F80 First Track Day Questions

[AustinTrkJunkie]

Originally Posted by MetalsMan

Appreciate the thoughts. I've been taking various cars to the track for about 10 years though not on a seriously regular basis. My skills and comfort at speed are decent, but I by no means am a track star waiting to be noticed. Just having fun and wanting to go home with my body and my car in one piece!

I started thinking the same, may just swap fluids and see how it works the first time out.

If you're at a track that's heavy on brakes (like COTA), then I could see swapping brake fluid, stock pads will be fine.

Have fun!

[MRV99]

Also some HPDE will not let you run R-compound tires unless you are qualified to drive them.

[shaftwhy]

I 100% agree.

First time stock is a pretty decent start.

If you have brake vibration after the day, it means you need track pad. If you run down the outer edge of the tires, you need more negative camber.

If you don't have a problem, you don't have to solve it.

By the time you are really pissed by not catching up that GT3, you probably know what tune/mod you need already.

Originally Posted by AustinTrkJunkie

So I'm going to break with the theme and say that NO, if you are *really* a first time student, there is NO FREAKING way you need after market anything.

The stock M3 setup is so much above what anyone who's not looking to set a lap record needs. Stock pads and fluid are fine. Seriously. Seriously!

[m4likf82]

Just completed my first track weekend on my '17 M4 at autobahn country club in Illinois. Went in stock, has 5000 miles on it and the car was more than capable on both days.

[jeffucd]

Echoing and expanding on a few of the ideas here. If you plan on driving the car harder then 6/10ths then you should get the cc plates at the very least. I didn't, and after I burned out the shoulders on my RE71r's I made the switch. Tires and brake pads second.

Also, on the subject of tune and DP I have both. I would not suggest the JB4 (what I currently have) and would do a flash tune like BM3 (what I plan on getting). Not sure about others out there like VF Hex, ESS, etc. but they're probably better than a piggyback if you want a predictable power delivery. For DP I have the catless ER's and stock exhaust. Sounds nice and adds more power, but not really equating to better track times vs the driver mod.