How hard do you push the M3?

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by Transfer

I was out there opening weekend but this was my first time in the M3. I'm fairly casual with my lapping so I don't do timing... yet.

dont rush yourself. good plan. quicker you get the more issues you start having with parts wear and failure. gets expensive fast. hard for me to go slower though. cant go backwards!

[OC3]

Originally Posted by JD3

Now that's a testament....assuming you're not on your 3rd engine or something, haha. thanks!

lulz. Logged about 38k miles so far on a 2011 and been changing oil every 5~6k miles, changed Diff fluid twice and DCT fluid once. So far, the drivetrain's been bulletproof. Plus, will be changing spark plugs within a month. Looking forward to what the engine's going to feel like thereafter.

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

only 6 laps per session? i have days where i get in over 100 laps.

On the average.

There simply are LOTS of cars in California in general and lots of luxuary cars in particular (i.e. half the BMW's sold worldwide are in US, and half of that in CA), which lead to the most stringent smog laws in the nation. And, correspondingly, there are lots of cars crowding HPDE events in CA, even though there are multiple track days nearly every weekend.

Curious... about many cars attend a typical HPDE day up in your area?

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by Transfer

I was out there opening weekend but this was my first time in the M3. I'm fairly casual with my lapping so I don't do timing... yet.

I doubt I'll be timing myself any time soon. I think timing myself would change the decisions I make out on the track, and not for the better -- which is probably why even the few insurance carriers that still cover HPDEs have an exclusion if you're timing yourself. I remember reading an article about the Nurburgring where the police were quoted as saying that 80% of the cars that wreck there had some sort of timing device running in the car.

I may have to start doing some sort of datalogging soon once I get my consistency a tad higher to start experimenting with different lines, but even then I suspect I'll try to focus only on comparing entry, mid-corner, and exit speeds in various turns between laps and ignore the overall lap time.

[e92iy790]

Drive it like you stole it

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by OC3

Curious... about many cars attend a typical HPDE day up in your area?

My last turn 2 day at the ridge there were 55 cars and a bike group. I do a lot of winter days at pacific and they usually only have 20ish and by the end of the day half are gone or more and its open track. I usually run with the school at pacific in the summer months so half the volume is students in another group and still get a decent amount of time on track. Stay away from BMWCCA events as they are over regulated here.

[OC3]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

My last turn 2 day at the ridge there were 55 cars and a bike droup. I do a lot of winter days at pacific and they usually only have 20ish and by the end of the day half are gone or more and its open track. I usually run with the school at pacific in the summer months so half the volume is students in another group and still get a decent amount of time on track. Stay away from BMWCCA events as they are over regulated here.

Man, those numbers are something we can only fantasize about.

There is an organizer that limits the number of participants to 50 max, but naturally it costs more. We routinely have HPDE days with 100 to 120 cars, split into 5, not 3, run groups. And, the organizer for this weekend's Buttonwillow event sent out emails today because, as of today, they have "only" about 60 cars registered for Sunday and they are concerned - offering & extending group discounts and what not.

[byetter]

Yes, apparently I do not push mine hard at all and feel pretty comfortable pushing more after reading all of this.

[kchu221]

Originally Posted by OC3

Man, those numbers are something we can only fantasize about.

There is an organizer that limits the number of participants to 50 max, but naturally it costs more. We routinely have HPDE days with 100 to 120 cars, split into 5, not 3, run groups. And, the organizer for this weekend's Buttonwillow event sent out emails today because, as of today, they have "only" about 60 cars registered for Sunday and they are concerned - offering & extending group discounts and what not.

im actually thinking about signing up for this sundays event at the buttonwill track... my first ever track day was at the buttonwillow with my g37 and i had a blast...

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by OC3

Man, those numbers are something we can only fantasize about.

There is an organizer that limits the number of participants to 50 max, but naturally it costs more. We routinely have HPDE days with 100 to 120 cars, split into 5, not 3, run groups. And, the organizer for this weekend's Buttonwillow event sent out emails today because, as of today, they have "only" about 60 cars registered for Sunday and they are concerned - offering & extending group discounts and what not.

Yeah I get my moneys worth most days. I get pissed off when I am at busy day like that. I like getting over 200 miles in a day and have approached 300. I xan put 1000 miles a month on my car just to and from and on the track. Scary!

[OC3]

Originally Posted by kchu221

im actually thinking about signing up for this sundays event at the buttonwill track... my first ever track day was at the buttonwillow with my g37 and i had a blast...

Sign up! You bet it's a blast. Look forward to seeing your E92 with, what does it have on now, Mag Blue TE37, or White TE37?

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Yeah I get my moneys worth most days. I get pissed off when I am at busy day like that. I like getting over 200 miles in a day and have approached 300. I xan put 1000 miles a month on my car just to and from and on the track. Scary!

Yeah, we're not happy either with super-packed days. Re: miles, where do all the mileages come from, eh? They rack up super fast.

[JD3]

Originally Posted by byetter

Yes, apparently I do not push mine hard at all and feel pretty comfortable pushing more after reading all of this.

This thread has helped someone else, which is great!

[Ezio]

This is why i would do the extended warrnety hate worry about this stuff just wanna enjoy the car. plus i am so over the whole tuning and modding phase. although i do small mods here and there.

[mlhj83]

I haven't pushed my M3 very hard at all, I normally get in the driver's seat.

[thorny]

I drive it hard all the time! In fact, i don't think my M3 likes slow speeds and shifts at 3-4K. It feels somewhat rough and Akra doesnt sound as nice as at WOT. I let it warm up though, always.

I rarely listen to the radio and keep window down. Love the exhaust!

[BMW Fanatic]

My engine blew at 12k, I'd say it's BMW's fault because they screwed up the timing on my run in service (meant to be 2k but happened at 5k), due to 'not scheduling me in properly'. Anyways, long story short, I didn't follow regulation on the new engine and have been driving it like I stole it since the get go. Not a single problem to report so far. New spark plugs definitely brought it back to life too.

I have always felt that no matter how hard you push a car, as long as you frequently service it and such you will be perfectly okay. I mean it's better than letting it sit in the garage 1/2 the year lol.

[Ezio]

Originally Posted by BMW Fanatic

My engine blew at 12k, I'd say it's BMW's fault because they screwed up the timing on my run in service (meant to be 2k but happened at 5k), due to 'not scheduling me in properly'. Anyways, long story short, I didn't follow regulation on the new engine and have been driving it like I stole it since the get go. Not a single problem to report so far. New spark plugs definitely brought it back to life too.

I have always felt that no matter how hard you push a car, as long as you frequently service it and such you will be perfectly okay. I mean it's better than letting it sit in the garage 1/2 the year lol.

Honestly screw all that break in stuff. People do not understand how most engines are designed from factory to be durable as hell. And if something breaks its a defective part or aggressive driving while not at operating temps. BOTTOM LINE.

[M3takesNYC]

I left the lot with my brand new m3 and hit 5k immediatly. Followed break-in for 300 miles and then said screw-it. Hit 8400 rpms and never looked back. 40k perfect miles with a silky smooth engine stronger than ever. ZERO oil consumption. Not one drop ever. Really powerful engine and feels better than ever. I firmly believe breaking it in hard actually eliminates the oil consumption problem and makes for a longer lasting engine.

I do oil changes every 7500 and stay on top of maintence like a hawk but I agree I love 3rd gear on the freeway and do it all the time. Living above 6500 is what I try to do whenever possible and get to 8600 many many times per day in the 1st or 2nd gears (sometimes 3rd if I really have a clear peace of road) To me its more about the sound than anything. Leaving it in 3rd for a couple minutes on the freeway and revving it out then backing off and revving it out etc. Just sounds absolutely beautiful

[SWOT1]

Originally Posted by M3takesNYC

I left the lot with my brand new m3 and hit 5k immediatly. Followed break-in for 300 miles and then said screw-it. Hit 8400 rpms and never looked back. 40k perfect miles with a silky smooth engine stronger than ever. ZERO oil consumption. Not one drop ever. Really powerful engine and feels better than ever. I firmly believe breaking it in hard actually eliminates the oil consumption problem and makes for a longer lasting engine.

I do oil changes every 7500 and stay on top of maintence like a hawk but I agree I love 3rd gear on the freeway and do it all the time. Living above 6500 is what I try to do whenever possible and get to 8600 many many times per day in the 1st or 2nd gears (sometimes 3rd if I really have a clear peace of road) To me its more about the sound than anything. Leaving it in 3rd for a couple minutes on the freeway and revving it out then backing off and revving it out etc. Just sounds absolutely beautiful

YEEESSSSS!!

[OC3]

Originally Posted by M3takesNYC

I left the lot with my brand new m3 and hit 5k immediatly. Followed break-in for 300 miles and then said screw-it. Hit 8400 rpms and never looked back. 40k perfect miles with a silky smooth engine stronger than ever. ZERO oil consumption. Not one drop ever. Really powerful engine and feels better than ever. I firmly believe breaking it in hard actually eliminates the oil consumption problem and makes for a longer lasting engine.

Both of my M3's too never had oil consumption problems. *knock on wood*

Originally Posted by M3takesNYC

I do oil changes every 7500 and stay on top of maintence like a hawk but I agree I love 3rd gear on the freeway and do it all the time. Living above 6500 is what I try to do whenever possible and get to 8600 many many times per day in the 1st or 2nd gears (sometimes 3rd if I really have a clear peace of road) To me its more about the sound than anything. Leaving it in 3rd for a couple minutes on the freeway and revving it out then backing off and revving it out etc. Just sounds absolutely beautiful

Boy, that 3rd gear on 6MT on freeways is just a joy, isn't it?

[kchu221]

Originally Posted by OC3

Sign up! You bet it's a blast. Look forward to seeing your E92 with, what does it have on now, Mag Blue TE37, or White TE37?

haha i have the white TE37 right now! but im leaning towards more on going so well see!

[Schom]

I just ran mine up to 7000 r's ripping through the gears....that motor sounds so nice. can't wait till i install my performance m exhaust.

[M3takesNYC]

Originally Posted by OC3

Both of my M3's too never had oil consumption problems. *knock on wood*




Boy, that 3rd gear on 6MT on freeways is just a joy, isn't it?

3rd in the DCT is even more glorious (insert DCt vs M6 debate) lol

3rd in DCt has gearing advantage but yes 3rd is the magic gear on this car!