"newton" (newton)
05/16/2014 at 16:10 • Filed to: bmw
4
35|
"newton" (newton)
05/16/2014 at 16:10 • Filed to: bmw | 4
| 35 |
Why? Because she's my 140k mi daily driver. I've meticulously maintained the car, but being that it's German, I'm risking the usual bullshit like busting the fan clutch or killing the wheel bearings. This will be the first time she has ever seen the track. Fingers crossed!
But oh well, pay to play.
offroadkarter
> newton
05/16/2014 at 16:12 |
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its a BMW, they are the ultimate driving machine not the ultimate commuting machine.
MonkeePuzzle
> offroadkarter
05/16/2014 at 16:14 |
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yeah! no driving during your commuting!
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newton
> offroadkarter
05/16/2014 at 16:15 |
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I'm not listening to you or else it'll quickly become the ultimate money pit.
Imirrelephant
> newton
05/16/2014 at 16:16 |
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Just because you're going for a track day doesn't mean you have to be WFO right out of the gate. That's a good way to get in a wreck. Start easy. As you get more comfortable with the track and the car on the track, you'll get faster. Just listen to what she's telling you as you go. If something doesn't feel right, back off and check it out. You don't have to be the fastest guy on the track. Just get out there and have fun!
M3BimmerBilly
> newton
05/16/2014 at 16:17 |
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you will be driving so slowly your first event you won't break anything.
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newton
> Imirrelephant
05/16/2014 at 16:18 |
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Thanks. I will have an instructor with me which I'm sure will be great help.
BoulderZ
> newton
05/16/2014 at 16:19 |
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"You'll be fine, and have a great time!" <- This is 100% true, and 0% helpful.
If you've never done a track day before, you should be a bit nervous. Cars are expensive, there are a lot of new things you'll have to learn (flags, SOPs, etc.), and probably some real unknowns ("How old are the X? Will they hold up?"). There'd have to be something a little bit wrong with you if you weren't a little concerned/nervous. So, I'll just say try to channel that in to meticulous preparation, learning, and having as much fun as possible.
Enjoy!
PS9
> offroadkarter
05/16/2014 at 16:20 |
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It's more like the ultimate posing machine these days, as sad as that is for this M fan to admit... :(
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offroadkarter
> MonkeePuzzle
05/16/2014 at 16:21 |
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going form A to be drinking a starbucks espresso while updating your twitter can hardly count as driving anymore
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offroadkarter
> PS9
05/16/2014 at 16:22 |
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no lets not talk about any car after the e38/e38/e46 trifecta please.
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offroadkarter
> newton
05/16/2014 at 16:22 |
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You don't want to listen to the guy who takes his 7 series to the 1/4 mile track and out drifting in the snow?
why the hell not! lol
Luken10
> newton
05/16/2014 at 16:28 |
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My first track day wasn't what broke my car, it was the following days. The car held up beautifully the whole day. No leaks, no overheating, and no check engine lights. In the next couple of days my transmission blew out a hole the size of a BB and one of the sway bar brackets broke off. Both were easy fixes, but a hassle none the less.
My main advice is to tune your driving style to save your tires. It's easy, and arguably more fun, to go balls to the wall the whole time, but you will visiting your local tire shop much sooner than you expected.
Be safe, and have fun!
briannutter1
> newton
05/16/2014 at 16:35 |
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Brake pads and Brake fluid will be the thing to keep an eye on. I don't know if there's a "competitive driving mode" brake vectoring system, but that puts serious heat into the brakes. I will run that for a couple laps max to get to know the track then it gets turned off.
BKRM3
> newton
05/16/2014 at 16:41 |
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Is your track event through the BMW CCA? Let me know if you have any questions about pre-event maintenance (fluid flush, etc.) or what to bring...or really about anything else I guess. You might consider some insurance if you haven't already. I buy through Lockton HPDE Ins. and they're pretty great (although I've never had to make a claim thank god). Which track ya headed to?
ZHP Sparky, the 5th
> newton
05/16/2014 at 16:41 |
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Nervous is good. It'll keep you from being the idiot who doesn't check up on safety/maintenance and ends up flipping.
Go to a good reputed mechanic (or one you trust) and have a thorough inspection done. Usually track days involve an inspection sheet that needs to be signed off by a mechanic. Go to one that will actually DO it instead of just blindly sign the paper.
Apart from that, don't push yourself or the car too hard. If the car has been well taken care of and doesn't have anything sketchy going on it should hold up just fine. Will you have instructors giving pointers/riding along with you? Hope so - that's usually a must for a first time track day...listen to their advice but don't do anything that scares you too much.
Also, you might be able to find track layout notes online if its a decently popular track you're going to (and youtube videos!) - those are helpful to visualize what you're going to be experiencing instead of being completely new and unfamiliar with the track once you arrive.
I did my first track day about 5 years ago - in my 89 BMW 325i with 250k+ miles...two full days of hard track driving, and it held up wonderfully. Looking back, that's pretty impressive I guess!
KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
> newton
05/16/2014 at 16:43 |
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You only kill wheel bearings if you have a VW. I've watched that happen.
You won't kill the fan clutch, so long as you leave things running before shutdown. Sessions tend to be only about 15-20 minutes long.
You will kill the snot out of your brake pads and tires. Make sure you have good ones on the car...
Just trust your instructor, leave the DSC on to start with, and have fun.
Porsche924GTR
> newton
05/16/2014 at 16:46 |
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Funny, the name of our BMW Race Team (Money Pit Racing)
Saracen
> newton
05/16/2014 at 16:47 |
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Gosh, your M5 looks fantastic with those wheels. And the drop is perfect.
Chteelers
> newton
05/16/2014 at 16:55 |
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Get high temp brake pads and brake fluid. Brake fade is the quickest thing you'll run into.
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Porsche924GTR
> newton
05/16/2014 at 16:58 |
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Take proper care of the car before and after and it will be fine.
Before you go out:
Change the oil, filter
inspect the brake rotors, pads and brake fluid.
Get it properly tech inspected by someone that knows what they are doing on a track.
Check your tires - good tread, proper pressure, etc.
During the event:
Keep a close watch on your engine temp., an overheated engine can be disaster.
Check your oil level after each session (or before you go back out). No oil is bad.
Check your tire pressures - ask an experienced BMW guy what they pressures they run. Too high and the track will be a little slippery.
Feel your brake pedal - if it starts getting soft or goes all the way to the floor - you may have cooked your fluid. Get it changed!
LEAVE YOUR TRACTION CONTROL ON! Leave the ego at home - you're not racing...take your prize home with you.
LISTEN to your Instructor. You are there to LEARN - not go fast.
Drink plenty of water and eat!
REMEMBER you may be on a track - but your not Mario Andretti.
After the event:
check your brakes (rotors and pads) and brake fluid (in case you boil it).
may want to change the oil & filter again - (at least put it on a much shorter change cycle than normal)
Check tire wear.
Smile! Welcome to the club. Prepare to be pulled into the most expensive hobby of your life.
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Porsche924GTR
> newton
05/16/2014 at 17:03 |
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If it makes you feel any better - we took a completely stock, stripped out E36 with almost 300,000 miles on it - and raced 14 hours (one race) in it - no problems (until the driver hit a town car).
HiredDriver
> newton
05/16/2014 at 17:16 |
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That's a beautiful E39. Looks like you've got a few mods. Which model is it? Be sure to record a few sessions if you have access to GoPro or similar. Like everyone else said, drive your own pace and have fun!
Soloburrito
> Porsche924GTR
05/16/2014 at 17:33 |
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I'd go with no TC/ESC (depending on your event, some have very strict rules about spinning. Consult the organizers). A closed course with an instructor is the best time to learn car control. That and you're guaranteed to cook your rear brakes in a high power car.
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newton
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
05/16/2014 at 17:33 |
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Yes I'll have instructors as it's actually a track class not an open track day. Thanks for the helpful pointers.
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newton
> BKRM3
05/16/2014 at 17:34 |
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Not BMW CCA. Small privately owned track. www.drivewayaustin.com
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newton
> Saracen
05/16/2014 at 17:35 |
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Thanks! Not an M5 though. I like it enough that if I do get an M5 I'd still keep this one.
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newton
> HiredDriver
05/16/2014 at 17:36 |
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Thank you! It's a 530i with three pedals. I'll have fun for sure!
IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
> newton
05/16/2014 at 17:40 |
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Easiest way to not grenade a high mileage engine on a track day? Short shift. It's a strategy employed by many a lemons racer.
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newton
> IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
05/16/2014 at 17:42 |
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Short shifting is for people who don't live life on the edge.
But really, thanks for the good advice.
mr2gud2u
> newton
05/16/2014 at 17:49 |
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Dont worry. If my 2 ton Merican lead sled survive a track day. You should be fine
Bird
> newton
05/16/2014 at 17:56 |
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You could do what I did when faced with the prospect of tracking a high mileage BMW...buy a cheap high mileage miata! I bought one cheap with 180k on the clock, did all the bushings, bearings, brakes, etc. and hit the track...worry free!
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BKRM3
> newton
05/16/2014 at 18:55 |
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Ah, cool! Well either way happy to help with any questions. My track day count is in the double digits so I like to think I'm not a total newb these days. Counting the minutes till my next one on June 2-3!
BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
> offroadkarter
05/17/2014 at 07:01 |
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they say they are the ultimate driving machine...
Stef Schrader
> newton
05/31/2014 at 02:40 |
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Most first-timers are pretty gentle on their equipment. Remember to check fluids and other stuff, and don't be afraid to ask your instructor all kinds of questions. Work up to pushing the car's limits instead of going balls-out immediately.
Also, relax! You're bringing a great car, you know it's been well maintained and you're going to learn a lot.
Drive it on a sim if you're nervous. Seriously. I was a lot less concerned with eating a $$$$$barrier in my daily driver after I sat down and ran through it with a sim junkie friend sitting next to me. It's not entirely realistic and I still suck at video games, but you can at least see how the track flows.
Track notes are good if you can find them, but don't worry too much about getting that extra tenth of speed your first time out.
Also, have a mechanic do a good once-over beforehand if you can.
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Stef Schrader
> newton
05/31/2014 at 02:42 |
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O hai! Yay locals. I haven't driven anything more than a kart there, but I've heard good things about their team of instructors. They'll go through eeeeeverything in the L1 course, IIRC. Sounds like you're in good hands. :o)