Have you done a track day in your E89

T

Twin Turbo

Active member
Bit of fun, has anyone done a track day in your e89?

What was the experience like?
Any understeer?
What circuits?
And what times?
 
Twin Turbo said:
Wow!

I love to do that, 7:30 is an amazing time - did you video any of your laps?
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I was joking lol.
Dont think a 35is could hit 7.30... maybe 7.45

Depends on tyres too lol
 
On a more serious note this video shows someone taking a 35is for the first time round the nurburgring in 8:37!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yQCSS8boIgU

Makes me wonder how fast this car would be in the hands of a professional driver round the track
 
sunnydays said:
On a more serious note this video shows someone taking a 35is for the first time round the nurburgring in 8:37!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yQCSS8boIgU

Makes me wonder how fast this car would be in the hands of a professional driver round the track
Click to expand...

Very impressive - I wonder what modes he is using as for starters there is no body role - so I guess he has at least coil overs and possibly stage 2 - but it's not stock.

And in the "M" forum I said that an 35is modified will be a totally amazing car - real beast on the track.
 
sunnydays said:
Twin Turbo said:
However, I am surprised no one has tracked there motor?
Click to expand...

Guess this proves the E89s are cruisers only! Not a real sports car like the Z4M peeps like to tout! :roll:
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I'm sure there was a guy on here who regularly tracked his car ! It was an Atacama yellow one but can't remember his name :?
 
Twin Turbo said:
sunnydays said:
On a more serious note this video shows someone taking a 35is for the first time round the nurburgring in 8:37!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yQCSS8boIgU

Makes me wonder how fast this car would be in the hands of a professional driver round the track
Click to expand...

Very impressive
Click to expand...

Not so impressive when you look at some of the laps for the M135i, lots of laps there in the low to mid 8's, I saw one recently at 8:03 and another at 8:11 with 2 passengers on board and he also say's it's standard apart from Michelin Pilots. I have also seen some at 7:48 I think, very good laps, takes some guts round there I tell ya!! :o
The guy with the 35is states 8:37 but that isn't BTG, his BTG time is 8:54 I think if I remember correctly, if you actually look at the length of the video and check it as he goes under the bridge and then passes the gantry before the finish. Don't get me wrong, that's a good time but you can see he's not really pushing it, barely any tyre squeal in the corners especially thro the downhill esses where he's following the old 3 series.

Here's the one at 8:11 and it's a manual shift https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvRbZAlXxM8&index=3&list=PLSbvzogzGkN7POTnvuSX_wKq9LZ44TAi7
 
Twin Turbo said:
However, I am surprised no one has tracked there motor?
Click to expand...
Tracked my V6TT once at Bedford Autodrome, nice open track there, plenty of run off you can really give it some stick without the worry of doing any major damage. Also done one trip to Nurburg but only managed 2 laps before they closed the circuit due to a major crash. Yet to do the Z but off to Nurburg the first weekend in August, I'll let you know how I get on, with video's. Hopefully bring it back in one piece :rofl:

I see you've done quite a bit on track, are you using any data logging for video overlays?
 
Hope you have a great day, you're going to lose 1 minute I guess - as your driving the car home - I know I can improve my times - but its my daily driver so can not be fully committed to taking in corners.

I use harry's lap timer, its great bit of software I use on my phone - looks at my sectors and around donnington my virtual best is an 1:28. However I am using stock tyres MS4's - and lasted me 5 track days.

Are you planning upgrading your pads? as OEM pads you get break fade quite quick.

I have been using EBC yellows - but having EBC to make me some Blues to test. As a set of pads last me one or two track days.
 
I'm quite surprised more people don't track them. They are a serious bit of kit.

@twin turbo I was on a soggy brands hatch last night and found the coupe amazing.

Fancy Castle combe next month? group of us going.
 
Joycey said:
I'm quite surprised more people don't track them. They are a serious bit of kit.

@twin turbo I was on a soggy brands hatch last night and found the coupe amazing.

Fancy Castle combe next month? group of us going.
Click to expand...

Interestred, we talk about it on Sunday :driving:
 
"They are a serious bit of kit. "

Totally agree. I have tracked my 35i 8 separate times at Summit Point, a 2.5 mile circuit in WVa. well known to sports car racing since the 60's. Once one demonstrates competence, solo, 'Open' driving is allowed on open days, and that's where the lap improvement really takes place. Since beginning, I have shaved considerable time from my lap times and am now routinely passing Spec Miatas, older 911s, a host of BMW sedans and lesser powered Mustangs - but, have a LOT left to learn - which is what keeps me coming back! I use an app named RaceChrono on my cell, mounted in the front windscreen and it is an amazing tool for lap racing. I hook it up with internal phone GPS, internal phone camera and I use my Carly bluetooth adapter to feed it data. When done a session, I can view playback of each lap with synced info that shows a video of the lap thru the camera, a google Earth map of the track with moving track, and a moving graph of a host of engine parameters including, elapsed time, speed, Revs, lean, acceleration, temps, etc. It is an awesome tool since review of a specific lap can teach you much about improving skill and times.
 

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I am very envious. Bought it with the intention of doing some track days but the car is just so damn nice. I need inspiration and encouragement. Please keep us posted. Nice photography too, it is a beauty.
 
Once you feel you know the car pretty good - for me, it was about 20,000 miles - I'd encourage any owner to look at an "Intro High Speed Driving" day at a track, if for no other reason than to reach out and touch the other half of what resides under the hood. It comes perfectly track-capable as a stock 35i, and is an absolute competitor, (if that's where you wanna go), that can be amped up with all the usual mods, but that's a road I am determined not to flirt with.
Actually, I found most racers to be like me. They want to do well as they can, and be competent in the car at high speeds, but want to drive home and to work the next morning too. Besides track time is not cheap and tires and gas is gonna be a permanent budget item...but I won't lie to you...It is an absolute blast. There are these moments when you just 'Get it', and you realize some capability the car exhibits in some situations can be harnessed, and you pick up .3 second a lap. It is very different than many of us would suspect, and much harder than just picking thru apexes on a deserted road. My speeds on the track went from 30 to 135 with a 2.5 mile course that features a ten turn track with a short straight and a 1.2 mile monster straight that has a tricky hairpin entry, uphill hairpin exit. Its a whole new driving skill and I am having a terrific time getting mediocre at it.
You got a great car for it, and you'll see Elises and Porsches and Ferraris mix it up with Audis and BMWs, Jags, Mercs and Toyotas and Mazdas - and none of those owners want anything to happen to them either, so it's friendly at a well run track.

Just Do It!
 
I thought I would share some of my experiences on tracking my car, I must say running stock suspension and run flats - was an experience combined with my inexperienced hands - had a few twitchy moments. And must confess I was more scared than enjoyment - as this is my daily driver.

However, with greater experience and some improvements to the car, I am no longer a mobile roadblock to quite progressive in my option. :rofl:

First time at Donnington
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9Y6fx1pQyM

Second Visit at Donnington
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n7gLJg7ACk

Third visit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3vt7eAnHS8&t=30s

It is great fun - and its so much safer to drive to the extreme - rather than public roads.

A typical track day is around £250-£300 per day,
I use two tanks of fuel per day
I replace brake pads every two track days
I MPS 4's have lasted me 4 track days and 12,000 miles
Although my car insurance includes unlimited track days for £450 for 12 months - including all my mods.
However, best modification you can have is tution!
 
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