Sell my F80 w/ track mods and get M2C?

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by blackey

I'm headed that direction eventually, but it's still a 3600lb+ car you are starting with. It also cuts a fairly big hole in the air compared to something like a Miata. That being said, it's a pretty darn quick car, just plan on consumables being expensive as the the car will eat brakes, fuel, etc...

I do wonder though what a really track prepared car could get down to. I'm talking bare frame, sandblased, remove all extraneous brackets, use a drexler diff, motec ecu, bosch abs, carbon doors, trunk, hood, etc... so you could gut every bit of wiring and just go with the absolute essentials. Probably close to 3000lbs, but I also think I just spent the better part of 150K-200k in two sentences!

If you are going to prepare to that extent, why not just get a Radical or whatever track day special floats your boat?

The factory prepared 235 is 31xx lb, so that would be my guess for f8x platform

My big learning (probably not a surprise for you since your wife has a race car) is that the faster classes with heavier street cars just cost more (more powerful engines use up more fuel, power might break stuff, consumables more costly and are used faster) and class choice ends up being a straight up budget issue

I’m sharing my SM this year with someone who has been driving SCCA American sedan (eg fox body 5.0) and was absolutely blown away by how much fuel it consumes per hour tracked and how fast it went through tires and brakes). She is thinking about moving to SM just to save $ and be on track more often

[FormulaMMM]

Price/value difference between your 2015 M3 and an M2 Comp is $20k or more?

So you’d buy the M2 Comp for +$20k, part out the M3, take a loss on mod resales, then buy same mods new for M2 Comp.

Optimistic thinking that you’d keep your full M2 Comp factory warranty intact with those mods. And your starting point is a 3600# car with less power.

Sounds like a lot of cash for a pretty lateral performance move.

I’d buy a powertrain warranty on the M3 and keep it moving.

[bimmerboyE92]

Based on some thought and the responses here, likely going to stick with the F80.

[DOMs335D]

If you're only using it for track why buy either one? They are known for being able bridge the gap between the track and everyday driving. Any formula or dedicated race car will be much better and probably similar in price (obviously depending what you get).

[bracer]

For me, and I suspect this is how a lot of people get here, is you keep the car as a daily, then add brakes, shocks, engine, exhaust, monoballs, swaybars, rollbar, seats, yada, yada yada

And at the end you have most of what you need for the racecar, and it economical to just gut it, or so you tell yourself. Of course then you jump down the rabbit hole of making it lighter and well, that hole can be pretty deep.

And I do agree, weight x speed = cost. If it's very light it can be relatively inexpensive to run, if it's slow and heavy it can also be reasonable. Fast and heavy is expensive though. And heavy in this context is anything over 2500lbs,

[ByeFelicia]

Originally Posted by Commanderwiggin

Also I will never understand why track out/gut/cage a 4 door car when it has the availability to come in a 2 door variant on purchase.

My thoughts exactly.

[The Choosey begger]

I almost bought an M2C, my main issues was not being able to fit 285's all around and it's such a lil car that weighs just as much as the M4 and it's not any more nimble.

The numbers dont lie, the M2C only wins in subjective areas.

[GasBurnlife(landapanda)]

Originally Posted by anglo

I almost bought an M2C, my main issues was not being able to fit 285's all around and it's such a lil car that weighs just as much as the M4 and it's not any more nimble.

The numbers dont lie, the M2C only wins in subjective areas.

Better yet, you can fit 285/30s square with aggressive grin camber (3.5).

https://support.apexraceparts.com/hc...bile_site=true

[stevehifi]

Not worth getting the M2C, less power, weight marginally better and smaller interior, 2 door (less practical).

You'll pay a bunch more with your trade to get the M2C, probably have to dish out $30k for the new car. (and now you're back to stock - boring)

Imagine what you could do with $30k on the F80:
Ohlins TTX, AP Racing Brakes, Aero, 18x10/18x11 wheels with sticky rubber 275/305... all combined would destroy the M2C
on the track an

[MyFragileHalogen]

If I had to choose between M4 and M2C it would be a hard choice but with an ownership of M4, it doesn't seem to worth spending money. M2C must be a great car with better handling due to smaller size, perhaps would need a bucket seat installed in order to be driven on track though (if it comes with the same not-that-great seat as base M2). But 1) BMW deliberately made that car similar but not faster than F8x. 2) I am sure even M2CS will be slower than M4CS for same reason. 3) M2 can't fit 305 rear tires that helps exiting corner a lot

p.s. also with a base M4, it doesn't make sense to me to spend extra money to trade in with M4 ZCP or M4CS either. M4GTS..maybe...

[The Choosey begger]

Originally Posted by landapanda

Better yet, you can fit 285/30s square with aggressive grin camber (3.5).

https://support.apexraceparts.com/hc...bile_site=true

From your own link,

Front & Rear: 18x10" ET33 with 275/35-18 tires

Won't fit M2 Competition with 2NH brake package.
Available in EC-7 and SM-10 designs only.
At least 10mm front spacers required for suspension clearance.
Requires at least 3.5 degrees of front negative camber.
285/30-18 tires may also be used.
265/35-18 tires (compounds that run wide) may also be used.

18 wheels wont clear the M2C rotors!!!

[GasBurnlife(landapanda)]

Originally Posted by anglo

From your own link,

Front & Rear: 18x10" ET33 with 275/35-18 tires

Won't fit M2 Competition with 2NH brake package.
Available in EC-7 and SM-10 designs only.
At least 10mm front spacers required for suspension clearance.
Requires at least 3.5 degrees of front negative camber.
285/30-18 tires may also be used.
265/35-18 tires (compounds that run wide) may also be used.

18 wheels wont clear the M2C rotors!!!

Right! Missed the key word Competition! Doh!

[bimmerboyE92]

Decided to keep the F80 and let the wife track it with DCT. Picked up a 95 M3 (e36). Basically stock with TC Kline coils, camber plates, intake, exhaust, 17x9 square w/ 245 RE71Rs, upgraded radiator, and a bunch of PM items. I love this car! Cage and top end rebuild this winter. I’ll be back at both of these tracks before the season is over.

NCM Motorsports Park
2:32.04

Putnam Park
1:22.81

[turbo8765]

Both good choices. Stick with the f80.

Learn to filter the press. They are just as susceptible in most cases to regurgitation as the rest of the herd.

[Pic18]

Originally Posted by Commanderwiggin

Also I will never understand why track out/gut/cage a 4 door car when it has the availability to come in a 2 door variant on purchase.

Full disclosure I haven't tracked out my F80 yet, but for me personally I think the F80 is just a better looking car than the F82 and is basically the same weight so no lost there. From a practicality standpoint, try loading tires in and out of a coupe with a roll bar vs a sedan with a roll bar. The sedan is much easier to load and unload so the practicality/advantage is still there over a 2 door version.

All that said I would likely buy an M2C over an F8X if I just wanted a fun track car, but see no reason you can't convert a sedan over a coupe.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Pic18

Full disclosure I haven't tracked out my F80 yet, but for me personally I think the F80 is just a better looking car than the F82 and is basically the same weight so no lost there. From a practicality standpoint, try loading tires in and out of a coupe with a roll bar vs a sedan with a roll bar. The sedan is much easier to load and unload so the practicality/advantage is still there over a 2 door version.

The M4 is ~45lb lighter, has a lower center of gravity and has leas aerodynamic drag than the M3, which gives it a slight advantage.

Originally Posted by Pic18

All that said I would likely buy an M2C over an F8X if I just wanted a fun track car, but see no reason you can't convert a sedan over a coupe.

By definition, the M2 is also an F8X

[Pic18]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

The M4 is ~45lb lighter, has a lower center of gravity and has leas aerodynamic drag than the M3, which gives it a slight advantage.

By definition, the M2 is also an F8X

Never let the facts get in the way of a good argument.