2015 BMW M4 flat out at Road America

[Killerfish2012]

Looks like a 2:51, or about a second of my best lap in my FBO 335I 6AT on race gas. IBTL

[m3ray]

This should go well, lol

[larryn]

Far from "flat out". These are journalist test days.

[W///]

Doesn't look flat out to me at all.

So cool to see E92 race car fly by at 4:44 though.

[Porschefile]

Originally Posted by larryn

Far from "flat out". These are journalist test days.

Agreed. Journalists tend to go 8/10 or so, so they're invited back. I was always amazed that the magazine drivers said the cayman/boxster had perfect track handling when mine understeered and was less than planted at a good pace. They don't typically push the cars that hard.

[Repoman]

Originally Posted by W///

Doesn't look flat out to me at all.

So cool to see E92 race car fly by at 4:44 though.

Hahaha... hell yeah man. Drove by like the dude in the M4 was out for a casual stroll.

[Richbot]

A 2:51 is about 3 seconds a lap faster than what a BSpec car runs at RA, or a showroom stock Mazda 3 on Hoosiers. That's decidedly not flat out. These cars are probably capable of a mid-low 2:3x once or twice even on the stock tires

[Richbot]

Originally Posted by Porschefile

Agreed. Journalists tend to go 8/10 or so, so they're invited back. I was always amazed that the magazine drivers said the cayman/boxster had perfect track handling when mine understeered and was less than planted at a good pace. They don't typically push the cars that hard.

Agreed, all cars have neutral handling when you haven't exceeded the limit at either end yet, lol

[Sebringjetta]

Originally Posted by W///

Doesn't look flat out to me at all.

So cool to see E92 race car fly by at 4:44 though.

yup when i saw that flyby.....

[Killerfish2012]

Guys, the dude who made the video, captioned it: going flat out, and his claim of topping out at 145mph in the straights at road America confirms that he was going all out, if you don't believe his caption.

[Killerfish2012]

Originally Posted by Richbot

2:3x once or twice even on the stock tires

Not even dude! Even stock C6 Z06s driven flat out would be lucky to break into 2:3X at road America. And those things hit ~160mph in the straights. My FBO 335I and this M3/M4 have the exact same out put, and peak speeds in the straightaways putting them right where they should be in terms of lap times.

Also did anyone notice that his last lap must have had an overheating issue, or some other limp mode condition?

[FRFNUGN]

Definitely not flat out. ChumpCars (stock-ish E30/E36s, MR2s with swapped Camry V6s, 1985 Saab Turbo) run 2:55-2:59, 2:49-2:52, 3:09-3:12 respectively, WITH the BEND. The bend is thought to add about 10 seconds or so per lap, so there's no way that guy was pushing the M4 to the limit, or else he's a terrible driver...

[Killerfish2012]

Originally Posted by FRFNUGN

so there's no way that guy was pushing the M4 to the limit, or else he's a terrible driver...

and a liar. But what does he have to gain by lying?

He ran with the Bend.

[Porschefile]

Originally Posted by Killerfish2012

and a liar. But what does he have to gain by lying?

He ran with the Bend.

Page views. He may not have "lied" but exaggerated, but you can't seriously watch that and think it is the car's absolute limit, right? A m4 should not be close to B spec times. It is still interesting to watch, but the car is running maybe 8/10.

[W///]

Originally Posted by Killerfish2012

and a liar. But what does he have to gain by lying?

He ran with the Bend.

I can say I ran flat out too. Doesn't mean I'm a quick driver

[Sebringjetta]

out of curiosity who owns the RLL e92 m3 gt car that passes him. and why is it on the track if the car is retired

[Killerfish2012]

Originally Posted by Killerfish2012

and a liar. But what does he have to gain by lying?

He ran with the Bend.

I don't think his lap time is anything to be ashamed of. I'm actually more concerned about why he seems to suddenly slow down on his third lap. Overheating or other misc. limp mode issues that plagued the N54 335I, perhaps?

[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by Porschefile

Agreed. Journalists tend to go 8/10 or so, so they're invited back. I was always amazed that the magazine drivers said the cayman/boxster had perfect track handling when mine understeered and was less than planted at a good pace. They don't typically push the cars that hard.

dammit there goes my want of a cayman. but i guess understeer is inevitable at a brisk pace.

[W///]

Originally Posted by SlowSaloonM3

dammit there goes my want of a cayman. but i guess understeer is inevitable at a brisk pace.

I'd still try it. I tried a base Boxster and had a blast. They are great cars, but 0 chance I'm paying that much for a new one. Not worth it to me.

[Porschefile]

Originally Posted by SlowSaloonM3

dammit there goes my want of a cayman. but i guess understeer is inevitable at a brisk pace.

I loved that car. Just not on track. It feels really good until you get past 8/10 or so and then it falls apart (understeer, not planted at high speed corners etc.) If you're buying it as a mainly track car and drive really hard, you'll probably be let down. Otherwise, they rock.

I posted a track comparison between E9X m3 and 987.1 cayman S awhile back if you want to search for it. Spoiler: m3 is much better. The cayman is handicapped on purpose so it can't beat the 911, and that's a fact.

[FRFNUGN]

Originally Posted by Killerfish2012

and a liar. But what does he have to gain by lying?

He ran with the Bend.

That's not the bend. That's the kink. The faster route around. Which should allow for a much-quicker-than 2:51 lap time. And he was possibly slowing on the third lap because they gave him one hot lap (one out lap, one hot lap, then come back around to the pits), as you can see a checker flag waving at the start/finish line beginning his third lap. Doubt it's anything wrong with the car.

See here, I would hope the new F8x could reasonably match/beat these times:
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...&postcount=707

[Killerfish2012]

Originally Posted by FRFNUGN

Which should allow for a much-quicker-than 2:51 lap time.

He ran the FULL Road America course with virtually no traffic. 2:50 flat is where I was at with a 335I that has a bit more HP/TQ, with one less gear, and about maybe 100 more lbs. He's pretty good, and would be fine in the intermediate to advanced group, which represents what the average driver can get. Even a professional race car driver would not be able to knock out 11 seconds like folks are suggesting. Impossible. Maybe 1-3.