Initial track setup for a beginner

RE36TRO · 11-22-2019, 11:24 PM

dsHello all, I am a long time M owner having owned various generations through out the years. Call it late blooming but after years of ownership, I am just starting to look into auto x. I'd like the car to be track oriented yet still streetable in the case I'd like to take it out once in a while (not as a DD).

I will be picking up a 2011 DCT E92 w/ 76k miles and proactively taking care of the rod bearings and motor mounts. Other than that, I am looking for advice for a coilover system and wheel and tire spec suggestions.

Coilovers I've had good experiences with KW, Bilstein and TCK from past M's but am not yet up to date with the 'go-to' set for the E9x platform.

As far as wheels, I am thinking of 18x10 ET 22 squared ARC-8 running 275/35. Brand of tire not yet decided...R compound maybe?

Other than the above, I will be sticking w/ OEM components until i generate enough track time to realize other needs. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Bartledoo · 11-23-2019, 02:06 AM

SRF brake fluid, PFC08 pads, and I'd say RS4 tires but they discontinued the 275/35r18 size. I went with KW Clubsports when I started tracking because I knew I'd immediately become addicted and do 20 track days that summer, and we need more camber. It didn't make sense to buy camber plates when I knew I'd want a suspension upgrade after a few track days.

To aid in learning, I wanted my car to be setup exactly the same for my entire first season.

rTrackM3 · 11-23-2019, 06:47 AM

Congratulations on the new car! Great call on the upgrades. The suspension is what really wakes these cars up. Over the past 15 years of racing/track events I have personally had TCK, Moton, and MCS on my M3’s. By far, the MCS has been the best bang for the buck. It is my opinion, when you do the dampers, upgrade the control arm bushings, shock mounts, rear toe links, and front camber plates. This will also get you the alignment for both street / track.

For tires I ran the RE-71. Relatively inexpensive and good for street / track. If you want more of a track tire that you can still drive on the street, the pirelli trofeo r is great. But bloody expensive.

Don’t forget the brakes! These cars are heavy with a lot of power. At least upgrade the brake lines and go to a track pad. Check out PFC 08s to start. For fluid go with pfc Or Motul fluid. Very reasonably priced.

Good luck and enjoy!

rcracin · 11-23-2019, 07:19 AM

Brake pads, brake fluid, & tires. Don't do anything else until you have a few events under your belt.

roastbeef · 11-23-2019, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcracin

Brake pads, brake fluid, & tires. Don't do anything else until you have a few events under your belt.

this. i'd even start with a second set of track wheels, but maybe not R compound tires. beginner drivers are typically very hard on brakes and you'll probably burn them up in the first few events. a higher treadwear rating won't let you do that as much.

after my first track day, i bought a set of wheels with nitto nt01's on them and immediately fried the brakes. lol it was a slippery slope after that due to me being a novice and fully addicted.

b4hand · 11-23-2019, 02:46 PM

Id suggest changing some of the suspension arms as well as doing monoball bearings for the thrust arms.

RE36TRO · 11-26-2019, 09:26 PM

Thanks for the feedback so far all. I am impressed with the MCS coils as well however I’m not certain that level of coilover is too advanced for my skill set not to mention too quick Of a jump from stock.

romero1990 · 11-26-2019, 10:33 PM

great stuff. subbed.

I have my E92 for a year already and plan to start some autoX and tracking. The previous owner left me with KWV3 and EC-7 18x9.5/10.5. I figured I might be in a good spot to begin.

The only thing that bugs me/ prevents me from actually going to track is I haven't done oil analysis yet (been using as DD and less than 5K miles the past year). The car did have the bearing done but I didn't get any oil analysis from previous owner.

question though. I have ps4s(AS) in the front and PSS(summer) in the back. When the time comes, what road tires you guys will recommend for beginners? I want to keep them the same type.

kpaso · 11-27-2019, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by romero1990

question though. I have ps4s(AS) in the front and PSS(summer) in the back. When the time comes, what road tires you guys will recommend for beginners? I want to keep them the same type.

FYI Michelin PS4s are far better tires on track than PSS.

Hankook RS4s are good all arounds on the track that last forever and can tolerate heat better than other tires.

11-22-2019, 11:24 PM	#1
RE36TRO Lieutenant 212 Rep 431 Posts Drives: ///E36,E46,E92,F80 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Santa Clara, CA iTrader: (5)	Initial track setup for a beginner dsHello all, I am a long time M owner having owned various generations through out the years. Call it late blooming but after years of ownership, I am just starting to look into auto x. I'd like the car to be track oriented yet still streetable in the case I'd like to take it out once in a while (not as a DD). I will be picking up a 2011 DCT E92 w/ 76k miles and proactively taking care of the rod bearings and motor mounts. Other than that, I am looking for advice for a coilover system and wheel and tire spec suggestions. Coilovers I've had good experiences with KW, Bilstein and TCK from past M's but am not yet up to date with the 'go-to' set for the E9x platform. As far as wheels, I am thinking of 18x10 ET 22 squared ARC-8 running 275/35. Brand of tire not yet decided...R compound maybe? Other than the above, I will be sticking w/ OEM components until i generate enough track time to realize other needs. Any suggestions will be appreciated.
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11-23-2019, 02:06 AM	#2
Bartledoo Driver 2692 Rep 2,714 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 6MT Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 Corvette Stingray [0.00] 2002 Porsche Boxster [0.00] 2011 E90 M3 [0.00] 2021 Tesla Model Y [0.00]	SRF brake fluid, PFC08 pads, and I'd say RS4 tires but they discontinued the 275/35r18 size. I went with KW Clubsports when I started tracking because I knew I'd immediately become addicted and do 20 track days that summer, and we need more camber. It didn't make sense to buy camber plates when I knew I'd want a suspension upgrade after a few track days. To aid in learning, I wanted my car to be setup exactly the same for my entire first season. __________________ E90M 6MT Slicktop Single Humper in need of a diet Last edited by Bartledoo; 11-23-2019 at 02:12 AM..
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11-23-2019, 06:47 AM	#3
rTrackM3 Private First Class 60 Rep 186 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Detroit iTrader: (0)	Congratulations on the new car! Great call on the upgrades. The suspension is what really wakes these cars up. Over the past 15 years of racing/track events I have personally had TCK, Moton, and MCS on my M3’s. By far, the MCS has been the best bang for the buck. It is my opinion, when you do the dampers, upgrade the control arm bushings, shock mounts, rear toe links, and front camber plates. This will also get you the alignment for both street / track. For tires I ran the RE-71. Relatively inexpensive and good for street / track. If you want more of a track tire that you can still drive on the street, the pirelli trofeo r is great. But bloody expensive. Don’t forget the brakes! These cars are heavy with a lot of power. At least upgrade the brake lines and go to a track pad. Check out PFC 08s to start. For fluid go with pfc Or Motul fluid. Very reasonably priced. Good luck and enjoy!
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11-23-2019, 07:19 AM	#4
rcracin Major 1243 Rep 1,288 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: NYC iTrader: (3)	Brake pads, brake fluid, & tires. Don't do anything else until you have a few events under your belt.
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11-23-2019, 02:46 PM	#6
b4hand Captain 661 Rep 966 Posts Drives: 2011 ZCP M3 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (3)	Id suggest changing some of the suspension arms as well as doing monoball bearings for the thrust arms.
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11-26-2019, 09:26 PM	#7
RE36TRO Lieutenant 212 Rep 431 Posts Drives: ///E36,E46,E92,F80 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Santa Clara, CA iTrader: (5)	Thanks for the feedback so far all. I am impressed with the MCS coils as well however I’m not certain that level of coilover is too advanced for my skill set not to mention too quick Of a jump from stock.
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11-26-2019, 10:33 PM	#8
romero1990 Lieutenant 176 Rep 586 Posts Drives: E92 M3, F25 X3 Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 X3 [0.00] 2009 M3 [0.00]	great stuff. subbed. I have my E92 for a year already and plan to start some autoX and tracking. The previous owner left me with KWV3 and EC-7 18x9.5/10.5. I figured I might be in a good spot to begin. The only thing that bugs me/ prevents me from actually going to track is I haven't done oil analysis yet (been using as DD and less than 5K miles the past year). The car did have the bearing done but I didn't get any oil analysis from previous owner. question though. I have ps4s(AS) in the front and PSS(summer) in the back. When the time comes, what road tires you guys will recommend for beginners? I want to keep them the same type.
	Appreciate 0 Quote