I might have proof of at least one of those somewhere
(I jest (sn) )
I'll pay handsomely for your continued silence
Bought an old BMW M3, filled with regret...
- Thread starter mrk
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I'll pay handsomely for your continued silence
I had an issue with the washers in my old 330ci in that when they were used they'd leak fluid constantly until the bottle was empty. Turned out it's a common fault and a problem with the telescopic bit that the nozzle attaches onto.
Anyway, in other news, I took my Eventuri out for a clean yesterday. Ever since I had it there was always an annoying hesitation at about 2krpm that only started after I put the Eventuri in, which I bought second hand. I just figured it was because it was a non OEM product that was the reason for this hesitation. As it turns out, all I needed to do was clean it out! I hoovered the inside of the filter very well and got out loads of crap that wasn't obvious, then I shook/banged it and got more crap out. The end result is that the car drives massively more smoothly than it did before.
Anyway, in other news, I took my Eventuri out for a clean yesterday. Ever since I had it there was always an annoying hesitation at about 2krpm that only started after I put the Eventuri in, which I bought second hand. I just figured it was because it was a non OEM product that was the reason for this hesitation. As it turns out, all I needed to do was clean it out! I hoovered the inside of the filter very well and got out loads of crap that wasn't obvious, then I shook/banged it and got more crap out. The end result is that the car drives massively more smoothly than it did before.
Gives me a moment to clean it out again I guess as well.
But all factory Xenons have washers in Europe!
edit* High powered xenons that is, low power ones don't need them.
As with many things with mot's it is all down to the wording. The washer jets have to work where fitted. If they are not fitted they can not be tested.
But all factory Xenons have washers in Europe!
edit* High powered xenons that is, low power ones don't need them.
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Got the front brake replacements yesterday, they were already refurbished by Big Red. The seller of these upgraded to AP BBK, so sold these for £205.
My only gripe now is that the rear calipers are black, and I much prefer this Titanium-ish colour.
MOT and oil service on Monday + health check of all underside components. Car will be trackday prepped then
My only gripe now is that the rear calipers are black, and I much prefer this Titanium-ish colour.
MOT and oil service on Monday + health check of all underside components. Car will be trackday prepped then
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Just had 2 front brake pads replaced, new brake fluid, 2 new rear springs, MOT and a seized Caliper on the passenger side of the car (front) replaced with a reconditioned one.
Total price for all and Labour £600, what you guys think? I thought it was a bit much.....
Total price for all and Labour £600, what you guys think? I thought it was a bit much.....
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Ok thanks mrk, spring/summer is coming soon! March is usually a nice time to get the roof down
I was on PFC Z Rated pads all round before my front calipers were replaced due to sticking. I now have OEM pads on the front, and always had OEM fluid (Pagic dot4).
I will be getting PFC Z Rated on the front again, and upgrading to dot 5.1 fluid. This should solve the brake fade issues, as I experienced fade on track after 3 laps of heavy braking from 116MPH before the end of the final long straight at the Autodrome SEN circuit.
Standard fluid and pads just can't handle the heat generated by high continuous high speed braking like that. I already have stainless steel hoses, and the OEM discs are fine. So just front pads and fluid to swap.
Yeah, it's amazing what pads and fluid can do. Although I would forget DOT 5.1 as it's only marginally better than a standard DOT4. The best thing to do would be to go for some ATE Typ 200 DOT4 which is a very good brake fluid. Even though it's still a DOT 4 fluid, it's specs outweigh that of a 5.1 fluid and it is tried and tested on road and track. The best bit is that it only costs about 12 quid from eBay for a litre container, which should be more than enough.
I didn't realise you'd already been on track with the M3. How did it go? Got any pics?
I'll go for that fluid then thanks!
Oh and yes indeed! Was last weekend, had a blast.
My tuition session wasn't until the afternoon, so the morning and midday laps were mostly feelers, just getting the hang of my first track experience, use headphones for this one:
Tuition session:
A spinning E30
And brake fade
When I got my M3 it had Performance Friction disc, PF08 pads if I remember and RBF600 fluid. I was driving harder than you and in general the car did not suffer fade at all, the only main issue on that setup though good was simply a case of it was not good enough. The M3 stock braking system is pretty damn poor for the kind of car it is, though on the road it just about copes unless you drive like a nutter at which point you can get fade on the road as well on stock pads.
The BBK from AP, Alcon are the best, also the most expensive but they transform the braking, more modulation, more feel and tonnes more stopping power if your tyres can handle it without triggering ABS.
Get the pads out buddy if you want to do more track days. I run XP10 in the front and XP8 in the rear, the stopping power pulls your face off and they have zero cold bite issue, work immediately and I have no squealing or squeaking issues they are silent. The downside is the brake dust is aweful and it really bites into the alloys, can't clean it off the wheels for trying now after some track work, its baked on.
Yeah imagine if there was no run-off area!
Gibbo yeah the stock single piston brakes are the weakest link. BMW could have at least put super blue (or equiv) fluid and some proper pads on but they didn't. Even the CSL retains the same configuration, just slightly bigger discs and rear calipers...
I don't plan on doing many track days, it's a convertible after all, but having done one, I wouldn't mind doing one once every couple of years, open pit lane of course as it's just fun and convenient.
Still, I think it handled itself well, and I was able to take corners harder and with more confidence as the day progressed, just let down by brake fade by that point!
I'm not certain, but I think it was Ken.
Gibbo yeah the stock single piston brakes are the weakest link. BMW could have at least put super blue (or equiv) fluid and some proper pads on but they didn't. Even the CSL retains the same configuration, just slightly bigger discs and rear calipers...
I don't plan on doing many track days, it's a convertible after all, but having done one, I wouldn't mind doing one once every couple of years, open pit lane of course as it's just fun and convenient.
Still, I think it handled itself well, and I was able to take corners harder and with more confidence as the day progressed, just let down by brake fade by that point!
I'm not certain, but I think it was Ken.
Don't want to talk about the stock CSL brakes, absolutely pathetic by BMW, PATHETIC I say, a car designed for the track and they fitted that junk to it. Apart from that CSL was perfection!
If your not doing more, just stick with stock pads unless they have let you down on the road, as the dust is a lot more friendly.
But yes the single piston setup is out of place on the M3, not just from an ability standpoint but also from a feel point of view.
Still you got to have fun, though could see how early you were braking you did not have much confidence in the brakes even before the fade issue.
Yeah I know what they are like braking at speed on the road, so was treading with caution on track 
I think I'll probably had an early brake fluid flush in the near future and go for the ATE stuff Gaygle mentioned above. That will improve things under pressure considerably at least.
I think I'll probably had an early brake fluid flush in the near future and go for the ATE stuff Gaygle mentioned above. That will improve things under pressure considerably at least.
Yeah OEM pads/fluid just doesn't work on track - they're not designed for that kind of stuff and they go well out of their heat range very quickly. That fade though - I've had fade on track before with my 335i, but never anything like that!
I was going to put mine on track when the weather clears up a bit. I have OEM road pads in there at the moment, but was going to stick with them as the aluminium 6 pot calipers dissipate heat so much better than the standard cast iron ones which store all of that heat inside them, and heat up the pad/disc/fluid.
If you didn't want to go for the PFC Z ones (they're quite expensive IIRC), try having a look at the Mintex M1144 pads. I have them on the Mini and they are absolutely stunning lap after lap - whilst also retaining the OEM feel and cold bite.
- I've had fade on track before with my 335i, but never anything like that!I was going to put mine on track when the weather clears up a bit. I have OEM road pads in there at the moment, but was going to stick with them as the aluminium 6 pot calipers dissipate heat so much better than the standard cast iron ones which store all of that heat inside them, and heat up the pad/disc/fluid.
If you didn't want to go for the PFC Z ones (they're quite expensive IIRC), try having a look at the Mintex M1144 pads. I have them on the Mini and they are absolutely stunning lap after lap - whilst also retaining the OEM feel and cold bite.
There are two long straights where speeds exceed 100MPH, imagine braking before the corners on each one from 10AM to 3PM with 20min~ pit stop every 2-3 laps
The PFC pads were not too expensive, £100 or so for the front pair from Evolve.
The PFC pads were not too expensive, £100 or so for the front pair from Evolve.
