M3 on the racetrack - who knew?

[M4Now!]

Okay, many of you already know. But for those that don't, taking the M out on a road course will make you appreciate it even more.

Spent the morning out on Thursday running a great course, with elevation changes, some off-camber turns, increasing / decreasing radius turns. And the M3 never ever did anything I didn't want it to. Need the back end out a bit more, a little more throttle. Coming in too hot and need to tighten the turn, a dab on the brakes gets rotation without unsettling the chassis.

Power was always there, the back end will do exactly what you tell it to without drama, the brakes continually hauled it down from 100+ to about 45 mph at the last second for the sharp, downhill turn.

Just a great car!!

Cheers

[CBS]

Yeah, cool huh? I love this car for how much Fun it is! Can't wait for next year Track Season.

[///M Rakete]

The most fun I've had with this car is on the Nürburgring. It's not the fastest car out there but it is one of the fastest comfortable cars that will sill haul groceries or drives on all types of roads. I just got back from my second set of track days at the 'Ring plus several hundreds of miles on autobahn, primarym and secondary roads. I also took a ride in the new M5 (on roads) and the new 1M (on the 'Ring). The M5 and the 1M favor their particular extremes whereas the M3 is a very good balance.

[Justin(OKC)]

I knew I loved this car, but I agree with the OP that the DE I took it to really gave me a different appreciation for the car. I just can't keep myself from driving this thing because I love it so much. On my 135i I put roughly 10k miles on it per year. I've had the M3 just short of 6mo and I already have just over 8k on it!! For me, this car is just perfect!

[K-M3]

Originally Posted by Justin(OKC)

I knew I loved this car, but I agree with the OP that the DE I took it to really gave me a different appreciation for the car. I just can't keep myself from driving this thing because I love it so much. On my 135i I put roughly 10k miles on it per year. I've had the M3 just short of 6mo and I already have just over 8k on it!! For me, this car is just perfect!

niceee!!!!!!!!! cant wait to get my hands on mine!!!

I see that you are in OKC. maybe we'll do a meet up when I get mine. Sorry to thread jack, but any tracks you know of in Oklahoma??

[m3keash]

The OEM brake pads aren't made for track runs. People I've talked to change out the pads when they do a track day. I've also heard 18" wheels are better.

I did the performance delivery center pickup and got to drive M3's on the track. A nice way to get started in the car. I recommend it highly.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by m3keash

The OEM brake pads aren't made for track runs. People I've talked to change out the pads when they do a track day. I've also heard 18" wheels are better.

I did the performance delivery center pickup and got to drive M3's on the track. A nice way to get started in the car. I recommend it highly.

Pads, high-performance brake fluid and SS brake lines are the first mods that should be done for any car that's going to be tracked.

Yes, 18" wheels are a better choice because there's a much larger selection of performance tires to pick from, especially r-comp tires.

[Justin(OKC)]

Originally Posted by K-M3

niceee!!!!!!!!! cant wait to get my hands on mine!!!

I see that you are in OKC. maybe we'll do a meet up when I get mine. Sorry to thread jack, but any tracks you know of in Oklahoma??

Where are you in Oklahoma? There's a lot of BMW club activity here in OKC. Hallett is the track loctated between Stillwater and Sand Springs. The BMW CCA chapter does autoX days at the Sheriff's track on NE 36th. Pretty great venue for an autoX because it is more like a mini road course. Coffee & Cars in OKC the first Saturday of every month. Stay in touch....would love to meet up. What are you getting?

Originally Posted by m3keash

The OEM brake pads aren't made for track runs. People I've talked to change out the pads when they do a track day. I've also heard 18" wheels are better.

The OEM pads did ok at the track, but the brakes were not the greatest. Finished the weekend with warped rotors that felt really bad at first, but now are not too bad. I'm going to do some StopTech's after I have the dealer fix the current brakes.

[klammer]

Couldn't agree more with everybody's comments on here. After tracking this car, I absolutely fell in love Its hard to truly appreciate the completeness of this car if it's not taken to the track. I mean, to run around with all sorts of "sports" cars on track, roll up the windows, throw on the AC (or heated seats) drive home in comfort and then take the family out to dinner.... IMHO.... PERFECT

[sawzall]

Originally Posted by klammer

Couldn't agree more with everybody's comments on here. After tracking this car, I absolutely fell in love Its hard to truly appreciate the completeness of this car if it's not taken to the track.

I was seriously thinking of selling M3 this year - I found it a tedious car to daily drive. But now that i've had a chance to track it, no one will be able to pry this car away from me. It's only after you've had a chance to push the car that you can appreciate why no car produced in its class can beat it.

[paradocs98]

Originally Posted by klammer

Couldn't agree more with everybody's comments on here. After tracking this car, I absolutely fell in love Its hard to truly appreciate the completeness of this car if it's not taken to the track. I mean, to run around with all sorts of "sports" cars on track, roll up the windows, throw on the AC (or heated seats) drive home in comfort and then take the family out to dinner.... IMHO.... PERFECT

+1

Originally Posted by shizzle

I was seriously thinking of selling M3 this year - I found it a tedious car to daily drive. But now that i've had a chance to track it, no one will be able to pry this car away from me. It's only after you've had a chance to push the car that you can appreciate why no car produced in its class can beat it.

+1

[K-M3]

@ JUSTIN(OKC)

PM sent.....will be in touch......

[dhoggm3]

Glad y'all are treating the car the way it was built to be treated. It really shines.

[cmk227]

I going to invest in a pair of track tired setup for next season so I can enjoy the car even more.

[Malakas]

Originally Posted by M3Now!

...a great course, with elevation changes, some off-camber turns, increasing / decreasing radius turns.

Harris Hill Road??

Glad you tracked. A must for a car like this...

[M4Now!]

Originally Posted by Malakas

Harris Hill Road??

Glad you tracked. A must for a car like this...

As a matter of fact, yes - excellent observation skills

[Malakas]

Originally Posted by M3Now!

As a matter of fact, yes - excellent observation skills

Off camber is a give-away

H2R is a great track. Very technical. Cool people out there too.

Next you should try TWS. Its easier on the brain and little more spread out. Plus, you get to ride up the oval for the main straight, which is pretty neat.

[dizzyj]

Careful. I took my m3 out to h2r for the first time 2 years ago, now I have a dedicated trackcar


You really cannot appreciate what M has built till you get it on the track. The pucker factor of full throttle out of 10 and not letting up till 2 is unreal.

What I would really like to do would be to get 3 friends (I have the sedan) and take them all for a couple of laps. Do that in a zo6!

[M4Now!]

Originally Posted by dizzyj

Careful. I took my m3 out to h2r for the first time 2 years ago, now I have a dedicated trackcar


You really cannot appreciate what M has built till you get it on the track. The pucker factor of full throttle out of 10 and not letting up till 2 is unreal.

Yes, great track. On that straight I worked up to a max of about 105 before standing on the brakes for the turn. Whoa baby, whoa!!

[Justin(OKC)]

Originally Posted by dizzyj

What I would really like to do would be to get 3 friends (I have the sedan) and take them all for a couple of laps. Do that in a zo6!

I had my friend, who was my driving instructor, drive my car with my brother in the front seat and me in the back for a 20min session. It was cool!

[karussell]

Originally Posted by M3Now!

Coming in too hot and need to tighten the turn, a dab on the brakes gets rotation without unsettling the chassis.

glad you had a great time and the car is a great platform right out of the box. just wanted to jump on soapbox with your comment above though.

You couldn't have been with an instructor. this is not good. brake before the turn, accelerate out. everything smooth. dabbing on brakes or even lifting off the throttle quickly mid corner at the limit and at best you will have some oversteer which is SLOW, at worst….well you might end up coming back to pit with just a steering wheel. yes, M3 is forgiving but this isn't a habit you want to develop. at lower speeds where you aren't using all of the traction available any car will be very forgiving. take that same approach and double the speed, you won't be making that statement.

generally when you find yourself understeering in a corner, its too late, next time around slow down more before turn in and try to accelerate out. yes, you can correct with some trailing throttle oversteer and get back on line, but not something you really want to practice other than skid pad.

[von_zoom]

I had my friend, who was my driving instructor, drive my car with my brother in the front seat and me in the back for a 20min session. It was cool

Wow, what track were you at. None of the tracks I run on will allow three persons in a car. Instructor and student okay, and occassionally, instructors can take one passenger. No student is allow to take a passenger.

Agree, the M3 is great on the track - bone stock, or with mods.
vz