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      06-03-2020, 05:40 PM   #1
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How many have taken their M5 to the track??

I signed up for my first track day with the M5 today. I am headed to Thompson Speedway on June 19th!! My car has the CCBs and I heard the key to protecting the rotors is changing pads out before they reach 50% pad life so I will do that. I ordered a set of Dinan wheels and Trofeo R tires as well.

For those of you that have tracked the F90 is there anything else you did or recommend doing to prepare for the event. Thanks
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      06-04-2020, 04:32 AM   #2
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Yes, I take mine to Lime Rock a couple times a year. From the website Thompson looks similar. Both are road courses and both about the same distance - LR is 1.53 miles and TS is 1.7 miles. I run my car stock. I bring a 5 gallon gas can and fill the car and can at the last station before the track. I also bring a torque wrench and air pressure gauge to set/check torque and tire pressure throughout the day. And bring lots of fluids for you as well - if it's a sunny day it's very easy to dehydrate. Then just have fun!
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      06-04-2020, 06:49 AM   #3
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I had plans to go to the M Driver's Class in South Carolina in March but Covid happened. Might go in September for my 34th birthday.
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      06-04-2020, 07:19 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by AGS View Post
Yes, I take mine to Lime Rock a couple times a year. From the website Thompson looks similar. Both are road courses and both about the same distance - LR is 1.53 miles and TS is 1.7 miles. I run my car stock. I bring a 5 gallon gas can and fill the car and can at the last station before the track. I also bring a torque wrench and air pressure gauge to set/check torque and tire pressure throughout the day. And bring lots of fluids for you as well - if it's a sunny day it's very easy to dehydrate. Then just have fun!

Thanks for the pointers. Did you change out your brake fluid for higher temp or did you just keep what was in there? Any issues with oil temps? I believe I read that with all the heat exchangers our cars have it is nearly impossible to overheat it. Was interested on hearing first hand account.
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      06-04-2020, 07:20 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by Earlando86 View Post
I had plans to go to the M Driver's Class in South Carolina in March but Covid happened. Might go in September for my 34th birthday.
Thats awesome. I looked into that too. I definitely want to get out to California or South Carolina in next year or two.
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      06-04-2020, 08:01 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_dennis_s View Post
Thanks for the pointers. Did you change out your brake fluid for higher temp or did you just keep what was in there? Any issues with oil temps? I believe I read that with all the heat exchangers our cars have it is nearly impossible to overheat it. Was interested on hearing first hand account.
What type of event are you doing? I do HPDEs with the BMW CCA, and the format is four 20-minute track sessions spread throughout the day. The short run times and adequate spacing between means zero issues with oil or brake fluid temps. And to answer your question, no I do not have high temp brake fluid - just what comes in the car.
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      06-04-2020, 08:03 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_dennis_s View Post
I signed up for my first track day with the M5 today. I am headed to Thompson Speedway on June 19th!! My car has the CCBs and I heard the key to protecting the rotors is changing pads out before they reach 50% pad life so I will do that. I ordered a set of Dinan wheels and Trofeo R tires as well.

For those of you that have tracked the F90 is there anything else you did or recommend doing to prepare for the event. Thanks
I'm doing my first track day with mine June 9th at Sebring. Can't wait! Doing the M School in NC on July 2nd too (postponed from covid so been dying to go to it).

If you search YouTube you'll find good videos on how to prepare and what to bring. Good luck with your trip, be safe.
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      06-04-2020, 08:45 AM   #8
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You are gonna have some big fun with those trofeos, best tires ever lol
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      06-04-2020, 09:00 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AGS View Post
What type of event are you doing? I do HPDEs with the BMW CCA, and the format is four 20-minute track sessions spread throughout the day. The short run times and adequate spacing between means zero issues with oil or brake fluid temps. And to answer your question, no I do not have high temp brake fluid - just what comes in the car.
It is HPDE open track day. There will be 3 groups: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced each having 4 20 minute sessions throughout the day. I have tracked my RS4, TTRS and Twin Turbo R8 but really excited to get the M5 on the track! Glad to hear no issues with the oil or brake temps.
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      06-04-2020, 09:03 AM   #10
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You are gonna have some big fun with those trofeos, best tires ever lol
Yeah I am excited! They were pricey but I know it will be worth it. Going to keep the stock competition wheels and Michelin Pilot 4S for regular street driving and only use the Trofeo R's for track events as well as driving to and from track.
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      06-04-2020, 01:11 PM   #11
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I did one track day with my 2018 Base M5 at Buttonwillow in SoCal. I have the steel brakes and had no issues with fade in 20 min sessions. I was in the advanced intermediate group (group 3 out of 4, with 4 being advanced) and I was the fastest lap in the group. I have a dozen track days under my belt and was easily beating the track prepped GT mustangs, a 991 carerra S, an elise, evos, M3's etc. The speed coming out the corners is just insane in MDM sport mode. My corner exit speed seemed like it was at least 6 or 7mph faster than current model M4's. Track work destroys the tires though. I have the Pirelli's and I think you can get 2 track days with about 80 min of hard driving each day. The M5 is not an ideal track car due to the extreme weight, but it can certainly hold its own among legit sports cars. I did nothing in terms of prep aside from making sure my tire pressures were all at 36psi cold and let air out to 40 psi hot.
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      06-04-2020, 02:59 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SpeedyDad View Post
I did one track day with my 2018 Base M5 at Buttonwillow in SoCal. I have the steel brakes and had no issues with fade in 20 min sessions. I was in the advanced intermediate group (group 3 out of 4, with 4 being advanced) and I was the fastest lap in the group. I have a dozen track days under my belt and was easily beating the track prepped GT mustangs, a 991 carerra S, an elise, evos, M3's etc. The speed coming out the corners is just insane in MDM sport mode. My corner exit speed seemed like it was at least 6 or 7mph faster than current model M4's. Track work destroys the tires though. I have the Pirelli's and I think you can get 2 track days with about 80 min of hard driving each day. The M5 is not an ideal track car due to the extreme weight, but it can certainly hold its own among legit sports cars. I did nothing in terms of prep aside from making sure my tire pressures were all at 36psi cold and let air out to 40 psi hot.
Thanks for the feedback. Glad to hear you had a great experience. I will play around with MDM mode. I know the M5 is a heavy car and thought about picking up something lighter like a Lotus Evora 400 but I bought the M5 because it can do it all. Might as well see what it can do. Awesome to hear you had the fastest time of the group.
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      06-04-2020, 04:11 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_dennis_s View Post
Thanks for the feedback. Glad to hear you had a great experience. I will play around with MDM mode. I know the M5 is a heavy car and thought about picking up something lighter like a Lotus Evora 400 but I bought the M5 because it can do it all. Might as well see what it can do. Awesome to hear you had the fastest time of the group.
Interestingly enough, that's the exact car I have my eye on for a track car!
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      06-04-2020, 04:19 PM   #14
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i did one track day with the f90.
doing another on 6/15 at NJMP, with r888r's.

im going the route with replacing my front CCB pads as a precaution but the wear marks on my rotors show ~75% with just one day.

stopping power is ridiculous though with this heavy of a car.
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      06-04-2020, 05:00 PM   #15
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Interestingly enough, that's the exact car I have my eye on for a track car!
So funny! Well we were both smart enough to buy an F90. We have very similar taste in cars.
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      06-04-2020, 05:05 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by gtenedio View Post
i did one track day with the f90.
doing another on 6/15 at NJMP, with r888r's.

im going the route with replacing my front CCB pads as a precaution but the wear marks on my rotors show ~75% with just one day.

stopping power is ridiculous though with this heavy of a car.

How many miles do you have on your car? 25% life off the rotors in one track day??? That is scary.
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      06-04-2020, 11:18 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_dennis_s View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by gtenedio View Post
i did one track day with the f90.
doing another on 6/15 at NJMP, with r888r's.

im going the route with replacing my front CCB pads as a precaution but the wear marks on my rotors show ~75% with just one day.

stopping power is ridiculous though with this heavy of a car.

How many miles do you have on your car? 25% life off the rotors in one track day??? That is scary.
75% remaining.

i have about 14k miles on the brakes.
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      06-05-2020, 11:35 PM   #18
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I did my first track day in my M5 a while ago, this is what I posted...

https://f90.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1516761

I've since tracked my 2017 stock M2. The biggest difference (other than the M5 tire wear) is the brakes, M5 is way better with stock steel brakes than the M2 even though it is almost 1000lbs heavier.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_dennis_s View Post
I signed up for my first track day with the M5 today. I am headed to Thompson Speedway on June 19th!! My car has the CCBs and I heard the key to protecting the rotors is changing pads out before they reach 50% pad life so I will do that. I ordered a set of Dinan wheels and Trofeo R tires as well.

For those of you that have tracked the F90 is there anything else you did or recommend doing to prepare for the event. Thanks
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      06-06-2020, 09:23 AM   #19
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Wow, sounds like a blast. I traded in a 2019 911 T with rear wheel steering and steel brakes for my F90. I tracked the 911 11 times in total. Had 8k miles when I traded it in and brakes and tires were still ok.

I see you are in New England. You want to do Watkins Glen.

But, be warned, after that, Lime Rock and many other tracks seem like miniature toys. It’s that awesome.

Have fun.

My son, who happens to be 34 today, tracked with me twice up in NH last October. He took to it and loved it. I’m hesitant to track the M5 and he’s dying to.
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      06-06-2020, 12:31 PM   #20
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I’m tracking the M5 Competition with steel brakes as well. Did 6 HPDE days in 2019 and our first event is June 13th this year.

I’ve been using the Pirelli tires that came with the car. I had to change the front tires for our last event.

The car is completely stock with the only change being that I’m using Motul brake fluid just to be on the safe side but I am unsure if it is necessary for HPDE track days.

In MDM, the car is eating the rear brake pads and I figure that I will use 3 sets of rear pads for 1 set of front. Probably because of my driving...

The car is super quick and I was able to play cat and mouse with a McLaren 720S and a Porsche GT3. The guys were not impressed that my M5 could keep up with them in different areas of the track. That was a load of fun. The McLaren is a beast in long straights and the GT3 is a master in curves. The M5 is a very good all rounder.

The only place where it seems to struggle a bit is when there are quick left-right or right-left transitions. You can really feel the weight and hesitation of the chassis in these transitions.

Apart from that, you will have a blast and I wouldn’t be surprised if you would be one of the fastest for the whole day.

Have fun!
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      06-06-2020, 01:47 PM   #21
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Originally Posted by MDJAK View Post
Wow, sounds like a blast. I traded in a 2019 911 T with rear wheel steering and steel brakes for my F90. I tracked the 911 11 times in total. Had 8k miles when I traded it in and brakes and tires were still ok.

I see you are in New England. You want to do Watkins Glen.

But, be warned, after that, Lime Rock and many other tracks seem like miniature toys. It’s that awesome.

Have fun.

My son, who happens to be 34 today, tracked with me twice up in NH last October. He took to it and loved it. I’m hesitant to track the M5 and he’s dying to.
Happy bday to him! He and I are about the same age. Also had a 991.2 Carrera T and man was it a great car on track and generally just a special car - I actually wish I hadn’t sold it. Sure, the M5 is fast, but that’s not where the fun is. Once you hit anything that involves turning the M5 is left for dead.
Personally, the M5 is far too heavy for me to want to track and don’t enjoy big cars on track even though I did have a good time tracking a Panamera turbo not too long ago. For me, nothing beats light and rwd at the track.

I don’t generally make too much out of track days because by and large no one there is racing or can extract 100% out of their car. On top of that, when you start talking about guys in GT cars or the like, they generally aren’t going to risk damage on a car that expensive.

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      06-06-2020, 07:39 PM   #22
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Originally Posted by stealth70mde View Post
I’m tracking the M5 Competition with steel brakes as well. Did 6 HPDE days in 2019 and our first event is June 13th this year.

I’ve been using the Pirelli tires that came with the car. I had to change the front tires for our last event.

The car is completely stock with the only change being that I’m using Motul brake fluid just to be on the safe side but I am unsure if it is necessary for HPDE track days.

In MDM, the car is eating the rear brake pads and I figure that I will use 3 sets of rear pads for 1 set of front. Probably because of my driving...

The car is super quick and I was able to play cat and mouse with a McLaren 720S and a Porsche GT3. The guys were not impressed that my M5 could keep up with them in different areas of the track. That was a load of fun. The McLaren is a beast in long straights and the GT3 is a master in curves. The M5 is a very good all rounder.

The only place where it seems to struggle a bit is when there are quick left-right or right-left transitions. You can really feel the weight and hesitation of the chassis in these transitions.

Apart from that, you will have a blast and I wouldn’t be surprised if you would be one of the fastest for the whole day.

Have fun!
my same experience- keeping up with gt3's and turbos- will def be top performer
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