I've owned an M car for all of 4 days now, and while I've pushed it a little bit in accelerating, much of the driving I've done so far has been fairly comfortable so I can get a feel for it and not end up wrapped around a lampost!! I;m juset curious how far all of you push your M car? Are you redlining it often and really pushing it around corners when you've got the space and the road or does it tend to be the case that you're being more careful and not pushing it as much as you would in a cheaper (and even slower!) sports car?
How far do you push your M??
- Thread starter alexman
- Start date
I think If I pushed the Z like I did my previous VX220 I wouldnt be sat typing this! Its ok with the DSC on but to get the top 20% out of the car you need to get on track. Already got my first trackday booked and heading for the Ring for the 3rd time in June. The roads these days are rarely quiet or in the Z4's case wide enough to enjoy some proper playing. Mines had its moments on the salted/wet roundabouts when it was snowy. Trouble is when it dries up your going faster to break traction and have less time to sort it out. And theres always a kerb or a lampost waiting 
My only reservation on track day is that insurance cost for an hour seems to be astronomically high compared to just going on a sportscar track day in a Ferrari or similar (although you might only get 20 minutes on the track).. I used to have an MX5 and was much less fearless about sliding in the wet and really pushing it (the fact it was half the power probably has something to do with this!) but the M car power really comes in handy when you need it of course!
Insurance? Pah! 
If you choose your organiser carefully you have no need for insurance. I've done many many trackdays without it. A well run trackday approached with a good attitude should go off without any problems. I've never seen any car on car incidents or anything like that.
If you choose your organiser carefully you have no need for insurance. I've done many many trackdays without it. A well run trackday approached with a good attitude should go off without any problems. I've never seen any car on car incidents or anything like that.
Dude< Drive it like you stole it!!
If I wanted to drive like a grandma I would have bought another 2.5!
I drive it to and above redline ALL the time. When the warranty runs out I will sell it and buy something new!
As far as the track goes the one here says as long as we don't have more than 5 cars on the track at a time we don't need insurance.
Even with ten cars there we never have a problem, we rent the track for three hours and everybody has their fill.
If I wanted to drive like a grandma I would have bought another 2.5!
I drive it to and above redline ALL the time. When the warranty runs out I will sell it and buy something new!
As far as the track goes the one here says as long as we don't have more than 5 cars on the track at a time we don't need insurance.
Even with ten cars there we never have a problem, we rent the track for three hours and everybody has their fill.
Alexman - I had been driving mine for about 5 days last January when it gave me a gentle warning after I tried to accelerate too hard coming off a gritted roundabout. Backend swung one way and then the other before locking on....
But....the reality here is that DSC sorted it all out so whilst it may give you a gentle warning every now and then it is very difficult to go wrong with it on short of going into a corner way too fast.
Best thing to do is take it to a driver experience day where you can safely learn the limits. I went on the Driver Development Program (driverdp.com) which was great.
Have fun and welcome to the forum!
Ps. Shiver me timbers
But....the reality here is that DSC sorted it all out so whilst it may give you a gentle warning every now and then it is very difficult to go wrong with it on short of going into a corner way too fast.
Best thing to do is take it to a driver experience day where you can safely learn the limits. I went on the Driver Development Program (driverdp.com) which was great.
Have fun and welcome to the forum!
Ps. Shiver me timbers
These threads are interesting because the difference between the width of road and road surfaces are huge between the every day roads in the USA and the UK. I've driven in the USA quite a bit and the difference is that big.
Mind you, I have seen more people "driving like they stole it" on the rubbish UK roads than the wide open planes of the USA! ;-)
I'm going to not mention "real world car" again....................oops, I just did!!
Mind you, I have seen more people "driving like they stole it" on the rubbish UK roads than the wide open planes of the USA! ;-)
I'm going to not mention "real world car" again....................oops, I just did!!
Yes, the main roads are larger, but the back roads where most of us unleash them are about the same (just in better condition than UK/European roads). Main roads are too congested and the probability of getting nabbed increase dramatically, hence saving the fun for back country roads.Breaker said:
2Zero - Was that redline with the z on the trailer???
It's worth noting the z4m is a totally different animal with dsc off and sport button pressed! I was amazed how willing it is to break traction even in the dry!
Great isnt it ! 
I'm going through a phase at the moment of DSC off every day, although when the speeds rise it goes back on again just for confidence.
I hate the feeling of the DSC kicking in.. it's almost like a slipping clutch feel and makes it seem like something is wearing.. better to turn it off and drive to the traction limit.
I'm going through a phase at the moment of DSC off every day, although when the speeds rise it goes back on again just for confidence.
I hate the feeling of the DSC kicking in.. it's almost like a slipping clutch feel and makes it seem like something is wearing.. better to turn it off and drive to the traction limit.
Liverpool
The first month I had my car I took it quite easy, and drove it as if it had no traction/braking aids, and didn't rev above 6000rpm.
The second month I took it to North Wales for a couple of days so that I could go a bit faster in relative safety (to others, not to myself).
The third month I did two track days and will be doing some driver development days later in the year. I was planning on doing BMW driver training at the 'Ring, but lack of work has put a spanner into that plan.
I have also realised over those 3 months that the all-conquering CSL wheels are not the best for me for handling & grip, and I prefer the ride with 18" wheels - although I might go up in tyre width when I need new tyres. I also like the bit more progression on the limit that the 18s give me. I have also driving the car with the DSC off on the road and found the throttle is much more on/off than my old M5s and the back end steps out much quicker than the M5 too
I've done about 100 track days over the years in my Polo G40, Corrado VR6, 1994 M5, 1990 M5 and now the Z4MC and I've only every been off twice (in the 1994 M5) and the first time was just into the kitty litter with no damage caused, the second time was into a small plastic cone which caused the breakage of one foglight and the disintegration of my engine undertray. The second incident would have gone without damage had the organiser not decided to bolt the cones to the floor though.
I only every get insurance when it's either 1) a track/circuit new to me, 2) a new car, 3) a magazine track day, 4) a new organiser.
In this case #2 came into play, I got insurance for my first track day last month and for an open pitlane day it cost £150 for £12k of cover. The second day I did about 10 days later was much faster even though I didn't have insurance, as I'd become more confident (not overly confident though) in the car and my knowledge of the track.
The issue with track days and insurance is not necessarily how much damage you're going to cause in an accident, but rather how much damage someone else can cause to your car in an accident.
The second month I took it to North Wales for a couple of days so that I could go a bit faster in relative safety (to others, not to myself).
The third month I did two track days and will be doing some driver development days later in the year. I was planning on doing BMW driver training at the 'Ring, but lack of work has put a spanner into that plan.
I have also realised over those 3 months that the all-conquering CSL wheels are not the best for me for handling & grip, and I prefer the ride with 18" wheels - although I might go up in tyre width when I need new tyres. I also like the bit more progression on the limit that the 18s give me. I have also driving the car with the DSC off on the road and found the throttle is much more on/off than my old M5s and the back end steps out much quicker than the M5 too
I've done about 100 track days over the years in my Polo G40, Corrado VR6, 1994 M5, 1990 M5 and now the Z4MC and I've only every been off twice (in the 1994 M5) and the first time was just into the kitty litter with no damage caused, the second time was into a small plastic cone which caused the breakage of one foglight and the disintegration of my engine undertray. The second incident would have gone without damage had the organiser not decided to bolt the cones to the floor though.
I only every get insurance when it's either 1) a track/circuit new to me, 2) a new car, 3) a magazine track day, 4) a new organiser.
In this case #2 came into play, I got insurance for my first track day last month and for an open pitlane day it cost £150 for £12k of cover. The second day I did about 10 days later was much faster even though I didn't have insurance, as I'd become more confident (not overly confident though) in the car and my knowledge of the track.
The issue with track days and insurance is not necessarily how much damage you're going to cause in an accident, but rather how much damage someone else can cause to your car in an accident.
2 Zero said:
Eyeyey nothing wrong with the 2,5i.... It goes
120 km/h in a 30 km/h zone just the other day, fun Cheburator
Member
I drive it like a Ms Daisy in London and England... On my trips around the one-way toll road somewhere in Germany I drive it like it was intended by its creators at BMW ///M Division...
alexman said:
I push mine really hard since I bought to use on the track. Here are some examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RQHXoClBjM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ2pznvugg4
The Z4MC is pure awesomeness on the track. I feel like keep pushing and pushing and never reach the limit. Oh there is a limit but it is alot further out than most cars!
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