First timer.... - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Bokke · 6th April 2003, 04:02

I am going to track the Beast for the first time next weekend at a Drivers Edge event at the Texas Motorsport Ranch and wanted some tips from those that have tracked before me....

I will have the tech inspection on Monday and also having the brake ducts opened from the front air dam.

What advice or tips does eveyone have for me?

As always the advice and info that is given on this board is truly appreciated

Philip

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01 TiSilver/Black
02 X5 3.0i Steel Gray/Black

glowrider · 6th April 2003, 06:36

Drive out of the garage the same way you drive in

Have fun! And don't do anything you're not comfortable doing.

DZeckhausen · 6th April 2003, 06:38

Quote:

Originally posted by Bokke
I am going to track the Beast for the first time next weekend at a Drivers Edge event at the Texas Motorsport Ranch and wanted some tips from those that have tracked before me....

I will have the tech inspection on Monday and also having the brake ducts opened from the front air dam.

What advice or tips does eveyone have for me?

What brake pads are you using? Have you replaced your brake fluid recently with some fresh, high temperature stuff like Motul 600? Have you done any sort of motorsports before (e.g., autocross) or are you totally new to this?

Bokke · 6th April 2003, 07:04

DZeckhausen - have the original brake pads, having a brake flush and oil change on on Monday.

I have autocrossed a couple of times with BMW but never in my own car.

I'll have to ask about Motul 600.

Thanks,

Philip

DZeckhausen · 6th April 2003, 07:10

Quote:

Originally posted by Bokke
DZeckhausen - have the original brake pads, having a brake flush and oil change on on Monday.

I have autocrossed a couple of times with BMW but never in my own car.

I'll have to ask about Motul 600.

The odds are not very good that you'll find Motul 600 on short notice. But you might be able to find ATE TYP 200 or ATE Super Blue Racing brake fluid. It boils 50 degrees sooner than Motul, but it's still better than most other fluids.

When you come off the track after a bunch of hot laps, be very careful not to leave your foot on the brake pedal while sitting in the pits. The rotor will be very hot and you will imprint pad material onto it, causing a vibration problem and possibly ruining your rotors. It's very easy to forget about this during the adrenaline rush of your first track event.

How many miles on your brake pads? If there isn't much material left on those pads, you can easily burn through them in a couple of 30 minute lapping sessions.

greg · 6th April 2003, 07:59

Another suggestion - start with DSC ON. See where on the track the yellow light blinks - and try to work on being as smooth as you can, to go as fast as you can through those sections WITHOUT the light blinking. This is a GREAT teaching aid. If the light is blinking a lot, OR AT ANY TIME YOU'RE NOT in a corner-exit section (meaning it is probably arresting an impending yaw event, as opposed to merely ******ing tire slip under heavy acceleration) you are probably not predicting the car's limits well enough and/or being smooth enough. Once you are being smooth enough and in particular feeding the throttle in smoothly enough on exit to keep the light from coming on while still getting as much power down as possible, you will have the "feel" you need to (if you want) turn DSC off safely. You'll find you CAN put more power down with it off, but if you're not "close" in your technique to begin with, the car could surprise you, and it just isn't worth risking hurting the Beast. If you are smooth, though, the car is very predictable and easy to control.

Bokke · 7th April 2003, 01:59

Thanks Greg very useful information, I was not sure if or when I would turn the DSC off.

Thanks again

Richard in NC · 7th April 2003, 02:31

I just did my second track event in my M5 last weekend. I echo others thoughts on the high temp fluid and the brake ducts. This should be fine for a first session and on steet tires. You'll learn that quick hard braking is better than long easy braking and this will make your brakes last much longer. One other thing, try to find a level spot to park after a run and don't use the parking brake.

Also, check tire pressures before the first run. I set mine to 40 front and 40 rear cold. This helps balance the handling of the stock set up. The M mobility kit is handy at a track for giving the tires a bit more air.

I used DSC only half my first session since I had been to that track before. The next morning during the rain it was on ALL the time. I was able to push the car a bit, feel the traction limits, and easily out corner the Mustangs and older 3 series in my group. DSC only needed to really kick in a few times to control the car but it was a great safety net.

MIB · 7th April 2003, 11:47

Hey Bokke, I am sure you will enjoy your event.

I'd try 42.5 in the fronts and 37.5 in the rears just for a fine tune of decreasing understeer.