M3 performance upgrades - advice sought

[Dave Sums]

Greetings All. Having stepped into the world of BMW a couple of weeks ago with purchase of a low miles 2012 M3 coupe I'm looking for some upgrade advice. I already have a very modified 911 GT3 RS and bought the M3 to compliment it on various trackdays. I took it to Spa last week and killed the brakes within 25 laps. Intention was always to upgrade discs, pads, suspension, diff and possibly exhaust and a remap plus ripping out interior and adding half cage, buckets and harnesses but couldn't resist having a blast!! If anyone can start throwing our good suggestions for suppliers on above list and names of very good BMW performance specialists (like JZM for Porsche GT3) would be gratefully received.

[cpufreak]

Dave Sums said:

Greetings All. Having stepped into the world of BMW a couple of weeks ago with purchase of a low miles 2012 M3 coupe I'm looking for some upgrade advice. I already have a very modified 911 GT3 RS and bought the M3 to compliment it on various trackdays. I took it to Spa last week and killed the brakes within 25 laps. Intention was always to upgrade discs, pads, suspension, diff and possibly exhaust and a remap plus ripping out interior and adding half cage, buckets and harnesses but couldn't resist having a blast!! If anyone can start throwing our good suggestions for suppliers on above list and names of very good BMW performance specialists (like JZM for Porsche GT3) would be gratefully received.

Ultimately it depends on how far you want to go.

The best/quickest all out track versions of the e92 that I've seen have been built by Schirmer Race engineering in Kelberg, Germany.
I can speak personally for Tom's work - he built my old M3 CSL for me.

Here is a review (in German) of his E92:
http://www.motorvision.de/artikel/schirmer-race-en...

Here is it through Google translate:
http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&...







I think he's built about a dozen a cars now so its a "proven" thing, and the end product is considerably quicker than for example an E92 M3 GTS, and a 997 GT3RS.

It comes with a price of course.


On the other end of the scale, having gone down that route with my CSL, I've managed to get out of the modding thing.

My E92 M3 is standard asides from having Performance Friction PFC08 pads , hoses and SRF fluid, and is not just fine on tracks such as silverstone and nurburgring, but lots of fun too.

[Fidgits]

in the UK birds or evolve are probably the best people to speak to.

[1Addicted]

Take a look here for some of your parts. From what I have heard they are a reputable company.

http://www.ca-int.co.uk/home.php

[e46m3c]

Hi Dave,

Not related to your topic sorry but.

I wondered in what ways the e90 compliments the gt3 rs? Is it simply more comfortable/usable?

Id also like to hear what similarities the e90 has with the gt3 rs if pos?

Thanks

[Dave Sums]

Thanks for input guys. Been working through numerous options from various sources and getting quite close to making the component decisions. Will post what that is when finally ordered (credit card sat on radiator to warm up for some serious bending!).

[Dave Sums]

e46m3c said:

Hi Dave,

Not related to your topic sorry but.

I wondered in what ways the e90 compliments the gt3 rs? Is it simply more comfortable/usable?

Id also like to hear what similarities the e90 has with the gt3 rs if pos?

Thanks

It's definately more useable especially when the weather is not so good (like when we had snow showers on wet track at Spa last week!). For new tracks that I haven't visited before will use the M3 for learning the track without the worry in back of my mind that if I push too quick too soon and have an off moment my life could be over by damaging my beloved GT3RS. I also always go on track days with a couple of mates that share my cars and so wanted a different car and experience (I used to take 2 x GT3 to all track days). I also love the deep rumble of that V8 block in the M3. Plus the paddleshift gives a whole different driving experience to the sequential box I have in my 911 (very happy I cancelled my 991 GT3 order in Dec 2013 due to delivery delay by Porsche given all the problems now). Now all I want to do with the M3 is make it a bit more hardcore and a bit lighter so we can really rag it around like the 911 without breaking it! Attached a pic of my mate over in Spa last week with the two track toys together. Happy days:-)

[belleair302]

Give the boys at G Power a call and see what a supercharger can do for you....mindblowing is what I would say.

[jayemm89]

Mmmm.... German engineering heaven

I've never been a big fan of the E90 M3 but I've heard a couple rumble past recently and it is a lovely thing.

[joema]

What a great pairing. slightly jealous...

[joema]

What a great pairing. slightly jealous...

[griff7]

Take all the seats out and fit some Recaro front seats in.The AP front and rear kits are more than upto the job with the right pads and i wish i had just gone down that route instead of the bespoke route even though the brakes are amazing.Kw clubsport 3 way suspension fitted and set up by Christophe at Raeder motorsport just down from the ring and fit a genuine alcantara motorsport steering wheel.Wheels and tyres ATS motorsport from Raeder motorsport with Dunlop direzza DZ03G
295 rear and 265 front in 18".I have had a lot of work done by Tom Schirmer and Raeder motorsport and i think that the list above is a very good starting point.

Andy

[e46m3c]

very jealous. I needs some friends with gt3's to let me drive em

Any comparison to an e46, legend has it its more involving and better feedback from the wheel, was it a contender?

Was it the dct you went for?