Is 255 degrees a harmful Engine temp during hard driving? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

chrisn · 23rd May 2006, 20:11

Took the car to the track yesterday and drove very hard. Engine temp gauge was 3/4 to the hot-- half way between 210 and 300, so I suppose that means about 255 degrees.

Didn't get any hotter and cooled down in a few minutes after a I eased off. Ambient temp was about 70 degrees.

Car seemed to behave well (driver needs more practice, however).

Does this seem normal? Anyone else experience high temps? Is this harmful?

I've done a few other track events and the temp only got a couple ticks above 210, but I wasn't pushing as hard.

dannamichael · 23rd May 2006, 20:31

where did you go, what track

i have not taken mine to the track, but in p500 sport on some back roads i have seen about 220 on mine, and thougth that was hot.

KirklandM5 · 23rd May 2006, 21:29

would not worry about it 250F is normal temp for racing....we see over 280F on really hot days under race conditions.

E34M5/3.8IL6 · 23rd May 2006, 21:32

255 is perfect temp under "hard driving"

Fart · 23rd May 2006, 23:01

the car gets extreemly hot just driving around town. On the Nordscleife my car was around 100°C. (half way).

Cerberos · 23rd May 2006, 23:21

Your temperature is consistent with what I have experienced while tracking the car. I have also noticed that it cools down very quickly when you back-off and take an easy lap or two, which is always a good idea before shutting the car down.

chrisn · 23rd May 2006, 23:25

Thanks for the responses. I feel better now. I didn't want to break my beast by playing too hard.

BTW, the brakes were popping and crackling a TON during cool-down. I didn't notice any brake fade, but clearly they were working hard and heating up. Not sure how much more I could have pushed.

Someone asked where I was. It was a track day at Thunderhill, which is northeast of San Francisco.

Scott in Houston · 24th May 2006, 00:09

I've seen close to that and my brakes pop and ping like crazy with just spirited street driving.

Cerberos · 24th May 2006, 00:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott in Houston

I've seen close to that and my brakes pop and ping like crazy with just spirited street driving.

It's such a great sound! But that is also one of the big reasons its a good idea to take a couple of easy cool down laps (or just around the block) before shutting the car down. Warped rotors are a pain with the M5's floating disc design.