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Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!

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breezyloco
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Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!

Post by breezyloco » Mon Jan 11, 2021 7:07 am

Greetings all from California!

I just picked up a 2.5i E85 5-spd manual (2003) about two months ago. I've been lurking on these forums for a bit, have always found great advice, so I decided I should introduce myself since I'm sure I'll be spending more time on here. Bought it at 85k miles, and so far I've just done some exterior touch ups... Put on some red roundels, a red wind restrictor, red door sills, and a red Pioneer radio head unit (you get the theme here :P ).
Screen Shot 2021-01-10 at 10.02.49 PM.png
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Screen Shot 2021-01-10 at 10.01.46 PM.png
Screen Shot 2021-01-10 at 10.01.46 PM.png (660.31 KiB) Viewed 630 times
Will be taking it to the track for the first time next weekend. What do you guys normally do to prepare? I've just changed most of my fluids (engine oil, gear oil, bled the brakes, topped off coolant) but would appreciate any tips.

Cheers!
Last edited by breezyloco on Tue Jan 12, 2021 5:56 am, edited 2 times in total.
2003 Z4 2.5i E85 - first project car, shortest on the block
2005 Jeep Wrangler LJ, lifted - too tall to fit in my garage

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jabber
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Newbie with a 2.5i E85!

Post by jabber » Mon Jan 11, 2021 4:50 pm

Hi and welcome liking the wind deflector :thumbsup: re the track day check you brake pads for wear level before and be prepared to replace brake fluid and the pads after especially if you give it a real hammering.
Z less again
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Haggisman
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Newbie with a 2.5i E85!

Post by Haggisman » Mon Jan 11, 2021 9:12 pm

breezyloco wrote: Mon Jan 11, 2021 7:07 am Greetings all from California!

I just picked up a 2.5i E85 5-spd manual (2003) about two months ago. I've been lurking on these forums for a bit, have always found great advice, so I decided I should introduce myself since I'm sure I'll be spending more time on here. Bought it at 85k miles, and so far I've just done some exterior touch ups... Put on some red roundels, a red wind restrictor, red door sills, and a red Pioneer radio head unit (you get the theme here :P ).

Screen Shot 2021-01-10 at 10.02.49 PM.png

Screen Shot 2021-01-10 at 10.01.46 PM.png

Will be taking it to the track for the first time next weekend. What do you guys normally do to prepare? I've just changed most of my fluids (engine oil, gear oil, bled the brakes, topped off coolant) but would appreciate any tips.

Cheers!
Welcome to the forum and Z ownership. Great fun at track days, if it is your first take it easy and find someone who has done it before and can give some practical advice.
I would replace brake fluid before you go with a higher temperature one such as motul or ate, helps maintain the pedal pressure, check your pads as well, standard ones can deteriorate quickly with the higher temps. If enthusiastic your road tyres can go ‘off’ after a few laps.
Don’t be put off by the above, be sensible and enjoy the day respecting the car and your own ability. Let us know how you get on.
:driving:
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Mr Tidy
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Newbie with a 2.5i E85!

Post by Mr Tidy » Mon Jan 11, 2021 9:46 pm

Hi and welcome to the forum. :thumbsup:

Enjoy your track day. :driving:
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Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!

Post by SCOTTY L » Tue Jan 12, 2021 6:50 am

Hello and welcome.

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breezyloco
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Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!

Post by breezyloco » Thu Jan 14, 2021 6:45 am

Haggisman wrote: Mon Jan 11, 2021 9:12 pm
breezyloco wrote: Mon Jan 11, 2021 7:07 am Greetings all from California!

I just picked up a 2.5i E85 5-spd manual (2003) about two months ago. I've been lurking on these forums for a bit, have always found great advice, so I decided I should introduce myself since I'm sure I'll be spending more time on here. Bought it at 85k miles, and so far I've just done some exterior touch ups... Put on some red roundels, a red wind restrictor, red door sills, and a red Pioneer radio head unit (you get the theme here :P ).

Screen Shot 2021-01-10 at 10.02.49 PM.png

Screen Shot 2021-01-10 at 10.01.46 PM.png

Will be taking it to the track for the first time next weekend. What do you guys normally do to prepare? I've just changed most of my fluids (engine oil, gear oil, bled the brakes, topped off coolant) but would appreciate any tips.

Cheers!
Welcome to the forum and Z ownership. Great fun at track days, if it is your first take it easy and find someone who has done it before and can give some practical advice.
I would replace brake fluid before you go with a higher temperature one such as motul or ate, helps maintain the pedal pressure, check your pads as well, standard ones can deteriorate quickly with the higher temps. If enthusiastic your road tyres can go ‘off’ after a few laps.
Don’t be put off by the above, be sensible and enjoy the day respecting the car and your own ability. Let us know how you get on.
:driving:
Thanks for the tips! Will do :)
2003 Z4 2.5i E85 - first project car, shortest on the block
2005 Jeep Wrangler LJ, lifted - too tall to fit in my garage

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Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!

Post by brillomaster » Thu Jan 14, 2021 11:30 am

if its your first time on track, my advice would be keep your on track sessions short (10-15 mins max), and do a warm up lap and (more importantly) a decent cool down lap before you come in. If the brakes start to fade or the tyres start to slide, back off and come in. And when you do park up, don't put the handbrake/e-brake on, just leave it in gear if its likely to roll away.

take a tyre pressure gauge and a pump - on track driving in California the tyre pressures will go up by 8-10psi when they get hot, you'll want to knock them back down. and then at the end of the day once they cool down again you might need to reinflate slightly to get home.

oh and check the engine oil, coolant level and brake fluid level before you start the day, and then again at lunchtime.

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Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!

Post by Reamesy » Thu Jan 14, 2021 11:59 am

Welcome to the forum.

Some good advice from others above. 😎👍
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Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!

Post by Ole gits rule » Thu Jan 14, 2021 12:21 pm

Hello and welcome to the forum :thumbsup:
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breezyloco
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Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!

Post by breezyloco » Fri Jan 22, 2021 7:54 am

brillomaster wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 11:30 am if its your first time on track, my advice would be keep your on track sessions short (10-15 mins max), and do a warm up lap and (more importantly) a decent cool down lap before you come in. If the brakes start to fade or the tyres start to slide, back off and come in. And when you do park up, don't put the handbrake/e-brake on, just leave it in gear if its likely to roll away.

take a tyre pressure gauge and a pump - on track driving in California the tyre pressures will go up by 8-10psi when they get hot, you'll want to knock them back down. and then at the end of the day once they cool down again you might need to reinflate slightly to get home.

oh and check the engine oil, coolant level and brake fluid level before you start the day, and then again at lunchtime.
This was great advice, thanks everyone! Track day turned out to be a blast... Thanks all for the tips. Brakes definitely felt a bit soft but I also think I was feathering the brakes too much. Took some corners a bit too hard and got some major oversteer... Got a lot to learn! Here's a photo!
Screen Shot 2021-01-21 at 10.52.24 PM.png
Screen Shot 2021-01-21 at 10.52.24 PM.png (502 KiB) Viewed 299 times
2003 Z4 2.5i E85 - first project car, shortest on the block
2005 Jeep Wrangler LJ, lifted - too tall to fit in my garage

brillomaster
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Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!

Post by brillomaster » Fri Jan 22, 2021 9:33 am

looks awesome, z4s make great fun track cars!

proper use of brakes on track days takes some learning, and its almost unlearning what you normally do on the highway. but a bit of tuition will sort that out. :driving:

oh and if you can afford it, get a second set of wheels with some proper trackday tyres. the car wont slide around as much, but it will be much faster through the corners, and a lot more thermally stable.

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Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!

Post by zriha » Fri Jan 22, 2021 10:55 am

Hello there! :) Nice Z4 :) :)
Current fleet
BMW Z4 (E85) 2.5i 5-speed manual
Mini Cooper S JCW F56
Royal Enfield Classic 350 Signals (Marsh Grey)

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