another trackday today.....

B

Beedub

Lifer
Sutton Coldfield
well my second trackday since my engine work today and i have to say what a fab day.... the car performed flawlessly and on the track is just brutally quick, my ps2 warmed throught nicely can handle the grunt well, traction control off, proper fast runs, the hardest ive pushged the car since the Ess kit was installed, and Wow...... the car is just freakin awesome, not a hiccup, not a flat spot, just power power power..... After alot longer runs today i can happily say the temps are as stock, the balance is just right and car handles this power like it came from the factory that way.... i think i must be one of a few that think the stock suspension on this car is just brilliant. so the moral of my story????? was that money well spent? 100% yes, if anyone is considering this kit, just go for it.... i promise you will not be dissapointed, it turns the car from a very very fast capable car to a seriously potent device capable to killing some much higer priced machinery... so much fun, then the end of the day comes and i cruise home in total comfort, just like a stock z4m.... ess welldone.

sorry for waffling on... just feeling alitle happy rught now.... the adrenaline is still pumping.
 
sadly no photo's just great memories........ my other half was supposed to come along to catch vids n pics but soat the dummy in the morning and chose not to come along...... perfect, man time!!! lol

Re the suspension im running completly stock suspension with simpson motorsport alignment, they did an amazing job, i love the way the cars handles from stock, im running the wider CSL wheels along with the aligment, plus my sticky tyres it makes for an awesome ride, very neutral balance, great feedback and a lovely playful rear end that never steps out to far but just enough to make very rapid progress.

definatly need to uprate these brakes...... 6pots soon, i always wonder if we can adapt the bmw performance items from the 135i

the z4m is a track warrior..... german tvr??
 
Beedub said:
definatly need to uprate these brakes...... 6pots soon, i always wonder if we can adapt the bmw performance items from the 135i
Click to expand...

Sure can, a guy on ebay sells a conversion kit -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-Performan...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item20b405c080

Here's the calipers themselves, of course you wouldn't need the discs:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-Performan...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item20b405a5c8

Do you know anyone who has used these on a Zed? I used to have a Z4 3.0 with the ESS twin screw S/C kit and the brakes definitely needed uprated and that was with 100kg less.

Do you know if ESS do an upgrade kit with intercooler, 500 or 550bhp kit like they do with the E46 M3.
 
gwatson, the vt2 is currently unavaible the balance with vt1 is pretty much perfect, plus @ 5psi the engine isnt overly stressed, infact some companies are running double that and more on stock engines, are you considering the S/C upgrade? cheers for the heads up on the brakes ;-)
 
Sadly not. I don't even have a Z4M, sold my Z4 a few years back as I wanted to get into the track scene and bought a M3 which is now stripped and caged amongst many many other upgrades. It's stupid quick on track, but feel I've had my fun with it, 3 seasons of track sessions including Nurburgring trips.

But with a baby on route in 6 weeks, the M3 will be parked up whilst the wife is on maternity. Going to see how much money we have free once we pay for nursery fees and will probably have to sell the M3, it's expensive to modify and run on track. I'm having a real craving (hence the return to the forum) to return to topless motoring & I'm thinking with the current prices of Z4M roadster I'll get one for weekend and yes hopefully supercharge it.

I wanted to run an intercooler on my twin screw kit just for reliability, but as you say 5psi is pretty low, I was running 8.5psi with no problems. Out of interest, how is your idle. That was the only ongoing problem i had with my kit, car just wouldn't idle smoothly when cold.

So in short, hopefully yes, one day, but probably not for another 12-18 months :( :(

Loving your project by the way :)

G
 
Idle is perfect, this kits runs alpa n management no maf on the s54 so it's digitally smooth, the car runs 25% better than when it was stock..... Low speed the car is just a joy to drive, so smooth and lovely torque, as the boost builds just pure power. I also have alittle one on the way so I no the expense your facing but my z4 will be staying, I did however sell another toy, I'm currently swapping my daily driver for somethink larger, my z4m will be staying with me however, can't bring myself to part with it. These kits have been developed for years on the m3 so now on the z4, ess really nailed it with z4m, I am 100% happy with the kit, it even looks the absolute business, ess really did the business. The brakes however will need to be uprated, another cost I need to ofset as baby bits are like car parts, crazy expensive, if I was you I'd keep the m3 and add a sc kit to that, as you done alot of the work needed. One thing I can say when you experience 460+ bhp in a car like the z4m it's a rather awesome experience, to say I'm exstatic is a complete understatement, the v3si charger is a fab piece of kit in it's own right, it's on oil supply independent of the engine do no heated engine oil, it even has it's own dip stick. The v3 is rated up to 750bhp and 25psi so the 5psi in my application isn't even beginning to test this unit, it's near silent at higher revs but at idle n low speeds makes a lovely mecanical whistle, at higher Revs induction roar and bypass blows off noises, all in all it's awesome, it's turned my z4m into a supercar chaser.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Gwatson foruch better details and pics check out my thread on the kit ;-)!!
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gwatson said:
Beedub said:
definatly need to uprate these brakes...... 6pots soon, i always wonder if we can adapt the bmw performance items from the 135i
Click to expand...

Sure can, a guy on ebay sells a conversion kit -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-Performan...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item20b405c080

Here's the calipers themselves, of course you wouldn't need the discs:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-Performan...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item20b405a5c8

Do you know anyone who has used these on a Zed? I used to have a Z4 3.0 with the ESS twin screw S/C kit and the brakes definitely needed uprated and that was with 100kg less.
Click to expand...

Those look tasty! I dont think i'd try them though. Would the benefit justify the cost for a caliper only upgrade? And also i'd be concerned about not upgrading the rears, upsetting the braking balance. I changed my brake pads to Axxis ULT's a few weeks ago and did the fronts a few days before doing the rears. In certain braking conditions the difference in braking balance was very noticeable. If you only brake in an absolute straight line then i guess it wouldnt matter that much but unfortunately in the real world it doesnt always work that way.

I dont know, maybe i'm thinking about this all wrong, has anyone actually got experience with this (or a similar) kit?
 
Beedub said:
Idle is perfect, this kits runs alpa n management no maf on the s54 so it's digitally smooth, the car runs 25% better than when it was stock..... Low speed the car is just a joy to drive, so smooth and lovely torque, as the boost builds just pure power. I also have alittle one on the way so I no the expense your facing but my z4 will be staying, I did however sell another toy, I'm currently swapping my daily driver for somethink larger, my z4m will be staying with me however, can't bring myself to part with it. These kits have been developed for years on the m3 so now on the z4, ess really nailed it with z4m, I am 100% happy with the kit, it even looks the absolute business, ess really did the business. The brakes however will need to be uprated, another cost I need to ofset as baby bits are like car parts, crazy expensive, if I was you I'd keep the m3 and add a sc kit to that, as you done alot of the work needed. One thing I can say when you experience 460+ bhp in a car like the z4m it's a rather awesome experience, to say I'm exstatic is a complete understatement, the v3si charger is a fab piece of kit in it's own right, it's on oil supply independent of the engine do no heated engine oil, it even has it's own dip stick. The v3 is rated up to 750bhp and 25psi so the 5psi in my application isn't even beginning to test this unit, it's near silent at higher revs but at idle n low speeds makes a lovely mecanical whistle, at higher Revs induction roar and bypass blows off noises, all in all it's awesome, it's turned my z4m into a supercar chaser.
Click to expand...

Good to hear the idle is smooth, I was always embarassed starting up mine. I assume the Alpha ECU is extra on top of the price ESS charge? I don't see it in the list of parts provided in the kit, seems they just remap the original ECU, like they did with my kit.

My thoughts were always to keep the M3 too, I have a E39 540i V8 for the daily stuff. But the M3 is just too hardcore to use on the road unless giving it death, but that's becoming more and more unacceptable these days. The Z4M will do everything so well, cruising to blasting. I'll have to accept it won't be as track orientated, but still awesome fun.

My M3 is the S50 3.2 engine, so they don't take to supercharging as well as the S54 unit, bit fragile, so will be avoiding going to that route. PLus stipping 200kg gives better performance in every dept, handling and braking, not just straight line.

Not to take anything away from your thread, but here's a picture of my supercharged Z4 and now my M3 :)

DSC00326.jpg


DSC00242-1.jpg


m3_july_1.jpg


m3_july_2.jpg


m3_july_3.jpg


dreadnought_2.jpg



rear1.JPG
 
woooww lovely cars!! any z4 engine pics please??? that m3 looks abit handy!!! the alpha n management is done by ESS, they completely re-write the software on my stock ecu so no maf, it just uses sensors and the software does the rest, very cool, ESS are the buts imo. your m3 looks very cool, i wouldnt sell it personally, mod list? engine shots?

R.e the brakes, ga41 the 135i bembos have a rear caliper as well i believe which is 2 pot, these are to be purchased seperatly, but personally the rear do so little braking i dont think by changing the pads you would notice a brake balance issue, maybe changing the calipers yes, but i agree if i was to swap out the fronts i defo want the rears done as well! i do love the trophy cup brakes thorney fit to the e46 m3s, they look monster, and perform faultlessly.
 
Need to find a picture of the engine bay of the Z4. Here's one of the M3, needs a clean I agree.

engine.jpg


Really too many mods to list, here's my journal from start to finish -http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=661008&nmt=S

I can't decide whether to replace it with a Z4M, I really miss having a sexy car on the drive and topless motoring. I could spend another £5k on the M3 or put the money into the Z4M, which I'll probably spend £5k on mods anyway :o
 
Glad you are using the kit the way it was designed to be used :) I always enjoy driving supercharged Z4M's when we get them in. Takes me back to the days when I had mine and reminds me how great of a car the Z4M is for driving.
 
TBH I'd say keep the M3 - I've seen it at KH a few times but that was before I knew whose it was and it looked very well sorted. I'm not a track fiend, just play with my camera sometimes, but it appears I've got one of yours (I think...):

March 2009, TrackScotland:
3785197259_4b5880ae5d_b.jpg

From this set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/a11y_m/sets/72157621934794164/


Sorry, a bit O/T :oops:
 
Yeap that's me :D I remember that session, VERY wet. That was before the car was stripped and caged with a different diff ratio, it's a lot quicker now....

Beedub, apologies, my fault this has gone way off topic :)
 
Gwatson no it's no probs I'm enjoying this thread ;-) no probs matey!!

Roman the kit is defiantly been used as designed and it's been faultless!! The z4m with boost is nuts!!!
 
gwatson said:
Yeap that's me :D I remember that session, VERY wet. That was before the car was stripped and caged with a different diff ratio, it's a lot quicker now....
Click to expand...
Not just very wet, but effing freezing too - I think that was the day I jumped in for a few passenger laps with Alan (in the yellow Ibiza Cupra - not sure if you know him) just to warm back up. I might come over and pester you if I spot you whenever I'm back up at KH - my helmet's always in the boot ;)

I love the fact that a car as unassuming (relatively!) as the Z4M can reliably be tuned to 460bhp and be an absolute monster, but remain utterly useable daily. TBH I'd be happy getting my hands on a Z4M in the first place...
 
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