with it, first time to give it a proper run out post having had it DMSed earlier this week with some fellow PHers.
Went out this morning on a very cold and very greasy Silverstone as part of the PHSS.
The car was terrific, much more delicate than its size would makyou think, very very fast, and just the right side of scary in the wet bends with a bit of common sense deployed.
Brakes need looking after as has been said and I'm going to look into perhaps making a cost effective upgrade or two, am assuming more peformance oriented pads and fluid would help ?
Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff