Just another M3, this time with a V8.

[frayz]

I’ve done my share of Ring trips having started there in 2005, and I don’t care who you are, sub 8 min is fricken hustling!!!

Sorry to hear of the teething issues mate but like you say, to be expected on a freshly put together car. Glad the trip was a safe one and you’ve come away having learnt a lot.
Car looks absolutely mega

 

[-Rob]

I must admit, constantly having to hit the gearknob back onto the short shifter wasn’t the most ideal.

Once I got home I set about sorting it out..

All done. No movement in it what so ever now - much nicer to use and no more problems when changing gears.

Since being at the ring, all my brake woes have fingers crossed been ironed out - I’ve had the brakes apart 6 times with new pads, discs, mounting brackets and another 2.5L of Castrol SRF in the search for the binding brakes. Not entirely sure what was wrong with them in the end but they seem to be moving freely at the moment.

I’ve just booked another trip to the Nurburgring and a track day on the 14/10 which I’m very much looking forward to.

New aero updates to follow..

 

[-Rob]

I bought a GT4 splitter; this is the fitment when offered up and bent into the lines of the bottom of the bumper..

Frankly shocking so that put an end to that idea, luckily a full refund from the splitter.

Cleaned Up the car read for the Circuit Days trackday at the Nurburgring.

Early morning start for the Eurotunnel, continuous downpour for 7 hours of the trip.

Got to the accommodation, changed the wheels over, setup the Nitrons ready for the track and did some final checks.

Did a couple laps of TF, really starting to get to grips with this car! Everything is tying in nicely.

Even managed to get spotted chasing a GTR!

The weather was perfect for October, Which I think was a major contributor to ruining the trackday on the Monday.

I managed to get about 3 fast laps on the trackday with 4 red flags and many hours of closures. I genuinely got better laps on TF than I did on the track day. I’ll still be booking more next year in the hopes that the driving standard is higher and some quality track time is had.

Overall really enjoyed the final trip of 2019, took most of my family and the girlfriend. Managed a new PB at Ring kart barn, took my Dad, brother and my girlfriend for their first laps and they all loved the place! Hard not to..

Did a 8:13 with my Dad in the car, going steady because of no helmets.

Plenty of plans for over winter;
Clutch change, diff refresh with evo diff/gripper/drexler.
Front splitter to fit with splitter guard
Carbon bootlid to fit with new wing.
Full cage/half cage - yet to decide entirely
New exhaust (lighter and UK trackday friendly)
New wheels
Maybe something on the engine..

Must have covered 4,000 miles in it already and it’s been faultless (other than the brakes and that was a problem with the kit)

The car performs exactly how I expected it to, if anyone’s thinking about getting a V8 M3 - just do it, the engine is a masterpiece.

 

[frayz]

3 laps on a full Trackday is a bloody expensive way to track the Ring. Sounds like they’re as bad a TF days now.

The fitment on that splitter was dreadful Rob. Does anyone else make one that fits properly?

The car looks absolutely mega, glad you’re enjoying it.

 

[scullyg40]

Good posting. I like that you are modifying such an expensive car. Only comment I have is that when you do 8.13 on the Nürburgring, you should wear a helmet, obligatory or not.

 

[-Rob]

Good posting. I like that you are modifying such an expensive car. Only comment I have is that when you do 8.13 on the Nürburgring, you should wear a helmet, obligatory or not.

Wholeheartedly agree.. unfortunately my brother forgot his helmet and I wasn’t about to wear a helmet in case of collision with my passenger not wearing one.

I’ve seen the aftermath of not wearing a helmet on TF, so it was with great caution I decided not to wear one for 4/5 laps - it was a strange feeling.

3 laps on a full Trackday is a bloody expensive way to track the Ring. Sounds like they’re as bad a TF days now.

The fitment on that splitter was dreadful Rob. Does anyone else make one that fits properly?

The car looks absolutely mega, glad you’re enjoying it.

It was an expensive trackday, I did more laps at 50/60mph clearing the track from a red flag than doing fast laps. It was really difficult to get into the flow of the laps with so many stoppages.

I think I was just very unlucky, first reported UK organised trackday over there to get that sort of criticism.

I’ve sourced a splitter from Germany using a cast from the genuine item, twice the price of the Chinese one but I’m hoping it fits a little better!

Would be good to squeeze another trackday in this year but I’ve been messed about on 4 exhausts now (3 Akra and one IPE) so I doubt that’ll happen due to noise regulations.

Planning an end of year trip to Caffeine and Machine though, so that’ll be the final trip out before winter hibernation.

 

[-Rob]

Treated myself to a little Christmas present from myself.

Full Titanium Akrapovic exhaust, should keep the noise down enough for UK trackdays and save a substantial amount of weight.

Another piece of art to make its way onto the car.

 

[-Jamie-]

F*cking moneybags [emoji1787]


Sexual!

 

[frayz]

Stellar set of pipes sir.
Gotta love a Ti system

 

[-Rob]

I made my way over to Caffeine and Machine on the 26/11 with a few of the local guys.

really enjoyed it there, weather wasn’t the best but the rain held out. The atmosphere here is great, loads of different cars for different tastes. The food is top notch too!
I would recommend it to anyone that’s into cars, bikes, memorabilia etc.

 

[-Rob]

Before

During

After

I’ve driven it about 20/30 miles now, it’s such a refined exhaust note. The car revs a lot easier now and feels noticeably quicker on the uptake.

The exhaust saves 24kg and gives around 15/17hp which is understandable. Unfortunately the weather isn’t great and I had to look at my rusty subframe which I wish I got powder coated when it was removed for the solid bushes but it is what it is..

I’m happy with the exhaust, it means it’ll pass noise tests for UK tracks now so I can look at some trackdays for testing before the Nurburgring trackday early April that I’ve just booked.

 

[Stefan.]

Exhaust looks lovely..... But it sounds abit pants sorry 😕

 

[-Rob]

Exhaust looks lovely..... But it sounds abit pants sorry 😕

Depends what you’re after I suppose.

If you wanted a loud exhaust I’d have gone for an IPE but saved no weight from the car at all.

Alternatively I could have kept my old exhaust which is a 4 pipe modified backbox with primary decats and noise tested at over 110db static. It had no class to it and sounded like bones in a metal tin.

This adds significant power gains, saves 24kg over the standard exhaust and fits perfectly. It’s also below UK trackday noise limits.

The video shows revving out inside the car to 6200rpm and the other is 2,500rpm blip on a Luke warm engine.

It absolutely howls over 4000rpm.

 

[-Jamie-]

Akra over any other exhaust if you have the cash, I'd have one in a heartbeat. Sounds lovely in person under load and saves a good chunk of weight!

 

[-Rob]

Washed the old girl. Just needs a diff, roll cage and a better live map on it. and some new wheels I’ve just ordered that’ll be here in March.

 

[-Jamie-]

Shed

 

[-Rob]

Shed

 

[-Rob]

Got onto fitting my new splitter, should add a fair amount of downforce.

I’ve attached an aluminium protector on the bottom in hopes of giving it a fighting chance of surviving on the road!

 

[frayz]

Scene points yo!!!
Love it Rob. 😍👌🏼

 

[-Jamie-]

Downforce? [emoji102]

 

[-Rob]

Downforce? [emoji102]

It’s so heavy it’s pulling my bumper down.. must add some sort of downforce 🤔

Scene points yo!!!
Love it Rob. 😍👌🏼

Next up is some airbags and a show cage to complete the look 😉

Glad you’re liking it! Two biggest projects on the car I’ve just started.. a lot of DIY modifications but it’s keeping me busy.

 

[-Jamie-]

[emoji23][emoji2371]

Looks good man, least you have one that fits right now

 

[-Rob]

I’ve had this high kick carbon bootlid hanging around the house almost since I bought the M3.

I’ve bought a new wing for aero V2.. it creates some daft amount of downforce but it is boot mounted not chassis mounted. It’s not quite that hardcore a build.

I’ve done some reading, research etc and decided I’d brace the bootlid to hopefully eliminate any flex in the bootlid and the wing. Last thing I want is my wing falling off at speed.. which is a concern at the back of my mind I must admit.

I cut some channels out of the fibreglass inner to slot these aluminium U shapes into place to give rigidity for the mounting of the wing.

The channels cut to perfection to allow the aluminium U shape to slot into place and to also hold onto the fiberglass inner if there’s any flex in the material.

I unloaded a tube of Tiger seal onto the u shapes and inner parts I’ve cut out to bond the two skins together to add more support throughout.

Its not the neatest job, but it’ll be hidden by the interior bootlid panel. Just waiting 2/3 days for it to 100% dry, then I’ll drill the holes through from the top of the skin (that I’ve already drilled through) and then it’s off to be painted body colour as the carbon looks terrible next to my new wing that has been properly made!

I have a feeling this is going to be my favourite modification.. it’ll split opinion but it’s definitely an upgrade from the GTS wing that I’ve currently got on there.

 

[frayz]

To be fair Rob that looks a tidy enough job for what you need. However if they wing genuinely works, you’ll want some internal supports for it to rest on from the chassis.
A proper wing developing some decent downforce will also have a significant amount of drag. It will be like a parachute on that deck lid. How well bonded are the hinge fixings as it’s likely to want to rip it clean off the car, especially if the quality is as you say a “little to be desired” lol

 

[-Rob]

To be fair Rob that looks a tidy enough job for what you need. However if they wing genuinely works, you’ll want some internal supports for it to rest on from the chassis.
A proper wing developing some decent downforce will also have a significant amount of drag. It will be like a parachute on that deck lid. How well bonded are the hinge fixings as it’s likely to want to rip it clean off the car, especially if the quality is as you say a “little to be desired” lol

I haven’t got any figures on how much downforce it’ll actually produce but it’s the latest BMW wing that’s used on most of their M2/M235i race cars. They haven’t even braced the bootlids!

A German racing team that now provides the wing on their cars braces their bootlids in the same way that I have done, also heard BTCC cars use a similar sort of bracing for boot mounted wings.

I’ll setup the go pro on the rear window and test it at speed and look for movement and take it from there.

 

[-Rob]

So, I got the bootlid painted.. 90% happy with the paintwork.

tried the first install and the number plate lights do this.. hilarious..

Just what I wanted to see after paying out £300 for the bootlid to be painted..

so I set about making some metal brackets that I’m going to bond on the inner of the carbon skin so they hold them without falling out/through.

Not the smoothest cuts as my dremel was overheating.

This bootlid has taken about 12 hours of preparation time, it’s been very time consuming!
Will be worth it once it’s fitted.. I hope..

 

[-Rob]

 

[-Rob]

Today I set about installing the carbon bootlid.. actually changing over bootlids is relatively easy for anyone to do, not when there were problems I should have expected.

Original bootlid off!

Carbon bootlid trial fitting..

Finished article.

I think it looks epic, it’s all a little bittersweet though as I’ve got to re bond a number plate light surround again. I’ve got to raise the catch on the chassis by 5mm so the bootlid closes easier and actually hits the micro switch in the lock. It currently keeps thinking the boot is open and giving me dash warnings.

last but not least, I can’t drive with my window open as I get fumes. May have to order a slightly taller seal for the boot surround as I’ve tried everything else.

Spent about 4 hours today trying to align the bootlid so it shut and latched without too much effort and so the seal was air tight.. to no avail. May try again tomorrow before the wing goes on but I’m not sure..

 

[_Tom]

Surely you’d be best to adjust after the wing is fitted as the weight may make a difference?

 

[-Rob]

Surely you’d be best to adjust after the wing is fitted as the weight may make a difference?

Good point, I’ll do that as it may help with the latch problem.

 

[-Simon]

That looks superb mate

 

[-Rob]

In comes the wang..

Better photos/photo shoot to come once I’ve cleaned it.

Still a few things left to do to perfect the fitment, the boot locks 90% of the time on first closing the bootlid, the micro switch in the boot lock knows it’s shut now.

Ive adjusted all the seals on the bootlid so there’s no longer massive gaps, no more fumes in the car and no drafts either.

The first British car to run this wing, so I’m very happy with it. It’s daft and it compliments the rest of the car.

Off to the garage tomorrow to fit these.

LUK OEM Clutch kit, stainless clutch arm pivot pin, main bearings and everything else that could be replaced at the same time.

TTV lite flywheel taking the original from 12.8kg to just 6.1kg. Rotational mass! Can’t wait to feel it rev up after it’s all done.

 

[Cookson]

Jesus, this thing is looking worse by the day. You may as well have bought an EG civic and routed the exhaust through the bonnet.

 

[cat171]

I think the new bootlid, before you put the wing on it looked absolutely fantastic! I'm just not a fan of the wing

 

[-Rob]

Jesus, this thing is looking worse by the day. You may as well have bought an EG civic and routed the exhaust through the bonnet.

That’s the first thing my brother said too. Function over form!

I think the new bootlid, before you put the wing on it looked absolutely fantastic! I'm just not a fan of the wing

I thought the same too, just didn’t fit in with the rest of the car without a wing.
The new wing adds substantial downforce which is needed for track work so I’m happy with it. I look forward to testing it out once it’s back and a trackday booked!

 

[Cookie]

The car needs like a really lairy wrap

 

[-Rob]

The car needs like a really lairy wrap

Always fancied a BMW art car like this..

Perhaps..

 

[josh11490]

I think it looks insane, looks insane before the spoiler but I think it's one of the few cars that can pull off a wing like that.

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

 

[Christopher]

Absolutely unreal. I love everything about it!

How can anyone hate the wing? It looks better than the GTS wing and suits the car!

 

[-Rob]

Absolutely unreal. I love everything about it!

How can anyone hate the wing? It looks better than the GTS wing and suits the car!

Thanks man, I agree. The GTS looked alright on the road, this wing looks over the top. But on track it won’t look out of place

Snetterton 1st March booked for a shake down for the Circuit days double ender at the Ring in April.