M Lap Timer App & GoPro

[Ex_Stig]

Any of you guys using this app on the track? It says it can sync to. GoPro so I'm wondering which model GoPro you use. I don't know squat about those things so looking for some guidance.

[fanatic1]

Originally Posted by GNALUZU

Any of you guys using this app on the track? It says it can sync to. GoPro so I'm wondering which model GoPro you use. I don't know squat about those things so looking for some guidance.

Sub’d,
picked up a GoPro hero seven black and connecting to both Harry’s lap timer and M laptimer.

[CanAutM3]

I've been using the laptimer since 2014 and it works decently well. What pisses me off the most is the fact that BMW reduced the sampling rate to 1Hz about 2 years ago rendering the datalogs completely useless . You now only see the data in staircases which prevents any decent analysis on driving inputs. The laptimes remain accurate though and I still use it for that. This coincided with BMW releasing their M-Performance drive analyzer and I am pretty sure that was purposefully done.

I was at WGI this past weekend and I tried the GoPro integration. I struggled to get it to work consistently, where it only worked one out of three times. Sometimes the GoPro did not record. Sometimes the GoPro recorded the session but I had no datalog in the laptimer even though the joint recording was started in the laptimer iDrive screen, odd. When it does work, it does provide cool info, saddly it is not possible to do overlay on top of the video.

[Ex_Stig]

Have you tried the M Performance Analyzer? It's an OBD dongle, right?

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by GNALUZU

Have you tried the M Performance Analyzer? It's an OBD dongle, right?

I am considering it. However, from what I gather, it does not have GoPro integration and you have to use the phone camera.

Yes, it plugs into the OBD port and communicates to the phone via Bluetooth.

[Ex_Stig]

Well, at least it's Bluetooth and not WiFi. But that sucks about no GoPro integration. 2 steps forward and 1 step back by BMW.

[BetrayMyWord]

Same here. Struggled to set it up on my 2019 M4 + Heroes 7 Black + M LapTimer.

Pain list:
0) Not long but quite a few steps to connect my GoPro to my iPhone, via WiFi;
1) Since 0), I shall not use CarPlay to connect my phone to the car --- CarPlay uses WiFi for connection, which is occupied by GoPro already; thus I need to change my daily settings and connect them via normal Bluetooth. This step sometimes cracks the infortainment system and requires vehicle 'reboot'.
2) Only with correctly executed 0) and 1) can the M LapTimer panel on the car show correct image from the GoPro. Had to admit it looked good, seeing low reso streaming on the screen.
3) Recorded some cool laps. Checked the M LapTimer app on phone. Bang. No video captured at all. No to mention information overlap.

Seriously I need recommendation on good data loggers.

[MyFragileHalogen]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

What pisses me off the most is the fact that BMW reduced the sampling rate to 1Hz about 2 years ago rendering the datalogs completely useless .

I gave it up since this.

I use Harry's laptimer with external GPS. It's cheap and okay but a bit bothersome to link GPS and gopro everytime; also GPS speed recording goes a bit off on corners. Serious people use aim solo products and that seems pretty good looking at their videos.

[MyFragileHalogen]

In fact it makes sense that an external GPS device (10Hz) goes funny- speed drastically dropping when car is at around mid corner and then drastically backing up at exit- because car is cornering hard and rotating along a point rather than moving straight. I asked Harold (Harry's laptimer) and he said it's due to how GPS device works. Aim solo might use some sort of better smoothing factor to better replicate wheel speed but I don't know. You can use the laptimer app/tools with OBD and get OBD speed, but I don't like it as OBD speed is not precise on BMW (reading less than actual GPS speed).

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by MyFragileHalogen

I gave it up since this.

I use Harry's laptimer with external GPS. It's cheap and okay but a bit bothersome to link GPS and gopro everytime; also GPS speed recording goes a bit off on corners. Serious people use aim solo products and that seems pretty good looking at their videos.

+1 on Aim. $$$ upfront setup cost, so make friends with your local shops and get stuff used.

I got my used dash from someone upgrading the instrumentation in their "prototype" style car

[DOMs335D]

Do any of you guys use solostorm for track days? I have it for autocross and I like it a lot. I've only gotten it a couple months ago so I haven't used it on track. I'll report back after the June 23rd Ridge Motorsports park track day.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by DOMs335D

Do any of you guys use solostorm for track days? I have it for autocross and I like it a lot. I've only gotten it a couple months ago so I haven't used it on track. I'll report back after the June 23rd Ridge Motorsports park track day.

Teammate who is sharing my SM uses that in her car.

My sense is that the key limitation is that sharing data with others is a bit trickier since it isn't as widely used as AIM.

By the way, do anyone of the non aim solutions discussed here allow for export of the raw data to do lap vs. lap comparison?