[SROC3]

You see, I'm planning to go to Willow in May for a track-day event (a drive around for $120/day) and was wondering......will my brakes fade? Are my tires too crummy for the track? Will my clutch get affected (assuming I drive fine and do not subject the car to tons of driveline shock by shifting like a noob)?

I was thinking that I should get some ceramic brake pads. Is this even necessary? I mean I know the M3 would be most likely ok, but I have doubts about the cars "trackability" without upgrades.

Kindly lend your thoughts o great forumers........

[Lost Cosmonaut]

Any car can track, some just do it better than others

The brakes of the 335i felt pretty good to me, and that's coming from an aftermarket brake whore. I would suggest some slotted rotors at the least to bleed heat, and aggressive pads if you're worried about it. Otherwise everything else should be OK. Just make sure your tires are aired up correctly and you have plenty of oil and don't push the car any further than you are comfortable with.

But know that any time you drive your car hard like that there will be "abnormal" wear. Even shifting 100% perfect, your clutch is going to see extra wear, and your tires, brake pads, etc. will wear fast. Just know that and be aware of it.

- LC

[teknochild]

335 is not a very good track car, it will get hot very fast, the brakes will fade and the lack of LSD meens it shouldnt be on the track in the first place

if you absolutly have to your going to go slow or your going to burn through tires pretty fast


but if your asking should you really be going to a track?

[010101]

Originally Posted by teknochild

the lack of LSD meens it shouldnt be on the track in the first place

This is true for the 3600 lb 335i, but there are a few cars that do just fine on the track with no limited slip diff. The Elise and Cayman are two of them. All things being equal a limited slip diff is better than an open one, but not essential for the track for all cars.

[Evo8MRto335I]

Originally Posted by SROC3

You see, I'm planning to go to Willow in May for a track-day event (a drive around for $120/day) and was wondering......will my brakes fade? Are my tires too crummy for the track? Will my clutch get affected (assuming I drive fine and do not subject the car to tons of driveline shock by shifting like a noob)?

I was thinking that I should get some ceramic brake pads. Is this even necessary? I mean I know the M3 would be most likely ok, but I have doubts about the cars "trackability" without upgrades.

Kindly lend your thoughts o great forumers........

Great question, I am very curious to see how the brakes would do and how the transmission would stand to higher temps.
On my first test drive on a 4 door sedan with steptronic the brakes were as good and as strong as my Evos(Brembos fitted) however I only did a couple of big braking, I truly don't know how much fade these oem BMW brakes would do.

As per the transmission, I think the steptronic is going to be a great option. I always had manual gearbox cars but this BMW steptronic car is a very promising choice.

Carlos

[PresaMat]

I beg to differ. I have run my 335 on a track in wet weather (upto 65mph) on the track. It was rather warm out. Hot lapped for maybe 2+ hours. It held up very well did not get too hot... was warm but nothing bad. I stayed in secound most of the time but it was just fine. It would be great to have an LSD but with the current suspension setup i dont know how huge of a difference it would make. A little racier suspention and the LSD and the car will be great. But the car runs JUST fine without the LSD if you have enough experience.

[AP2suzuka]

Originally Posted by teknochild

335 is not a very good track car, it will get hot very fast, the brakes will fade and the lack of LSD meens it shouldnt be on the track in the first place

if you absolutly have to your going to go slow or your going to burn through tires pretty fast


but if your asking should you really be going to a track?

Sessions are no longer than 20 minutes a piece. Most people don't go the full session as it is physically tiring Enough time for your car to cool off.

For a first timer, brake fade will not likely occur. However, I would at least change the brake fluid to a higher boiling point fluid such as ATE Super Blue.

Porsche Cayman's don't have LSD's either and they're pretty track worthy

You're going to burn tires regardless what kind of car you have

[AP2suzuka]

LSD on the Lotus Elise is optional, and it's a VERY worth track car

[AP2suzuka]

That being said, don't be scared to track your E92 I will be tracking my E90 if I ever get one

[Bubbarossa]

Take the advice from the people that have actually driver their 335s on the track...not assumptions.

[010101]

Originally Posted by AP2suzuka

LSD on the Lotus Elise is optional, and it's a VERY worth track car

I know... but the vast majority I've seen on dealer lots do not have this option and a lot of them get tracked anyway. I have driven the non limited slip version hard and unless you are at the very limit it's really hard to notice it lacks one. A car that is as light as that one and has as high of a limit doesn't really *need* one unless you are really really pushing it on the track. That said... like I said before.. all things being equal a limited slip diff is better than an open one.

[choatie88]

How about tracking an E93? I know, I know, it's not meant for that, but I can't resist at least trying a track day...

[jbake]

you can track any car, like it was said before, some will just be better than others. if it is just a once a year or so type thing, stock wil be more than fine considering it is a BMW. You have to make adjustments to almost all cars to make them a "track" car, as most of the track car qualities are not ones you want in a daily driver

[teknochild]

Originally Posted by AP2suzuka

LSD on the Lotus Elise is optional, and it's a VERY worth track car

a car that stays flat as an asian girls chest (its joke) doesnt need an lsd as much as the 335

[2e9x's]

I tracked my e46 (all stock) and it was great! I have also tracked an X3 (also at WSIR and also all stock) and even its brakes were fine. You should be fine. BMW builds a pretty solid car. Also, I didn't find Willow to be that hard on brakes (unlike the infield of CA Speedway).

Just be intellectually ready to replace your tires. A track day can destroy stock tires quickly. Especially with stock alignment.

I wouldn't worry so much about a LSD. If you drive smoothly and consistently and don't hammer the throttle looking for that ultimate last 1/10th of a second of lap time, you should not even notice the lack of LSD. Frankly, if you drive really smoothly you might not even notice DSC intervening.

Have a great time! Post videos please!

[Sunstealer]

The BMW Performance Driving Center is now using 335i's for their driving schools. I would say that is a pretty good indication.

[SP330]

The 335i continues BMW's tradition of making luxobarges with over boosted steering to make you think it handles good since 2001.

No LSD + the brakes will be good for one hard stop then they will fade faster than Sir-Mix-Alot + the 3,600 lbs you'll be husking around + vague clutch and shifter = anything but a track-ready car

And to the potential E93 owner: I really hope you're kidding.

Some ultimate driving machine.

[picus]

I'm interested in the comments about brake fade. I've seen a lot of people claim the 335i's brakes won't fade. I did notice some fade. It was not nearly as pronounced as my last car, but it was there.

I missed LSD a lot less than I thought I would, for what it's worth. If I were tracking seriously I'd add a good bbk before LSD, although I'd probably do both eventually.

[Jaws]

Originally Posted by SP330

The 335i continues BMW's tradition of making luxobarges with over boosted steering to make you think it handles good since 2001.

No LSD + the brakes will be good for one hard stop then they will fade faster than Sir-Mix-Alot + the 3,600 lbs you'll be husking around + vague clutch and shifter = anything but a track-ready car

And to the potential E93 owner: I really hope you're kidding.

Some ultimate driving machine.

The clutch and gearbox are definitely not vague. There aren't many $40k cars that are more track ready off the lot, except the S2K.

[2e9x's]

Originally Posted by SP330

The 335i continues BMW's tradition of making luxobarges with over boosted steering to make you think it handles good since 2001.

No LSD + the brakes will be good for one hard stop then they will fade faster than Sir-Mix-Alot + the 3,600 lbs you'll be husking around + vague clutch and shifter = anything but a track-ready car

And to the potential E93 owner: I really hope you're kidding.

Some ultimate driving machine.

It is always helpful for people to evaluate the background of the person rendering opinions. How many times have you actually taken your car to the track?

[CoralRedPlz]

Originally Posted by SP330

The 335i continues BMW's tradition of making luxobarges with over boosted steering to make you think it handles good since 2001.

No LSD + the brakes will be good for one hard stop then they will fade faster than Sir-Mix-Alot + the 3,600 lbs you'll be husking around + vague clutch and shifter = anything but a track-ready car

And to the potential E93 owner: I really hope you're kidding.

Some ultimate driving machine.

zzzzzzzzzz.

how many times are you going to post this?

the car is obviously not an elise or even a cayman, thats not its purpose. its a great all around car that can certainly be alot of fun on a track for people who havent formerly tracked their cars. hell, even for some who have.

if people had wanted a lightweight one trick track car, they would go for an evo or a lightweight m3. (or do you have any other suggestions for cars with leather, nav, power everything, sunroof etc etc etc for 50k that hits 0-60 under 5, handles great (car editors words, not mine))


and someone already mentioned it, but bmw themselves are using 335's on the track for the performance delivery. customers there drive the cars pretty hard, and they are autos to boot!

[010101]

Originally Posted by Jaws

The clutch and gearbox are definitely not vague. There aren't many $40k cars that are more track ready off the lot, except the S2K.

evo, sti, elise, rx8, 'vette, civic si, 350z, cooper s, gti