First HPDE in the M5

[mwlmd]

I participated in a BMW CCA HPDE event at PIR in Portland, OR today. What a great experience. Everyone was impressed at how well the M5 handled itself. Here is a one of about 37 laps I captured. More to follow.

[hsiaochinsan]

Thank for sharing. Very nice video and great driving

The E36 in front of you was very fast. I wonder how many hp that thing has.

[nugent]

that was actually a miata in front of you, no?

[johntomferg]

Very nice. Glad to see another M5 on the track.

You indicate 37 laps. I'm curious, were these in 5 lap segments or something else?

[mwlmd]

Here are some more pics and info regarding the experience.

The field was divided into 4 groups. Novice, intermediate, advanced and instructor. I was in the intermediate group. You typically don't have an instructor in the INT group but I requested one to maximize my learning experience.

The day is made up of 4 20min track sessions. It doesn't sound like much but it was plenty. The spacing also allows the cars/brakes to cool off between sessions.

The first 2 sessions I ran with the following settings: throttle-sport suspension-sport plus steering-comfort. S3. Traction control-ON

I noticed that with the throttle on sport it was more difficult to achieve smooth throttle roll on out of turns for maximum exit speed.

I also noticed that in turn 2 and turn 7 with traction control ON it was activating and preventing me from getting on the throttle exiting those turns.


The third and 4th sessions I ran in throttle-comfort, suspension-sport plus, steering-comfort, S3, MDM mode.

This was the perfect set-up. I had full power exiting all turns and just a hint of rear drift that was easy to modulate with SMOOTH throttle application.

People were very impressed with the WOT redline shifts in S3 with Eisenmann Race exhaust. It sounded fantastic. Keep in mind all laps were done with all windows down, so there was plenty of exhaust note in the cabin.

I did not experience any significant brake fade during the 20min runs. We averaged 10 laps or so on each session including the cool down lap.


The only issue I had during the day was after the checkered flag on the FINAL lap of the day my car went into LIMP mode!!!

The temp etc looked fine so I was not sure what the issue was. I drove around the track in LIMP mode at 39 mph (LOL) with the whole group behind me and then I parked in the prep area.

I let the car cool off for 30mins and started it up. Limp mode was gone. So I left the race track and started to drive home and promptly ran out of gas!!!!

Apparently if you almost run out of gas the car goes into limp mode.

After a AAA call and a 20 minute wait I was up and running.

FYI my car said "4miles to empty" when I ran out. Next gas station was 2 miles away.

My tires were scrubbed. I was impressed at how sticky they were after each session. I don't know how much tread life I used up but it was well worth it.

Here are some more pics...

[mwlmd]

Originally Posted by hsiaochinsan

Thank for sharing. Very nice video and great driving

The E36 in front of you was very fast. I wonder how many hp that thing has.

That was 1997 M3 dedicated track car. It had BBK, suspension, dedicated track tires etc. I am not sure what mods the engine had. Super nice guy and very quick through the turns. I did pass him after I passed the yellow GT3.

[mwlmd]

Originally Posted by nugent

that was actually a miata in front of you, no?

I can't tell if you are joking or not... but in case you are not the cars in front of me in the above video clip are silver 1997 M3 and a yellow 996 GT3.

[Rob///M5]

Congrats. Good job putting the beast out on track!

This car does NOT like being anywhere near empty. I take the gas warning light seriously. Actually, I'm surprised you started back up just fine. RPiM5's car ran out of gas and had to be towed to the dealer after refueling.

[mwlmd]

Originally Posted by johntomferg

Very nice. Glad to see another M5 on the track.

You indicate 37 laps. I'm curious, were these in 5 lap segments or something else?

This HPDE had four 20 minute run sessions. There was mot an actual specified # of laps per session.

[M54ccibo]

Awesome @mwlmd! Cool to see the M5 at a track day.

[tico12]

What did you do with the roof? Is it a wrap? Looks awesome!

[mwlmd]

Originally Posted by tico12

What did you do with the roof? Is it a wrap? Looks awesome!

3M 1080 gloss black wrap

[SANguru]

what tire pressure (hot) were you running? I had to get mine down to about 28/29 as the pyro temp was way up there after a 20 min session.

[mwlmd]

Originally Posted by SANguru

what tire pressure (hot) were you running? I had to get mine down to about 28/29 as the pyro temp was way up there after a 20 min session.

I didn't ever check the tire pressure. I assumed that if my TPMS didn't alert me to a problem then I was ok.

Perhaps I should have checked?! The tires were definitely hot and sticky after each 20min session. Like fly paper!!

[SANguru]

TPMS only measures rotational differences. Your tires will start chunking off running stock tire pressures. They need to be dropped quite a bit.

Originally Posted by mwlmd

I didn't ever check the tire pressure. I assumed that if my TPMS didn't alert me to a problem then I was ok.

Perhaps I should have checked?! The tires were definitely hot and sticky after each 20min session. Like fly paper!!

[Rob///M5]

More like wax paper for me. My first runs got very hot ~45psi. Track was really hot too, 95 degree air temps.

I reduced to about 38-39 hot and had good results.

BTW - I've noticed that the TPMS psi sensor (coded on) is pretty inaccurate. It shows about 2 psi below a hand held gauge.

[nugent]

Originally Posted by mwlmd

I didn't ever check the tire pressure. I assumed that if my TPMS didn't alert me to a problem then I was ok.

Perhaps I should have checked?! The tires were definitely hot and sticky after each 20min session. Like fly paper!!

tire pressures are key to driving dynamics, bro. it's actually the only thing we can adjust in our cars at the track to affect handling. too high or too low, the car will be very squirrelly in corners. you're trying to maximize your contact patch. you want to fine tune pressures during the day as temps change.

[ucla95]

Did you experience any lag on initial throttle tip in after an apex?

[v12]

Originally Posted by mwlmd

I participated in a BMW CCA HPDE event at PIR in Portland, OR today. What a great experience. Everyone was impressed at how well the M5 handled itself. Here is a one of about 37 laps I captured. More to follow.

Good for you!

Didn't you have a mandatory inspection done to the car prior to getting on the track?
The staff should have helped with proper tire pressure to run on etc.

Also, if you have seen this thread:http://f10.m5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=864402

How did you put-on the screen data overlay (speed, position on track, lap #, date etc.)?



@ ///RobM5: correct, some other people have reported the same, I didn't think of discussing that when I coded your car. Have you ever tried to reset the TPMS to see if it helps?

[mwlmd]

Originally Posted by SANguru

TPMS only measures rotational differences. Your tires will start chunking off running stock tire pressures. They need to be dropped quite a bit.

Good to know! I'm sure my pressures were very high. At the end of the fourth session I noticed several areas on the tires that were "chunking off".

Next time I will be an air pressure freak. Thanks for the info!

[mwlmd]

Originally Posted by ucla95

Did you experience any lag on initial throttle tip in after an apex?

When I had the car on the track with traction control on there was some throttle cut after apex due to I think dsc intervening.

In MDM mode this phenomenon was not present.

[Used2be]

Originally Posted by mwlmd

Next time I will be an air pressure freak. Thanks for the info!

My first time experience with the M5 on track and I started cold with 36F and 34R on a sunny day in the 70s, and after a couple of sessions the tires had stabilized at 41 front and rear hot just off the track. A little higher than I wanted, but I wasn't pushing the car hard and didn't even use MDM. Next time I will probably start at 34F and 32R and see what the rise to hot is then.