My E90 M3 Dedicated Track build (with pix!)

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by slicer

It's an option but I wouldn't do it. It adds an unnecessary complication/potential failure point. The cord has zero downside other than aesthetics if you don't like the look. You don't need a visible cord if you skip the quick release.

Is there a reason you wouldn't want a cord?

Ok, so the cord doesn't stretch over time and hang between your knees or anything annoying like that?

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Jeez you guys have all the cool toys!

Coming from you----that is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!!! You have the coolest stuff! We all want to be you when we grow up!! Except that I never want to do rod bearings myself.......

[slicer]

Originally Posted by dogbone

Ok, so the cord doesn't stretch over time and hang between your knees or anything annoying like that?

No, not at all

[admranger]

Originally Posted by dogbone

I never want to do rod bearings myself.......

Meh, it’s not that bad, especially now that you have a lift!

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by admranger

Meh, it’s not that bad, especially now that you have a lift!

Wait, are you saying that doing my first EVER oil change yesterday doesn't give me any street cred?

[admranger]

Originally Posted by dogbone

Wait, are you saying that doing my first EVER oil change yesterday doesn't give me any street cred?

Depends. Did you put the oil drain plug back in?

BTW: You need numbers and canards on your snow blower.

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by admranger

Depends. Did you put the oil drain plug back in?

BTW: You need numbers and canards on your snow blower.

awwww you need to put the drain plug back in? And I was having such fun doing donuts and spelling names with oil!

haha that Ariens snow blower is awesome! I'd slap a number on it and race it!

[dogbone]

Let's file this one under: Ode to a Splitter.

After 5-and-a-half years, the time has come to retire my trusty, dusty, fluid-spilled, scraped up, worn down, cracked up APR splitter. I am scheduled to get the new Zebulon splitter installed tomorrow, so today's task was to detach the old lip and splitter from the bumper.

My old splitter has been through a TON of track abuse and it held up remarkably well. No one ever thought it would last this long. I can happily say that I got way more than my money's worth out of this piece. So, thank you oh trusty bumper mounted splitter!

Now it is time to move on to the next generation chassis mounted custom piece! Excited to see the installation tomorrow! I will attempt to document the installation process.


After all the off track excursions with this piece, I am so impressed with how well it just kept going and going. The mud, the desert rocks, the tumbleweeds, the gravel traps....But it was due for replacement. The worn out section on the driver side is from some bolts loosening over time and the splitter sagged a bit and it was rubbing the ground mainly in the Off-Ramp turn (T2) at Buttonwillow. It took me awhile to discover what was going on, so it rubbed for some time......The cracked nose of the splitter was from running into the trailer door edge while putting the car back in the trailer in the Willow Springs paddock. The ground was uneven and the car was tilting down more than it should and the nose of the splitter slammed into the top edge of the trailer door......

[OG Shark]

Originally Posted by dogbone

Let's file this one under: Ode to a Splitter.

After 5-and-a-half years, the time has come to retire my trusty, dusty, fluid-spilled, scraped up, worn down, cracked up APR splitter. I am scheduled to get the new Zebulon splitter installed tomorrow, so today's task was to detach the old lip and splitter from the bumper.

My old splitter has been through a TON of track abuse and it held up remarkably well. No one ever thought it would last this long. I can happily say that I got way more than my money's worth out of this piece. So, thank you oh trusty bumper mounted splitter!

Now it is time to move on to the next generation chassis mounted custom piece! Excited to see the installation tomorrow! I will attempt to document the installation process.


After all the off track excursions with this piece, I am so impressed with how well it just kept going and going. The mud, the desert rocks, the tumbleweeds, the gravel traps....But it was due for replacement. The worn out section on the driver side is from some bolts loosening over time and the splitter sagged a bit and it was rubbing the ground mainly in the Off-Ramp turn (T2) at Buttonwillow. It took me awhile to discover what was going on, so it rubbed for some time......The cracked nose of the splitter was from running into the trailer door edge while putting the car back in the trailer in the Willow Springs paddock. The ground was uneven and the car was tilting down more than it should and the nose of the splitter slammed into the top edge of the trailer door......

Really looking forward to the install update!

[roastbeef]

i'm impressed with the aerocatch clamps that connect the bumper to the fender didn't rip out.

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

i'm impressed with the aerocatch clamps that connect the bumper to the fender didn't rip out.

I can’t say enough nice things about Aerocatch products. They are simply awesome.

[SYT_Shadow]

Good luck with the install!!

[DRLane]

Have fun today Gabe! Please do document as I'll won't be able to make it up there.

Also remember to remove the black air redirect behind the oil cooler. I think it acts as the nuts for the oil cooler bolts so you'll like need to either retain the ends or bring new ones.

[fsmtnbiker]

Originally Posted by DRLane

Have fun today Gabe! Please do document as I'll won't be able to make it up there.

Also remember to remove the black air redirect behind the oil cooler. I think it acts as the nuts for the oil cooler bolts so you'll like need to either retain the ends or bring new ones.

I don't think you want to remove it entirely as it seals the entry to the radiator as well. I cut mine to open up the exit of the oil cooler but left most of it installed. No issues.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by fsmtnbiker

I don't think you want to remove it entirely as it seals the entry to the radiator as well. I cut mine to open up the exit of the oil cooler but left most of it installed. No issues.

I was hoping you'd chime in, thx man!

You cut it open, to allow the air to flow straight back vs being redirected down? Maybe drill a bunch of holes a la roast beef style?

[Bartledoo]

You guys gonna seal up the stock leak between the lower leading edge of the oil cooler and the bumper too?

[dogbone]

I’m happy to report that the splitter install went well. What an awesome addition to the car. To my eyes, the thing is just outrageous looking. It’s an inch longer than my previous splitter at the nose of the car, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. The splitter has quite a bit more depth going out to the corners of the car than the previous splitter. Plus, I used to have a lip which partially covered some of the depth. The lip is gone so now you just see the entire horizontal run of the splitter, and I’ll say it again, it looks insane to me. Ryan was laughing at me. He was like, uh this really isn’t that big of a splitter…..hahaha Anyway, all this to say that I am very pleased by the visual aspect of the setup. The end fences you see in these pix are the basic/normal end fences. I have ordered 3D hi-tech end fences that stick out several inches on both sides. I’ll be curious to see how insane that all looks when they arrive. They'll just bolt on so I can easily swap them.

The splitter is chassis mounted now versus the old splitter being bumper mounted. With the old splitter, you could flex the composite material just by dabbing your toe on it. Very little pressure was needed to flex it. Standing on the APR was a huge no-no. The Zebulon splitter———you can stand on it without issue. Previously, I said I would never stand on it, but that lasted about 5 minutes. I couldn’t help myself. I stood on it. Didn’t budge. I was asking what kind of downforce this splitter could generate at 100mph. Of course, it's impossible to pin down the exact number because there are so many variables. But he told me it's capable of producing many hundreds of pounds. I suspect I will be revisiting the car setup in terms of damper settings and perhaps even spring rates. We'll see. I'm probably going to leave the car in its current state to see how it compares to the previous setup.

I’d like to take a moment and thank Chris Mayfield/fsmtnbiker. I’ve learned that he was the one who nudged Ryan/Zebulon to make a splitter for this platform. Chris and Ryan go way back, so he approached his friend and requested that he make this piece. Then, Chris did the work to figure out how to attach it to the chassis of the car. His solution is clever, strong, yet simple to use. The really cool part is that the gas shock that holds the front of the splitter allows at least an inch of upward movement. So, if this thing hits the ground, it can deflect. Absolutely awesome design.

I’m damn excited to drive the new setup. Sadly, the weather here is very cold at the moment. The pictures I took this AM were done in 14ºF conditions---and yes, it was fogged out too---in the pix, the fog froze on the trees and turned them white...... If High Plains Raceway were to actually put the track day on Sunday, the high temp is projected to be 9ºF……low -6º……I like cold track days, but that may be a bit much….

I will post installation-specific details and pix in an upcoming post; I just wanted to get a few pix out now.

Anyway here are a few more frosty foggy pix:

[Bartledoo]

Wow. The wing looks tiny now.

[Kelse92]

Awesome! Can't wait to hear your feedback on the new aero setup!
Also badass shots with the fog, one of these definitely needs to be the new cover image on page 1 of this thread.

[Richbot]

Time to buy some of those neon yellow SRT splitter curb feelers

[b4hand]

Oh damn, this thing looks even more proper now. I am looking forward to the install pics

[Bartledoo]

It's really pokin now. Suppose we should call you Dogboner now.