[DieselDiner]

I attended a track weekend at Road Atlanta back in November, and recently received my picture set from the attending photographer. I thought I'd share a few with the d brethren.

This was my first on track time with the Evolve tune, and I can say categorically that it makes a huge difference in the performance of the car on the track. I picked up several seconds on my previous best lap time (which also relates to how hard I drove this time, i.e. much harder).

I think the simplest illustration of the increase in performance is my terminal speed on the back straight. Before the Evolve, I might hit 110 before scrubbing speed at the end of the straight; with the Evolve, I hit 135 before slowing. The tune made the car much more enjoyable and responsive on track.

This was also my first track time with my Ohlins coilovers, and again, they made a significant difference in the behavior of the car. In conjunction with the M3 suspension parts that I've added, the car was much improved over its previous incarnation.

There are still several improvements I would like to make that will help as a DD but really help on the track. I'm hoping to make some of them this year. In the meantime, a few pics:

[cssnms]

Great pics - looks like you are putting it through it's paces.

I see you updated the avatar pic already.

[efdiesel3s]

ohlins + evolve = WIN. This is exactly how I want to set up my car with the addition of a quaife lsd. sweet pictures.

[FormerRotor]

^Mmmmmmm...ohlins+evolve+track+lsd=awesome way to burn diesel

Do you have an LSD? Is it on the todo list?

[335dFan]

Ohlins do seem to get high marks. They are pricey though, no?

[Got_Diesel]

Originally Posted by 335dFan

Ohlins do seem to get high marks. They are pricey though, no?

Ohlins is the best but VERY pricey. I haven't heard of many people doing Ohlins on e90's

how do you like the d on the track? I'm weary of it because it is very heavy upfront, it loses power up top and well engine braking on a diesel is virtually non existant.

[135i_vs_]

Nice pics. Looking fast.

[335dFan]

DieselDiner, you said "There are still several improvements I would like to make that will help as a DD but really help on the track. " What do you have in mind?

Also, what was your original suspension when you bought it new? Base model or sports package? And what other M3 suspension goodies have you installed?

[TDIwyse]

Thanks for sharing. Beautiful pics. Good to hear about other Evolve tuned vehicles.

[Julesandtrish]

Diesel Diner,
Is that you passing a ford GT? Man, that is sooooo sweet! LOL......how long did it take until he passed you? A truly awesome pick and in the right position with a rare car to boot. Thanks for sharing.

[DieselDiner]

Originally Posted by FormerRotor

Do you have an LSD? Is it on the todo list?

It's definitely one of the improvements on my list, but not sure I will have the budget this year.

[DieselDiner]

Originally Posted by Got_Diesel

how do you like the d on the track? I'm weary of it because it is very heavy upfront, it loses power up top and well engine braking on a diesel is virtually non existant.

I agree with you about it being front heavy, I'm hoping as I make improvements, I can redress that trait to some extent. It's still a pig, but I hope I can find some decent lipstick for it.

With the Evolve tune, much of the up top end power loss is negated - at least at Road Atlanta. I don't have many other places where I can go as fast for as long, so that is probably my frame of reference for top speed. I think a few additional "tweaks" can improve my top end a bit more.

[DieselDiner]

Originally Posted by 335dFan

DieselDiner, you said "There are still several improvements I would like to make that will help as a DD but really help on the track. " What do you have in mind?

Also, what was your original suspension when you bought it new? Base model or sports package? And what other M3 suspension goodies have you installed?

My car had sport suspension from the factory. I'm running the typical M3 upgrades: new arms and tension rods in front, new arms in the rear. I haven't added the M3 sways yets, I plan to do them together, along with M3 rear subframe bushings and an LSD. Typically the rear subframe bushings and the LSD are done at the same time (along with the rear sway bar) for ease of installation (sway bar and bushings) and to complement one another's improvement (sway bar and LSD). I don't know if I'll have the budget for the LSD this year, so that part might have to wait.

[DieselDiner]

Originally Posted by TDIwyse

Thanks for sharing. Beautiful pics. Good to hear about other Evolve tuned vehicles.

Thank you, TDI. I might have a pm for you regarding a question about possible improvements.

[DieselDiner]

Originally Posted by Julesandtrish

Diesel Diner,
Is that you passing a ford GT? Man, that is sooooo sweet! LOL......how long did it take until he passed you?

LOL Yes, I actually passed him in the first session, only because he was learning his way around the track.

He was behind me by a few cars in the next session, and he blew my doors off after just a couple of laps. It was very cool to get the hear the car as it went by - a wonderful sound!

[Puerto Rican 335d]

Damn DD wait for the IC and then uou can play a little with that Ford!!

[FormerRotor]

Dd, did you perform your own install on the m3 bits? Any fitments issues with the ZSP suspension?

Btw, in looking atpic 3, I'm pretty sure im going to need some camber adjustment & a serious fender roll with my new wheel setup

[sshirazz]

Wicked pics! Your 335d looks amazing.

[Park2670]

Looks incredible. I wish I had the opportunity to track my d. Only been able to visit the track in my 2007 N54 sedan.

[dzlmoose]

Your car looks great on the track. I really want to try going to the track once this year.

Btw what are you using for your angel eyes?

[335dFan]

I can't say I am anything but a raw novice at the track, having been with my D to Summit Point Jefferson Circuit just once last September. That involved 4 track sessions of somewhere between 12 and 15 minutes each and one wet skid pad exercise (which I hated but really need). The first two track sessions were dry. The third it was raining heavily and the fourth it had stopped raining but the track was still quite moist.

The limiting factor for the car in my case was myself and the OEM RFT. The outside rib of the front tires got scrubbed some, and when things got wet those scrubbed tires were really slippery.

OK, enough of the downside.

My D, which then and at the present time has no tune job and only one change in the suspension (Bilstein B6 dampers all around). Jefferson Circuit is a short circuit (1.1 miles) with two straights that alllowed me to reach about 100mph and a shorter straight of about 80-85 max. As mentioned I was the limiting factor in the turns. Certainly others even in my newbie group were better. But if I exited the turn in the lead, no one (not even the M cars) could catch me on the straight. The torque was amazing. For a longer track of course the results would be different. As far as handling, I could not reach the limits of the largely stock suspension. Someone more gifted/talented certainly would, but I thought the car (except the tires) handled quite well.

Having said all that, it has been 40 years since I drove other cars fast in Germany ('71 2002 and '70 911E), so I can't really compare how the D handling compares to the other BMWs of modern vintage.

[Julesandtrish]

Originally Posted by DieselDiner

LOL Yes, I actually passed him in the first session, only because he was learning his way around the track.

He was behind me by a few cars in the next session, and he blew my doors off after just a couple of laps. It was very cool to get the hear the car as it went by - a wonderful sound!

Yeah, I sure wish there was an exhaust available for the D that would sound a fraction as good as I'm sure the GT sounded.