Z4 2.5 - Any good as a track car?

[400SE Dave]

Anyone use a largely stock Z4 on track? Interested to hear whether good or bad

[Mr Tidy]

I'm sure people have used 2.5 litre Z4s on track, but you might get a better response on a dedicated forum - like "z4forum".

[0a]

I doubt it! I like my “shed 4” 2.5 for blatting about the countryside. The steering is rubbish - one of BMW’s first electric jobbies, and it just isn’t a sports car really. It’s more akin to an old school British roadster.



Mine has done 157k miles though!

[helix402]

400SE Dave said:

Anyone use a largely stock Z4 on track? Interested to hear whether good or bad

I’m sure it would be fine. Think of it as an E46. Straightforward-front engine, rwd, good weight distribution. Brakes will be the weak point as the 2.5 has the smaller brakes.

[lostmotel]

Not really... Took ours out but even with fresh RBF600 fluid the brakes got too hot after two laps at Oulton! Thankfully no issues with engine temps but they're at the age where your radiator may be fatigued and the expansion tank may crack.

I think a 3.0si coupe would be pretty good if you put some brake cooling in place along with the 135i Performance calipers and co-cast disks. The radiator is the same as the E46 330i so you can get alloy upgrades from the likes of Mishimoto or CSF.

NC MX5 2.0 Sport (for the LSD) with some bits from BBR would be better...

[paulwirral]

I took a stock 3ltr 03 z4 roadster , barring fresh high temp brake fluid and higher temp pads to the ring a few years ago , I’ve been going for years so I’m no stranger to the place , and for a std road car i thought it was a great little thing . I expected little but came away very impressed, personally I thought it was a better car on the track than it was on the road , a view echoed by evo magazine way back in the day when they had one on long term test .
High temp pads and fluid will sort it out for a good day out .

[400SE Dave]

Thanks for all the comments so far, so cooling and braking seems to be the things to look at.

Any more experiences welcome

[Kawasicki]

I’ve driven a lot of cars around tracks. I’m of the opinion that the car doesn’t matter that much, just take account of any inherent weaknesses and enjoy the experience.

[g3org3y]

paulwirral said:

I took a stock 3ltr 03 z4 roadster , barring fresh high temp brake fluid and higher temp pads to the ring a few years ago , I’ve been going for years so I’m no stranger to the place , and for a std road car i thought it was a great little thing . I expected little but came away very impressed, personally I thought it was a better car on the track than it was on the road , a view echoed by evo magazine way back in the day when they had one on long term test .
High temp pads and fluid will sort it out for a good day out .

What kind of tyres were you running? I presume not the OE Bridgestone RFTs?

[paulwirral]

If I recall properly I think they were Avon’s with a z and a number , I can’t remember exactly what model they were , some sort of mid range summer tyre , I only bought them as the car came with 2 almost new Avon rears and run flats on the front ! I changed them as soon as i could . They performed fine but I only go to the ring to enjoy myself , not to try and prove how brave - skilled - stupid I am .
I did once own a 2.5 z4 with Bridgestone run flats all round , I actually thought there was a problem with the car until I started digging on the internet and realised that’s how they drove on run flats .

[400SE Dave]

Kawasicki said:

I’ve driven a lot of cars around tracks. I’m of the opinion that the car doesn’t matter that much, just take account of any inherent weaknesses and enjoy the experience.

Agree with that. I used a TVR 400se as my Track Car for a while and whilst it had many weak points having fun in it wasn't one of them