Track forum general chit chat.

[Bimmer Barney]

Had a great day with Speed District on Friday at Buttonwillow. It was my first time on RS4’s, and first time on track with the new Ohlins R&T setup (track day kit from 3DM). The dampers were amazing along with the added negative camber up front. I had so much front grip. Rear grip was a bit less present and I think maybe I needed to drop tire pressures in hindsight. It was only my second time at buttonwillow and I noticed it’s a track that really rewards slow in fast out, which is my weakness. I like sending it in deep and sideways haha. I posted consistent 2:05’s but my goal was to break the 2:00 barrier so I have work to do. I had forgotten how much I like Buttonwillow and hope to get at least one more day there this year. My last on track experience was Porsche Experience Center where my instructor was really focusing on chassis rotation. I was really happy with how the car felt and my ability to apply what I learned to place the car where I wanted using what I had been taught.

I got to meet Gabe out there and watch his awesome E90 race car lap. I also got to lap alongside a 992 GT3 Cup which was cool.

My buddy was out there with me in a 991.2 Carrera GTS (7 Speed) and we were very equal up to the esses but his ability to put the power down out of the sweeper and through the esses was much better than me and that’s where he would gap me. He was able to get into the 1:58’s on his first time out there which I thought was quite respectable.

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Barney

Had a great day with Speed District on Friday at Buttonwillow.

I was out there too! Wish I had noticed your car and said hi, I was pretty busy helping some other E9x drivers figure out mechanical issues. That was a great event, we were so spoiled with the weather. Also... That 992 Cup car... The downshifts are heavenly.

On that note, I think I've finally gotten my MCS 2 Ways dialed in for the current spring rates/sways. I'm still not loving the body roll in transition, might bump up the rates/nitro pressure a smidge... Was able to put down a 1:51.8 first session but kept fiddling with shocks in later sessions and couldn't break 1:52. Still blown away by the progress I've made with the chassis in just a few months! I know there's grip left in Bus Stop & Riverside, anyhow... Here's video of the lap... predictive lap timers + sunset are an evil combo, had a high 1:50.xx exciting esses and I tried to be Superman.

[Bimmer Barney]

My buddies and I had fun watching you out there. Didn’t see you get passed once all day. We typically run in your group but knew without experience at Buttonwillow we would be in the way, even if predictable.

I think I did around 80 laps over the day.

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Barney

My buddies and I had fun watching you out there. Didn’t see you get passed once all day. We typically run in your group but knew without experience at Buttonwillow we would be in the way, even if predictable.

I think I did around 80 laps over the day.

Haha I dunno about that! That's epic though, speed district is great about seat time... I was beat after my 6th session, I ran 50+ laps, can't imagine 80!

[admranger]

Originally Posted by chocstraw

right in the lap times, your honor.

They also insist on running intermediate / advanced run groups. Might depend on where you are but it’s def a thing here

It was more of the condescension that bothered me.

Heh, I may have related this story before, but I’m retired and have nothing but past glory so I’ll share…

LV big track (NASCAR) before they raised the banking. POC is there and I show up in my 1992 525i manual with LSD. Running Bilsteins and H&R’s, 17” M5 throwing stars, good track pads, street tires. I’m in one of the advanced groups yet I keep catching this dude in a 911. I’m 100% in his engine compartment through the twisty bits and he just disappears on the straights. I finally tire of this and just dive bomb him in a corner after a short chute. He actually started to turn in, realized I was all the way alongside him, and finally gave up. Only time I saw him again was in my review mirror. Never heard a peep from the organizers about it as I’m sure he was too embarrassed to admit a lowly grocery getter was able to pass his lockwashered VW.

[Bimmer Barney]

Yeah there was definitely a pair of white Porsche's (911 and Cayman) that would point my buddy by in his GTS and then not point me by, so I would just pass them around the outside of turns, haha. I kinda like the "no respect" attitude towards BMW drivers.

[turbo_joe]

built a kit to install a rear diff cooler. Hoping to knock it out this weekend.

[hsaguirre]

Went back out and did my first weekend event with Sebring (I’ve never driven back to back days before).

Managed to cut out 15 seconds to get to a 2:41.76. There’s still probably an easy 3-5 seconds for me to cut out once I can get more comfortable driving at speed.

Few things that were unsettling:
1. For the first time I started feeling a soft pedal at the beginning of the braking zone which then firmed up dramatically to what I’m used to about halfway through the braking. I just bled the brakes before this event, but I’m wondering if this could be knock back as it’s mainly happening at turn 17 which is very bumpy.

2. I’m still having power issues when I go full throttle coming out of corners across the entire RPM range (with some lateral g forces, not prevalent on the street). This started after I installed the active autowerkes x pipe and on both oem and stage 2 alpine tune. Since it happens on a full and empty gas tank I don’t believe this is fuel delivery related. Going to take apart exhaust and reinstall to ensure no install issues but can’t think of anything else that’s causing these issues.

Would love any feedback!

[Ximian]

Originally Posted by hsaguirre

Would love any feedback!

I've never driven at Sebring so my opinion is worthless, but I think you're turning in too early into 17. I'd start the turn in where the two cones are rather than four cones. That early of a turn in makes sense if you're carrying in a lot of speed with aero and heavily trail braking, but I think it's putting you into the wrong angle through 17.

For the rest, I think it's a matter of figuring out how much speed you can carry through some of the big corners as I've heard quite a bit of maintenance throttle. If you're using MDM, it might be inducing some understeer so that will limit your speed in those long corners.

[hsaguirre]

Originally Posted by Ximian

I've never driven at Sebring so my opinion is worthless, but I think you're turning in too early into 17. I'd start the turn in where the two cones are rather than four cones. That early of a turn in makes sense if you're carrying in a lot of speed with aero and heavily trail braking, but I think it's putting you into the wrong angle through 17.

For the rest, I think it's a matter of figuring out how much speed you can carry through some of the big corners as I've heard quite a bit of maintenance throttle. If you're using MDM, it might be inducing some understeer so that will limit your speed in those long corners.

Thanks! Definitely a difficult line through 17, I’m running DSC off, but that corners always a clencher for me.

[reidetailing]

Originally Posted by spxxx

What canards are those?!

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by reidetailing

What canards are those?!

lol some random ones from eBay I think TBH, I bought them for a previous E92 build that never ended to happening. Riveted them and they're really sturdy under load.

[omgzirra_exe]

Originally Posted by hsaguirre

2. I’m still having power issues when I go full throttle coming out of corners across the entire RPM range (with some lateral g forces, not prevalent on the street). This started after I installed the active autowerkes x pipe and on both oem and stage 2 alpine tune. Since it happens on a full and empty gas tank I don’t believe this is fuel delivery related. Going to take apart exhaust and reinstall to ensure no install issues but can’t think of anything else that’s causing these issues.

Would love any feedback!

if you're able to log your AFR you can get an idea if the tune seems off.

for me getting new pre-cat o2 sensors helped a lot with getting some of the power loss back.

then i did new spark plugs.

also make sure you're using new donut gaskets when installing the xpipe.. never reuse them as it will cause a leak.

now not to spook you.. but i did big willow back in September and i was noticing my power cutting out on the back straight and front straight as per my data my throttle input was not at full despite foot down.

i could visible see the input shoot up to 100 then back down to 80 and then back to 100... it was crazy...

turn out my Throttle Actuators took a shit lol.

i would just plug in the alpine software again and run a cel check to see if there are any hidden codes.

[hsaguirre]

Originally Posted by omgzirra_exe

if you're able to log your AFR you can get an idea if the tune seems off.

for me getting new pre-cat o2 sensors helped a lot with getting some of the power loss back.

then i did new spark plugs.

also make sure you're using new donut gaskets when installing the xpipe.. never reuse them as it will cause a leak.

now not to spook you.. but i did big willow back in September and i was noticing my power cutting out on the back straight and front straight as per my data my throttle input was not at full despite foot down.

i could visible see the input shoot up to 100 then back down to 80 and then back to 100... it was crazy...

turn out my Throttle Actuators took a shit lol.

i would just plug in the alpine software again and run a cel check to see if there are any hidden codes.

Going to double check everything. No codes when I plug in AMS and I hope it’s not TBAs since I replaced those last year. I picked up a BimmerGeeks cables to code (haven’t gotten around to it yet) can I use that to log? Any suggestions on logging software?

Thanks!

[omgzirra_exe]

Originally Posted by hsaguirre

Going to double check everything. No codes when I plug in AMS and I hope it’s not TBAs since I replaced those last year. I picked up a BimmerGeeks cables to code (haven’t gotten around to it yet) can I use that to log? Any suggestions on logging software?

Thanks!

bimmergeeks would be able to show you AFR which is nice and should be able to log data as well. last time i had it plugged in.

and i understand what you mean, when you replaced said TA's... but i also don't want to scare you.

I highly doubt you experienced oil starvation during high G turns also, but who's to say that could not be a problem either... then again considering some of the faster guys who are pulling higher G's that me aren't experiencing it...

if youre able to just log some basic data while on track you might get an idea of what is happening.

which you should be able to do with bimmergeeks just gotta set up the parameters.

[hsaguirre]

Originally Posted by omgzirra_exe

bimmergeeks would be able to show you AFR which is nice and should be able to log data as well. last time i had it plugged in.

and i understand what you mean, when you replaced said TA's... but i also don't want to scare you.

I highly doubt you experienced oil starvation during high G turns also, but who's to say that could not be a problem either... then again considering some of the faster guys who are pulling higher G's that me aren't experiencing it...

if youre able to just log some basic data while on track you might get an idea of what is happening.

which you should be able to do with bimmergeeks just gotta set up the parameters.

This conversation has made me more nervous than I was before haha. I’ll try to log tomorrow and report back.

[omgzirra_exe]

Originally Posted by hsaguirre

This conversation has made me more nervous than I was before haha. I’ll try to log tomorrow and report back.

i wouldn't worry too much tbh, could just be a freak incident.

[spooni]

Bought my old NT03 back from a friend and mounted up some RE71RS(pre heat cycled from TR!). Can’t wait to set some PBs. I guess these Enkeis are about as light as you can get at 17.2lbs each.

[spooni]

Also picked up this MulletMaro. Undecided on if it’ll be a track car or not. Getting some OEM Goodyear SC3 to replace the all seasons that the original owner put on.

The torque is insane. Much more fun on the street! For $37k hard to beat as much as car as this offers.

[omgzirra_exe]

Originally Posted by spooni

Also picked up this MulletMaro. Undecided on if it’ll be a track car or not. Getting some OEM Goodyear SC3 to replace the all seasons that the original owner put on.

The torque is insane. Much more fun on the street! For $37k hard to beat as much as car as this offers.

nah bro show the GRAMMIES

[chocstraw]

Originally Posted by admranger

Heh, I may have related this story before, but I’m retired and have nothing but past glory so I’ll share…

LV big track (NASCAR) before they raised the banking. POC is there and I show up in my 1992 525i manual with LSD. Running Bilsteins and H&R’s, 17” M5 throwing stars, good track pads, street tires. I’m in one of the advanced groups yet I keep catching this dude in a 911. I’m 100% in his engine compartment through the twisty bits and he just disappears on the straights. I finally tire of this and just dive bomb him in a corner after a short chute. He actually started to turn in, realized I was all the way alongside him, and finally gave up. Only time I saw him again was in my review mirror. Never heard a peep from the organizers about it as I’m sure he was too embarrassed to admit a lowly grocery getter was able to pass his lockwashered VW.

awesome story, thank you. it's just weird, for a group of people that take such excellent care of their cars, you'd think they would yield right quick as to prevent potential damage, but it's superseded by the desire to 'beat' us in a competition of one.

My dad is not one of these Porsche guys, he's got a stroked 930 with a BIG single and that 991.2 6MT. He's also about to be 80, badass dude.

So I've had my fair share of seat time in them, and have driven a bunch of cars. Yes, they have a great 'gestalt' (Porsche's own words on their philosophy, mine too) that is very clear and everything works in harmony, but our S65 powered cars, especially FBO and some weight loss, they're legitimately 90% as good. Way more fun to misbehave in too. The 991 doesn't have ITBs either so S65 actually has better throttle response.

Throw SYT_Shadow, Schirmer money at these and I'll die on the hill that it's a better car.

[omgzirra_exe]

Originally Posted by chocstraw

awesome story, thank you. it's just weird, for a group of people that take such excellent care of their cars, you'd think they would yield right quick as to prevent potential damage, but it's superseded by the desire to 'beat' us in a competition only they are competing in.

My dad is not one of these Porsche guys, he's got a stroked 930 with a BIG single and that 991.2 6MT. So I've had my fair share of seat time in them, and have driven a bunch of cars. Yes, they have a great 'gestalt' (Porsche's own words on their philosophy, mine too) that is very clear and everything works in harmony, but our S65 powered cars, especially FBO and some weight loss, they're legitimately 90% as good. Way more fun to misbehave in too. The 991 doesn't have ITBs either so S65 actually has better throttle response.

Throw SYT_Shadow, Schirmer money at these and I'll die on the hill that it's a better car.

i remember watching a video of a guy selling off his GT3 to buy a Schirmer V8 GT spec E92 M3... and it was the best decision he ever made lol. running cost was cheaper, and the car was just as fast if not faster.