Overheating at the track

[syncros]

Yesterday I was invited as a guest to a new private track in Mirabel (suburbs of Montreal, Canada) where I tracked my E92 M3 for the first time. Since I didn't received my track wheels and tires, I was on a full stock setup.
For more info on the track, visit http://www.circuiticar.com

This private club is very nice and Jacques Villeneuve, 1997 F1 Champion, was there to demonstrate his driving skills and to give tips for us drivers. He stayed all day and gave out a demonstration of his skills in a Rotax Kart... very impressive.

For more info on his, go to http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_dr...all_of_fame/5/

In the morning, I had time to run 2 sessions of 20 minutes were most cars on the track didn't knew how to track their cars... It was at some point dangerous. As this was my first time I kept the DSC on, but I felt it was overcontrolling the car and to sensible, so I deciced to run without it in the afternoon for 3 sessions of 20 minutes.

I was very fortunate in the afternoon as I was lapping in the member group where many nice cars (GTR, GT3-RS, GT3, GT2, F430, Ford GT-40, Vipers, and a few others) and I have very nice gentlemen battles with Vipers, Porsches, GT-40 and GT3.

The car felt extremely good from the start and tires were very responsive. Tire wear was also not so bad i felt for 100 minutes of track time. I ran my tires with 38lbs cold, which turn out to be 43lbs hot. Brake never faded, but I had issue with my steering fluid (i believe). I would appreciate if someone could confirm that this is the steering fluid and if there is anything special I can do in the future to prevent that.

For my next track days, I hope to have R Compound tires with dedicated wheel, have my Cobra Suzuka GT seat installed in the car and change the camber on the stock suspension.

Thanks for your replies.

[ysv]

had the same after about of 20-30 minutes of same driving (noticed apparantly)... do not know the true reason, but i belive that it is simple overheating of steering liquid - nothing serious...

p.s. m3 is not real sportsman, it either must be cooked properly for it, or left without heavy practice///

[Tonybest]

How did you get invited?... or who do you know?

I signed up for two HPDE events. Calabogie in July and LCMT in August. Would be nice to meet you there.

[syncros]

Hi Tony,
I've known them for some time now and it was their opening day were they invited people to get them to become member of the club.

I will be in Tremblant in August for sure, but I'm not sure yet if I will be able to go at Callabogies in July. I should also do Mosport in June.

See you around,

[dcstep]

The power steering box is too near the headers and gets overheated. You need to build a little heat shield to protect it from the header's heat.

Last week at VIR, in the Advanced M-School, several steering boxes failed and were replaced quickly. If the power steering gets heavy, then the box has probably failed and should be replaced by BMW. Evidently some internal parts are plastic and can't take the heat.

At the M-Schools, BMW keeps all the cars bone-stock, including brake pads and tires.

Dave

[Brianrg]

Originally Posted by dcstep

The power steering box is too near the headers and gets overheated. You need to build a little heat shield to protect it from the header's heat.

Last week at VIR, in the Advanced M-School, several steering boxes failed and were replaced quickly. If the power steering gets heavy, then the box has probably failed and should be replaced by BMW. Evidently some internal parts are plastic and can't take the heat.

At the M-Schools, BMW keeps all the cars bone-stock, including brake pads and tires.

Dave

Good to know.
I have a track day tomorrow and Tuesday.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Brianrg

Good to know.
I have a track day tomorrow and Tuesday.

I'm surprised that one of the speed shops isn't making a shield to fix this. It'd be nice to have some nice shields like those over the exhaust under the car, all with a nice mounting bracket. Oh well...

Dave

[M3V8Driver]

This has already been brought to light, not long ago and not far down the list from this thread... http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=257943

I'm going to do a few things to address this before the next time I go to the track:
1) Zip-tie sopme heat blanket material around the plastic caniter
2) Use a white, cotton sock to catch the breather blow-by
3) Tinker with a simple catch can.

With as many times this issue has been discussed/reported, you'd think BMW would at least issue a TSB.

[Brianrg]

Originally Posted by dcstep

I'm surprised that one of the speed shops isn't making a shield to fix this. It'd be nice to have some nice shields like those over the exhaust under the car, all with a nice mounting bracket. Oh well...

Dave

Going to bring this up with my local tuner tomorrow.
If I find a solution, I will post it.

[1MOREMOD]

i lowered the fluid level slightly yesterday at pacific raceways and didnt have this issue.

[M3V8Driver]

I put a shield around the fluid tank, but I don't think it will do much. I think the fluid might actually be boiling down at the pump or the box, and being forced out of the weep hol ein the lid of the fluid tank. We'll see. I also attached a hose to the weep hole and put a filter ont he end of it to catch what might come out.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M3V8Driver

I put a shield around the fluid tank, but I don't think it will do much. I think the fluid might actually be boiling down at the pump or the box, and being forced out of the weep hol ein the lid of the fluid tank. We'll see. I also attached a hose to the weep hole and put a filter ont he end of it to catch what might come out.

Sorry that I didn't make it clear, but the shield needs to be between the headers and the pump.

Dave

[syncros]

Do you have a picture of it?

[tjf]

also very interested in some pictures of how you guys took care of that issue?
Took mine out to Sebring track last weekend for the first time, all stock and had the same issue after the 2nd session.

[M3V8Driver]

I didn't really take care of the problem. Just put a filter on the weep hole in the cap so that the fluid doesn't spray all over the engine bay and onto the right front tire. I think the others are right int hat we need a shield between the steering pump and the header. I also think BMW should address this at least in a TSB.

[adc]

Originally Posted by M3V8Driver

1) Zip-tie sopme heat blanket material around the plastic caniter

Where are you getting the heat blanket? Or some generic aluminum heatshield material?

I'm asking because I will probably need it later on on the M3, but I also need it now on my E30...

Thanks!

[GTM]

It is very common issue with ALL year BMWs.

My M3 also have this issue, kinda disappointing that E46 and many other BMW had same problem and BMW is too lazy to improve it.

[adc]

Originally Posted by GTM

It is very common issue with ALL year BMWs.

My M3 also have this issue, kinda disappointing that E46 and many other BMW had same problem and BMW is too lazy to improve it.

Never had this problem with my E36 M3, E46 330i or E92 335i.


It makes sense to me that it showed up in the E9x M3 because it has headers on both sides of the engine - on the inline 6 models the heat is on the other side of the steering stuff. (At least for left-hand drives).

[OC ///M]

Originally Posted by M3V8Driver

I put a shield around the fluid tank, but I don't think it will do much. I think the fluid might actually be boiling down at the pump or the box, and being forced out of the weep hol ein the lid of the fluid tank. We'll see. I also attached a hose to the weep hole and put a filter ont he end of it to catch what might come out.

Interesting theory. Any update?

[BMW M Power Mexico]

Confirmed I am having the same issue. Had a track day today.

[M3V8Driver]

Originally Posted by adc

Where are you getting the heat blanket? Or some generic aluminum heatshield material?
I'm asking because I will probably need it later on on the M3, but I also need it now on my E30...
Thanks!

I bought a roll of it from Summit Racing in Ohio, but other race supply places sell it too (Pegasus, etc.). It's about 1/2" of fiberglass sandwiched between aluminum film (smooth shiny on one side, quilted on the other). It is used to protect against heat in numerous applications.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M3V8Driver

I bought a roll of it from Summit Racing in Ohio, but other race supply places sell it too (Pegasus, etc.). It's about 1/2" of fiberglass sandwiched between aluminum film (smooth shiny on one side, quilted on the other). It is used to protect against heat in numerous applications.

Great stuff, but I'd put it around the pump, not the reservoire.

Dave