135i@Nurburgring and Spa Francorchamps

[CDR_UK]

I took my 135i back to the Nurburgring Nordschleife and Spa Francorchamps and had a great time, despite quite a few problems.

Things didn't start well when I found that my 235/40-18 Toyo R888's were rubbing the day before I was due to leave and make the 650km journey to the ring. I decided to go to the alignment shop and add more negative camber at the rear to try and avoid the problem. Once in the shop and on the lift, I found a nasty surprise in one of my brand new tires:


Since nowhere local had a new tire in stock, I got an appointment with a place next to the ring for the day...

However, even with the extra camber at the rear (-2.3 was -2). It was still rubbing badly, so I had to raise the car 1cm front and rear. This was better - but still rubbing throughout my track time. Here's a video on the ring - you can hear the rubbing. Also, I nicely got a check engine and limp mode this turned out to be the last lap I made that day (the others were in full rain), since I wanted my car to survive for some laps at Spa the next day:

[u2b]<object width="835" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zbii0Sfw0kE&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zbii0Sfw0kE&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="835" height="505"></embed></object>[/u2b]

The next day at Spa I still had problems with rubbing, and raised the front by another 1cm. Here's my video of Spa:

[u2b]<object width="835" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ketVMWz18tg&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ketVMWz18tg&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="835" height="505"></embed></object>[/u2b]

Just afterwards the HPFP died, and that was the end for me. Now waiting for BMW to sort it out.

Here are a few pictures, on the ring:



and at Spa:




I had a great time, but it could have been a lot better if not for the now infamous HPFP problem, and the bad advice I got about the 235/40-18 fitment.

Hope you enjoy the videos!

[Evice]

mask your plates if you have some warranty work pending Cool pics.

[Sylon]

Originally Posted by Evice

mask your plates if you have some warranty work pending Cool pics.

I dont know how it is at Spa, but the Nurburgring is actually considered a toll road here in Germany, not a race track. Stand road laws apply on the 'Ring.




OP, how did you get that map, speed, location and such on your video???

[bmw13]

awesome vids and driving man, i too have 235/40/18 i dont think i rub though i am on stock suspension, is this honestly something i should be worried about? your car really looks good on the track by the way.

[pixelblue]

Originally Posted by Sylon

OP, how did you get that map, speed, location and such on your video???

it's called a gps data logger accelerometer. vbox is a good one.

great videos and driving. I am jealous. can't wait for my next track day
ps. what are your mods?

[yandy]

awesome videos! looks like allot of fun

[PC Valkyrie]

Absolutely fantastic videos! One of the best in-car videos I have seen from a street car on the Ring (and Spa).

[m 135]

Great driving,you put every other driver to shame.

[CDR_UK]

Thanks for the compliments!

Originally Posted by Evice

mask your plates if you have some warranty work pending Cool pics.

The fuel pump issue is not related to driving on the track, and the warranty is not affected. My dealer even organizes track days for customers with their cars

Originally Posted by pixelblue

it's called a gps data logger accelerometer. vbox is a good one.

great videos and driving. I am jealous. can't wait for my next track day
ps. what are your mods?

Yes - I'm using RaceChrono (www.racechrono.com) on a Nokia 5800 with external bluetooth 5Hz GPS (more accurate than internal 1Hz GPS), and OBDKey bluetooth for capturing things like RPM throttle position etc. Afterwards to get it into the video, you can export the RaceChrono data and use it in RaceChrono2AVI to produce a second video and use it as a PictureInPicture source for the main video. Dashboard can be fully customized to include what you want - I just wanted to keep mine simple (but forgot to log the RPMs at Spa)..

Mods include 18x8 OZ Ultraleggeras with 235/40-18 Toyo 888's, KW Club Sport suspension, M3 E92 front sway together with control arms and tensions struts.

Originally Posted by bmw13

awesome vids and driving man, i too have 235/40/18 i dont think i rub though i am on stock suspension, is this honestly something i should be worried about? your car really looks good on the track by the way.

It depends on a lot of things - mainly the drop you have and the offset of the wheels. The brand of the tires will also have an impact. My problem is that I had quite a drop, and ET40 wheels at the rear (nothing better available at the time I bought). Also it depends where you drive, but on tracks like Spa and especially the ring - it's much easier to run when you hit a compression at high speed.

[sb335is]

Originally Posted by CDR_UK

Thanks for the compliments!



The fuel pump issue is not related to driving on the track, and the warranty is not affected. My dealer even organizes track days for customers with their cars

This is why I want to move to Europe/Germany. One day I will pay the 35 Euros and drive the Ring/Spa it's just a matter of time. I've decided I'm going to learn German this summer.

Great driving by the way!

[Add1ction]

What's the offset on those wheels? I'm running 18x9.5" +45's with 245's in the rear on H&R's and don't rub in the rear. Are your fenders rolled?

Nice lap btw. Looks like a blast

[steve79]

Nice, i was at Spa on May 24, will go on the ring in Summer now!

[CDR_UK]

Originally Posted by Add1ction

What's the offset on those wheels? I'm running 18x9.5" +45's with 245's in the rear on H&R's and don't rub in the rear. Are your fenders rolled?

Nice lap btw. Looks like a blast

Offset is +40, +45 would be perfect with 235 888's which are much wider than stock re050 245's. Also the problem with 235/40 is that they are bit taller than the stock 245's. My fenders are not rolled - what about yours?

Originally Posted by steve79

Nice, i was at Spa on May 24, will go on the ring in Summer now!

Any videos? Living in luxemboug you should buy a yearly pass for the ring

[Sylon]

I came back to this thread because I just got back from running a couple laps at the Ring. My times were no where near your time though, haha. This was my first trip there, had a blast, but I was getting passed by everything

I even got passed by a Clio, so thats when it hit me how slow I was, lol. I blame the DSC and the RFT's, because they are usually to blame for everything, lol. Maybe next time I'll get brave and turn off the DSC.

Now that I finally went, I'm hooked, any tips on shaving time? Suspension tips??? My car is bone stock.

[CDR_UK]

If you want to shave time, you need to learn the track well - memorize all of the bends, and the times will start to come. Afterwards you can improve your car in the standard way - better brake pads and fluid, suspension, tyres, more camber etc...

Do not turn off the DSC until you start to know the track, otherwise it will catch you out. DTC is the natural intermediate step.