[bm6w]

I am participating in my first drivers ed May 9th at Thompson Speedway in CT with the Porsche Club of America. I was hoping some members with tracking experience can chime in and give some advice.

Current Set Up :

2008 335i sedan sport package 6MT

Cobb Stage 2 w/ catless DP / DCI / BMS Oil Cooler Vavle

Brand New Micheline PSS

Brand New Spark Plugs


In preparation I want to put 4 new pads on the car and also switch to some high temp brake fluid. Any good recommendations for a good street / track brake pad? Any other recommendations from you guys that I do to prep?

Thanks.

[IN54NITY]

Cool Carbons, they are a hybrid pad. You can still fade them on track, but have more fade resistance than OEM. IMO, they have better modulation too. On the street, they don't have OEM brake torque (bite). Like I said, they are hybrid, so it's a compromise. Frankly I think you can just take the OEMs out... If you fade them (let your instructor know), good for you, you progressed and you can still improve. Also, I don't know how smooth Cobb is with throttle progression, but if it isn't, turn it off, otherwise your instructor may bug you about not being smooth with your right foot. Have fun.

[bm6w]

Thanks for your input. I will look into cool carbons. They sound like a good street / track pad.

[justpete]

FWIW I've been running Carbotech XP10 on track and street since the summer. As good as OE cold bite even in below freezing weather after sitting outside for hours. Very predictable and low noise although they will squeal a bit at times. And they're rock solid on the track, no fade, great modulation. Get the pre-broken-in option and there's no need to bed them before going on track. Just offering another option.

[IN54NITY]

http://www.ctbrakes.com/brake-compounds2.asp

Those do look good, but their site mentions it's a track pad. I personally wouldn't recommend them for street since they don't, but I'll admit to driving track pads (a lot) on street when I retire them from track use (about 5 mm), then completely retire them at 3mm. But I'm just a dude on the internet, you should follow manufacturer's recommendations (noise and dust ha ha ha).


BTW bm6w, happy reading. http://www.stoptech.com/technical-su...l-white-papers

[justpete]

Originally Posted by aleckzandr

http://www.ctbrakes.com/brake-compounds2.asp

Those do look good, but their site mentions it's a track pad. I personally wouldn't recommend them for street since they don't, but I'll admit to driving a track pads (a lot) on street when I retire them from track use (about 5 mm), then completely retire them at 3mm. But I'm just a dude on the internet, you should follow manufacturer's recommendations (noise and dust ha ha ha).


BTW bm6w, happy reading. http://www.stoptech.com/technical-su...l-white-papers

Yep, that's what they say but it's all I run, street or track. Noise is a don't care (and it's still fairly minimal) and dusting is a bit worse than stock but also a don't care (track wheels doncha know...). They outperform OE pads in every way, hot or cold. And they don't wear the rotors any more than OE as far as I can tell. The rotors were new 8K miles back when I swapped these pads in and they still look new. Stopping on the street takes very little pedal pressure so there's very little wear. Wouldn't run anything else now.

[Mavus]

Originally Posted by bm6w

I am participating in my first drivers ed May 9th at Thompson Speedway in CT with the Porsche Club of America. I was hoping some members with tracking experience can chime in and give some advice.

Current Set Up :

2008 335i sedan sport package 6MT

Cobb Stage 2 w/ catless DP / DCI / BMS Oil Cooler Vavle

Brand New Micheline PSS

Brand New Spark Plugs


In preparation I want to put 4 new pads on the car and also switch to some high temp brake fluid. Any good recommendations for a good street / track brake pad? Any other recommendations from you guys that I do to prep?

Thanks.

Get good pads as mentioned above. I use Pagid yellow. You have a bit of weight to slow down.

Also bring spare pads, engine oil, spare tire, air pump and good pressure gage, tools. A 5 gal fuel can is not a bad idea also.

I would recommend running stock tune.

Have fun!

[LaserPower]

It sounds like that you have never driven on a track before. If that's the case then it is way too early to worry about equipment. More likely it will be a struggle for you even to push a stock car to it's limit.

[StealYourFace]

Originally Posted by LaserPower

It sounds like that you have never driven on a track before. If that's the case then it is way too early to worry about equipment. More likely it will be a struggle for you even to push a stock car to it's limit.

Indeed great advise.

A 335i has more power than just about any sports car from 25 years ago.

Fresh brake fluid, brake pads that have 75% meat left- your car has 8 pads not 4 , and a good mechanical inspection from a mechanic that you trust (your chapter of the cca will give you a tech form that must be completed by a certified mechanic, rather than a shade tree mechanic).

Other than that, leave any ego you may have at home, bring your active listening skills, learn the flags before you go and most of all have fun

Also you may want to watch some youtube videos of fellow HPDEers at the track you are going too just to get familiar with the layout, and also to learn where the flag stations are before you go. Between that and knowing the flags before you go will put you ahead of the learning curve.



Enjoy, post back!!

[StealYourFace]

By the way, I just looked into the track you are going to- that's awesome! I remember reading about that place from a link on this forum (I think) a year or two ago. Glad to see it is all set. The place should be incredible.

[justpete]

Don't forget a good bright flashlight to look under the car for damage should you go off. Ask me how I know...

Why didn't I pull the wheels and look? Good question! The lugnuts were seized to the lugs, by rust I suspect. That's what I get for making it my daily during snow days I guess. Time for new lugs and lugnuts but they really ought to be replaced each season anyway.

[mike082802]

ill be there too. just some advice, you really dont need stage 2. when i did njmp last year in my fbo 135i kept it on map 1 which was i think 14.5 psi, more than enough. i have some m3 bits and koni yellows and bmw performance springs. there is a lot to learn.

[bm6w]

I am really looking forward to it!

[just_dirty]

go back to a stock tune or Stage 1 to avoid heat issues. The oil temps spike pretty easily on the stock oil cooler

I don't think you''ll need track pads for your first time out but i use the Hawk HT-10's and love them! I would definitely get upgraded brake fluid peace of mind. I use Motul RBF 660, probably overkill but it gives me confidence.

Good luck, Have Fun, and focus on your lines and smoothness speed will be a product of those two things.

[bm6w]

Thanks for the heads up. I'm actually getting a FMIC installed before the event. However I still plan on going back to stock or stage 1 to avoid heat issues.

I am running stock tire size of 225 up front and 255 in the rear...stock suspension. Been reading about spacers for improved handling. Anybody have experience with 15mm in the rear and 12mm in the front?

[3002 tii]

Either get real track pads or go stock. Any dual duty pad is going to be loud on street and have marginally better fade resistance than stock pads. OE pads usually do the job fine for your first DE. When you're ready for deeper braking then get track only pads. I do agree though you should get fresh high temp fluids, full flush not just bleed. Motul is great, Castrol even better but it's a bit pricey. And FYI don't bother running any map besides factory, you'll hit limp mode and lose half your expensive
track time.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by bm6w

Thanks for the heads up. I'm actually getting a FMIC installed before the event. However I still plan on going back to stock or stage 1 to avoid heat issues.

I am running stock tire size of 225 up front and 255 in the rear...stock suspension. Been reading about spacers for improved handling. Anybody have experience with 15mm in the rear and 12mm in the front?

Any increased handling benefit from the spacers will probably be offset by the added weight. Only run spacers if you have to, ie to get the wheels/tires to clear brakes, suspension, etc). That's just my personal opinion.

[bm6w]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

Either get real track pads or go stock. Any dual duty pad is going to be loud on street and have marginally better fade resistance than stock pads. OE pads usually do the job fine for your first DE. When you're ready for deeper braking then get track only pads. I do agree though you should get fresh high temp fluids, full flush not just bleed. Motul is great, Castrol even better but it's a bit pricey. And FYI don't bother running any map besides factory, you'll hit limp mode and lose half your expensive
track time.

interesting....

[bm6w]

1 month away from the event! I have installed a ER FMIC / Charge Pipe and BOV since my original post. I have purchased stoptech pads and having them installed this weekend.

What is idea tire pressure for the Micheline Pilot Super Sports?

[turb0mik3]

Originally Posted by bm6w

1 month away from the event! I have installed a ER FMIC / Charge Pipe and BOV since my original post. I have purchased stoptech pads and having them installed this weekend.

What is idea tire pressure for the Micheline Pilot Super Sports?

There really isn't a specific answer as it varies from driver to driver. For a beginner, I would start at around 38psi (front and rear) hot and lower it from there and gradually understand/feel the differences. Even after many track days, I can barely feel the difference between 34 and 35psi on my R888s (largely due to the fact I always have changing factors/conditions).

[kentgbr]

Switch to stock tune and use your heater to help control oil temperature.

[M3 Esq]

I drove that track last year with my 335i. I used stoptech street pads and ATE gold and it held up fine. There is one long straightaway where you have to brake down from 120 to about 40-45 to make turn 1 but it's a long straight so you get a lot of brake cooling there. The rest of the track is gas brake turn gas brake turn like autocross almost.

It's a very tight technical track so don't worry about power because you can't really use it.