Do you take your M3 to the track?

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Who says I dont use the performance? I dont need to go to a track to have some fun blasting a highway onramp or taking some tight curves. The braking power also comes in handy when the highway comes to a sudden stop in rush hour

I think you are confused about what the M3 was designed for. Its a street car that can be taken to the track, not the other way around.

Like I said above, go to a local track event as a spectator and catch a ride in an M3, then try to come back and say that the accelerating, braking, and cornering you do on the street is just as fun. I think you'll be amazed at how much faster you can get through corners than you are right now (or at least how much more safely, smoothly, and confidently you can get through corners at your current speed).

[Porschefile]

Why do the general M3 forum threads get so hostile? I don't give a shit how you drive your car, but it is kinda low class to insult each other because someone doesn't track it or because you have a brand new M3 or whatever. FWIW, anyone in the 12+ days a year category is likely spending enough on fees, hotels, and tires to buy a second M3 anyway.

[jmgM3]

Originally Posted by jphughan

Houston MSR (in Angleton), Texas World Speedway in College Station, and coming in March, Circuit of the Americas in Austin!

Just go to www.thedriversedge.net and sign up. Great HPDE organizers that run several Texas tracks, so you get a consistent experience wherever you go, and their 2-day events are far better from a fun, value, travel justification, and long-term learning perspective than the normal 1-day offerings. Lots of members here including myself run with them and love it.

Paint worries are exaggerated IMHO, especially if you have clear bra. Not really any worse than road hazards. As for feeling not ready, that's the perfect mindset. People who think they'll impress everyone their first time and go out with something to prove are the ones who risk learning a hard lesson. Approaching it with excited trepidation is the way to go.

The one thing to check is your insurance coverage. If your normal carrier doesn't cover HPDEs (most don't anymore, sadly), Lockton has HPDE insurance on a stated-value basis.

Thanks for the tips! I'll be sure to check those out. I might try M-school first to get me warmed up. It's really expensive but it looks like a blast.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by jmgM3

Thanks for the tips! I'll be sure to check those out. I might try M-school first to get me warmed up. It's really expensive but it looks like a blast.

Those schools will always be expensive since you're driving their cars rather than yours. Driver's Edge by comparison is only $295 for the whole weekend, plus gas on track, possible helmet rental ($20), possible lodging and gas for the trip if you're going farther from home, and possible track insurance if your normal policy doesn't cover HPDEs. I think even with all that, Driver's Edge is more bang for your buck than M school, but I know people have had a blast at M school, and obviously without putting their own car at risk.

Feel free to PM if you have any Driver's Edge or general track questions. Good luck!

[M3forMe]

Originally Posted by jmgM3

Thanks for the tips! I'll be sure to check those out. I might try M-school first to get me warmed up. It's really expensive but it looks like a blast.

What is this M school you mention? Maybe a stupid question, sorry. I would like more info on that.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by jphughan

Like I said above, go to a local track event as a spectator and catch a ride in an M3, then try to come back and say that the accelerating, braking, and cornering you do on the street is just as fun. I think you'll be amazed at how much faster you can get through corners than you are right now (or at least how much more safely, smoothly, and confidently you can get through corners at your current speed).

I was not comparing the experience of driving on the street to driving on the track. I was responding to the quoted post saying that it is pointless to own an M3 unless you take it to the track.

I have no doubt the M3 makes an awesome track car and obviously driving on a track is way more fun than on the street. I was just rebutting the notion that the M3 is not meant to be a daily driver and you can't have some fun with it on a daily commute.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by M3forMe

What is this M school you mention? Maybe a stupid question, sorry. I would like more info on that.

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...ience/PDS.aspx. Click Book Now, then choose M School in the event dropdown, and look through the calendar for a date with open spots or click the M School link next to any date to be taken to the description page. The 1-day version MIGHT be the same thing that you get with Performance Center Delivery, but I've never done either one so I'm not sure. Hopefully others more knowledgeable will chime in on that.

EDIT: It's not, more detail in a subsequent post.

[Transfer]

Originally Posted by Porschefile

Why do the general M3 forum threads get so hostile? I don't give a shit how you drive your car, but it is kinda low class to insult each other because someone doesn't track it or because you have a brand new M3 or whatever. FWIW, anyone in the 12+ days a year category is likely spending enough on fees, hotels, and tires to buy a second M3 anyway.

+1
This thread was simply to poll the proportion of track users, not to create debate on how you should drive your car.

[JZBE92]

after 11 months of ownership, it's going to the track tomorrow!

[Team Plutonium]

Originally Posted by Porschefile

Why do the general M3 forum threads get so hostile? I don't give a shit how you drive your car, but it is kinda low class to insult each other because someone doesn't track it or because you have a brand new M3 or whatever. FWIW, anyone in the 12+ days a year category is likely spending enough on fees, hotels, and tires to buy a second M3 anyway.

Because you will always have know-it-all-assholes who tell other people how they should drive their cars. In my expierience these are the same folks who can't drive for shit.

[Khrishna]

Originally Posted by Porschefile

Why do the general M3 forum threads get so hostile? I don't give a shit how you drive your car, but it is kinda low class to insult each other because someone doesn't track it or because you have a brand new M3 or whatever. FWIW, anyone in the 12+ days a year category is likely spending enough on fees, hotels, and tires to buy a second M3 anyway.

Originally Posted by Team Plutonium

Because you will always have know-it-all-assholes who tell other people how they should drive their cars. In my expierience these are the same folks who can't drive for shit.

Because Canadian..Aren't they supposed to be nice and smell like maple syrup or something?

[jmgM3]

Originally Posted by M3forMe

What is this M school you mention? Maybe a stupid question, sorry. I would like more info on that.

Just do a quick search for it on this forum. I think quite a few other members have done it and have detailed posts of their experiences. It does look like a lot of fun without the worry of damaging your own pride and joy.

[VMcV3y]

Originally Posted by M3forMe

What is this M school you mention? Maybe a stupid question, sorry. I would like more info on that.

Here's one of the best postings on the two-day M School:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=654085




.

[VMcV3y]

Originally Posted by jphughan

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...ience/PDS.aspx. Click Book Now, then choose M School in the event dropdown, and look through the calendar for a date with open spots or click the M School link next to any date to be taken to the description page. The 1-day version MIGHT be the same thing that you get with Performance Center Delivery, but I've never done either one so I'm not sure. Hopefully others more knowledgeable will chime in on that.

I've done the Performance Center Delivery: it doesn't come close to matching the agenda posted for the 1-day M school, or even the 1-day Car Control School. The PCD experience is sort of "Track School Lite" where you get to do four stop-and-lane-change exercises, 10 laps around their track, three circles on the wet-donut, and the off-road course in an X5. It was great to do, but only a tantalizing taste of the real courses.

- V

.

[canadian stig]

Originally Posted by Amri215

And this is the sterotypical bmw d-bag response by a butt hurt, older car owner trying to justify to themseleves their cars are the same as newer models

If I want to track, I will get a dedicated track car and mod it to be only that a "track car"..just not a priority for me right now.

Um, the cars ARE the same. Oh wait, you get more fancy taillights and and a slightly upgraded Nav system. Wow, what a tremendous improvement the M3 has undergone in the last 4 years.

[donovan]

A lot of people buy these type of vehicles to just have them and do not track them at all..
I would say a good 80% do that or are to scared to reck their shits


Every corner I find I try to OWN IT

[AlexN]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

I find driving in rush hour traffic in California far more risky than my time at the track. I'm actually tense driving in traffic because of other drivers around me while I'm completely calm and relaxed at the track.

I'll take a controlled environment with generally decent drivers over uncontrolled surrounded by people who should have never gotten a driver's license in the first place.

+1
I dont understand what people mean when they are talking about risk.
perhaps they watched too much nascar, but in reality you are more likely to crash on your daily commute or going to/coming back from the track than on it.
Just pick a well organized group to run with (PCA and PBOC are the ones I ran with) and if you are just starting, you will have an instructor sit with you in the car.
These cars have traction and stability control, so leave those on and use common sense and judgment and you'll be ok.
I tracked my 2003 911 GT2 and never had any issues.
And this car has ~600 hp and only ABS as driver aid.
Not to say that I'm such a great driver, but take it easy at first and it will be an enjoyable experience.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

I find driving in rush hour traffic in California far more risky than my time at the track. I'm actually tense driving in traffic because of other drivers around me while I'm completely calm and relaxed at the track.

I'll take a controlled environment with generally decent drivers over uncontrolled surrounded by people who should have never gotten a driver's license in the first place.

yes i do agree with this and feel the same way. i have more chance of damage on the street then at the track, but pushing for quicker and quicker times results in a few hairy moments now and then.

[aus]

Originally Posted by donovan

A lot of people buy these type of vehicles to just have them and do not track them at all..
I would say a good 80% do that or are to scared to reck their shits


Every corner I find I try to OWN IT

I think it's more like 98% of M3 owners some excuse why they don't track it. It's fine, but I've only had ONE guys tell me, "it's just not in me" after he did it once. The rest come up with the LAMEST excuses why they can't make it that day to the track.
For anyone who's interested, the BMWCCA is the best way to start. VERY safe and an instructor in each car. Leave the damn traction control on until it starts to get in the way. There's a VERY fast instructor with an M3 and she track with MDM on, so there's no reason for 99.9% of the people on track to go DSC off.

.

[izzyM3]

I've done various autocross in a cayman s, EVO 9 and my Evo X. And I've gone through the AMG Basic Academy in practically all of the AMG car line up. It's a great experience specially if you are there to really hone your driving skills more than your average street driving. Going to track with instructions from pros and really learning to trust your cars capability will only make you better if nothing else. Regarding my M3, I bought it for all what it is, not just the possibility of taking it to the track. Sh%t, just sitting in it makes it worth while.

[donovan]

Sometimes, I have to understand why some wont track their 60,000+ m3 because of fear of damaging it and that makes sense. I did track mine on the deadliest track in the world numerous times(Nurburgring) . I would even continue to do so if I have a 599FXX Ferrari, because obviously if I have anothe moeny to buy one then I can afford gas/deductibles/insurance on it.


Needless to say, once I returned back to America I quickly down sized back to an e46 m3

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by Transfer

+1
This thread was simply to poll the proportion of track users, not to create debate on how you should drive your car.

It is sad when you can no longer ask a simple question or create a simple poll without people crapping all over it or telling people how they should be using/driving their car. Not difficult to make a selection on this poll

Yes, the M3 is a great overall sports coupe/sedan that is a blast on the track but you don't need a track to enjoy the car - one of its best attributes is its dual street-track personality