Autocross the F85?

[KFF_X5M]

My friends and I live pretty close to the Tire Rack headquarters and they want to start doing the autocross events there. One (who is a member of the Michiana chapter of the BMW CCA) drives a M2 and the other just got a M3. Obviously they're gonna have a good time but is it worth it to take my F85 on the track? I was told when I first bought mine that I'd have a bad time at smaller tracks like Gingerman or at autocross events but would have a blast at wide open tracks like Road America.

Any shared personal experiences on this would be greatly appreciated!

[Blue By You]

Originally Posted by KFF_X5M

My friends and I live pretty close to the Tire Rack headquarters and they want to start doing the autocross events there. One (who is a member of the Michiana chapter of the BMW CCA) drives a M2 and the other just got a M3. Obviously they're gonna have a good time but is it worth it to take my F85 on the track? I was told when I first bought mine that I'd have a bad time at smaller tracks like Gingerman or at autocross events but would have a blast at wide open tracks like Road America.

Any shared personal experiences on this would be greatly appreciated!

Definitely go for it man! You will probably have a blast and it will be worth trying.

I took my old X5 4.6is Dinan S2 to the track up in Loudon, NH. It's a small track and it was challenging and fun.

The best thing that happened to me is that I lost a bleeder screw? and had almost no brakes at one point. It taught me how to be so much smoother. (Go slow to go fast)

[KFF_X5M]

Originally Posted by Northeastern X5M

Definitely go for it man! You will probably have a blast and it will be worth trying.

I took my old X5 4.6is Dinan S2 to the track up in Loudon, NH. It's a small track and it was challenging and fun.

The best thing that happened to me is that I lost a bleeder screw? and had almost no brakes at one point. It taught me how to be so much smoother. (Go slow to go fast)

The track at Tire Rack is so short I won't see much speed and it's 1 lap at a time so I'm not worried about tire/brake wear too much. It's only $40 for non-BMW CCA members for 8-10 runs and per their class rankings I'd be up against 325i's and similar 3 class cars. Seems kinda fair? I have more than double the HP but almost twice the weight. The F85 bone stock is at the bottom of what they define as "C" Class and even with my stage 1 tune I'd still be in the lower half of the "C" classification.

Honestly for the price I think it's hard to say no. I was just curious to see if anyone else had done any BMW track days in their F85/86.

[DgjoX6M2016]

I autocross my f86 every year at Lime Rock Park and our rigs are a blast on track. You will learn the limits of your car. Brakes in particular. They are astounding. I finished 128 out of about 450. Against all sorts of cars. Car never skipped a beat. Does beat up the front tires a bit. I ran a half day session. Even managed to swap ends with too much throttle out of a turn. Fun 360. Perfectly flat spin. Don't hesitate.

[Blue By You]

Originally Posted by DgjoX6M2016

I autocross my f86 every year at Lime Rock Park and our rigs are a blast on track. You will learn the limits of your car. Brakes in particular. They are astounding. I finished 128 out of about 450. Against all sorts of cars. Car never skipped a beat. Does beat up the front tires a bit. I ran a half day session. Even managed to swap ends with too much throttle out of a turn. Fun 360. Perfectly flat spin. Don't hesitate.

So cool.

[DgjoX6M2016]

My times from last year with some others as reference. I improved .6 from prior year which took a LOT of laps to work out. I am at 150. There were over 400 racers across the season.

Late braking is key IMO. Also, brakes aren't modulated while racing the clock...slam them just to abs tip in then modulate or get off them. Our brakes are so good, they never fade (at least in this track).

Go for it and have fun.

Out rig does NOT need more power. You can spin it out on demand.

[KFF_X5M]

Originally Posted by DgjoX6M2016

My times from last year with some others as reference. I improved .6 from prior year which took a LOT of laps to work out. I am at 150. There were over 400 racers across the season.

Late braking is key IMO. Also, brakes aren't modulated while racing the clock...slam them just to abs tip in then modulate or get off them. Our brakes are so good, they never fade (at least in this track).

Go for it and have fun.

Out rig does NOT need more power. You can spin it out on demand.

I'm sold. Signed up for the BMW CCA so I can guarantee myself a spot at the events.

Too late on the more power part though. I went stage 1 within a week of getting my X5M lol

[m3fuz]

Originally Posted by DgjoX6M2016

I autocross my f86 every year at Lime Rock Park and our rigs are a blast on track. You will learn the limits of your car. Brakes in particular. They are astounding. I finished 128 out of about 450. Against all sorts of cars. Car never skipped a beat. Does beat up the front tires a bit. I ran a half day session. Even managed to swap ends with too much throttle out of a turn. Fun 360. Perfectly flat spin. Don't hesitate.

I've done Porsche days at Lime Rock a few times and love the track in my 911, but had never thought about running the F85 out there. I may have to do so now!

[DgjoX6M2016]

Originally Posted by m3fuz

I've done Porsche days at Lime Rock a few times and love the track in my 911, but had never thought about running the F85 out there. I may have to do so now!

You should!! See you out there. See how close you can get to the 911. Maybe beat it! This autocross keeps you in second gear most of time...touched third in full track Autocross. Terrifying.