Spx E92 Track Build Journal

[spxxx]

I know the last thing anyone cares about is another basic track build with MCS's and SPL arms but this is mainly for me to watch the progression of my build. I come from a fairly developed E82 1M clone track build and F80 dual duty car that were both pretty quick in very different ways...

I picked up the E92 on April 15th and was pretty intent on getting the car ready for a shakedown event the first weekend of May so I only had about 3 weeks to get preventative maintenance done. I went pretty crazy that first week with my local shop Performance Technic doing some typical TLC work (RB's, TAs, VCG, vac-lines, idle control lines, etc.) before I started my late night garage wrenching to get the basics on the car.

Here's how she sits as of 12/1/2022:

Suspension/Wheels:
- MCS 1WNR 625/900 Eibach
- SPL Lower Control Arms
- SPL Thrust Arms
- SPL Tie Rods
- SPL rear toe arms
- Hotchkis Front Sway Bar
- Refreshed OEM arms/bushings
- 3.45 f/d O.E. ZF LSD
- Condor Speed Shop subframe bushings
- Titan 7 TS5 18X10.5 + RE71RS 285/30/18 Square

Engine/Power:
- Macht Schnell intake
- Bomiz X-Pipe :
- Epic 91oct Race Tune
- Macht Schnell pulleys
- Megan Muffler... From P.O. it's actually <30lbs
- Do88 Oil Cooler
- Do88 DCT Cooler
- CSF Radiatior
- Dodson DCT Pan (to be installed)

Aero/Body:
- GT4 rep splitter (CF repaired 3x times)
- MKRennsport GT4 Wing
- Pinnacle Undertray Guard
- APR GT-250 Wing (61" x 11") - TBD

Brakes/Interior:
- Stoptech ST40R Trophy x4
- Cobalt Friction XR1 pads
- Sparco Evo Driver seat
- Sparco Grid Passenger seat
- Pinnacle GTS cage
- OMP Wheel w/ SLG paddles
- Antigravity 40ah 13.5lbs battery! Seriously, if you're not running one of these, buy one now... Over 40# of savings for $700 plus sweet restart tech, incredible.

Current Lap Times:
Buttonwillow: 1:55.6
Sonoma: 1:46.48
Thunderhill: 1:58.x?
Laguna:

Onto first impressions:

I've taken the car out to Buttonwillow & Thunderhill in my month of ownership... I ran a little slower than my F80 at both with a 1:57.8x at Buttonwillow and 1:23 flat at Thunderhill West. I ABSOLUTELY love this chassis though, no matter your lap time it's hard to get out of the car without a smile on your face!

I don't know why I didn't move to this chassis sooner (it only took me owning three E92 M3s to finally build one into a track car). I'm sure there's tons of time left as I looked at a GoPro video and noticed myself shifting at 7k RPM as I'm so used to turbo BMW engines

Stage 2, weight reduction... stay tuned for more!

[spxxx]

I had a spur of the moment idea to drive the car out to Thunderhill West last Friday with Corsa Club, I know they host budget friendly events but the traffic might have been the worst I've ever experienced... Anyhow I guess I can't complain about a $125 event on a Friday (gotta love working from the track).

This highly technical track isn't ideal for heavy cars without tons of torque but I managed to run within 0.6sec of my PB in 90* temps compared to the F80 (on a 65* cool winter morning) - this thing is so so so much more fun. The fastest time attack cars up in NorCal typically run 1:20.xx here and I ran a 1:23 flat which I'm fairly happy with.

I also found out about the OEM shift lights on DCT cars which is quite helpful (so Forza...) so I've gotten better at fully revving out the car which never gets old, especially on 5-4-3 down shifts.

I threw on the TrackSpec hood vent before the event as I knew it'd be hot, oil maxed at ~250* a few sessions but only after 10+ laps without any cool downs.

Next up, more weight loss (pic of my OMP wheel is from before I pulled the rear seats). Gotta figure out the wiring of the OMP paddle shifter wheel & figure out brake pads as these are pretty beat from the previous owner.

[b4hand]

All for more M3 track builds!

[roastbeef]

nice!
for brakes, can't go wrong with cobalt friction!

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

nice!
for brakes, can't go wrong with cobalt friction!

That's one of the few compounds I've never run, I used to love Pagid RS29 but recently ran Endless ME20s and was really impressed. My old favorite was Raybesto R43 (I think that's the number) but I recall having issues sourcing them and moved to the Pagids... I was planning on Endless again but could be swayed in another direction.

We're spoiled with compounds these days.

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by spxxx

That's one of the few compounds I've never run, I used to love Pagid RS29 but recently ran Endless ME20s and was really impressed. My old favorite was Raybesto R43 (I think that's the number) but I recall having issues sourcing them and moved to the Pagids... I was planning on Endless again but could be swayed in another direction.

We're spoiled with compounds these days.

The raybestos 43's are good, but pretty hard on rotors.

I have some endless me20's. Kinda felt like ferodo ds1.11's- kinda had me getting into the abs while looking for more bite and torque.

Cobalt friction xr1's have everything I want, and a very nice release. I'm done sampling others.

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

The raybestos 43's are good, but pretty hard on rotors.

I have some endless me20's. Kinda felt like ferodo ds1.11's- kinda had me getting into the abs while looking for more bite and torque.

Cobalt friction xr1's have everything I want, and a very nice release. I'm done sampling others.

That's what I've been hearing... the Endless pads performed much better than expected on the F80 but I didn't do long sessions and the lower bite helped modulate trail braking with the weight of that pig.

Are the Cobalt Friction pads pretty easy on rotors?

[roastbeef]

In my experience, yes. They are magic.

[Redd]

Nice build! Hit up Zeckhausen for your Stoptech needs, I'm sure he will have springs for your ST40Rs. Super friendly and helpful guy.

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by Redd

Nice build! Hit up Zeckhausen for your Stoptech needs, I'm sure he will have springs for your ST40Rs. Super friendly and helpful guy.

Funny, I had a calendar event on the books today to give him a call. Still totally forgot haha

Really don't enjoy brake checking before every high speed braking zone (although having DCT makes it much easier).

Thanks for the suggestion!

[berns]

Springs help, go for #6, but more importantly, you need to grind down the edges of your top/bottom pads so they slide in freely and float. The tolerances are too tight.
Stoptech SR33 all around or 34f/33r is an awesome setup for this car, but feel free to do your own thing

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by berns

Springs help, go for #6, but more importantly, you need to grind down the edges of your top/bottom pads so they slide in freely and float. The tolerances are too tight.
Stoptech SR33 all around or 34f/33r is an awesome setup for this car, but feel free to do your own thing

Nice, you don't think 4# is sufficient? You know I like to copy you whenever possible I just mounted my old ass bench grinder for the front pads...

I have that same ST Pad combo as they were mounted on the 40R set I bought but the rear pads are toast so I want to swap both.

There's officially too many pad compounds to choose from...

[1FastSicilian]

knockback on the ST kits are the reason I won't go with them again and I'm saving for an AP kit....

Once you learn and know about knockback, you can drive around it but it's annoying.


Car looks stunning though!!

[Redd]

Brembo GT has knockback as well, as does Brembo GTS, but to a lesser extent. I think it's a common phenomenon with large rotors and pads. Only way around it appears to be anti-knockback springs.

[b4hand]

Originally Posted by berns

Springs help, go for #6, but more importantly, you need to grind down the edges of your top/bottom pads so they slide in freely and float. The tolerances are too tight.
Stoptech SR33 all around or 34f/33r is an awesome setup for this car, but feel free to do your own thing

What edges exactly? You said top/bottom, is that literal top and bottom of the pad? Like holding the pad vertically?

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by Redd

Brembo GT has knockback as well, as does Brembo GTS, but to a lesser extent. I think it's a common phenomenon with large rotors and pads. Only way around it appears to be anti-knockback springs.

It's strange, my old ST60's (non-trophy) on my last track car rarely ever had knock-back but these are pretty bad after esses/quick left-right transitions.

Honestly it's not too bad just left-foot brake checking occasionally once you know the track, hoping the springs/grinded pads help.

[dogbone]

I would think that a moderate build would have a wide appeal. It's more relevant to more people. I'm sure there's a very solid audience for your build and experiences.

Regarding pads--I have also had very good luck with Cobalt Friction pads. If you have anything short of slicks, XR2front/XR3rear is a good way to go. This setup was recommended by the guy who created the pad compounds. If you have slicks, then XR1front/XR2rear can be a good setup. That's what I run now.

[leftfootbr8king]

Originally Posted by Redd

Brembo GT has knockback as well, as does Brembo GTS, but to a lesser extent. I think it's a common phenomenon with large rotors and pads. Only way around it appears to be anti-knockback springs.

Originally Posted by Redd

Brembo GT has knockback as well, as does Brembo GTS, but to a lesser extent. I think it's a common phenomenon with large rotors and pads. Only way around it appears to be anti-knockback springs.

I haven't experienced any knock back on my GTS kit at 3 different tracks.

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by dogbone

I would think that a moderate build would have a wide appeal. It's more relevant to more people. I'm sure there's a very solid audience for your build and experiences.

Regarding pads--I have also had very good luck with Cobalt Friction pads. If you have anything short of slicks, XR2front/XR3rear is a good way to go. This setup was recommended by the guy who created the pad compounds. If you have slicks, then XR1front/XR2rear can be a good setup. That's what I run now.

Yeah that's probably true! I just need to avoid looking at your thread/posts haha... Your carbon doors and aero package are the last thing my bank account needs

I heavily considered an E90 build thanks to you but can't get over the looks of the E92.

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by spxxx

Yeah that's probably true! I just need to avoid looking at your thread/posts haha... Your carbon doors and aero package are the last thing my bank account needs

I heavily considered an E90 build thanks to you but can't get over the looks of the E92.

haha sorry to be a bad influence! Carrrrrrrbon doooooooors------huuuuuuuge chassssssis mounted aaaaaaeeeeerrrrrooooooo-----you know you want some!

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by dogbone

haha sorry to be a bad influence! Carrrrrrrbon doooooooors------huuuuuuuge chassssssis mounted aaaaaaeeeeerrrrrooooooo-----you know you want some!

Your car (and track journal) are super epic, I need to take some pointers from you and get this car on a diet + invest in better data acquisition.

Apex Pro has a few OBD channels but I'll probably just go back to AiM for reliability purposes.

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by spxxx

Your car (and track journal) are super epic, I need to take some pointers from you and get this car on a diet + invest in better data acquisition.

Apex Pro has a few OBD channels but I'll probably just go back to AiM for reliability purposes.

Thanks. Yeah the journey in that thread has been a fun one. I have tried to never take it for granted. And I've met so many nice people as a result of it. Just at VIR last week, I met turbo_joe , kayha12 and JP Marketing.

Anyway, yeah, the AIM line of products have access to the CAN bus which is so useful. While things like Apex Pro and Catalyst are cool and have nice software, they just don't have the CAN data which at the end of the day ends up being the most important.