BMW M3 V8 road legal track car
Discussion
I was thinking over the winter about a new cost-effective track car when my brother offered the prospect of us going Dutch on a BMW M3 V8 road legal track car, and that’s just what we’ve now gone and done! Details below...
21,456 miles. One of only 10 custom PalmerSport track M3. It has the convenience of being completely road legal. Running 445 bhp from the 4.0 litre normally aspirated V8, the factory top speed limit has been de-restricted. The brake calipers are uprated to AP Racing (6 pot front, 4 pot rear). Custom exhaust system. Bilstein springs. 18″ M Sport alloys with Michelin Pilot Sport tyres. Alcantara flat bottom M Sport steering wheel with paddle shift for full control of the 7-speed DCM (dual clutch) semi automatic ‘box, electronic parking brake system. The inside has been stripped, although the factory onboard computer, stereo, navigation system, climate control and electric windows have been retained. The front seats are BMW Performance Racing buckets with TRS 4-point harnesses. The rear seat has been deleted and a full bolt in roll cage is fitted. Carbon fibre door cards and high downforce carbon race wing.
Nurbugring and Spa, here we come...(again).
21,456 miles. One of only 10 custom PalmerSport track M3. It has the convenience of being completely road legal. Running 445 bhp from the 4.0 litre normally aspirated V8, the factory top speed limit has been de-restricted. The brake calipers are uprated to AP Racing (6 pot front, 4 pot rear). Custom exhaust system. Bilstein springs. 18″ M Sport alloys with Michelin Pilot Sport tyres. Alcantara flat bottom M Sport steering wheel with paddle shift for full control of the 7-speed DCM (dual clutch) semi automatic ‘box, electronic parking brake system. The inside has been stripped, although the factory onboard computer, stereo, navigation system, climate control and electric windows have been retained. The front seats are BMW Performance Racing buckets with TRS 4-point harnesses. The rear seat has been deleted and a full bolt in roll cage is fitted. Carbon fibre door cards and high downforce carbon race wing.
Nurbugring and Spa, here we come...(again).
bet it goes and sounds good too. baronbennyt said:
One of only 10 custom PalmerSport track M3.
Looks great!I'm assuming what you're saying is that it's one of the M3 GTPs that PalmerSport used to run at Bedford? And now converted for road use? In which case it must be bloody great fun.
I did PS full days a couple of times in these (joys of corporate jollies) back in 2011, and looking at my Driver Performance Record, I got a 'VG' Status, with 'Excellent' Mechanical sympathy. Best time was 68.95 in Car no. 4 - might it have been that one?
My 2nd favourite car of the day (after the 911 GP3), and I still watch the data stick in-car footage of those laps now and again.
Love this! I saw it advertised and thought it would make an awesome track weapon and thats exactly what your going to do with it so fair play, do you know how they liberate the extra BHP from the engine as I believe stock these are 414bhp?
Make sure you document some of your trips would love to see it in action!
Si
Make sure you document some of your trips would love to see it in action!
Si
This is the link to the original advertisement.
https://www.williamscrawford.co.uk/listings/bmw-m3...
https://www.williamscrawford.co.uk/listings/bmw-m3...
Well, personally I'm not too bothered about the wing. It's a track day car after all and if it's good enough for Jonathan Palmer and co., it's good enough for me. I won't be taking it to the King's Road! I have a 599 GTB for that 
What really appeals to me about this M3, however, is: the cost (I was contemplating another Cayman GT4 but good examples are now c. 85k, so I've avoided a far bigger bill there); that it's already track prepared; it has a lovely engine and a biddable chassis (although still a little heavy); that it still has climate control etc.; and, it's road legal. I really can't be bothered with the hassle of a trailer for 8-10 track days a year.
Most importantly though is how it performs on-track so I'll be posting after each one of our sessions at Goodwood, Castle Combe, Bedford, Spa and the Ring etc. I'm particularly interested to see whether any further upgrades will be required. Knowing me I'll quickly end up diving into the performance part catalogues and online sites to search for "bigger and better"...watch this space!
What really appeals to me about this M3, however, is: the cost (I was contemplating another Cayman GT4 but good examples are now c. 85k, so I've avoided a far bigger bill there); that it's already track prepared; it has a lovely engine and a biddable chassis (although still a little heavy); that it still has climate control etc.; and, it's road legal. I really can't be bothered with the hassle of a trailer for 8-10 track days a year.
Most importantly though is how it performs on-track so I'll be posting after each one of our sessions at Goodwood, Castle Combe, Bedford, Spa and the Ring etc. I'm particularly interested to see whether any further upgrades will be required. Knowing me I'll quickly end up diving into the performance part catalogues and online sites to search for "bigger and better"...watch this space!
baronbennyt said:
Well, personally I'm not too bothered about the wing. It's a track day car after all and if it's good enough for Jonathan Palmer and co., it's good enough for me. I won't be taking it to the King's Road! I have a 599 GTB for that
What really appeals to me about this M3, however, is: the cost (I was contemplating another Cayman GT4 but good examples are now c. 85k, so I've avoided a far bigger bill there); that it's already track prepared; it has a lovely engine and a biddable chassis (although still a little heavy); that it still has climate control etc.; and, it's road legal. I really can't be bothered with the hassle of a trailer for 8-10 track days a year.
Most importantly though is how it performs on-track so I'll be posting after each one of our sessions at Goodwood, Castle Combe, Bedford, Spa and the Ring etc. I'm particularly interested to see whether any further upgrades will be required. Knowing me I'll quickly end up diving into the performance part catalogues and online sites to search for "bigger and better"...watch this space!
Look forward to seeing vids of this on track! I am planning Bedford trackday in mine this year. Last year i had mine on track at Abingdon, hottest day of the year, car performed faultlessly and was an absolute joy to drive (mine is pretty much standard). Bigger brakes would be the only thing it really needs.. which you already have! (not jealous!!!! lol)What really appeals to me about this M3, however, is: the cost (I was contemplating another Cayman GT4 but good examples are now c. 85k, so I've avoided a far bigger bill there); that it's already track prepared; it has a lovely engine and a biddable chassis (although still a little heavy); that it still has climate control etc.; and, it's road legal. I really can't be bothered with the hassle of a trailer for 8-10 track days a year.
Most importantly though is how it performs on-track so I'll be posting after each one of our sessions at Goodwood, Castle Combe, Bedford, Spa and the Ring etc. I'm particularly interested to see whether any further upgrades will be required. Knowing me I'll quickly end up diving into the performance part catalogues and online sites to search for "bigger and better"...watch this space!
BMW is one of my favourite car brands. I’ve been lucky enough to have owned a 1 Series M Coupe and Z3 M Coupe is the past; my company car is a 330d Touring. But the one performance area that is consistently lacking is high performance braking, especially when on-track. The only brand in my experience that consistently nails this aspect across the board is Porsche.
Krikkit said:
Looks proper that, has it still got the standard exhaust? That's a good few kg you could save having a lighter one on.
It's def a custom job. Two oval tailpipes instead of the usual 4 BMW ones. Only thing i'm scared of if changing exhausts is not passing track noise limits.
baronbennyt said:
Well, personally I'm not too bothered about the wing. It's a track day car after all and if it's good enough for Jonathan Palmer and co., it's good enough for me. I won't be taking it to the King's Road! I have a 599 GTB for that
What really appeals to me about this M3, however, is: the cost (I was contemplating another Cayman GT4 but good examples are now c. 85k, so I've avoided a far bigger bill there); that it's already track prepared; it has a lovely engine and a biddable chassis (although still a little heavy); that it still has climate control etc.; and, it's road legal. I really can't be bothered with the hassle of a trailer for 8-10 track days a year.
Most importantly though is how it performs on-track so I'll be posting after each one of our sessions at Goodwood, Castle Combe, Bedford, Spa and the Ring etc. I'm particularly interested to see whether any further upgrades will be required. Knowing me I'll quickly end up diving into the performance part catalogues and online sites to search for "bigger and better"...watch this space!
Combe isn’t far from me, let me know when your heading up for the trackday and I wouldn’t mind coming up for a watch if that’s ok? Does depend on if I am working but if not What really appeals to me about this M3, however, is: the cost (I was contemplating another Cayman GT4 but good examples are now c. 85k, so I've avoided a far bigger bill there); that it's already track prepared; it has a lovely engine and a biddable chassis (although still a little heavy); that it still has climate control etc.; and, it's road legal. I really can't be bothered with the hassle of a trailer for 8-10 track days a year.
Most importantly though is how it performs on-track so I'll be posting after each one of our sessions at Goodwood, Castle Combe, Bedford, Spa and the Ring etc. I'm particularly interested to see whether any further upgrades will be required. Knowing me I'll quickly end up diving into the performance part catalogues and online sites to search for "bigger and better"...watch this space!
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