[isanube]

Taking my 2018 M5 to my local track (Mission Raceway in BC, Canada) on sept. 13th. Any advice or anything I should get done to prep the car for it? Tires are fairly new. I was going to take it off of 4WD sport and just set to 4WD with MDM as the people supervising the event will kick you out of you let your backend slide too much.

[RPI-M5]

1. take a tire pressure reader and keep track of you pressures both cold and hot

2. take a tent, chairs, cooler to be comfortable between sessions. you'll spend more time off track than on

3. you may choose to take blue painters tape to tape over your headlights. reduces distraction and protects them from flying rubber

4. this really should be #1, there are no trophies at track days. don't drive at 10/10ths.

5. study the track map ahead of time, and if they offer it, take the sighting lap and listen to the instructors

6. take a gas can and fill it up before getting to the track. you don't want to head out on track with less than 3/8s tank. you'll thank me around session 4-5 when you see peeps having to leave to find gas

7. remove any unnecessary loose things from the car before heading to the track. they'll make you take them out anyway, so just don't bring them

8. take a torque wrench and check your lug nuts before and after each session. same with tire pressurses

9. take the cool down lap on each session and try. it to use your brakes. if you have to definitely don't use them to bring the car to a complete stop.

[RPI-M5]

1. take a tire pressure reader and keep track of you pressures both cold and hot

2. take a tent, chairs, cooler to be comfortable between sessions. you'll spend more time off track than on

3. you may choose to take blue painters tape to tape over your headlights. reduces distraction and protects them from flying rubber

4. this really should be #1, there are no trophies at track days. don't drive at 10/10ths.

5. study the track map ahead of time, and if they offer it, take the sighting lap and listen to the instructors

6. take a gas can and fill it up before getting to the track. you don't want to head out on track with less than 3/8s tank. you'll thank me around session 4-5 when you see peeps having to leave to find gas

7. remove any unnecessary loose things from the car before heading to the track. they'll make you take them out anyway, so just don't bring them

8. take a torque wrench and check your lug nuts before and after each session. same with tire pressurses

9. take the cool down lap on each session and try. it to use your brakes. if you have to definitely don't use them to bring the car to a complete stop.

[isanube]

Originally Posted by RPI-M5

1. take a tire pressure reader and keep track of you pressures both cold and hot

2. take a tent, chairs, cooler to be comfortable between sessions. you'll spend more time off track than on

3. you may choose to take blue painters tape to tape over your headlights. reduces distraction and protects them from flying rubber

4. this really should be #1, there are no trophies at track days. don't drive at 10/10ths.

5. study the track map ahead of time, and if they offer it, take the sighting lap and listen to the instructors

6. take a gas can and fill it up before getting to the track. you don't want to head out on track with less than 3/8s tank. you'll thank me around session 4-5 when you see peeps having to leave to find gas

7. remove any unnecessary loose things from the car before heading to the track. they'll make you take them out anyway, so just don't bring them

8. take a torque wrench and check your lug nuts before and after each session. same with tire pressurses

9. take the cool down lap on each session and try. it to use your brakes. if you have to definitely don't use them to bring the car to a complete stop.

Thanks a bunch (y)

[soopa]

Originally Posted by RPI-M5

1. take a tire pressure reader and keep track of you pressures both cold and hot

2. take a tent, chairs, cooler to be comfortable between sessions. you'll spend more time off track than on

3. you may choose to take blue painters tape to tape over your headlights. reduces distraction and protects them from flying rubber

4. this really should be #1, there are no trophies at track days. don't drive at 10/10ths.

5. study the track map ahead of time, and if they offer it, take the sighting lap and listen to the instructors

6. take a gas can and fill it up before getting to the track. you don't want to head out on track with less than 3/8s tank. you'll thank me around session 4-5 when you see peeps having to leave to find gas

7. remove any unnecessary loose things from the car before heading to the track. they'll make you take them out anyway, so just don't bring them

8. take a torque wrench and check your lug nuts before and after each session. same with tire pressurses

9. take the cool down lap on each session and try. it to use your brakes. if you have to definitely don't use them to bring the car to a complete stop.

Is #1 needed for the F90 which has a built in TPMS?

[gtenedio]

keep an eye on your psi, lower throughout the day as PSI climbs

change your brake fluid and oil prior to track day**

keep steering on comfort mode, and throttle on comfort or sport- keeps it more linear.

make sure you keep some distance from other cars in front of you on the track- these cars tend overheat fairly quickly when trailing.

[northtorque]

After cool down lap - when you “park” put tranny in park but do not set parking brake, this will keep the pads off the hot rotors.

[northtorque]

After cool down lap - when you “park” put tranny in park but do not set parking brake, this will keep the pads off the hot rotors.

[floating.spirit]

Wow! Great info, kudos gents!

[MysticBlue]

If you want your seatbelt to hold you in better, move your seat back a few inches, exhale all your breath, then get you seatbelt to lock by jerking it, then hold it in place as you move your seat back up into place and breath normally. You will have to practice doing this ahead of time to get the hang of it. It makes a huge difference to be held securely in place rather than trying to hold yourself in place as you are corning. You will definitely want it tighter than you think. Even when you are using a 5 point harness, you basically want to tighten it until it almost hurts and and it's hard to breath. Once you start driving, you don't even notice it. You will have to do this right before every session starts.

[tastes jigga]

I've tracked the F90 M5 at Thermal Club. Here are my thoughts:

1) 4WD with full DSC is faster than 4WD Sport w/MDM

2) do not follow directly behind other cars on straights, move over slightly for better airflow and cooling

3) sport plus throttle is ok, compared to F80/F82 which sport plus is too sensitive

4) use sport plus suspension, but use comfort steering

5) you will use much more gas than you expect... like nearly 1/2 tank for a 25-minute session

6) under heavy braking you will feel the weight, but it will handle extremely well

7) take advantage of the 4WD and power out of corners

8) on the non-comp version, I found manually shifting at 6,000 - 6,200 RPM faster than taking it to redline

9) don't use the massage seats

10) enjoy!

[RPI-M5]

Originally Posted by tastes jigga

I've tracked the F90 M5 at Thermal Club. Here are my thoughts:

1) 4WD with full DSC is faster than 4WD Sport w/MDM

2) do not follow directly behind other cars on straights, move over slightly for better airflow and cooling

3) sport plus throttle is ok, compared to F80/F82 which sport plus is too sensitive

4) use sport plus suspension, but use comfort steering

5) you will use much more gas than you expect... like nearly 1/2 tank for a 25-minute session

6) under heavy braking you will feel the weight, but it will handle extremely well

7) take advantage of the 4WD and power out of corners

8) on the non-comp version, I found manually shifting at 6,000 - 6,200 RPM faster than taking it to redline

9) don't use the massage seats

10) enjoy!

Don't use the massage seats lololol

[JK-M5]

Don't forget to take of the driving safety aids or you'll auto brake.

that could be a naughty outcome

[windtendo]

Originally Posted by tastes jigga

I've tracked the F90 M5 at Thermal Club. Here are my thoughts:

1) 4WD with full DSC is faster than 4WD Sport w/MDM

2) do not follow directly behind other cars on straights, move over slightly for better airflow and cooling

3) sport plus throttle is ok, compared to F80/F82 which sport plus is too sensitive

4) use sport plus suspension, but use comfort steering

5) you will use much more gas than you expect... like nearly 1/2 tank for a 25-minute session

6) under heavy braking you will feel the weight, but it will handle extremely well

7) take advantage of the 4WD and power out of corners

8) on the non-comp version, I found manually shifting at 6,000 - 6,200 RPM faster than taking it to redline

9) don't use the massage seats

10) enjoy!

I literally just got back from a 2-day M performance driving school in SC and we drove the M5C on the bigger track. You're spot on with these settings... DSC ON, Engine Sport+, Suspension Sport+, and Steering Comfort.

[adeuel]

Originally Posted by tastes jigga

I've tracked the F90 M5 at Thermal Club. Here are my thoughts:

1) 4WD with full DSC is faster than 4WD Sport w/MDM

2) do not follow directly behind other cars on straights, move over slightly for better airflow and cooling

3) sport plus throttle is ok, compared to F80/F82 which sport plus is too sensitive

4) use sport plus suspension, but use comfort steering

5) you will use much more gas than you expect... like nearly 1/2 tank for a 25-minute session

6) under heavy braking you will feel the weight, but it will handle extremely well

7) take advantage of the 4WD and power out of corners

8) on the non-comp version, I found manually shifting at 6,000 - 6,200 RPM faster than taking it to redline

9) don't use the massage seats

10) enjoy!

This.

[gtenedio]

Originally Posted by JK-M5

Don't forget to take of the driving safety aids or you'll auto brake.

that could be a naughty outcome

i actually found the auto collision was better on the track.

tightens your seatbelt for you, and helps apply that extra braking for those who like to brake a bit later with cars in front lol

[limeypride]

Originally Posted by tastes jigga

I've tracked the F90 M5 at Thermal Club. Here are my thoughts:

1) 4WD with full DSC is faster than 4WD Sport w/MDM

2) do not follow directly behind other cars on straights, move over slightly for better airflow and cooling

3) sport plus throttle is ok, compared to F80/F82 which sport plus is too sensitive

4) use sport plus suspension, but use comfort steering

5) you will use much more gas than you expect... like nearly 1/2 tank for a 25-minute session

6) under heavy braking you will feel the weight, but it will handle extremely well

7) take advantage of the 4WD and power out of corners

8) on the non-comp version, I found manually shifting at 6,000 - 6,200 RPM faster than taking it to redline

9) don't use the massage seats

10) enjoy!

Agreed... except #1; I tried both... plus DSC off and I even tried RWD (which obviously mandates DSC off). The latter was as laughable as my talent and perhaps the lack of that is why I found MDM preferable but full DSC stepped in too quickly for my tastes.

[devondragon]

Agreed. I haven't tracked the F90 yet, but I did track my F13 M6 many times. Without MDM it would pull power super early in hard cornering. Eventually moved to DCS off, because even MDM would pull power and leave me bogged down in the turn as I got more comfortable with the car.

[Archimedes65]

Very curious why you guys are running steering in comfort mode. I've only had my M5 for about 500 miles, but my initial impressions are that the comfort mode steering setting is fairly light and not very linear.

[adeuel]

Originally Posted by Archimedes65

Very curious why you guys are running steering in comfort mode. I've only had my M5 for about 500 miles, but my initial impressions are that the comfort mode steering setting is fairly light and not very linear.

I found the same.

I use comfort steering setting around town mostly and in parking lots.

At WGI, I used sport plus for a tighter feel and more required input force. Seemed to keep the car straighter at speed.

[windtendo]

Originally Posted by Archimedes65

Very curious why you guys are running steering in comfort mode. I've only had my M5 for about 500 miles, but my initial impressions are that the comfort mode steering setting is fairly light and not very linear.

Putting it in Sport or Sport+ during a 20+ minute track session is serious WORK. It doesn't change the ratio, it just makes it that much harder to turn where you're going.

[norbtx]

My track day advice? Take your sports car to the track.