1st drive, FTD 335i

E30_335i · 07-13-2014, 07:18 PM

New to the E90 end of things. Just purchased a black 2011 335i last week, with sport suspension and very little else, option wise. The Bridgestone RFT's were on the car briefly, only the time it took for TireRack to deliver a set of Pilot SS's. I've been Autocrossing, and Rallycrossing for years with the Tennessee Valley SCCA, in a dual purpose '87 325e that is a class winning car, no matter what class I run it in. But, middle of the summer, no a/c, no insulation, and sitting in the sun waiting to run, its pure torture.

So I took my newly acquired 335i up to an autocross in Tennessee today, took a couple runs at 90% to get a feel for it, then started to push it for the other 4 runs. Impressive showing. FTD for stock classes, and pretty close to the XP drivers times. Sitting in line waiting to run, a/c going, nice comfy Schroth Rallye harness, Green Day rocking... I like it.

CJ421 · 07-14-2014, 12:24 AM

You rotated the car nicely. Cool vid!

MadToy · 07-14-2014, 03:26 PM

Thanks for the video! I'll be taking my new to me 2011 black 335i Autocrossing this weekend. Were you in DS mode, or manual shift mode?

E30_335i · 07-14-2014, 06:24 PM

Well nice car then MadToy. I had traction and stability turned off, selector in sport. Launched it in M1, let it upshift on its own. I would shift back to M1 on paddle just as I was about to release the brakes and initiate turn in, then let it shift on its own again for 2nd coming out of a tight feature. Two runs and I no longer went for the missing clutch.

MadToy · 07-14-2014, 07:05 PM

Ha! Same exact car, complete with the blacked out kidney grills

Thanks for the explanation. This will only be my 2nd time AXing, first with this car. I'll try to use the same technique.

acj75 · 07-15-2014, 03:31 AM

Nice work. The 335i is a surprisingly (to most) good autoX car

spencers · 07-15-2014, 09:51 AM

Wow, that course is TINY!

E30_335i · 07-15-2014, 01:36 PM

Yes it is tiny. Just a little car club, but a great place to T&T cars.

M3 Esq · 07-15-2014, 10:36 PM

Nice. Looks like fun.

E30_335i · 09-17-2014, 12:52 PM

Testing Bilstein HD's and Hankook R-S2's this past Sunday.

EJ_3 · 09-17-2014, 03:13 PM

Great run, take it you enjoyed the struts and tires.

E30_335i · 09-17-2014, 03:20 PM

Much better control. Also had just installed the Bavarian Autosport Ultimate brake rotor set, and Cool Carbon street/track pads. Took 3 runs to fully explore the new braking capability, then 1 second dropped right off my times.

E90Mack · 09-19-2014, 12:03 PM

Great thread-I will be following what the OP does with this car and how the auto crossing goes

E30_335i · 09-21-2014, 07:42 PM

Todays 2nd place finish in STU. Need a bit more front bar. Stock springs work well paired with the Bilstein HD's, especially at this old airport venue with three different pavement types (one disintegrating rapidly). Amazing traction in the rear. The start line was all gravely, and most cars were coming off the line and just spinning the first 50ft. My car just took off without any wheel spin. Yea Auto.

07-13-2014, 07:18 PM	#1
E30_335i Second Lieutenant 169 Rep 212 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Huntsville, AL iTrader: (0)	1st drive, FTD 335i New to the E90 end of things. Just purchased a black 2011 335i last week, with sport suspension and very little else, option wise. The Bridgestone RFT's were on the car briefly, only the time it took for TireRack to deliver a set of Pilot SS's. I've been Autocrossing, and Rallycrossing for years with the Tennessee Valley SCCA, in a dual purpose '87 325e that is a class winning car, no matter what class I run it in. But, middle of the summer, no a/c, no insulation, and sitting in the sun waiting to run, its pure torture. So I took my newly acquired 335i up to an autocross in Tennessee today, took a couple runs at 90% to get a feel for it, then started to push it for the other 4 runs. Impressive showing. FTD for stock classes, and pretty close to the XP drivers times. Sitting in line waiting to run, a/c going, nice comfy Schroth Rallye harness, Green Day rocking... I like it.
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07-14-2014, 12:24 AM	#2
CJ421 Brigadier General 1881 Rep 4,193 Posts Drives: BMW G80 M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: PA, USA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2024 BMW M3 Sedan [9.67]	You rotated the car nicely. Cool vid! __________________ 2024 BMW M3 Sedan Frozen Pure Grey II/Fjord Blue, 6MT Past: 2021 Z4 M40i Frozen Grey II/Black Alcantara \| 2017 F30 340i Mineral Gray/Coral Red, 6MT \| 2011 E92 335i Le Mans Blue/Black, 6MT
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07-14-2014, 03:26 PM	#3
MadToy Second Lieutenant 80 Rep 270 Posts Drives: '18 340i Xdrive Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Mooresville, NC iTrader: (1)	Thanks for the video! I'll be taking my new to me 2011 black 335i Autocrossing this weekend. Were you in DS mode, or manual shift mode?
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07-14-2014, 06:24 PM	#4
E30_335i Second Lieutenant 169 Rep 212 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Huntsville, AL iTrader: (0)	Well nice car then MadToy. I had traction and stability turned off, selector in sport. Launched it in M1, let it upshift on its own. I would shift back to M1 on paddle just as I was about to release the brakes and initiate turn in, then let it shift on its own again for 2nd coming out of a tight feature. Two runs and I no longer went for the missing clutch. Last edited by E30_335i; 07-14-2014 at 07:32 PM..
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07-14-2014, 07:05 PM	#5
MadToy Second Lieutenant 80 Rep 270 Posts Drives: '18 340i Xdrive Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Mooresville, NC iTrader: (1)	Ha! Same exact car, complete with the blacked out kidney grills Thanks for the explanation. This will only be my 2nd time AXing, first with this car. I'll try to use the same technique.
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07-15-2014, 03:31 AM	#6
acj75 First Lieutenant 39 Rep 386 Posts Drives: '07 E92 335i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: DFW Texas iTrader: (0)	Nice work. The 335i is a surprisingly (to most) good autoX car __________________ '07 E92 BMW 335i
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07-15-2014, 09:51 AM	#7
spencers Captain 199 Rep 649 Posts Drives: Sthrizzle Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: A iTrader: (6)	Wow, that course is TINY!
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07-15-2014, 01:36 PM	#8
E30_335i Second Lieutenant 169 Rep 212 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Huntsville, AL iTrader: (0)	Yes it is tiny. Just a little car club, but a great place to T&T cars. Last edited by E30_335i; 07-15-2014 at 04:48 PM..
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07-15-2014, 10:36 PM	#9
M3 Esq Automobilist 397 Rep 2,632 Posts Drives: E70 X5, 911 GT3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CT iTrader: (12)	Nice. Looks like fun.
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09-17-2014, 12:52 PM	#10
E30_335i Second Lieutenant 169 Rep 212 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Huntsville, AL iTrader: (0)	Testing Bilstein HD's and Hankook R-S2's this past Sunday.
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09-17-2014, 03:13 PM	#11
EJ_3 Colonel 374 Rep 2,838 Posts Drives: e92 335i, e34 525i & e60 530i Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: N Las Vegas iTrader: (13) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i [8.34] 2016 Ram 1500 Sport [8.00] 1994 BMW 525i [10.00] 2007 BMW 530i [8.66]	Great run, take it you enjoyed the struts and tires. __________________ click here for mods
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09-17-2014, 03:20 PM	#12
E30_335i Second Lieutenant 169 Rep 212 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Huntsville, AL iTrader: (0)	Much better control. Also had just installed the Bavarian Autosport Ultimate brake rotor set, and Cool Carbon street/track pads. Took 3 runs to fully explore the new braking capability, then 1 second dropped right off my times.
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09-19-2014, 12:03 PM	#13
E90Mack Private 6 Rep 93 Posts Drives: x Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Rafael, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 E90 [6.00] 2006 X3 2.5 [0.00]	Great thread-I will be following what the OP does with this car and how the auto crossing goes
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09-21-2014, 07:42 PM	#14
E30_335i Second Lieutenant 169 Rep 212 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Huntsville, AL iTrader: (0)	Todays 2nd place finish in STU. Need a bit more front bar. Stock springs work well paired with the Bilstein HD's, especially at this old airport venue with three different pavement types (one disintegrating rapidly). Amazing traction in the rear. The start line was all gravely, and most cars were coming off the line and just spinning the first 50ft. My car just took off without any wheel spin. Yea Auto.
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