Proper drag strip technique and preparation (for E92 M3)

Chako · 09-14-2010, 06:41 PM

Hey guys,

Looking to go to the drag strip tomorrow with my M3. I have all of the basic bolt-ons (ie. pulleys, RPi scoops, exhaust, drop-in, etc.) and I really think that the car has a 12.5 @ 115 in it, a slight improvement over stock numbers. However, the limiting factor is me (driver) and how I have the car setup. I was hoping you guys could help me with that.

I have the following questions:

1) Currently I have Michelin PS2s in the front and Michelin Pilot Sport Cups in the back. What pressures should I set these at? (Presumably high in the front, low in the back?)

2) How should I do tire heating. MPSCs need alot of heat to stick properly. I was thinking a 1st gear brake stand, however my friends say I hsould do 2nd gear.. What are your thoughts?

3) What kind of gas should I run. My choices are 94 octane w/ 10% ethanol, or 91 octane w/ no ethanol. My friend said he'd give me 8 liters of VP109 octane unleaded if I wish to mix this with my pump gas.

4) Launching - At what RPMs should I launch from.. And should I 'dump' or 'slip'?

5) Gear 1 -> 2 - Really quick shifts usually result in a grind.. Should I just feather it through? I heard pushing to the left before down into the 2nd gear gate helps alot. (I have 6MT)

6) Should I try using MDM or will it just be a waste?

The track is well prepped and here are the expected conditions:

Track Elevation: 630 feet
Temperature: 59-63F/15-17C

If I can get everything right, what time should I expect to run?

Chako · 09-16-2010, 01:56 PM

Did a 13.1 @ 113mph yesterday. 2.2 60'.
Rear tire pressure 26.5 PSI.

I think the car has 12.3.-12.5 @ 115 with a good launch though. (6mt, bolt-ons with cats still in place, no tune.) Had good cold air yesterday, but could not get it to hook up properly with my bald, heat cycled out tires.

Anyway I think clearly most people here are more interested in road course over 1/4 mile. Me as well, I've been to the road course numerous times but drag strip only really twice. I like to bring my cars once to the drag strip though just to see what kind of pull it has, measured by trap speed (my actual car, not magazine tests).

Cheers!

LiM3y · 09-16-2010, 03:48 PM

philmeister4 · 10-19-2016, 07:55 PM

Good video but I can't help but thinking WTF. These cars have launch control and then on the other hand are too gentle to dig out of a stand still?

Richbot · 10-20-2016, 12:31 PM

Like you said if you knock about 1.5 tenths off for each reduction in 60' time, you're easily in the mid 12's.

Considering the crap launch, seems like the car is healthy, what was the speed gain from the 1/8th to the 1/4?

These things can leave pretty hard (for a 4.0l with no torque) with good 17" or 18" DR's, after all the at-rest limiter is at 7,000 rpm

if I were you I'd borrow a pair from some other BM guy just to satisfy your curiosity. PSC2's are like taking a gun to a laser fight, I bet there's a godo chance slapping your front PS2's on the rear would ahve resulted in a better launch just because the sidewalls are so soft in comparison

09-14-2010, 06:41 PM	#1
Chako Banned 105 Rep 280 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Canada iTrader: (1)	Proper drag strip technique and preparation (for E92 M3) Hey guys, Looking to go to the drag strip tomorrow with my M3. I have all of the basic bolt-ons (ie. pulleys, RPi scoops, exhaust, drop-in, etc.) and I really think that the car has a 12.5 @ 115 in it, a slight improvement over stock numbers. However, the limiting factor is me (driver) and how I have the car setup. I was hoping you guys could help me with that. I have the following questions: 1) Currently I have Michelin PS2s in the front and Michelin Pilot Sport Cups in the back. What pressures should I set these at? (Presumably high in the front, low in the back?) 2) How should I do tire heating. MPSCs need alot of heat to stick properly. I was thinking a 1st gear brake stand, however my friends say I hsould do 2nd gear.. What are your thoughts? 3) What kind of gas should I run. My choices are 94 octane w/ 10% ethanol, or 91 octane w/ no ethanol. My friend said he'd give me 8 liters of VP109 octane unleaded if I wish to mix this with my pump gas. 4) Launching - At what RPMs should I launch from.. And should I 'dump' or 'slip'? 5) Gear 1 -> 2 - Really quick shifts usually result in a grind.. Should I just feather it through? I heard pushing to the left before down into the 2nd gear gate helps alot. (I have 6MT) 6) Should I try using MDM or will it just be a waste? The track is well prepped and here are the expected conditions: Track Elevation: 630 feet Temperature: 59-63F/15-17C If I can get everything right, what time should I expect to run?
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09-16-2010, 01:56 PM	#2
Chako Banned 105 Rep 280 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Canada iTrader: (1)	Did a 13.1 @ 113mph yesterday. 2.2 60'. Rear tire pressure 26.5 PSI. I think the car has 12.3.-12.5 @ 115 with a good launch though. (6mt, bolt-ons with cats still in place, no tune.) Had good cold air yesterday, but could not get it to hook up properly with my bald, heat cycled out tires. Anyway I think clearly most people here are more interested in road course over 1/4 mile. Me as well, I've been to the road course numerous times but drag strip only really twice. I like to bring my cars once to the drag strip though just to see what kind of pull it has, measured by trap speed (my actual car, not magazine tests). Cheers!
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09-16-2010, 03:48 PM	#3
LiM3y Major 70 Rep 1,339 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 M3 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: CT iTrader: (5)	This is one reason why...
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10-19-2016, 07:55 PM	#4
philmeister4 Private First Class 38 Rep 109 Posts Drives: E92 Space Gray, Fox Red 6MT Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: TX iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW M3 [0.00] 2013.99 BMW M3 [0.00]	Good video but I can't help but thinking WTF. These cars have launch control and then on the other hand are too gentle to dig out of a stand still? __________________ 2013.99 E92 \| 6MT \| ZCP \| Macht Schnell Underdrive Pulleys \| BPM Sport Stage II Tune \| RPI Scoops \| AFE Elite Stage 2 Pro5R Intake \| ESS X-pipe HFC \| UUC Corsa Exhaust \| Hardwire V1
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10-20-2016, 12:31 PM	#5
Richbot Major General 2760 Rep 5,483 Posts Drives: Jerez Black E90 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: STL iTrader: (5)	Like you said if you knock about 1.5 tenths off for each reduction in 60' time, you're easily in the mid 12's. Considering the crap launch, seems like the car is healthy, what was the speed gain from the 1/8th to the 1/4? These things can leave pretty hard (for a 4.0l with no torque) with good 17" or 18" DR's, after all the at-rest limiter is at 7,000 rpm if I were you I'd borrow a pair from some other BM guy just to satisfy your curiosity. PSC2's are like taking a gun to a laser fight, I bet there's a godo chance slapping your front PS2's on the rear would ahve resulted in a better launch just because the sidewalls are so soft in comparison __________________ Last edited by Richbot; 10-20-2016 at 12:38 PM..
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