Cockroach Individual M3 3/10 COTA!! Limit Testin the Daily

[samthejam]

So I went to spectate Nascar at COTA this past weekend, since I'll be there next weekend remember how to get there and also enjoy Nascar.

I only really took videos of the nascar part so these are the only pics I have from that weekend really.
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

Fairly uneventful, went and enjoyed that and helped my friend finish up his engine swap into his frs. First time working on a LS but we got it running that night didn't home until like 2am.

The only hiccup to note with the M3 was, the ABS light was coming and going. Could key cycle it and I'd have ABS again. Indicative of an ABS sensor.

Next morning I scanned it,
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

Sure enough it is the LF sensor. So off to the yard I went. I was also able to find a better but still not correct passenger arm rest, spare GM5 and a depo rear tailight thing.

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

You can change it without jacking the car up! AlSo I did that in a friends driveway, I overfilled the oil a hair when I did the change and he had a thing to suck the extra out. So I did both items there. His jacks weren't low car friendly but we made it work. The old sensor appears to be aftermarket it had no correct things to hold it down.

Next day Monday, I had the Monday off for some government paperwork I needed to take care of. So I got new tires mounted, the Montero didn't start so loaded them in the E28. Also got the alignment checked at another place because it was quicker, everything was exactly where it should be so they didn't charge me anything. It was nice to sanity check my alignment work on the other machine. Holy shit do tires make a difference. I knew the others were heat cycled out but man is it always such a change.

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr


Than I gave it a much deserved wash. I hate Tire Shine but the car wash applies it by default so whatever.

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

[samthejam]

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

Despite leaving about 2.5 hours away from COTA, it's a an intimidating place and I have always made an excuse to not go. This time I didn't know I had a car that could take it, but man was it hard on the M3.


It was a good weekend and car got home in one piece.


Saturday it was running to 3/4 for water temp. So I guess it needs a rad. I have never seen this thing go over half on track before, it was only about 85F. I had heater on full blast and it was holding there. My dads car was always at half, I want to make some effort to get that temp gauge down for the 90+ degree track events.

The stupid sunroof panel from my dads old car kept falling out, coupled with me being worried about the gauge AND really struggling through turn 13-16 it was a bad time. My instructor experience was quite stressful. I couldn't break past a 2:38.

Luckily, we got rain. Which brought cooler temps for everything and I learn a lot quicker in the rain. So I was able to figure out what the car liked and the surface here isn't fucked like MSR so could practice dry line in the wet.


Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr


This set me up for the next morning. I stayed in San Marco, so like a 45 min drive from the track.
After a decent night sleep, and the things I learned in the rain. My pace picked up significantly Sunday by 2-3 seconds average but with the cold temps in the morning I was able to see a 2:34 on the laptimer. Goal was a 2:35.

Which isn’t totally correct since the start finish was in the wrong spot but it’s still a 2:35 if you hand time it at regular start finish.

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

With my pace having picked up my brakes were struggling. Pad started disappearing quite quickly. I will need to add cooling. The RF shock also Sunday was creating some really odd shake in the wheel when unloaded in long right handers as well as just making the car handle odd. So there goes my PFC 83s I really liked.

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr




So I guess it's time for the old GC's to put in some service, use them until the blow as well.

Action Items for next time:
- Get COTA added to my Aim Solo
- figure out front shocks
- genuine OE rad, or maybe Koyo (research if they are good)
- Add Brake Ducts/Cooling (deflectors?)
- Drive better.

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

[WestBankM4]

Great thread, the car has come a long way to make it onto the track reliably thus far.