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Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!
- breezyloco
- Newbie
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2020 7:08 am
- Location: California, USA
Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!
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 ).
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!
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 ).
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
2005 Jeep Wrangler LJ, lifted - too tall to fit in my garage
- jabber
- Lifer
- Posts: 3137
- Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:23 am
- Location: Hampshire
Newbie with a 2.5i E85!
Hi and welcome liking the wind deflector 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
14 E89 Z4 2.0 msport grey gone now
10 E89 Z4 3.0 Black auto now. Very sadly gone
Gone 04 E85 z4 3.0 Maldives blue smg
14 E89 Z4 2.0 msport grey gone now
10 E89 Z4 3.0 Black auto now. Very sadly gone
Gone 04 E85 z4 3.0 Maldives blue smg
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- Member
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- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:09 am
- Location: New Zealand
Newbie with a 2.5i E85!
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.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 ).
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!
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.
2003 Toledo Blue 3.0 E85 Manual
2008 Volvo V50 - Dog Car
2020 Kia Sportage GT - Her Indoor’s Car
1995 Dakar Yellow M3 E36 Race Car - Sold
2009 Vauxhall Astra VXR - Sold
2003 350Z well modded - Sold
1992 911 RS - Sold and still in mourning
2008 Volvo V50 - Dog Car
2020 Kia Sportage GT - Her Indoor’s Car
1995 Dakar Yellow M3 E36 Race Car - Sold
2009 Vauxhall Astra VXR - Sold
2003 350Z well modded - Sold
1992 911 RS - Sold and still in mourning
- Mr Tidy
- Legend
- Posts: 23608
- Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
- Location: North West Surrey
Newbie with a 2.5i E85!
Hi and welcome to the forum.
Enjoy your track day.
Enjoy your track day.
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
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- Member
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2018 8:02 am
- Location: Fife
Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!
Hello and welcome.
- breezyloco
- Newbie
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2020 7:08 am
- Location: California, USA
Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!
Thanks for the tips! Will doHaggisman wrote: ↑Mon Jan 11, 2021 9:12 pmWelcome 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.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 ).
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!
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.
2003 Z4 2.5i E85 - first project car, shortest on the block
2005 Jeep Wrangler LJ, lifted - too tall to fit in my garage
2005 Jeep Wrangler LJ, lifted - too tall to fit in my garage
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- Senior Member
- Posts: 1424
- Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2017 12:57 pm
- Location: Leamington Spa
Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!
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.
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.
- Reamesy
- Member
- Posts: 638
- Joined: Mon Aug 31, 2020 12:40 pm
- Location: Whitchurch
Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!
Welcome to the forum.
Some good advice from others above.
Some good advice from others above.
Currently; 2011 E89 23i SDrive M Sport Highline Titan Silver
Previously;
2014 SLK250CDI AMG Sport
2012 E89 SDrive 2.0 M Sport. White
2011 Audi TT Quattro
2006 Z4 2.5 Sport
2013 420D coupe
2002 Z3 2.2 Sport
1996 Z3 1.9
Previously;
2014 SLK250CDI AMG Sport
2012 E89 SDrive 2.0 M Sport. White
2011 Audi TT Quattro
2006 Z4 2.5 Sport
2013 420D coupe
2002 Z3 2.2 Sport
1996 Z3 1.9
- Ole gits rule
- Lifer
- Posts: 4541
- Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2020 5:49 pm
- Location: Pont-y-Pwll
Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!
Hello and welcome to the forum
M4 Vert in Yas Marina Blue
2011 23i M Sport Highline in Alpine White with Smart Top installed - Gone but not forgotten.
2011 23i M Sport Highline in Alpine White with Smart Top installed - Gone but not forgotten.
- breezyloco
- Newbie
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2020 7:08 am
- Location: California, USA
Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!
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!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.
2003 Z4 2.5i E85 - first project car, shortest on the block
2005 Jeep Wrangler LJ, lifted - too tall to fit in my garage
2005 Jeep Wrangler LJ, lifted - too tall to fit in my garage
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1424
- Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2017 12:57 pm
- Location: Leamington Spa
Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!
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.
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.
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.
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.
- zriha
- Member
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- Location: Zagreb, Croatia
- Contact:
Newbie with a 2003 2.5i E85!
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)
BMW Z4 (E85) 2.5i 5-speed manual
Mini Cooper S JCW F56
Royal Enfield Classic 350 Signals (Marsh Grey)