[ovekvam]

I was driving at a local gokart track today, in dry conditions. Did some testing with the drive modes. The track is 1 km long, and driven entirely in second gear.

In Sport+, I get better engine response than with DSC Off, but the stability system kicks in if I drive at the limit in the corners, holding back the power. My best lap time with this mode was 54.3 seconds.

With DSC Off, I could go earlier on the throttle and corner harder without getting power cuts. I eventually got a best lap time of 52.2 seconds in this mode. Now I was able to chase down cars like E36 M3, Honda Integra and Toyota GT86. Probably less experienced drivers, as these cars are faster in theory.

The 52.2 second lap time is sligthly faster than I ever drove with my somewhat modified E36 323ti and E30 318iS (with R-compound tires), so the stock F20 is a very efficient car for track driving.

Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 3, 205/50-17 on 8" wheels.

[ovekvam]

Some pictures from today.

About to catch up to a chip tuned 118d:


Trying to carry speed out of a corner:


Flatout down a straight:


Trail braking:

[ant234]

Imagine what you can do with DSC off and sports mode!! Awesome pics btw

[vladberca]

A bimmer used in a proper way
Still curious about the influence of your tyres vs OEM run-flats?
I think you have a real advantage due to the change..

[westphone]

nice

[ovekvam]

Originally Posted by ant234

Imagine what you can do with DSC off and sports mode!! Awesome pics btw

I wish that was possible. Unfortunately it is not possible in any modern BMWs.

[ovekvam]

Originally Posted by vladberca

A bimmer used in a proper way
Still curious about the influence of your tyres vs OEM run-flats?
I think you have a real advantage due to the change..

I think so too. For track driving, the performance is probably quite similar, but the regular tires are definitely more comfortable. Besides, the best tires (like Michelin Supersport) are not available as runflats.

[Bruno28]

what a sexy colour! Like it a lot!

[GeoBem007]

I really think it's a bit of a shame that you can't have DSC fully off in Sport(+) mode..

[ovekvam]

Originally Posted by GeoBem007

I really think it's a bit of a shame that you can't have DSC fully off in Sport(+) mode..

Yeah, it makes no sense to me. It is also like that on the 3-series and 5-series. It would be very easy to change this in software for BMW if they wanted to. So why don't they want to? Don't they trust our driving abilities?

[papertiger]

Nice pictures Ove! At Reve, right? It may be possible to do something with the combination of sport mode and dsc completely off if you learn how to code?

[ovekvam]

Originally Posted by papertiger

Nice pictures Ove! At Reve, right? It may be possible to do something with the combination of sport mode and dsc completely off if you learn how to code?

Yes, it was on the Reve track. I have not heard about anybody who have managed to solve this Sport/DSC issue.

[hwelvaar]

What is that ??

[ovekvam]

Originally Posted by hwelvaar

What is that ??

That is a head rest cover shaped like a bear head. Here it is, more than 10 years ago:


Many people dress up their cars like race cars, while I try to have a slightly less ambitious image. It makes it even more fun to pass the wannabe race cars with that head rest cover.

[viggen]

if you want a special tire suitable for all day use, i recommend the bridgestone RE070. what a grip for a road tire (subaru impreza homologated but perfectly usable on a bimmer!)

[ovekvam]

Originally Posted by viggen

if you want a special tire suitable for all day use, i recommend the bridgestone RE070. what a grip for a road tire (subaru impreza homologated but perfectly usable on a bimmer!)

That is a pretty good tire in the dry, but nowhere close to the Michelin Super Sport as an all round tire. Even the Subaru guys change the stock Bridgestones to Michelins.

Here is a link to a forum thread that quotes a test between the two tire types:
http://www.subaruclubsg.com/topic/74...t-super-sport/

[GeoBem007]

Something I noticed:

In DSC off, steering is 'stronger' than in regular comfort.

[ovekvam]

Originally Posted by GeoBem007

Something I noticed:

In DSC off, steering is 'stronger' than in regular comfort.

I have the basic steering, so it feels the same in all modes.