Individual Dakar Yellow Track Car Build Journal

[e36clubracer]

Background -

I've owned five different M3s in the past from E36s to the new F80. Previously I club raced with the BMWCCA in the mid to late 2000s and got out of racing / BMWs in general at that time. In the last couple years I had my interest rejuvenated by custom ordering a F80 M3 and then around the same time a friend purchased an E92 M3 to do some auto-x and track time with.

One ride ride in my friends car and hearing that V8 with an aftermarket exhaust I wanted a E92 M3 immediately. I truly love the sound of the high revving I6 but the high revving V8 is a unique sound that is a real treat.

I went on the hunt for the right E92 M3. After enjoying the uniqueness of my Fire Orange F80 M3 I knew I wanted another individual color car. I had been in the market looking around for about a year. I even had a PPI done on a couple cars that I decided to pass on after seeing the reports. I didn't need something perfect, I was just looking for something that had been well taken care of.

I saw this E92 M3 for sale here on M3post and immediately reached out to the seller and had a PPI done and we were able to come to a deal quickly and even arrange for pickup during this crazy pandemic situation.

The car was basically stock except for H&R race springs and wheel studs/15mm spacers. It came with the OEM ZCP wheels, carbon mirror caps, and front carbon splitters as port installed options.

It is going to be a streetable track car but with no regards to any kind of streetablilty minus not having a slammed ride height.

Here is what we have done so far -


Wheels:

- BBS RIA wheels in (thanks Slicer!) 18x9.5 et22 / 18x10.5 et25 with MP4S tires in 265/35/18 & 285/35/18 (Street)

- Apex EC7R wheels in 18x10.5 et22 square with Falken RT660s in 275/35/18


Exhaust:

- Meisterschaft Super GT titanium exhaust. Yes it is loud but I wouldn't mind louder! (thanks Chris @ Vivid Racing!)


Brakes:

- Essex AP Racing 9668 front calipers with Ferodo DS 3.12 pads with stock rear calipers and Ferodo DS 1.11 pads


Suspension: (thanks John and Patrick @ Bimmerworld!)

- MCS 4-way adjustable coilovers with 6 inch 800# front springs (no helper) and 8 inch 1100# rear springs -
- Ground control race camber plates
- Ground control rear articulating spring perches
- Bimmerworld solid rear subframe mounts
- Bimmerworld front control arm bearing kit
- Bimmerworld rear trailing link bearing set
- Bimmerworld adjustable swaybar links
- Bimmerworld performance engine mounts
- Hotchkis swaybars
- ACL rod bearings from Lang Racing
- ARP rod bolts


Cooling:

- CSF aluminum radiator (not installed yet)
- Do88 DCT, Oil Cooler, and Power Steering Cooler on my list to buy


Interior:

- AiM Solo2 DL
- AiM Smarty Cam 2.1
- Schroth Quickfit Pro


Maintenance Items:

- Core4 Motorsports front F8x hubs with 14mm diameter 82mm long MSI press-in wheel studs


Thanks to Anthony and the guys @ Edge Motorwerks in Fremont for installing the suspension, changing the rod bearings, installing the AiM Solo2, and getting me going with a track alignment.

Thanks to Felipe @ German Performance for bailing me out several times on unexpected issues!


I will continue to post updates and photos as we evolve the car and get it out to some track days.

[e36clubracer]

Here are the BBS RIAs and the Apex EC7Rs. I don't think the BBS RIA gets enough credit for being a great track wheel. Its a one piece forged wheel with steel inserts for the bolt openings. The steel inserts are what set it apart. You don't see that often and I don't see anybody talking about that with these wheels. For the price they are hard to beat!

[e36clubracer]

* Save for new suspension parts

[e36clubracer]

* Save for data acquisition system.

[e36clubracer]

I couldn't pass up the deal Essex was running on their brake kits for Black Friday. I went with he Ferodo DS 3.12 pads for the front and the DS 1.11 pads for the rear. Also went for the bigger caliper the AP 9668 with the 25mm thick pad. Both the BBS and Apex wheels clear them without an issue. I was shocked how lightweight the actual caliper is. It is impressive!

I had Essex pre burnish the discs prior to delivery as it should hopefully extend their overall life and make pad bed in slightly easier.

I'm very lucky to have a full shop at my house with a 2 post 10,000 Bendpak lift so install was very simple and straightforward with Essex's instructions. My only issue was getting the passenger side brake line disconnected from the hardline. I buggered up the nut even using a flare nut/line wrench and had to use vice grips to get it loose. What a PITA!

One thing of note I did not get the anti-rattle clips for the front calipers and the pads clacking around in there are VERY noisy... I may add those later on.

[e36clubracer]

* Save for Core4 hubs.

[e36clubracer]

* Save for Exhaust.

[DRLane]

Dakar is my absolute favorite e9x color, fantastic find! Looks like you're already well sorted, I'm psyched to follow along with your build.

You'll need to get one of these, and let the weight savings begin

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by DRLane

You'll need to get one of these, and let the weight savings begin

A mirror?? Are we putting on makeup in the car or something?

EDIT: OH YEAH! NICE CAR!!!

[e36clubracer]

Originally Posted by DRLane

Dakar is my absolute favorite e9x color, fantastic find! Looks like you're already well sorted, I'm psyched to follow along with your build.

You'll need to get one of these, and let the weight savings begin

Yeah I am not yet there on gutting the interior... Not saying I wont get there at some point though!

[Redd]

Subscribed! Can't wait to see what you do with this car. IMHO Dakar Yellow is one of the best M3 colors ever, but I may be biased.

Here's my own 2010 Dakar Edition 'track car for the street'. It's daily driven so I won't go to extremes but it's got Ohlins R/T, Brembos, Volk ZE40 On AD08R rubber, exhaust and tune, CF DS, solid subframes, poly diff bushes, 3.45 FD with OS Giken LSD, and will be getting full sphericals soon.

[e36clubracer]

Redd, I have carbon roof jealousy! That is the one thing my car doesn't have that I wish it did. I briefly looked into what it would take and its not a small feat nor really reasonable from a cost standpoint to switch it out.