Tuesday 17th June 2014

Le Mans 2014 - PH Blog

The spare part no-show turned out to be no problem for Chris's M5

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It probably won't have escaped your attention but there's a 24-hour race going on this weekend somewhere in France. On site and back at base we'll be bringing you all the stories, be that from the campsite (Garlick and the boys) or sharp end of the Carrera Cup support race (that man Harris). Keep in touch with the action on Twitter and share your own Le Mans moments via #PHLM14 - we'll be showing them on the site - and keep in touch with the blog updates too.

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Meantime, back at the M5, things weren't looking great. The UPS tracking screen appeared to show nothing beyond Paris. The package hadn't moved in two days, and even if it could be dispatched, the chances of it arriving at Le Mans the night of the 24H race in anything other than a helicopter were zero.

Faulty fuse fixed and the M5's cooling returns

Still fuming with that French pillock who ruined my weekend, I went off to fiddle with the car to see if it was heading home on a flat-bed. The water system seemed good – the car started first time then ran well with a clean exhaust.

I then casually pushed the air-con button and it didn't engage. Strange. A nosey in the fuse box showed a blown fuse, so that was replaced and now the heater fan worked. I left it idling until the water temp needle climbed in between halfway and the red zone and the small fan ahead of the air-con condenser cut in with perfect timing.

Clearly it had been working all the way down, and the fuse had blown at the last minute – heater and cooler clearly working from the same fuse. It's a point of genius really – all E28 M5s with air-con (was it standard?) have a kind of back-up engine cooling system. It was 28 degrees, and I left it to idle for five minutes and the little fan was coping.

This is what a high speed dash home will do!

After that, I went and drank a skin-full of beer, chatted to lots of friendly PHers and other people, watched the emotional rollercoaster of Porsche's adventure from close quarters, gawped at the LMP1 cars through the Porsche Curves, cooed at the glowing brake rotors, and observed a slick Aston Martin pit stop in the small hours before falling asleep.

On Sunday the M5 zoomed home at high speed, relaxed in its intended role. I should never have doubted it. What a car.

One question remains – does it actually need the viscous fan re-fitted? In serious heat, the little fan can cope, and I suspect I'm enjoying quite a bit more power with the big one missing! I've always thought this car was suspiciously rapid, now I know why.

Chris

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Previous updates:
BMW M5 vs Ferrari 512TR - Harris dithers
Harris's journey to Le Mans
Monkeying around in Carrera Cup practice
PH sets up camp
No Friday Service for the M5 after UPS SNAFU
Harris's quali was going so well...
Fun and sun at the Friday Service
The race starts, and so does the rain
The night shift at Le Mans
Harris's Carrera Cup nightmare

[ilikestellaartoi]

Grammar police will be here shortly

[thatdude]

I would have taken the ferrari...but the BMW might be a more sensible choice over distance. The brake judder sounds unsafe, as does the tyres - if it were me, I'd be having all that inspected and everything sorted before embarking on a long journey (the juddering braking should be sorted before any journey?)

good luck in the race. Will you be wearing a brown suit?

[80quattro]

BMW is a no brainer.

But I would be biased.

[Sir_Dave]

Id go for the e28 i think, you seemed to thoroughly enjoy standing on our e34 last year, so it seems the most appropriate choice



Also, is that an e30 M3 Sport Evo in front of the Ferrari?

[3795mpower]

Good choice.
The Gendarms will be all over the red one.

Took my 6 pot M5 to a show Sunday, it was bliss to drive it again.

[Renncamper]

I would have checked the front suspension rear transverse control arm bearings first. When they get old, hard or tear they are the main reason for vibration under braking in my experience.

[kith]

I would have gone with the original plan. Tearing down to Le Mans in a flat-12 seems hugely appropriate for the race and then the M5 for the longer trip to the 'ring would be perfect.

[EricE]

The 2CV was the obvious choice...

[Bob63]

Feeling envious of all those going to Le mans this year. M5 or TR? What a choice. Made the trip from Belfast last year in a freshly rebuilt 2CV - two 6" plus baldy blokes in what appeared to be the only 2CV there. Fantastic experience which I hope to repeat in a car with slightly more performance and proper seats.

[sone]

Where's the FF?
Surely the perfect choice, style comfort and speed. Not that the latter is that important given the amount of plod about!

[Nigel_O]

Tell Dickie to get a taxi and use the posh Fiat - sorted

[Gixer]

'Many with more leg' afraid so. Mate of mine sold his 512TR last year (or was it the year before?) with over 130,000 miles on the clock. Mostly reliable miles at that. He's known for doing several road trips into Europe a year and the Shelby he replaced it with has now passed 100k miles too.

It's a no brainier, take the 512TR, it'll be good for it giving it a nice long run.

[StarmistBlue400]

Sir_Dave said:

Id go for the e28 i think, you seemed to thoroughly enjoy standing on our e34 last year, so it seems the most appropriate choice



Also, is that an e30 M3 Sport Evo in front of the Ferrari?

Seems only right to return the favor and stand on his

[Output Flange]

Rub it in why don't you - mine isn't back from painting in time to come to LM.

[gweaver]

If you've not used the M5 for eight months it's hardly surprising you've got brake judder. Give them a good caning and if the vibration is still there find someone who has a brake lathe and knows how to use it.

[kith]

sone said:

Where's the FF?
Surely the perfect choice, style comfort and speed. Not that the latter is that important given the amount of plod about!

Absolutely. Scratch what I said earlier, the FF was made for weeks like Chris'.

[4pot]

Legend!

[Itsallicanafford]

don't want to complicate things further but my Mx-5 could do with a good run if you fancy borrowing it for the weekend.

[rtz62]

Simple solution Chris;
Take the TR, with a friend as company, and I will drive the M5 as your wingman, with all your luggage.
I'll even sleep in the car to protect it!
Simples

[evosport]

Chris, why not take your new Sport Evo?