[stressdoc]

Originally Posted by leftcoastman

I believe I saved about 15lbs a corner. The non-RFT are heavier than the runflats. Everyone bitches about the RFTs, but the stock ones aren't really heavy.

Fwiw, the Pirelli P-0 extreme performance non-rfts that I got were about 4 lbs. lighter than the OEM Bridgestone rfts. I think the Bstone RE050-Rs are a touch heavier than the OEMs.

[RMRC]

Great writeup. It's good to hear the 6MT with all that V2 power didn't have problems at the lower ambient temps. Did you have the opportunity to record your coolant temps?

Edit: what track was this?

[sg335]

I will assume your 275 degrees was oil temp. Did you display the coolant temps using the hidden menu? And even with low ambiant air temps, the auto's with the oil coolers were shutting down after a few laps?

[leftcoastman]

Originally Posted by sg335

I will assume your 275 degrees was oil temp. Did you display the coolant temps using the hidden menu? And even with low ambiant air temps, the auto's with the oil coolers were shutting down after a few laps?

Yup oil temp. Where's the hidden menu?

Unfortunately I didn't record coolant temps. I was considering buying a DavisChip, but given that I don't have heat limp issues, I figured I could spend the $150 on another track day, lol.

The Steps are pathetic, seriously. BMW really screwed over the customer on that one. Cooler ambients didn't matter. The Steptronic 335i limped within a few laps. Never from oil temps, but no one had a Davis Chip to verify coolant temps.

[RED FURY]

What is the size of the 255 wheels and tires ?

I plan on a similar setup

[RED FURY]

What is the size of the 255 wheels and tires ? 17x ? , 255/ ? /17

I plan on a similar setup

[leftcoastman]

Originally Posted by RED FURY

What is the size of the 255 wheels and tires ? 17x ? , 255/ ? /17

I plan on a similar setup

17x8.5 Kosei K1 ET40
255-40-17 Kumho Victoracer

I am convinced that is the absolute largest possible in front. I had 4mm between sidewall and strut tube.

[sg335]

The Enkei NT-03 is 18x8.5 ET 38 and could also run that rubber as well. I believe the Kosei 18" is an 18x8.5 ET32 and will certainly clear the inside, but could cause problems on the outside unless you have at least 2 degrees of negative camber. Search for the track wheel thread from a while back for all the fitments.

[Driver72]

Thanks for the write up Leftcoastman.
Sounds like you had a blast.

Which track were you at?

Did the Steps also have v2.0.2? If not that might be why they limped if they got too hot. You said before you had v2.02 you would also see 285-290 temps within a couple laps and limped more as well.

Other than the PROcede and wheels are you stock in every other aspect?

[Park2670]

Great work Leftcoastman! Ive always enjoyed hearing about your track days. Cant wait to hear about next season...

[leftcoastman]

Originally Posted by Driver72

Did the Steps also have v2.0.2? If not that might be why they limped if they got too hot. You said before you had v2.02 you would also see 285-290 temps within a couple laps and limped more as well.

Other than the PROcede and wheels are you stock in every other aspect?

For handling, my mods were listed in the original post. For power, I went with the UR HFCs to eliminate lag. The car has more than enough power --- handling and ahem, driver, needs to be upgraded, if anything.

My earlier hot oil temps were due to higher ambient temps. 95+ earlier versus less than 80 on this day.

With or without procede on the same day on my car, the oil temps were not very different. Make no mistake - if you are running a Step and are considering track days, do what reb03 (I believe it was him) did and sell your Step car and get a 6MT. It still makes me livid to think how BMW screwed over the consumer so bad there - I feel a little slighted b/c my 6MT gets pretty hot on track but at least it doesn't face the insta-shutdown of the steps.

One of the Steptronic 335i owners found a great use for the time he spent waiting for the car to cool down: using his Blackberry to figure out how to trade his 1.5 month old car for a new 6MT. :sad0147:

[judec]

damit! I want the Step so bad.... after all those years driving a stick I just have enough of it and when I found out how good and fast the Step is... darn, I want to go to track now and then... what a shame!

[Bama335]

Judec: you can track the step, it just depends on what level of tracking you aspire to - leftcoast is driving alot harder, faster and much better than my talent allows

I ran Barber two weeks ago in my step, and didn't have any problems at all with cooling and the step. Sessions were around 25 mins, to speeds around 100 mph. Ambient temp around 65 deg

As I'm more the three times a year "drivers event" type, I'm not too worried. If I wanted to get to his level, I'd be alot more concerned with temps

The step was always in the right gear, which helped me work towards the right line. That said, I'm in the novice class, and to hang with Vipers and Atoms would require more car and way more skills on my part

[judec]

well, I used to be a professional driver payed to drive fast (unbelievable I know, can't disclose more details), so I'm not exactly a novice. On the other hand I expect to be your type of driver regarding my track experience, I plan to attend driving schools + some track driving for fun and practise just to know my new car better, but actually won't be at leftcoastman's or s4to335's level, cant spend that much time on the track. So OK, I think I'll leave my Step quoted and won't to the track during summer heats.

Still in doubt regarding the color. I'd like to have jet-black, but I'm affraid a black car will be a hell on earth on he track 'cuz of heat with AC turned off. I'll see, still have time enough to change it, my car will go to production in Feb.

Thx for your post, Bama335

Julius

EDIT: Don't wanna hi-jack this thread, started a new one: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97607

[leftcoastman]

Originally Posted by Bama335

Judec: you can track the step, it just depends on what level of tracking you aspire to - leftcoast is driving alot harder, faster and much better than my talent allows

I ran Barber two weeks ago in my step, and didn't have any problems at all with cooling and the step. Sessions were around 25 mins, to speeds around 100 mph. Ambient temp around 65 deg

As I'm more the three times a year "drivers event" type, I'm not too worried. If I wanted to get to his level, I'd be alot more concerned with temps

The step was always in the right gear, which helped me work towards the right line. That said, I'm in the novice class, and to hang with Vipers and Atoms would require more car and way more skills on my part

Me ain't no Schumaker, but thank you.

[ZBMW]

Really great, indepth writeup!
My experiences with a non Procede and Proceded 335i, both sport packages, were very similar. The car really needs an LSD to behave properly on a track and the stock RFT's are very competent, considering their primary duty is street use.
I also thought adjustable shocks might help, but haven't seen any reports confirming this.

[JoeT]

Originally Posted by leftcoastman

Tires

Having corded the shoulders on two sets of fronts and one set of rear (inner edge, surprisingly), I decided to get some proper race rubber. Given the inability to apply power on corner exit, I decided to try to get as much entry/apex speed as possible. With the 225's, any attempts at that would result that in horrendous groaning that we all know as understeer.

So the goal was to stuff as much tire in front as possible.

If the stock vehicle understeers.... and you added more tire to the front (without adding more traction to the rear).... didn't you just make the problem worse? (by defeating the factory stagger)

[leftcoastman]

Originally Posted by JoeT

If the stock vehicle understeers.... and you added more tire to the front (without adding more traction to the rear).... didn't you just make the problem worse? (by defeating the factory stagger)

Heh?

Understeer is when you turn the wheel and you under...steer, meaning that your front end doesn't have enough grip (relative to the rear) to redirect your vehicle where you want it to go and therefore it instead plows forward.

[JoeT]

oops, other tricks to increase traction at the rear could include softening up the rear a bit (depending on the surface you are running on)

[OC Guy]

Originally Posted by JoeT

If the stock vehicle understeers.... and you added more tire to the front (without adding more traction to the rear).... didn't you just make the problem worse? (by defeating the factory stagger)

Other way around.

Great write-up leftcoastman. I enjoyed it and can't wait for the vids..

[Park2670]

I run a non staggered setup for my track days to lessen the understeer, and to also have the ability to rotate since the front tires take a beating. I find the car is a bit more neutral.

[S4to335]

Originally Posted by leftcoastman

Me ain't no Schumaker, but thank you.

Me neither.