Das Race: My '97 M3/4/5

[Jake]

Off-Season Prep!
There's always a list of stuff to get done in the off-season. This is the first year where the car is "built" and I can focus on improving things, versus adding safety gear or other "required" items.

Suspension
First up is a new suspension. The Ground Control setup is tired after four years of curb-jumping, and I'd rather replace than have it rebuilt. Moving to a slightly better shock with a stiffer spring rate should help the car handle transitions with ease. The new "whole package" will also help get power down. I've done a lot of two-wheeling this year, which makes for great photos but does not keep the car moving forward with much speed.

I reached out to James Clay at Bimmerworld and they are supporting me yet again for 2018. Thanks, guys! James offered some setup tips and after discussion, I'll be going with:

• MCS 1-way, non-remote shocks
  
• Hypercoil springs - spring rates of 850 front, 1050 rear (yes, really)
  
• Ground Control camber plates (re-using what I have here)
  
• Ground Control race camber plate spring perches
  
• Ground Control rear articulating spring perches
  
• 12mm spherical rear shock mounts
  
• Racing Dynamics 27mm front sway bar
  
• MCS swaybar end links (for front)
  
• Stock rear sway bar - if at all, will likely run with no rear bar
  

RIP Visa card. Haven't ordered it yet but will be doing so shortly.

Wheels and Tires
Chris sold me a second set of Apex ARC-8's, 17x9". I'll now have two sets of the same wheel. Chris's set is coming with some Hoosier R7 tires that have ~4 heat cycles, so they'll be useful for a weekend or two. I plan on continuing to run the BF Goodrich R1 though, as they're cheaper and last a bit longer - both in heat cycles and general "fade" throughout the longer races. Same tire size as last year at 245/40/17.

I may try to sell the 17x8.5" Kosei K1s that I have, and pick up some cheapo stock wheels on crap tires for storage/rolling around.

Brakes
Hawk continues to be a NASA sponsor ("Got a need for speed? Then you got a need for Hawk performance disc brake pads! Race teams, professional installers..." -- Love, your friendly announcer). I've flip-flopped between the Hawk DTC-60 and Performance Friction 08 for a few years. Ultimately, I have been placing well enough that I should take advantage of the Hawk contingency program and earn some free brakes! I've got $180 in Hawk Bucks to spend so I will be picking up some pads before the year ends. Thinking I'll go with the DTC-70 for a bit more initial bite, which is where I've always felt the 60's fell short.

Cosmetics
The car still looks like shit and that won't change, mostly. I have a piece of door trim to re-attach, and Jake L. sold me a nice front bumper cover. Need to spraybomb the bumper cover and transfer the splitter to it. It'll be nice to have one that's not zip-tied all together.

I'd like to figure out some sort of vinyl to use for the hood and roof, to cover up a bit of the ugly. Might call up Lorna at PDA Racing in Winchester for that.

Miscellany
Typical fluid changes apply in the spring - oil/filter, transmission (Redline D4 ATF), diff, and cooling system (swap antifreeze for water/Water Wetter).

I thiiiiink that's it.