My wife has just had our second child and whilst feeding the little’ I in the small hours I thought “Screw it. Let’s get something fun to drive and take it to a track!” The ideas you have when you are sleep deprived.
In the summer I bought an E86 Coupe 3.0si Sport, with help from members on here (thanks!!). Lovely car to drive. The N52 engine just wants to Rev. Really playful to drive.
Anyway, my plan was to take it to a track semi-regularly and mod it. This isn’t going to be a full on track day car, just enough to put a massive smile on my face.
I took it to Donnington in October. My first ever track day. Absolutely loved it! The car is still stock (except tyres) but not for long. Really enjoying the community here. Everyone has been very helpful.
Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.
E86 fun car
-
Beesza
- Member
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2021 9:45 pm
- Location: Derbyshire
E86 fun car
- Attachments
-
- 970B2BE3-7680-4677-A7A0-66D7242F5E66.jpeg (76.01 KiB) Viewed 521 times
-
- 99DA4F4B-E445-48AD-A31E-E4EF734A5123.jpeg (120.15 KiB) Viewed 521 times
-
- B8C852E5-A7F2-47F4-8BA3-F4E37E261E09.jpeg (112.65 KiB) Viewed 521 times
-
- DC94A1A0-85D1-4F7C-BC71-0F398CD0C500.jpeg (88.35 KiB) Viewed 521 times
-
- 5BE769A9-EA62-447F-A539-928B99C30025.jpeg (113.41 KiB) Viewed 521 times
-
Mr Tidy
- Legend
- Posts: 23842
- Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
- Location: North West Surrey
E86 fun car
Great photos there. 
The N52 engine is great and as you say it does like to rev! How long will it be before you visit Birds to get a Quaife LSD fitted?
But it can be a slippery slope - someone local to me on here started off that way with his 3.0Si but now he has an M Coupe with bucket seats and harnesses as well as fully-adjustable Ohlins suspension, etc.
The N52 engine is great and as you say it does like to rev! How long will it be before you visit Birds to get a Quaife LSD fitted?
But it can be a slippery slope - someone local to me on here started off that way with his 3.0Si but now he has an M Coupe with bucket seats and harnesses as well as fully-adjustable Ohlins suspension, etc.
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
-
Big Bad Boris
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1126
- Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2018 8:43 am
- Location: Braintree
E86 fun car
Great choice, been said many times on here… you only live once, enjoy !!
-
mgrlane
- Member
- Posts: 946
- Joined: Wed Sep 25, 2019 8:29 am
E86 fun car
I never got round to taking mine on track.
I would imagine with a diff and some decent tyres it would be a right hoot!
I would imagine with a diff and some decent tyres it would be a right hoot!
-
brillomaster
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1430
- Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2017 12:57 pm
- Location: Leamington Spa
E86 fun car
looks gorgeous! and as we know, a clean car is a fast car.
to be honest, i had a great time tracking my E85 roadster with just some track tyres and decent brake pads, i never felt the need to do anything else to it.
Also, donington is a mega track. definitely my favourite track in the country.
to be honest, i had a great time tracking my E85 roadster with just some track tyres and decent brake pads, i never felt the need to do anything else to it.
Also, donington is a mega track. definitely my favourite track in the country.
-
JamesClements
- Member
- Posts: 165
- Joined: Tue Jun 23, 2020 8:46 pm
- Location: Leicestershire
E86 fun car
The Z4 is a really capable car on track, the chassis is excellent particularly in the coupe where the roof stiffens it further 
2006 Sapphire Black E86 3.0si | 108's, ZHP, Stubby, Eibach Springs
2007 Carbon Black E85 2.5i | 19" NAD alloys, Pilot Sport 4S, strut brace, Stubby, ZHP, Brembo 4 pots, Greenstuff pads, Alcantara retrim, roof motor in boot
2022 BMW G80 320D Touring
2007 Carbon Black E85 2.5i | 19" NAD alloys, Pilot Sport 4S, strut brace, Stubby, ZHP, Brembo 4 pots, Greenstuff pads, Alcantara retrim, roof motor in boot
2022 BMW G80 320D Touring
-
Ole gits rule
- Lifer
- Posts: 4559
- Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2020 5:49 pm
- Location: Pont-y-Pwll
E86 fun car
Some great photos and life is not a dress rehearsal so enjoy it while you can
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.
-
Beesza
- Member
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2021 9:45 pm
- Location: Derbyshire
E86 fun car
Thanks for all the comments. The photos really flatter the car. The wheels in particular are in dire need of a refurb (which is low on the priority list as doesn’t affect driving performance 
Quaife LSD is on the wish list for the time being.
Replacement of all the bushings to PowerFlex (or similar TBD) will be my first major mod. Then coilovers.
I was running Pilot Sport 4’s and standard brake pads at Donnington. I was very surprised with the brakes. No fade at all. The tyres were the limiting factor. After 20 minutes or so, they would suddenly go over a temperature cliff and lose grip - but 20 mins is a reasonable stint. I’ll run these tyres until they need replacing. Then it’s time for track tyres
Quaife LSD is on the wish list for the time being.
Replacement of all the bushings to PowerFlex (or similar TBD) will be my first major mod. Then coilovers.
I was running Pilot Sport 4’s and standard brake pads at Donnington. I was very surprised with the brakes. No fade at all. The tyres were the limiting factor. After 20 minutes or so, they would suddenly go over a temperature cliff and lose grip - but 20 mins is a reasonable stint. I’ll run these tyres until they need replacing. Then it’s time for track tyres