2nd Track Review

[CanAutM3]

I just did my first event of the season. This is sort of our "spring warmup" event for our club going to the relatively short and slow Autodrome St-Eustache track near Montreal before heading to the "big boyz" tracks for the rest of the season .

This time, my car was dressed up in its track gear with NT01 tires in 275/35R18 size mounted on Apex EC-7 18x10ET25 wheels and proper Pagid RS29 pads installed at all four corners. For my first time at the track with the car, I drove it straight from the dealer to the track, so it was on the stock tires and brakes. See here for my first review.

Still completely happy with the car . It performed flawlessly all day. Went straight to DSC off, the chassis is so well balanced and predictable, it is a real charm to drive. The brakes were rock solid and confidence inspiring. No fade or shudder after the end of the day, as expected with proper track pads.

I am relatively happy with my square setup. Car is well balanced and getting even wear. The track was very dirty and it was relatively cool, so it sometimes felt like the car could benefit from more rear traction. I'll reserve final judgment once I head for a faster and cleaner track. As an interresting tidbit, driving to the track on the NT01s, I immediately noticed how much more steering feel and feedback I was getting. The steering became so much more alive.

Coming out of the slow 2nd gear bus-stop, I could get the rear wiggly shifting into 3rd gear (the car is not entirely straight when shifting up at that spot). Nothing alarming but sure made things exciting . Let's just say I left my marks on the track .

I used the Sport EDC setting since ASE is a very bumpy track. The car would get skittish under braking in some corners when using Sport+. The suspension soaked up the bumps very well keeping the car nice and planted.

The F8X does need more camber up front, but clearly not as much as the E9X or E46 did. Temperatures across the tires were not that off. I am guessing -2.0~2.5 should be good. I hope I'll get my camber plates installed in time for the next event in early May.

Really enjoying the car

[Onewheeldrive]

Nice review! I'll be heading to my first HPDE with my M4 this weekend. Stock wheels, tires and brakes, but ESS piggyback tune. Should be pretty slippery! Do you buy track insurance?

[FTS]

Glad you are enjoying the car on track as I do too

Another note I wonder if you have similar experience is oil, coolant, DCT temps all seem to be in check, no issues thus far, but I am sure I am not pushing to limits just yet, still quite encouraging.

What do you think of initial turn in with the NT01s, any laziness at all? I feel there is a slight - fractions of a sec - reaction delay from my steering input to physical turn in.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by FTS

Glad you are enjoying the car on track as I do too

Another note I wonder if you have similar experience is oil, coolant, DCT temps all seem to be in check, no issues thus far, but I am sure I am not pushing to limits just yet, still quite encouraging.

What do you think of initial turn in with the NT01s, any laziness at all? I feel there is a slight - fractions of a sec - reaction delay from my steering input to physical turn in.

Oil temperature stayed at the ~95decC mark and did not budge the whole day. Same experience as my first track event last year. But it was a rather cool day, looking forward to see how it will behave on hot days. I am very confident though.

I find the turn in fairly decent. Better and more nimble than my E92 was without the camber plates. Adding more camber up front will likely improve the turn in response, but there is nothing for me to complain about.

Keep in mind that you are coming from a 911. Those cars have the center of gravity much closer to the rear axle thus reducing the yaw polar moment of inertia and making the car easier to pivot. With the center if gravity farther forward, the F8X takes more effort to pivot.

[gthal]

I'm jealous My first day isn't until June... there is still SNOW on the track here!!!

[JTO24]

Nice review! That wheel set-up seems to be a great way to go. I wonder how 265/285 would work out.

[MasterC17]

Originally Posted by FTS

Glad you are enjoying the car on track as I do too

Another note I wonder if you have similar experience is oil, coolant, DCT temps all seem to be in check, no issues thus far, but I am sure I am not pushing to limits just yet, still quite encouraging.

What do you think of initial turn in with the NT01s, any laziness at all? I feel there is a slight - fractions of a sec - reaction delay from my steering input to physical turn in.

I was pushing the car to its limits at NHMS on a 77 degree day and oil temp never budged. Cooling system in this car is fantastic.

[MaynardZed]

Originally Posted by MasterC17

I was pushing the car to its limits at NHMS on a 77 degree day and oil temp never budged. Cooling system in this car is fantastic.

How are you guys checking oil temps? Is there someplace on iDrive to check it, or do you have aftermarket gauges?

[Gearhead999s]

Originally Posted by MaynardZed

How are you guys checking oil temps? Is there someplace on iDrive to check it, or do you have aftermarket gauges?

That is your oil temp gauge on the right side of your gauges.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by MaynardZed

How are you guys checking oil temps? Is there someplace on iDrive to check it, or do you have aftermarket gauges?

Oil temp is displayed to the right of the Tacho. Look at the icon in the picture below. Water temp is not displayed in the standard cluster.

[Mandi90TT]

Originally Posted by MaynardZed

How are you guys checking oil temps? Is there someplace on iDrive to check it, or do you have aftermarket gauges?

Recommend Awron for actual oil temp numbers (and actual water temp, as well). Actually recommend Awron gauge for a very useful OEM-looking gauge.


Thanks for the track review, really looking forward to getting my M4 on the track this summer. Just installed a rear hitch so I can pull my small trailer with my track tires and toolkit. I know, I know, the hitch haters will hate it, but that's life.

[dk38]

Did you follow Pagid's rather involved bedding procedure for the pads?

[CanAutM3]

Not really

I did some bedding though, but not the extensive procedure they recommend.

Pads performed flawlessly

[dk38]

Ah, that's good to know. I have only used Carbotech pads in the past and their recommended bedding procedure was more straightforward and can be done before heading to the track. Are you planning to swap back to stock pads for street driving?

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by dk38

Ah, that's good to know. I have only used Carbotech pads in the past and their recommended bedding procedure was more straightforward and can be done before heading to the track. Are you planning to swap back to stock pads for street driving?

So far so good, they aren't too noisy. I have not gotten any squeal yet. I do get some slap between forward and reverse brake application, but I can live with that. Garbage truck squeal, not so much .

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by Onewheeldrive

Nice review! I'll be heading to my first HPDE with my M4 this weekend. Stock wheels, tires and brakes, but ESS piggyback tune. Should be pretty slippery! Do you buy track insurance?

Personally, I think with stock tires you are taking on risk with the piggyback tune for very little benefit since the car is traction limited in stock form.

dk38 Which carbotech are you using? I used to use the AX6 for HPDE and just put up with the squealing on the street....

OP, do you have camber plates? (not yet right?) and base brakes?

always fun to read about good times at the track

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

Personally, I think with stock tires you are taking on risk with the piggyback tune for very little benefit since the car is traction limited in stock form.

dk38 Which carbotech are you using? I used to use the AX6 for HPDE and just put up with the squealing on the street....

OP, do you have camber plates? (not yet right?) and base brakes?

always fun to read about good times at the track

No camber plates yet, they are on order though.

Base iron brakes with Pagid RS29.

This car rocks

[Gearhead999s]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

So far so good, they aren't too noisy. I have not gotten any squeal yet. I do get some slap between forward and reverse brake application, but I can live with that. Garbage truck squeal, not so much .

So far the same here with my Pagids!I have run Pagids before with no real issues as an everyday pad except for some sensitivity when they are cold.They are quite easy on the rotors.

[buildbright]

I am waiting to hear some good reviews on camber plates.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by JTO24

Nice review! That wheel set-up seems to be a great way to go. I wonder how 265/285 would work out.

For me the whole point of a square setup is to even out wear by rotating the tires front and rear to prolong their life. If I ever choose to go with a staggered setup, I will switch to 18x11 wheel in the rear shod with the 305/35R18 NT01s.

[Mandi90TT]

That would be some pretty fat rears; not sure they would fit, depending on offset of the wheels, and how big the tire actually is (as you know, some brands over/under estimate their actual size)

[MaynardZed]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Oil temp is displayed to the right of the Tacho. Look at the icon in the picture below. Water temp is not displayed in the standard cluster.

Always thought that was coolant temps, but yes that looks like an oil can symbol there. Thanks!