Spx E92 Track Build Journal

[derbo]

sounds like a fun epic last minute decision!

[///Mad///Man]

Are you selling the mcs one ways?

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by ///Mad///Man

Are you selling the mcs one ways?

They're sold already unfortunately. Sorry!

[spxxx]

After months of progress and positive results at essentially every event, I had one of my worst days ever last weekend at BW. TLDR, went 2 off exiting Phil Hill and the oil pan knicked a curb which ripped out my drain plug. I shut the motor quickly and it seems to be okay but it was a good reminder how much of a roller coaster this dumb hobby is

I had perfect conditions and after looking at data from my 1:51 session, I was pretty confident that a 1:50 was doable with a better exit from off ramp and not ruining Sunrise. Of course I pushed too hard on my first flyer with tires that were still cold. I understeered a bit over the Phil Hill crest and went 2 off, normally this wouldn't be a huge issue but there's now a giant drop off after the rain. Unfortunately the fire and rescue team used a tilt trailer to avoid oiling down the track which totally destroyed my splitter and bent my bumper mounts. I needed some retail therapy on the drive home and order the Bimmerworld Carbon Race Splitter, this thing is a beast!!

I've been so busy prepping car last minute for events that I haven't had a real alignment since my recent upgrades. I'm hoping some front toe/caster adjustments will tune out my nagging understeer. Should have the pan swapped this week and should get another shot at BW later this month with Speed District before it gets hot.

[rhyary]

very sorry to hear
Hope the engine is good

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by rhyary

very sorry to hear
Hope the engine is good

Forgot to mention that I flushed the pan and tapped it with a giant M22 tap and used a diff plug, engine runs fine at idle and on my street. Hopefully it's all good on track!

[Redd]

Damn that must have been a huge hit if it took that much of the center jack pad off. Glad the motor is ok

[okusa]

I’ve done the same but went 4 off on the left side. When I came back on track there was a dip before the track edge and I snowplowed by splitter and lost have of my front bumper. Came in, ripped it off and went back out!

[1FastSicilian]

I'm amazed that it ripped the drain plug off like that.. That's impressive that the pan didnt crack.

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by 1FastSicilian

I'm amazed that it ripped the drain plug off like that.. That's impressive that the pan didnt crack.

It's really quite incredible. What actually happened was that the oil drain plug was pushed into the oil pan and remained lodged in one of the pan baffles. Thank God for the oil pickup mesh and filter haha here are pictures from inside the oil pan during the replacement. I've since built a Dibond skid plate that covers the OEM skid plate and oil drain plug area with delrin spacers between the skid guard for any possible future curb incidents (this replaces my Pinnacle splash guard).

[1FastSicilian]

Originally Posted by spxxx

It's really quite incredible. What actually happened was that the oil drain plug was pushed into the oil pan and remained lodged in one of the pan baffles. Thank God for the oil pickup mesh and filter haha here are pictures from inside the oil pan during the replacement. I've since built a Dibond skid plate that covers the OEM skid plate and oil drain plug area with delrin spacers between the skid guard for any possible future curb incidents (this replaces my Pinnacle splash guard).

Wow! Count your blessings on that one! Could’ve been much worse

I have the turner skid plate, this thing is heavy duty. Hopefully it’ll prevent something like that from ever happening,,

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by 1FastSicilian

Wow! Count your blessings on that one! Could’ve been much worse

I have the turner skid plate, this thing is heavy duty. Hopefully it’ll prevent something like that from ever happening,,

My issue was the drain plug itself being aftermarket and sticking out ~3mm... I was running an identical skid plate to Turner when this happened. Unfortunately, none of the skid plates on the market will protect the oil pan due to how far back it goes and the small distance between the OEM skid plate and the oil pan.

I've heard from 5 other drivers who have broken oil pans on these cars after going 2-off over curbs. The only thing that will fully protect the oil pan is a more robust skid plate to cover the OEM one. The OEM skid plate bends very easily under the weight of these cars, luckily the jack point does provide some protection.

[omgzirra_exe]

Originally Posted by spxxx

My issue was the drain plug itself being aftermarket and sticking out ~3mm... I was running an identical skid plate to Turner when this happened. Unfortunately, none of the skid plates on the market will protect the oil pan due to how far back it goes and the small distance between the OEM skid plate and the oil pan.

I've heard from 5 other drivers who have broken oil pans on these cars after going 2-off over curbs. The only thing that will fully protect the oil pan is a more robust skid plate to cover the OEM one. The OEM skid plate bends very easily under the weight of these cars, luckily the jack point does provide some protection.

this was my concern too, my future plan is to just build a splitter that goes all the way back and covers the belly pan also.

[roastbeef]

is it one of those magnetic hex drain plugs? i tried one out a while back and couldn't get enought of a socket on it as it sunk into the oil pan. it stuck out further than i liked, but it also wasn't enough for me to be happy with.

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

is it one of those magnetic hex drain plugs? i tried one out a while back and couldn't get enought of a socket on it as it sunk into the oil pan. it stuck out further than i liked, but it also wasn't enough for me to be happy with.

Yeah so pissed, I knew it was an issue and had an OEM one ready to go in but forgot to swap drain plugs after my last oil change. New skid plate will protect the oil pan pretty well going forward.

[roastbeef]

thats a pretty brutal blow... damn trans pan took a beating as well. were you 1/2 off and the dirt was lower than usual?

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

thats a pretty brutal blow... damn trans pan took a beating as well. were you 1/2 off and the dirt was lower than usual?

Yep, 2 off after Phil Hill. The dirt was about a foot deeper after the rains and the curb ended up being directly in the center of the car. Horrible luck but I heard they refilled the area with compacted dirt recently on a few corners.

[spxxx]

So it's been quite a while since I've updated this thread as I've been spending more time on the new E46 M3 that I picked up for my dad to get on track, got a killer deal on a 1 owner, 100k mile SMG (dad has trouble using the clutch due to nerve damage, hoping we can get it 5 speed swapped eventually).

The E46 is now pretty much built out as far as I can take it without major investment. So far the E46 is setup with the following:
- Turner CSL Airbox
- Supersprint v1 Headers V1 (+ 2.5" Sec 1)
- Bimmerworld Race exhaust
- Bimmerworld Race Diffuser
- Custom 3 clutch 45/60 LSD (4.10 Gearing)
- PFC Z45 BBK
- Turner FCAB
- SPL rear camber arms
- Hard MS Door Cards
- Custom OMP paddle shifter (spx DIY)
- Mason RACP X-brace
- Have to finish the subframe reinforcement and install a few bushings in the rear

The E92 has had some minimal upgrades and further weight reduction, including removal of the front carpet but still have full airbags and audio/video wiring that need to be thinned out which will hopefully get me another 40lbs out.

I currently have HGK Fiberglass doors stuck in customs which will be modified to include the OEM steel door bars for safety. This will add some weight but the only safe option until I have a full cage, these doors will shave another ~85lbs off the front of the car. Hopefully this will get the car under 3100lbs - still need to figure out a carbon trunk/wing setup as there's 35lbs back there between the trunk/heavy APR wing.

The E92 has been running great overall... setting some track records for SpeedSF Challenge & doing well in BimmerChallenge for the few events I've attended. Finally breaking into the 1:54's at Thunderhill, high 1:44's at Sonoma, very close to the 1:35's at Laguna (1:36.1) & still stuck in the mid 1:51 to low 1:52's at Buttonwillow (most frustrating track to master).

Just had an awesome weekend running BimmerChallenge at Buttonwillow, bummed to see the horrible exit at off ramp and cotton corners exit which likely cost me a low 1:51.xx.

Here are some of my fast laps from the last few months... Excited for PB weather here in CA to try and shoot for that elusive 1:50 (hopefully sub-50 at BW).

https://youtu.be/KzJuKt5NZoA?si=WjjJfZfi8P8C2yRp

https://youtu.be/-jxjzPOXezc?si=bdTSlv-6E1MI6RBu

https://youtu.be/ZH9kvZlgN98?si=dYKcuYMj0rOuXyXA

https://youtu.be/zpQ8OazPsUo?si=sJR1UglEZmbw05Fq

[spxxx]

Excited for the HGK doors, they're clearing customs today and should arrive this weekend. I'm hoping I get lucky like redpriest and HGK sends me the Carbon/Kevlar doors instead of the fiberglass option. My lexan p4p windows will then be modified and I'm going to try and fab a custom hand crank window setup haha

[roastbeef]

i've been thinking up a hand crank solution. the rotating assembly that attaches to the motor is splined. not sure if it is an assembly from an older model that was available with hand cranks that they added a motor too.

i had a little project a while back where i replaced the steel cable of the window regulator with kevlar thread. it saved an ounce per side. i was actually successful in doing so, but i shelved the project for a while and never got back to it.
i also drilled the two rails and wasn't happy with it. the metal is really soft and relatively lightweight anyways. the drill bits rip and grab the softer metals and it just wasn't clean. the trolleys that carry the mounts up and down slightly caught on the distorted rails.

also, you'll lose the little automatic movement that happens when you pull the door handle- the car cracks the window about 1/4" to clear the window trim. you can adjust the height of the windows at their max height stop, but they might make a little wind noise and not seal as good.

[MisterClutch888]

Trying to pm you but seems ur box is full, can u pm me please. Thanks.

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by MisterClutch888

Trying to pm you but seems ur box is full, can u pm me please. Thanks.

Yeah I've gotta clean that out, try again!