[E90330iS]

Originally Posted by BMWE90

Im sure the 0-60 in 3.4 Porches are about $125k starting.

Haha I don't think the "3.4" means the time from 0-60 but the liter sizes. So maybe a 996 Carrera 5 Speed Tiptronic.

But yeah, the Carreras are superior than our cars costing almost twice as ours so I am sure performance wise we have a better deal so just have fun

[T Bone]

Originally Posted by JSpira

I'm not at all sure I agree with that. Assuming that the difference between the faster and slower cars is not, say, the magnitude of a VW Käfer v. an M3, a better driver will outdistance a crappy driver every time. Knowing when to brake, how to follow the line, and even knowing the track better (the OP mentioned that these guys are regulars) all come into play.

Remember, you can exit a corner faster only if you know how to enter it.

Sure...and it is really dependent on the track. At a local track here, a Civic / Miata can hold any supercar at bay.

[CaptOz]

Originally Posted by AndrewAZ

Just turn traction control off but leave on DSC…

Good idea Andrew. It might help make up for my lack of track experience.

Originally Posted by BzzzBom

Get an oil cooler retrofit before getting on the track!

Originally Posted by DrewKo

If you do not have the oil cooler, your car will eventually get heat soaked and you will have to give it a break or it will go into limp mode.

I am pretty sure I already have the oil cooler. I have the grill under the right front guard and my temperature gauge never reads above half way.

Originally Posted by BMWE90

….Dont try to overdo anything and end up posting "crashed my 335 today ".

Hopefully it will be “BMW holds its own against 911’s”

Originally Posted by CokerRat

Better yet, sign up for a high-performance driving school.

Brilliant. I will look into a high end driving course today. I am always open-minded to learning better car control. Who knows, it might be what I need to make up the performance difference. I'll take my camera along too.

Originally Posted by E90ice

Just have fun. I'm jealous!

Jump on a plane and join in the fun!

Cheers.

[sdiver68]

Originally Posted by tjnptel1

i wish i lived near a track

Considering I've driven 18 hours to get to a beach, your 3.5 hours to VIR doesn't seem too bad

[ATL_Architect]

Originally Posted by JSpira

I'm not at all sure I agree with that. Assuming that the difference between the faster and slower cars is not, say, the magnitude of a VW Käfer v. an M3, a better driver will outdistance a crappy driver every time. Knowing when to brake, how to follow the line, and even knowing the track better (the OP mentioned that these guys are regulars) all come into play.

Remember, you can exit a corner faster only if you know how to enter it.

Exactly. Here's my favorite example of how much difference a driver (and knowledge of the track) can make

.

[kevbh]

For what it's worth, I passed a 911 with my 325i

Ate me alive on the straights, but I gave him hell in the corners...

Good luck.

[TheAcAvenger]

Just go out there and enjoy yourself. I seriously wish we had tracks around here. Everything around here is Auto-X and trust me, the 3 was NOT built for it. It's always fun to get out there and legally beat on your car though. Just do what you can and you shouldnt be left too far behind.

[stressdoc]

Originally Posted by CokerRat

Lots of good advice above. If this day is just hot lapping, then see if you can get an experienced driver to show you the proper lines...go slow and build up your speed. Better yet, sign up for a high-performance driving school.

+10000

Do some driving schools -- BMW CCA ones are an excellent bargain.
You are the most important mod. After that, tires, really good ones like Michelin PS2s or the new Pirelli P Zeros. And then brakes, pads and fluid. PROcede is useful at the drag strip, but its not the first mod to consider for racing.

[RaptorKTM]

well i know from my experience there is no questions that with Porsche and Audi, on the track the AWD just owns, and most Porsche have cross drilled rotors and are more track oriented. on the track its not about having more power then the other necessarily its also a matter of control.

[CaptOz]

Originally Posted by kevbh

For what it's worth, I passed a 911 with my 325i

Ate me alive on the straights, but I gave him hell in the corners...

Good luck.

That is excellent Kev. Your video was inspiring. I would have thought the 911 would have had the handling edge. Perhaps you are a brilliant driver?

Cheers.

[S4to335]

Originally Posted by KenB

Your biggest problem will be your brakes. The 335 is a heavy car, BMW brakes are great for street use, but that tend to fade on the track.

That being said, who cares. Just go and have fun, if they/you are good drivers and you are on the track to improve your skills nobody will be laughing. A good driver in a Mini Cooper will smoke a 'less good' driver in a 911.

Disagree..the biggest problem is overcoming the understeer. The brakes were fine at a two day track event I went to. Getting the car to rotate will be his biggest issue. The porsches will corner way better...and depending on the experience of the porsche drivers..it may be considerably better. BTW, I am a NASA instructor, have a race license for SCCA/NASA, and teach for numerous groups out here in NorCal.

[Park2670]

I just got back from a DE with the Porche club at the MMP. I was actually passing most in my group, which was only a beginners group. But I did find my car starting to cut out a few times after it getting hot. Never got any warnings just no power after a corner. Oil temps sat around 290 entire time, and I do have the famed oil cooler. outside temps were around 85 degrees all day. By the way, running a E90 335 6 speed with stock 18s and some pirelli tires, rest of car is stock except PROcede.

[OC ///M]

CaptOz:

FWIW; you should be fine...

As a comparison, last week I was lucky enough to meet up with a guy that has a 996 GT2 with mods exceeding 600hp...

He did pull on me; especially at the top of each gear... and by the top of third gear, he was out over a car length...that P car is just awesome!

After you get Procede you will want to invest in increasing the handling and braking if you want to get serious with it IMO.

[FirstClass]

Originally Posted by gmund1948

Sorry Porsche, You have priced yourself out of the game and since I have been a Loyal fan for 30 Years and own several from 58 through 73 and a 93RSA you are the ones who lose, especially in the long run

That's like saying an Evo is a good choice because BMW priced themselves out of the game. (Except the Evo is faster than the 335i)

Originally Posted by OC kid

CaptOz:
FWIW; you should be fine...
As a comparison, last week I was lucky enough to meet up with a guy that has a 996 GT2 with mods exceeding 600hp...
He did pull on me; especially at the top of each gear... and by the top of third gear, he was out over a car length...that P car is just awesome!
After you get Procede you will want to invest in increasing the handling and braking if you want to get serious with it IMO.

600hp GT2 only pulled a CL on you? Riiiiiight.

[SC5-Charles]

not disgraced. The car is very competant and as already stated, it'll be a driver's race. Give me a Honda Civic and I'll run circles around any newbie in a supercar on a track

[OC ///M]

Originally Posted by FirstClass

600hp GT2 only pulled a CL on you? Riiiiiight.

FirstClass:

Believe what you want; I could care less.

BTW- Don't put the words: "only a car length" in my mouth. Re-read the post; I said it was out over a CL.

"The track" never allowed us to really get above 3rd gear. The driver of the P car was amazed himself and kept asking me if I was chipped and over 400 horse...he kept saying "...he could smell it..." and "...damn your car's fast..."

Genius contribution with the post though... Thanks; we're lost without you.:finger:

[ward]

the car has very little to do with it

at every track day there is some guy with a 100 hp miata that's super fast

and there's also some idiot in a turbo 911 who can't hang with a Mini cooper (non S)

take it slow and learn how to drive well and you'll beat people with much more capable cars than your 335.

[ward]

Originally Posted by FirstClass

600hp GT2 only pulled a CL on you? Riiiiiight.

you'd be surprised how amazingly slow a fast car can be with a bad driver

I've passed a supercharged roush mustang on a straight in my Z4, I guarantee I was signifigantly down on HP to him but he had no skill, and ZERO corner exit speed.

people give the car way more credit, when it's all about the driver

[OC ///M]

Originally Posted by ward

you'd be surprised how amazingly slow a fast car can be with a bad driver

I've passed a supercharged roush mustang on a straight in my Z4, I guarantee I was signifigantly down on HP to him but he had no skill, and ZERO corner exit speed.

people give the car way more credit, when it's all about the driver

^^Now that's what's called... a contribution to the forum.

Ward: I've been reading some of your posts trying to figure out why everyone was missing you while on your hiatus...

It's good to have you back.

[S4to335]

Originally Posted by KenB

Fair, but it sounds like he doesn’t have any/much track experience and I would be willing to bet that he will be over-braking and smoking his brakes. Also the track is a great opportunity to feel how much you can steer with the throttle.

Define over braking? Braking late? Beginners usually brake real early for a turn..and not very hard...sometimes very abruptly. I would greatly be surprised if someone got these brakes to smoke. The exception would be at some place like Thunderhill, Buttonwillow, or Willow Springs when it is 105 degrees out. Yes, I have gotten brakes to smoke a number of times..but I was braking real hard and real late..really trying to drive hard. I guess it is possible..but not probable in my opinion. But I have been proven wrong before.

[bartman32]

Originally Posted by ward

you'd be surprised how amazingly slow a fast car can be with a bad driver

I've passed a supercharged roush mustang on a straight in my Z4, I guarantee I was signifigantly down on HP to him but he had no skill, and ZERO corner exit speed.

people give the car way more credit, when it's all about the driver

Completely agree. A couple of years ago I was at the California speedway BMW CCA driving school. I was out there in my 197hp e46 328i. One session I was out there beating a guy in a Z8 and thinking I was on top of the world. :rocks: Next session I'm out an instructor was kicking my ass in a stock Mini. Now that's humbling.

But those drivings schools are a TON of fun and you learn SO much about how to drive. You come out of it with a smile and having learned a lot and a safer driver to boot. Assuming you listen to your instructors.

[ward]

It was absolutly hillarious, one of my last trackdays

there was a guy in a 911 turbo S, who swore up and down that a stock mini coper (non S) "just had more grip" than he did in his 911

the 911 was holding the cooper up around the corners, then flying down the straights keeping the less powerfull car from passing.

the poor cooper driver ended up flashing high beams at the 911 to let him pass and we got to have a nice discussion about everybody's feelings at the driver's meeting