Track forum general chit chat.

[OG Shark]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

I'm planning my E9X M3 track car and I'm conflicted on whether I want to do an E90 or E92.

My e46 coupe can take some wet weather since I can slide the windows in. It would be awesome if you could find a lightweight solution for sedans.

Would you mind sharing what you think the advantages of one vs the other are? Just curious. Think I’m getting ready to dive into a NASA TT3 build myself.

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by jktx

Would you mind sharing what you think the advantages of one vs the other are? Just curious. Think I'm getting ready to dive into a NASA TT3 build myself.

An E90 would be unique and cool. At the same time it will be more of a PIA because track stuff is mostly e92 oriented...anything body work related.

Windows are one example. Easy in a coupe, pain on a sedan.

Getting in and out will likely be more of a pain in a sedan with a full cage because the opening is smaller.

The only performance advantage of the E92 is the carbon roof option.

I think a sedan will generally be a tad more expensive based on what I've seen in the used market.

...that's my pros and cons list so far.

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

An E90 would be unique and cool. At the same time it will be more of a PIA because track stuff is mostly e92 oriented...anything body work related.

Windows are one example. Easy in a coupe, pain on a sedan.

Getting in and out will likely be more of a pain in a sedan with a full cage because the opening is smaller.

The only performance advantage of the E92 is the carbon roof option.

I think a sedan will generally be a tad more expensive based on what I've seen in the used market.

...that's my pros and cons list so far.

E92 definitely has more parts options ready-made. Getting things like fiberglass or carbon doors for an E90 is definitely a much bigger ordeal. Developing a relationship with a good fabrication shop makes life easier. Racewerkz Engineering has created all kinds of one-off things for me that have worked out great, like plexiglass rear-door windows, carbon fiber panels for switches and gauges, dead pedals, mounting brackets for the Voltphreaks battery, cutting up the hood for hood latches and vents, figuring out how to install fender latches, etc. I would like Racewerkz to fabricate a rear plexiglass window for me. Haven't gotten around to that yet.

With the Nascar-style door bars of my cage, I don't struggle getting in and out of the sedan. And I don't have a removable steering wheel or rail sliders. It would be much tougher if I just had X-bars going right up against the seat. If you had a removable steering wheel and rail sliders, it would be very easy with any kind of bar setup.

Some people have wondered if the E90 benefits in stiffness from having a pillar right in the middle of the car between the front and rear doors. I have no idea, but it's an interesting theory.

From the factory with similar options, I believe the E90 weighs a few more pounds than an E92.

Overall, I'm happy I turned a sedan into a track car. I think it looks great. Things might have been a bit easier with a coupe, but I didn't have a coupe.

Anyway, I think she turned out just fine! She definitely ain't slow!

[OG Shark]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

An E90 would be unique and cool. At the same time it will be more of a PIA because track stuff is mostly e92 oriented...anything body work related.

Windows are one example. Easy in a coupe, pain on a sedan.

Getting in and out will likely be more of a pain in a sedan with a full cage because the opening is smaller.

The only performance advantage of the E92 is the carbon roof option.

I think a sedan will generally be a tad more expensive based on what I've seen in the used market.

...that's my pros and cons list so far.

Sounds like an E90 might be the one. Cool factor > all that other stuff

[roastbeef]

i think a cool situation would be an e90 that you just leave for the street... some soft coilovers for comfort, maybe a harrop supercharger. keep the paint and leather nice.

then, have a bare bones e92 for the track... the lightweight track car recipe.

my wife's 335d is pretty sweet. i'd love for it to be an e90 m3, but theres just no point. she'd like it, but she would have to go to the gas station every three days. i think the most fun thing about an e90 m3 as a second car would be the "nice" mods that i can't bring myself to do because its going to get jacked up at the track.... the lips and aesthetic cosmetic stuff.

[Chris_PDX]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

i think a cool situation would be an e90 that you just leave for the street... some soft coilovers for comfort, maybe a harrop supercharger. keep the paint and leather nice.

then, have a bare bones e92 for the track... the lightweight track car recipe.

my wife's 335d is pretty sweet. i'd love for it to be an e90 m3, but theres just no point. she'd like it, but she would have to go to the gas station every three days. i think the most fun thing about an e90 m3 as a second car would be the "nice" mods that i can't bring myself to do because its going to get jacked up at the track.... the lips and aesthetic cosmetic stuff.

This is what I wanted to do... buy another E92 M3 and go balls out with it for track-use. Just couldn't stomach the costs involved. Though my E46 has not been what you call "cheap" either.

[Richbot]

My E90 had its fun competition years and now it's a pure street car getting modded however I want and it just keeps getting more awesome. I have the spec wrecker for because racecar things. Wifebot just got an E63. Life's pretty rad

But I still want an E92M track/autocross car because I'm dumb

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

i think a cool situation would be an e90 that you just leave for the street... some soft coilovers for comfort, maybe a harrop supercharger. keep the paint and leather nice.

then, have a bare bones e92 for the track... the lightweight track car recipe.

my wife's 335d is pretty sweet. i'd love for it to be an e90 m3, but theres just no point. she'd like it, but she would have to go to the gas station every three days. i think the most fun thing about an e90 m3 as a second car would be the "nice" mods that i can't bring myself to do because its going to get jacked up at the track.... the lips and aesthetic cosmetic stuff.

I want to turn my E90 M3 into a track car so bad but I can't get over the thought of ruining a $5k individual paint job. It's a bare bones E90 with MCB paint and DCT. Sounded awesome when I ordered it, makes zero sense now. It's a track spec car that will be a garage queen. I would kind of like to have Bluetooth and folding rear seats.

I'm leaning towards an E92 in a year or two. Also thinking about swapping in an S65 into a 1 series. Crashed E9X M3 + 128i = awesome!

[ThunderMoose]

Originally Posted by Chris_PDX

This is what I wanted to do... buy another E92 M3 and go balls out with it for track-use. Just couldn't stomach the costs involved. Though my E46 has not been what you call "cheap" either.

I like my E46.

[roastbeef]

Kinda silly doing things like this on a full-bodied car, but I sourced some titanium hardware for my wing. Feels too light to be real. I can't wait to start replacing other bolts on the car.

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by Richbot

My E90 had its fun competition years and now it's a pure street car getting modded however I want and it just keeps getting more awesome. I have the spec wrecker for because racecar things. Wifebot just got an E63. Life's pretty rad

But I still want an E92M track/autocross car because I'm dumb

For significant others in this thread, we have:

Wifebot
Mrs Beef (I remember it because it was funny)

[kyippee]

Originally Posted by Richbot

My E90 had its fun competition years and now it's a pure street car getting modded however I want and it just keeps getting more awesome. I have the spec wrecker for because racecar things. Wifebot just got an E63. Life's pretty rad

But I still want an E92M track/autocross car because I'm dumb

At that point, why not keep it as a track car? I figure if I went all out, the car would get so much abuse and track-specific parts such as solid bushings all around that would be a PITA to swap out.

I figure a second E9x M3 in street only trim would be my move... I've pondered it. Keep current car and track rat it out further + get an E93 M3 in stock form + loud valvetronic exhaust for the luls

[Dr. Dre]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

i think a cool situation would be an e90 that you just leave for the street... some soft coilovers for comfort, maybe a harrop supercharger. keep the paint and leather nice.

then, have a bare bones e92 for the track... the lightweight track car recipe.

my wife's 335d is pretty sweet. i'd love for it to be an e90 m3, but theres just no point. she'd like it, but she would have to go to the gas station every three days. i think the most fun thing about an e90 m3 as a second car would be the "nice" mods that i can't bring myself to do because its going to get jacked up at the track.... the lips and aesthetic cosmetic stuff.

That's my plan. I do think that when I do purchase an E90 it will probably high miles and need some work.

[M3MPH1S]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

Kinda silly doing things like this on a full-bodied car, but I sourced some titanium hardware for my wing. Feels too light to be real. I can't wait to start replacing other bolts on the car.

Lol I did the same with my license plate bolts

[roastbeef]

i got a thread checker for my garage a while back (simple, yet awesome to have). i'm going to start giong through the front of the car and replacing non-essential bolts... all the brackets bolts and crap will slowly get replaced. i say slowly because this stuff isn't cheap and its easier to ignore the cost if i spread it out over time.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Rain is still fun!

I think COTA sucks for HPDE.

The track layout is less than ideal for controlled passing. I'd catch most high HP cars by T5...the same one that passed me on the front straight. Same thing for the last half.

Hopefully this has changed but it's a bucket list track which wipes away the concept of checking the rear view mirror. And you get some dodgy drivers there. I've been stuck in a train almost every session. Super frustrating.

Pass anywhere would help a lot.

Id actually prefer rain...would likely keep the morons away.

Rain and mixed conditions were the great equalizer for me at COTA. I was eating folks alive who kicked my ass in the dry. Just bring wets and you'll be fine. I was on street tires...old street tires. I have doubts if folks with super duper suspensions even made a single adjustment when it got moist or not. Sway bars still on full stiff, shocks at same settings, tire pressures the same. WTF do people have all the adjustable stuff for it if they won't use it?

So, the lesson learned is either come prepared for weather, or ice skate around on slick tires and a stiff suspension if it gets moist.

[Richbot]

Confession time. Ti hardware on my car, mostly vartious not-really-load-bearing M6 and M8 stuff. Most of this involved not just a bolt/nut but also a washer because Ti hardware uses smaller heads than the equivalent steel. And you KNOW I did the drilled washers because street car:

- Door latch flat-head conical allen bolts in all four latch rings
- About a dozen of the various torx bolts holding the frontend bodywork replaced with conical allens + washers
- Hood hinge hardware
- Airbox, coolant, and ps fluid hold-downs
- Strut bar hardware
- Shear plate bolts (the 7 big M12 guys, $$$$, plus some of the M8 hardware under there)

I have kept all the hardware that's been subbed out for Ti hardware in a baggie. It weighs 2.4lb. That means I've dropped about 1lb doing Ti. I really should start putting together a Ti bolt kit for people I'd make billions

derp

[Richbot]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

For significant others in this thread, we have:

Wifebot
Mrs Beef (I remember it because it was funny)

[Richbot]

Originally Posted by M3MPH1S

Lol I did the same with my license plate bolts

I use steel because I want them to corrode because I'm a secret hardparker who wants an E12 with a rusty hood and 195/50-15's on 9.5" wheels and airbags and a roof rack

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by Richbot

Confession time. Ti hardware on my car, mostly vartious not-really-load-bearing M6 and M8 stuff. Most of this involved not just a bolt/nut but also a washer because Ti hardware uses smaller heads than the equivalent steel. And you KNOW I did the drilled washers because street car:

- Door latch flat-head conical allen bolts in all four latch rings
- About a dozen of the various torx bolts holding the frontend bodywork replaced with conical allens + washers
- Hood hinge hardware
- Airbox, coolant, and ps fluid hold-downs
- Strut bar hardware
- Shear plate bolts (the 7 big M12 guys, $$$$, plus some of the M8 hardware under there)

I have kept all the hardware that's been subbed out for Ti hardware in a baggie. It weighs 2.4lb. That means I've dropped about 1lb doing Ti. I really should start putting together a Ti bolt kit for people I'd make billions

derp

Piecing together a sellable package has crossed my mind...
where did you source yours? I just got my stuff from ti64.com. I liked that they offer 1/2 depth locking nuts... even less weight! Lol

[Richbot]

Pro-Bolt mostly

It's not like a shopped around, most of that was bought in a sleep deprived fog after kidbot 2.0 was born I probably bought a lot of stuff I don't even remember online

[dogbone]

So——does that mean there’s a Mrs. Bone? Hmm something tells me Mrs. Bone will kick my bass if she hears that nickname......