Showing posts with label M3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label M3. Show all posts
November 30, 2012
The sounds of ///M
France's Motorsport magazine was at the Nürburgring for BMW's 40th anniversary festivities and made this clip with the sounds from a few of ///M's greatest hits.
E92 GTS, E46 CSL, 1M Coupe, E92 Competition Pack, E92 CRT, which is your favorite?
December 9, 2010
The BMW 1 series M is...
Strikes me the BMW 1 Series M Coupé is almost everything M3 drivers have been asking for years save for one major detail: it's not an M3. So will M3 guys quit complaining and take a 3200lbs 1M or will they find some reason not to like the 1M? Well, it's a bit like the Cayman vs the 911, isn't it?
If you want to read all about the fine details, I suggest you hop over to Bimmerfile.com(or now on BMW.com) and since Axis Justin has the #1 spot for a 1 M at a local dealership, you can be sure we will do a proper Axis style track test as soon as we are able.
.
December 5, 2010
What if you could design the next M3?
It never fails, any time Axis guys get together, the conversation will at some point come around to the BMW M3, usually with predictable results. I'm sure we are not alone, the M3 gets discussed so much because it is just one of those iconic cars that everyone wants to be perfect...for them. And therein lies the problem. So let's say you were put in charge, which 5 things you would you most like to see in the next model M3?
Is weight really a problem for you or will you be more interested in how it's appointed? Are there options you would like that don't exist now or are you happy with how the car is? Is the M3 still relevant or are you more interested in something like the 1 Series M?
I expect responses to be somewhat skewed given the nature of these pages but still, curious enough to ask!
end of post
June 11, 2009
Hard Fighting at the Glen.
A great in car video from Joey Hand's Turner Motorsport BMW M3 from the June 7 2009 Grand-Am Koni Challenge race at Watkins Glen.
As the video starts, there is a restart after a yellow flag, it's mayhem! If there was ever a better illustration that there is no such thing as a "racing line", this is it. Don't miss what happens between Bill Auberlen and Andy Lally in turn 7 (the Toe).
As a bonus, after the jump, you can see the race side by side from Auberlen's and Hand's cars.
March 18, 2009
February 23, 2009
April 19, 2008
November 16, 2007
Loaded. Target:7 min 20 secs.
Here is a video from the "LOADED" project. This Swedish team's goal is to make a "road legal" (somewhere) e46 M3 CSL do a sub 7:20 lap of the Nürburgring, naturally this involves a massive diet and huge infusion of forced inducted power. Our friend Ed Healey is keeping us up to date from Germany but you can also follow on the Loaded web site, where you can also find a list of modifications.... enjoy
p.s. for reference...this IS a new record, as you can see in the table below, this BMW CSL, pretty much destroyed the lighter more powerful competition!
7.22 BMW M3 CSL Loaded
7.28 Pagani Zonda F
7.28 Porsche Carrera GT
7.32 Porsche 911 GT2
7.32 Gemballa Porsche GTR
7.34 Koenigsegg CCR
7.38 Nissan GT-R
7.39 Porsche 911 GT3 997
7.40 Porsche 911 Turbo 997
7.40 Mercedes SLR McLaren
7.40 Bugatti Veyron
7.42 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
7.42 Ford GT
7.43 Lamborghini Murcielago
August 30, 2007
Mosport and the Glen
It took a while but I finally straightened out the issues with the embed code in the Brightcove player so without further ado I wanted to thank Jeff Gabel and "shiners780" from Rochester, NY for uploading videos on the new AxisTT* TV.
Jeff uploaded a video from Mosport, a track we had never seen. I thought the Glen was intimidating with it's baby blue ARMCO all the way around...looks to me like Mosport's white cement walls might hurt even more!
Jeff captions:
The other ride is on board a 944 turbo at Watkins Glen. I always loved 944s, one of my favorite car shapes...and I've never even riden in one...so many cars, so little time.
Jeff and "shiners" should cantact me via e-mail and as our first featured reader videos will receive Axis stickers in the mail.
You can upload your video to Axis TT TV HERE
* Axis Track Tard
Jeff uploaded a video from Mosport, a track we had never seen. I thought the Glen was intimidating with it's baby blue ARMCO all the way around...looks to me like Mosport's white cement walls might hurt even more!
Jeff captions:
Second time tracking the M3, this time with the GVC BMW CCA at Mosport. B run group.
The other ride is on board a 944 turbo at Watkins Glen. I always loved 944s, one of my favorite car shapes...and I've never even riden in one...so many cars, so little time.
Jeff and "shiners" should cantact me via e-mail and as our first featured reader videos will receive Axis stickers in the mail.
You can upload your video to Axis TT TV HERE
* Axis Track Tard
August 25, 2007
Axis at Summit Point this week end.
badbadM's Spec e30, affectionately named "La Bomba" and Stee's e46 M3 are at Summit Point for the NASA Mid Atlantic race and HPDE. Someone keep an eye out for those two please!
August 9, 2007
2008 BMW M3. Andalusia, Spain.
Winding Road has an excellent movie clip they produced at the M3 launch in Spain earlier in the year. Very, very nicely done.
Winding Road is an online only magazine with production values rivalling the best print mags. Subscribe (for free) to read their full review.
Winding Road is an online only magazine with production values rivalling the best print mags. Subscribe (for free) to read their full review.
July 16, 2007
M3 Vs MCoupe at the Glen Part II, The Revenge!
Almost exactly a year ago we compared two laps form AC's and Stee's cars at Watkins Glen. Back then the M3 bested the MCoupe by 2/10th of a second with both cars in the 2:16s.
A year later and with different tires, things have changed a bit...
It's amazing to me how evenly matched the E46 M3 and the S54 Z3M Coupe can be. For the past few years AC and I have been having a blast lapping together at local tracks at HPDEs. Now that we have data acquisition (Traqmate) and in car video, we can do a post session analysis, compare our differences and similarities and find areas AC and I to improve. Some of the differences could be chalked up to driving style, others to car capabilities. Sometimes it gets hard to differentiate, but at the end of the day all you can do is give an educated guess based on the data recorded.
First, some info on our cars.
The main thing to follow here is the graph at the bottom of each picture, the Velocity vs Distance plot. It's important because it shows who was going faster at which parts of the track. On the top right we show which car is leading overall, and by how much. The spreadsheet in the middle shows other interesting stats like time through that segment, min speed, max speed, max g forces and more.
Click on the images to enlarge them. Let's start the lap.
Through Turn 1 we are pretty much identical. Our minimum speeds are within a few tenths, we brake at the same time, and get back on the gas at almost exactly the time. Our net time difference at this point is negligible.
Through turn 2 we lift exactly the same amount, up the Esses we are dead even up to the shift to 5th in the back straight. This is where SMG shows its advantage with a nearly undetectable blip in the graph whereas the M Coupe's standard tranny shift is clearly evident. This extra shift time nets out to a .15 second advantage through that section for the M3.
Segment 3 is interesting. Both cars brake on the back straight at almost exactly the same point, the M3 brakes a little less and carries slightly more speed through the bus stop but the M Coupe carries more speed around turn 5, "the outer loop". The net difference in that segment is a .05 second advantage for the Coupe, which cuts the M3's overall lead down to .1 seconds.
Turn 8, "the Laces", is the first segment where the two cars show an appreciable difference. In the M3 I'm able to brake 1/2 a second later and get back to full throttle slightly sooner than AC in the M Coupe (thank you Brembo and PF-01 :) ), which nets a .6 second gain in that segment. I'm now ahead by .7 seconds overall.
But, AC brings it back in 7, "the toe". He uses a lot of trail braking, and carries 4 mph more minimum speed through the toe.
Then he's able to storm up the hill and pull harder than the M3 in 3rd gear (this probably has something to do with the 400 lbs weight difference). Overall, AC is able to gain back .5 seconds in that segment and cuts my lead to .2 seconds.
Coming up to 8, "the heel", I brake a fraction of a second later, we go through the turn at nearly the same speed, but AC gets on the gas a fraction of a second sooner, and again, the M Coupe out-pulls the M3 in 3rd gear. AC gains another .1 seconds in that segment and cuts my lead down to just .1 seconds.
For the off camber turn 9, I brake slightly less but I only gain .05 seconds. My lead is only .15 seconds.
Through the fast left turn 10, we are both identical with identical segment times.
In turn 11, AC gets on the gas a fraction of a second sooner than I do and again is able to out pull me in 3rd gear. That seemingly tiny difference nets out to a .45 second advantage through that segment and gives AC the faster lap time by .35 seconds.
Here is a side by side video of the above laps. It is a 33 meg download. If you want to hear the individual engines just pan the audio to one side or the other.
download
As always, we recommend downloading the higher resolution version above...but if you are in a hurry here is a fuzzier flash version:
M3 vs MCoupe Part II from Axis on Vimeo.
A year later and with different tires, things have changed a bit...
It's amazing to me how evenly matched the E46 M3 and the S54 Z3M Coupe can be. For the past few years AC and I have been having a blast lapping together at local tracks at HPDEs. Now that we have data acquisition (Traqmate) and in car video, we can do a post session analysis, compare our differences and similarities and find areas AC and I to improve. Some of the differences could be chalked up to driving style, others to car capabilities. Sometimes it gets hard to differentiate, but at the end of the day all you can do is give an educated guess based on the data recorded.
First, some info on our cars.
- Both cars have the same stock S54 engine, the M Coupe is limited to 7600 RPM while the M3 revs to 8k. The engines are not chipped.
- The M Coupe weighs in at ~3,000 lbs, 400 lbs lighter than the M3's ~3,400 lbs.
- The M3 has SMG, the Coupe has a standard 5 speed but with a 3.46 final drive.
- Both cars are on Kuhmo's magical V710 tires, which have enough grip to rip your face off. The MCoupe 245/45/17 and 275/40/17 while the M3 has a square 285/30/18 set.
- The M3 benefits from newer suspension technology. Both cars have aftermarket shocks, springs and camber plates. Nicely set up but nothing extravagant or exotic.
- The M3 has 4 wheel Brembo set, The MCoupe has stock BMW brakes with Performance Friction rotors in front. Both cars use Performance Friction pads.
- Both cars retain full interior, air conditioning, radio etc.
The main thing to follow here is the graph at the bottom of each picture, the Velocity vs Distance plot. It's important because it shows who was going faster at which parts of the track. On the top right we show which car is leading overall, and by how much. The spreadsheet in the middle shows other interesting stats like time through that segment, min speed, max speed, max g forces and more.Click on the images to enlarge them. Let's start the lap.
Through Turn 1 we are pretty much identical. Our minimum speeds are within a few tenths, we brake at the same time, and get back on the gas at almost exactly the time. Our net time difference at this point is negligible.
Through turn 2 we lift exactly the same amount, up the Esses we are dead even up to the shift to 5th in the back straight. This is where SMG shows its advantage with a nearly undetectable blip in the graph whereas the M Coupe's standard tranny shift is clearly evident. This extra shift time nets out to a .15 second advantage through that section for the M3.
Segment 3 is interesting. Both cars brake on the back straight at almost exactly the same point, the M3 brakes a little less and carries slightly more speed through the bus stop but the M Coupe carries more speed around turn 5, "the outer loop". The net difference in that segment is a .05 second advantage for the Coupe, which cuts the M3's overall lead down to .1 seconds.
Turn 8, "the Laces", is the first segment where the two cars show an appreciable difference. In the M3 I'm able to brake 1/2 a second later and get back to full throttle slightly sooner than AC in the M Coupe (thank you Brembo and PF-01 :) ), which nets a .6 second gain in that segment. I'm now ahead by .7 seconds overall.
But, AC brings it back in 7, "the toe". He uses a lot of trail braking, and carries 4 mph more minimum speed through the toe.
Then he's able to storm up the hill and pull harder than the M3 in 3rd gear (this probably has something to do with the 400 lbs weight difference). Overall, AC is able to gain back .5 seconds in that segment and cuts my lead to .2 seconds.
Coming up to 8, "the heel", I brake a fraction of a second later, we go through the turn at nearly the same speed, but AC gets on the gas a fraction of a second sooner, and again, the M Coupe out-pulls the M3 in 3rd gear. AC gains another .1 seconds in that segment and cuts my lead down to just .1 seconds.
For the off camber turn 9, I brake slightly less but I only gain .05 seconds. My lead is only .15 seconds.
Through the fast left turn 10, we are both identical with identical segment times.
In turn 11, AC gets on the gas a fraction of a second sooner than I do and again is able to out pull me in 3rd gear. That seemingly tiny difference nets out to a .45 second advantage through that segment and gives AC the faster lap time by .35 seconds.Here is a side by side video of the above laps. It is a 33 meg download. If you want to hear the individual engines just pan the audio to one side or the other.
download
As always, we recommend downloading the higher resolution version above...but if you are in a hurry here is a fuzzier flash version:
M3 vs MCoupe Part II from Axis on Vimeo.
July 15, 2007
New M3 not good enough for "the internets"!
Below is the first intelligent sum up of the new 2008 M3 I have seen, courtesy of Autocar.
Unbelievable is the amount of belly aching and whining I have been reading about this new car on message boards:
"First E92M3 test figures, dissapointing..."writes one noted poster complaining that one magazine clocked the M3 at a measly 4.4 sec 0-60.
Never mind that the quoted article goes on to say that "The surface wasn’t ideal, however, and we expect even better numbers once we get one to our usual test track." A good example of why reading internet message boards can make you stupid.
Lots of opinion seems to be given without any hard data....we like data.
Anyway, for some reasonable, intelligent opinion...
Unbelievable is the amount of belly aching and whining I have been reading about this new car on message boards:
"First E92M3 test figures, dissapointing..."writes one noted poster complaining that one magazine clocked the M3 at a measly 4.4 sec 0-60.
Never mind that the quoted article goes on to say that "The surface wasn’t ideal, however, and we expect even better numbers once we get one to our usual test track." A good example of why reading internet message boards can make you stupid.
Lots of opinion seems to be given without any hard data....we like data.
Anyway, for some reasonable, intelligent opinion...
July 4, 2007
This is why we do it...
because once in while you have the perfect day, with the perfect group of people and you don't have anyone bugging you or slowing you down, you are free and your worries ground into the pavement under that stripe of rubber you left in turn 6.
We had two days like that with Group52 earlier in the month, this clip is from the second day. Two and a half laps of Watkins Glen, in the first part we are playing around trying to get good camera angles. We all bought ChaseCam PDR 100 recently and we have them tied into our Traqmates so that when you start the GPS data recorder the video starts automatically, a very convenient feature.
The second part of the clip I try for a fast lap, hit all my marks and run a 2:12.350. Considering my car has a radio and air conditioning I think that's pretty good.
The first time I went to the Glen a few years ago my best time was 2:26, last year I could not believe I was down to 2:16. Now both Stee and I can lap in the 2:14 with relative ease and both had 2:12 laps. Part of it is due to running Kumho V710, part is just that we learned a lot. Having Traqmates has helped immensely in figuring out where we could improve, they are a fantastic tools. V710 and Performance Friction PF 97 pads also made for some dramatic slowing down, 1.35G on my car, we call Mo and Walter at Off Camber Motorsports for the best deal on PF.
I recommend downloading the high resolution version but if you are in a hurry, here you go.
We had two days like that with Group52 earlier in the month, this clip is from the second day. Two and a half laps of Watkins Glen, in the first part we are playing around trying to get good camera angles. We all bought ChaseCam PDR 100 recently and we have them tied into our Traqmates so that when you start the GPS data recorder the video starts automatically, a very convenient feature.
The second part of the clip I try for a fast lap, hit all my marks and run a 2:12.350. Considering my car has a radio and air conditioning I think that's pretty good.
The first time I went to the Glen a few years ago my best time was 2:26, last year I could not believe I was down to 2:16. Now both Stee and I can lap in the 2:14 with relative ease and both had 2:12 laps. Part of it is due to running Kumho V710, part is just that we learned a lot. Having Traqmates has helped immensely in figuring out where we could improve, they are a fantastic tools. V710 and Performance Friction PF 97 pads also made for some dramatic slowing down, 1.35G on my car, we call Mo and Walter at Off Camber Motorsports for the best deal on PF.
I recommend downloading the high resolution version but if you are in a hurry, here you go.
June 29, 2007
I could tell you about Group52 ...
...but then I'd have to kill you!.
I think all us agree that our two days with Group52 were amongst the finest ever track days. Group 52 is a small group which organizes essentially unpublicized events held twice a year at Watkins Glen. Sold out way in advance, entry is as much by recommendation as application and is limited to 52 entries (there are 52 garage spaces at the Glen) give or take a few. It's open track, open passing and limited to very advanced level drivers.
I love Watkins Glen at this time of year, the weather can be perfect and everything, green. Not so the day before the event when Stee CG and I made our way up to out favorite luxury accommodation, the Relax-Inn in Montour Falls in a tropical thunderstorm....and yes CG was driving on shaved RA-1 tires!....
No matter, the next day the sun was out and the temperature perfect.
At the track we found all manner of machinery, most of it made our cars look like they stood still. Highlights a Palmer Jaguar and a bunch of 997 GT3Cup cars most there in the care of Farnbacher-Loles.
CG was running his and Adil's new Gulf (or is it Sunoco?) painted Exige S. It is a stunner of a car. I'm sure when the engine will get a little extra power and get sticky tires it will be uncatchable. I sure enjoyed taking pictures of it!
Amazingly both Stee and I destroyed our previous lap times at the Glen. I found it fairly easy to consistently run at a mid 2:14 sec pace. Running any faster required getting everything cooled and gettign into a "one lap" mindset. Both Stee and I got pretty good at it and in the end he got down to a 2:12.5 and I to a 2:12.3. Reasonable times for cars with full interior and air conditioning!
Going fast uses brakes and I discovered that Walter from OffCamberMotorsport (our #1 brake pad vendor) was right when he said that Performance Friction pads work ALL the way to the backing plate! check this out... and braking performance was still there.
After the first day and after the obligatory stop at Walmart for some great deals on micro fiber cloths and 50lb bags of cow chow (I kid you not...look at the picture). we headed for another of the Glen's secret trasures, the Stone Cat cafe. It's a fantastic restaurant on the east side of Seneca Lake a few miles out of town. Excellent organic local food and BBQ, reasonably priced and quite the change from the average track food!
We all had just purchased ChaseCam PDR-100 setups hooked up to our Traqmates and the system performed very well, I will have a separate write up later next week. I can confirm that the Chase 3 suction cup mount is good to at least 138mph...that was my top speed when I got a tow drafting Stees M3 through the back straight. That's 4 mph faster than I can go on my own very cool!
Here is a video with Traqmate data overlay of that first day's 2:12 lap. The video quality is not the best as I have yet to figure out which video format TrackVision likes to ingest....in fact I cannot wait until they come out with the long awaited 2.0 version of their product.
It comes out at 2:12.6 because of where I put the timing marker in Trackvision. My Traqmate time was 2:12.5
download
Here is the raw Traqmate data for the above lap. You can download the free Traqview software HERE
I will download the faster 2:12.3 lap later tonight and post it tomorrow...
enjoy!
I think all us agree that our two days with Group52 were amongst the finest ever track days. Group 52 is a small group which organizes essentially unpublicized events held twice a year at Watkins Glen. Sold out way in advance, entry is as much by recommendation as application and is limited to 52 entries (there are 52 garage spaces at the Glen) give or take a few. It's open track, open passing and limited to very advanced level drivers.I love Watkins Glen at this time of year, the weather can be perfect and everything, green. Not so the day before the event when Stee CG and I made our way up to out favorite luxury accommodation, the Relax-Inn in Montour Falls in a tropical thunderstorm....and yes CG was driving on shaved RA-1 tires!....
No matter, the next day the sun was out and the temperature perfect.
At the track we found all manner of machinery, most of it made our cars look like they stood still. Highlights a Palmer Jaguar and a bunch of 997 GT3Cup cars most there in the care of Farnbacher-Loles.
CG was running his and Adil's new Gulf (or is it Sunoco?) painted Exige S. It is a stunner of a car. I'm sure when the engine will get a little extra power and get sticky tires it will be uncatchable. I sure enjoyed taking pictures of it!
Amazingly both Stee and I destroyed our previous lap times at the Glen. I found it fairly easy to consistently run at a mid 2:14 sec pace. Running any faster required getting everything cooled and gettign into a "one lap" mindset. Both Stee and I got pretty good at it and in the end he got down to a 2:12.5 and I to a 2:12.3. Reasonable times for cars with full interior and air conditioning!
Going fast uses brakes and I discovered that Walter from OffCamberMotorsport (our #1 brake pad vendor) was right when he said that Performance Friction pads work ALL the way to the backing plate! check this out... and braking performance was still there.
After the first day and after the obligatory stop at Walmart for some great deals on micro fiber cloths and 50lb bags of cow chow (I kid you not...look at the picture). we headed for another of the Glen's secret trasures, the Stone Cat cafe. It's a fantastic restaurant on the east side of Seneca Lake a few miles out of town. Excellent organic local food and BBQ, reasonably priced and quite the change from the average track food!
We all had just purchased ChaseCam PDR-100 setups hooked up to our Traqmates and the system performed very well, I will have a separate write up later next week. I can confirm that the Chase 3 suction cup mount is good to at least 138mph...that was my top speed when I got a tow drafting Stees M3 through the back straight. That's 4 mph faster than I can go on my own very cool!
Here is a video with Traqmate data overlay of that first day's 2:12 lap. The video quality is not the best as I have yet to figure out which video format TrackVision likes to ingest....in fact I cannot wait until they come out with the long awaited 2.0 version of their product.
It comes out at 2:12.6 because of where I put the timing marker in Trackvision. My Traqmate time was 2:12.5
download
Here is the raw Traqmate data for the above lap. You can download the free Traqview software HERE
I will download the faster 2:12.3 lap later tonight and post it tomorrow...
enjoy!
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