My E90 M3 Dedicated Track build (with pix!)

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by Datka

dogbone, how did you attach those support rods on the bumper side?

I can update my answer with a picture for you. My friend also had support rods installed by Racewerkz, and his bumper is off at the moment while he's doing work on the car.

Here's what it looks like on the inside of the bumper. You can see there's a rectangular plate there that helps distribute the load. I'm guessing mine would be similar.

[///Mobbin]

It's probably a good idea to mount to a plate like that to spread out the load. Thanks for sharing.

[warp10]

Do you have the APR part number for the spitter you are using?

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by warp10

Do you have the APR part number for the spitter you are using?

I looked on the APR website when you asked your question, but I didn't see the shape of splitter that's on my car. So, I called Racewerkz to see if they could clarify what's on my car since they handled everything. Here's what Casey told me:

Racewerkz designed a cutout pattern for the E9x M3 and that particular cutout shape belongs to them. (Apparently, splitters begin life as a big blank 4' x 8' sheet.) You can obtain this cutout shape by buying the splitter from Racewerkz. (Apparently, it is possible to get it from APR directly too, but Racewerkz is still somehow involved with that since it's their cutout shape.)

All this to say----there's no traditional part number. But it is available.

Hope that helps.

[Datka]

Originally Posted by dogbone

I can update my answer with a picture for you. My friend also had support rods installed by Racewerkz, and his bumper is off at the moment while he's doing work on the car.

Here's what it looks like on the inside of the bumper. You can see there's a rectangular plate there that helps distribute the load. I'm guessing mine would be similar.

Great. This helps

[roastbeef]

Have you tried any other racing pads other than the cobalt frictions you have listed in the original post?
I just used up my first set of race pads (ferodo dsuno) and I'm interested in trying something else.
I think the uno's are supposed to have more bite and a flatter torque curve than the ds1.11's. :

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

Have you tried any other racing pads other than the cobalt frictions you have listed in the original post?
I just used up my first set of race pads (ferodo dsuno) and I'm interested in trying something else.
I think the uno's are supposed to have more bite and a flatter torque curve than the ds1.11's. :

I have tried a few different pads, but I settled on the Cobalt Frictions. A racer recommended the Cobalts to me, so i tried them. Haven't tried anything since. If you're looking to try something new, I think it could be worth giving them a try.

[dogbone]

Quick update on the topic of DCT temps----I have continued running the stock DCT cooling setup while monitoring the DCT oil temps. After running 4 track days at 3 tracks, with air temps between 85-95ºF on all days, I can say that the stock cooling setup cools about 25ºF on average. The highest temps I see on the oil leaving the transmission are about 240-245ºF. The highest temps I see on the cooled returning oil just as it's about to re-enter the transmission (while the car is on track) is about 215-220ºF.

I want to run the car in cooler air temps and check those results as well with the stock setup. Hopefully, I can do that in November.

After that, we'll switch to the Do88 cooler and start monitoring those temps.

[redpriest]

Originally Posted by dogbone

Quick update on the topic of DCT temps----I have continued running the stock DCT cooling setup while monitoring the DCT oil temps. After running 4 track days at 3 tracks, with air temps between 85-95ºF on all days, I can say that the stock cooling setup cools about 25ºF on average. The highest temps I see on the oil leaving the transmission are about 240-245ºF. The highest temps I see on the cooled returning oil just as it's about to re-enter the transmission (while the car is on track) is about 215-220ºF.

I want to run the car in cooler air temps and check those results as well with the stock setup. Hopefully, I can do that in November.

After that, we'll switch to the Do88 cooler and start monitoring those temps.

Are you seeing shift lag on the stock cooler?

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by redpriest

Are you seeing shift lag on the stock cooler?

Not since I put the temp gauges in, so I don't know what temps that starts happening at. But, in the past, I definitely have had lagging shifts, and there have been times in the past that the car shifts itself into 7th and ignores my shift requests.

Over time, I've learned how to drive the car and avoid overheating.

[RobE92M3]

Great build! I'm new to the forum but not to tracking cars. I have an older Nissan with an LS1 I use for NASA TT3 class (lap from the NASA Championships at WGI - https://vimeo.com/184358285). My weekend street car is an '09 E92 M3. The Nissan is a lot of maintenance so would like to start using the E92 for regular track days just to have fun and leave the Nissan for NASA events. I've read through your list of Mods and want to confirm, you still have the stock radiator, oil cooler, trans cooler and power steering cooler? Just have a misting system? Thanks for the info!

Rob

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by RobE92M3

Great build! I'm new to the forum but not to tracking cars. I have an older Nissan with an LS1 I use for NASA TT3 class (lap from the NASA Championships at WGI - https://vimeo.com/184358285). My weekend street car is an '09 E92 M3. The Nissan is a lot of maintenance so would like to start using the E92 for regular track days just to have fun and leave the Nissan for NASA events. I've read through your list of Mods and want to confirm, you still have the stock radiator, oil cooler, trans cooler and power steering cooler? Just have a misting system? Thanks for the info!

Thanks! Your Nissan looks fully setup! Very nice!

Yes, I still have all stock coolers running with a misting system. However, in mid-November, we will be switching the DCT cooler for a Do88. If you look at the later pages of the thread, you'll see I've been tracking DCT oil temps manually with 2 Stack gauges. I'm comfortable that we know the temp delta now, so we'll switch it out in a few weeks.

Have fun with the E92, and welcome to the forum!

[RobE92M3]

Originally Posted by dogbone

Thanks! Your Nissan looks fully setup! Very nice!

Yes, I still have all stock coolers running with a misting system. However, in mid-November, we will be switching the DCT cooler for a Do88. If you look at the later pages of the thread, you'll see I've been tracking DCT oil temps manually with 2 Stack gauges. I'm comfortable that we know the temp delta now, so we'll switch it out in a few weeks.

Have fun with the E92, and welcome to the forum!

Thanks! The Nissan is fun; comp weight is 2775lbs and 300whp on 245 Hoosier A7's.
That's amazing the stock rad and coolers are getting it done. Did you ever track it w/o the misting system to see the delta?
In order to make mine track worthy was going to do a front brake upgrade with ducting and track pads, aftermarket rad and coolers and GTS DCT tune. But maybe I'll try a misting system first. How much water do you go through in a session?
Thanks again for your help!

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by RobE92M3

Thanks! The Nissan is fun; comp weight is 2775lbs and 300whp on 245 Hoosier A7's.
That's amazing the stock rad and coolers are getting it done. Did you ever track it w/o the misting system to see the delta?
In order to make mine track worthy was going to do a front brake upgrade with ducting and track pads, aftermarket rad and coolers and GTS DCT tune. But maybe I'll try a misting system first. How much water do you go through in a session?
Thanks again for your help!

Well, hehe, "getting it done" in an M3 is a bit subjective. What I mean is that the E9x M3 platform is prone to overheating. Since I focus on the idea of time attack, I am able to manage my temps because I'm not going maximum for very long periods.

For what it's worth, I've had two friends put in aftermarket coolers on their E90 M3's with little-to-no benefit. I'm going to try the Do88 DCT cooler because it is quite a bit larger than the stock unit.

Anyway, brakes, brake fluid, pads and the GTS DCT tune are a good place to start. You might find that you're abusing the outside edges of your front tires quite a bit, so camber plates could be of help. I would do that before coolers.

Good luck!

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by RobE92M3

How much water do you go through in a session?

Whoops, missed this question. The misting system takes over the windshield washer reservoir and uses the windshield washer pump. It holds just over a gallon of water. The way I have the pump set to activate, I can go through most of a 20 minute session with water in there if I'm pushing pretty hard. My pump is activated by a pressure switch that's tied into the boost pressure from the blower. So, when I'm jamming a bunch of boost, the system activates. When I putt around the track, it doesn't come on.

[chamba002]

What a good tread! It nice reading on your racing experiences, give me an idea on what to do at the track and possible future mods

[RobE92M3]

Originally Posted by dogbone

Well, hehe, "getting it done" in an M3 is a bit subjective. What I mean is that the E9x M3 platform is prone to overheating. Since I focus on the idea of time attack, I am able to manage my temps because I'm not going maximum for very long periods.

For what it's worth, I've had two friends put in aftermarket coolers on their E90 M3's with little-to-no benefit. I'm going to try the Do88 DCT cooler because it is quite a bit larger than the stock unit.

Anyway, brakes, brake fluid, pads and the GTS DCT tune are a good place to start. You might find that you're abusing the outside edges of your front tires quite a bit, so camber plates could be of help. I would do that before coolers.

Good luck!

Yep, was planning on camber plates. Forgot to mention it.
As far as the radiator, there are two benefits of an aftermarket radiator. One is improved cooling (hopefully) and the other is more durable metal end tanks and inlet/outlet hose ports. I'm surprised the plastic end tanks and hose ports have survived the track punishment you've subjected them to. What is your peak water temp? Are your friends cars boosted also? Have they tried an aftermarket radiator or just oil and trans coolers?
Will be interested to see the results of your DCT cooler experiment.
Thanks.

[RobE92M3]

Originally Posted by dogbone

Whoops, missed this question. The misting system takes over the windshield washer reservoir and uses the windshield washer pump. It holds just over a gallon of water. The way I have the pump set to activate, I can go through most of a 20 minute session with water in there if I'm pushing pretty hard. My pump is activated by a pressure switch that's tied into the boost pressure from the blower. So, when I'm jamming a bunch of boost, the system activates. When I putt around the track, it doesn't come on.

Assuming the DCT temperatures are with misting system spraying water on DCT cooler?
I like the misting system idea. A gallon of distilled water is cheap. I could set it up to be activated with a switch on the center console. Thanks.

[okusa]

Originally Posted by RobE92M3

As far as the radiator, there are two benefits of an aftermarket radiator. One is improved cooling (hopefully) and the other is more durable metal end tanks and inlet/outlet hose ports. Are your friends cars boosted also? Have they tried an aftermarket radiator or just oil and trans coolers?

Well, I say if you are considering CSF then save your money as maybe there is one benefit (no idea) but definitely not two. See posts 367 and 370 here for the proof (the hard data that CSF has I would guess intentional failed to collect and post: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...ht=csf&page=10

My car is also boosted.

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by RobE92M3

What is your peak water temp? Are your friends cars boosted also? Have they tried an aftermarket radiator or just oil and trans coolers?
Will be interested to see the results of your DCT cooler experiment.
Thanks.

Under hard driving in not-too-hot-ambient temps, it gets to around 220-225º. Hard driving on hot days, it can see just over 230º. When I blew that radiator hose a couple months ago, temps briefly touched 241º.....not too happy about that.

okusa, who already responded has the M24 file cooler, and the CSF coolers for main radiator, and DCT. His temps don't seem to be any cooler than mine.....(we both have AIM Solo DL's tied into the CAN bus.)

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by RobE92M3

Assuming the DCT temperatures are with misting system spraying water on DCT cooler?
I like the misting system idea. A gallon of distilled water is cheap. I could set it up to be activated with a switch on the center console. Thanks.

Yes, one nozzle sprays onto the DCT cooler. There are 5 total nozzles---2 on the main radiator, two on the supercharger cooler and 1 on the DCT cooler. European Auto Source sells the necessary pieces as a kit.

If you're not boosted, I think the best way to set it up is using a controller from Snow. They make a controller unit for meth injection that works in this application. okusa had the misting system before a blower. His Snow unit was tied into the CAN bus and looked at gas pedal position. You could control when the unit activated the pump by having it look at how far down you are pressing on the gas. So, when you putt around the track, it's inactive and saving water. And when you mash the gas and get aggressive, it would activate. I think that was a nice setup. I think the Snow unit even has voltage control, so you could setup how strong the pump would spray. This could allow you to fine tune how much water is being sprayed and perhaps get you even more time before the water runs out.

The problem with just a straight on/off switch on the dash is that the pump will just run blindly and most likely waste water. So then you need to remember to switch it on and off. That doesn't sound too fun. I think that would be annoying while driving. I do have a switch, but that's just so that I can turn it off if it runs out of water and I'm still on track. I don't want to run the pump if the reservoir is empty. The nice part about using the washer fluid reservoir is that the car monitors it, so it tells you when it's getting low.

[RobE92M3]

Originally Posted by dogbone

Yes, one nozzle sprays onto the DCT cooler. There are 5 total nozzles---2 on the main radiator, two on the supercharger cooler and 1 on the DCT cooler. European Auto Source sells the necessary pieces as a kit.

If you're not boosted, I think the best way to set it up is using a controller from Snow. They make a controller unit for meth injection that works in this application. okusa had the misting system before a blower. His Snow unit was tied into the CAN bus and looked at gas pedal position. You could control when the unit activated the pump by having it look at how far down you are pressing on the gas. So, when you putt around the track, it's inactive and saving water. And when you mash the gas and get aggressive, it would activate. I think that was a nice setup. I think the Snow unit even has voltage control, so you could setup how strong the pump would spray. This could allow you to fine tune how much water is being sprayed and perhaps get you even more time before the water runs out.

The problem with just a straight on/off switch on the dash is that the pump will just run blindly and most likely waste water. So then you need to remember to switch it on and off. That doesn't sound too fun. I think that would be annoying while driving. I do have a switch, but that's just so that I can turn it off if it runs out of water and I'm still on track. I don't want to run the pump if the reservoir is empty. The nice part about using the washer fluid reservoir is that the car monitors it, so it tells you when it's getting low.

The Snow controller definitely sounds like the way to go. Thanks. Couldn't find the kit on EAS website. Will try and give them a call.