x5 on track performance

[XXX55]

I'll be tracking the X5 with mini coopers, audi a4's, e90's etc. Will the X5 be literally left in the dust???

Any tips on how to prepare my X5 for track? Mine is a 3.0d. I'm not expecting much on track for the X5, but I just want to know how will it perform

[bimmerFanatic]

I am wondering the same thing! I'm going on the track on Wednesday. Here are my untested tips.

1. Empty out your car. Hitch ball mount (if you drive with it all the time), head rests (for view), cd visor, "the club", and everthing laying around in your backseat and trunk. This will make your car safer and lighter.

2. Ensure proper tire pressure, max 32 PSI. I plan on lowering mine a bit to 30 PSI. They inflate back up to after rough driving. I measured them at 36 PSI after the highway.

3. Get a full tank of gas. It'll make it heavier...but lower the center of gravity which is a tad more important for safety imho.

Good luck!

[2002Silver4.6is]

I would not remove your head rests!! In the event of a crash the head rest will prevent your head from snapping back and you breaking your neck or getting whiplash.

[bimmerFanatic]

I would not remove your head rests!! In the event of a crash the head rest will prevent your head from snapping back and you breaking your neck or getting whiplash.

I didn't clarify my point well. Remove rear head rests. Yes, never remove head rests if you have an occupant in that seat. Definitely leave your driver seat head rest on.

[asawadude]

The Solo 2 handbook on the tirerack website is very useful. Although it is geared for autocrossing, it contains pertinent information for first time racers.

http://www.tirerack.com/features/solo2/handbook.htm

[crosvs]

i actually DID track my 4.4 almost a year ago, at Thunderhill Raceway in NorCal. (www.thunderhill.com)

i either already posted -- or would be happy to post -- footage of the ONE AND ONLY LAP i managed before the brake fluid boiled over lol

[bimmerFanatic]

brake fluid can boil? Poor you...you must have been bummed not being able to participate the rest of the day.

The guide above states that tires should be pressured upto 45PSI?

[XXX55]

Will the brake fluid of the X5 really boil after just 1 lap??

[bimmerFanatic]

Will the brake fluid of the X5 really boil after just 1 lap??

From reading online it appears that if your brake fluid is old, it has more and more moisture in it (water). As soon as the caliber reaches 100F the water boils and if there is enough you're scewed. Change your oil every 2 years.


Will is boil in a lap? If the rotor gets hot, it will be way over 100F. So it is possible.

[crosvs]

well.

this will be old news for some of you on here who remember my prior post but basically my dad and i went up together: he took his 2002 C4S and I took my X5, although the X5 was really just for fun -- the C4S was meant to be our real track-day car.

Nonetheless, I decided to start the day (8 AM lap?!) with the X5 just to warm up as it had been over 2 yrs since my prior track experience.

Even though I was taking it easy, braking late into corners from over 100 mph really cannot be maintained for more than a lap ... brake fade started setting in 3/4 of hte way through, and by the last corner or two, i had virtually no brake pressure yet.

At first I thought it was just the pads overheating: but then i realized it was the fluid since even by the end of the day, having just let the car sit in the paddock area, the brakes STILL felt squishy and continued to feel that way for a few days until BMW changed the fluid and bled the system.

THat said, the P-car was great for ... well ... about 3/4 of hte day until i managed to boil THAT brake fluid over TOO!! I thought for sure the Turbo brake kit would have been problem free, but alas, I guess even they have their limits.

Again, the issue was 100% brake fluid boiling over and NOT the brake pads overheating, as it reuqired a few hours before it was safe to drive and we had to get the brake system changed on the Porsche as wel.