[Prollig]

I'm not stranger to track days. I have a fully prepped e36 m3 track car. I've been through all the pads/fluids/tires/camber problems with stock cars.

But this is an M2 right? Are the stock pads up to track duty? How's the fade? Stock brake fluid ok?

I realize camber is not adjustable, do the MPSS outer edge chunk bad?

Thanks

[Hossel19]

Short answer is NO.
You will need to upgrade the brake pads since you are no stranger to track days.
I am yet to track my M2 (winter over here) but am saying this based on the following:
- Several reviews I read in this section of the forum as well as in the brakes sub section
- I track with the local BMW club here and all the guys that track F80-82 with us upgraded the track pads (F80-82 has the same OEM brakes as the M2). Most going with Pagid RS29's

and Regarding brake fluid, I am planning to use stock for the first 2-3 track days then switch...

[CommitConfirm]

I'm no James Hunt but imho the only thing my M2 needed for track day was the BMW track pads & plenty of extra fuel. The limiting factor is almost always the driver. Resist buying mods & spend the money on track time and tuition.

I drove to the track with the road pads & when I got there jacked it up and swapped em out for the track pads. At the end of the day we swapped em back and drove home

I got just under 100 miles from a full tank. Did I say take extra fuel?

Depending how hard you are on the car then maybe some new tyres after but I had plenty of life left for some more road miles. I'll probably invest in a second set of stock alloys as race rims with the personal favourite 888s tyres.

[Prollig]

Thanks guys, yeah that's what I was assuming. Time to look into a good track pad. Pagid RS29 eh? Sounds good. I'm a PFC01 guy but doesn't look like those are out yet.

Also pad swap pretty standard like any BMW? No biggie?

[CommitConfirm]

Yeah - pretty easy & you only need a few tools & nothing special. I was lucky that the road pads had plenty of meat on them so the pistons did not need pushing back into the calliper. If you do go for the Pagid RS29 i;d be interest to hear your thoughts, I've never used them. I think badluck has experimented with another alternative.

[BruceM]

If/when you track in high ambient temperatures, SS brake lines are cheap and can help preserve good pedal feel. I saw a thread somewhere awhile ago in which a professional driver at the track recommended SS lines for this car...

[BAN_M2C]

I am doing Autocross in it right now so its been complete stock in the braking area. But as soon as I plan to hit full track I am going with SS lines, upgraded brake fluid and track pads.. I tracked my old car many times and these three items I see as basic items to ensure safety.

[Prollig]

For sure. Here in NorCal the weather is a little better but when I lived in LA and went to the track in what is to be considered the "off season" (summer) I have boiled non race brake fluid. So totally understand flushing that depending on the situation.

Also track car has SS lines. Never could tell a difference but it's cheap enough and usually not worse.

[Pyrat 2]

Stock pads are no good for the track. In fact after my first track event with the M2 I ended up with uneven pad deposits on the rotors and they needed to be replaced. With track pads absolutely no issues.

Camber plates are a must imo if you track the car. While the MPSS do not chunk the outer edge will get worn excessively as there is no camber adjustment without adjustable plates.

[Hossel19]

Originally Posted by Pyrat 2

Camber plates are a must imo if you track the car. While the MPSS do not chunk the outer edge will get worn excessively as there is no camber adjustment without adjustable plates.

I am planning to track 5-7 days next summer and was thinking I could possibly avoid camber plates by installing tires with a stiffer sidewall (AD08R) to reduce excessive wear on the outer edges. Do you think that will work?

Tried this on my 335 (n54) and was able to get 7000 miles of street driving + 8 track days out of the AD08's, I just had to flip the front tires mid season.

You think I could do the same with the M2 or am I being too optimistic?

[CosmosMpower]

No get some Hawk DTC70's or higher temp track pads and flush your fluid with high temp brake fluid too. Stock pads will melt and smear all over your rotors leaving deposits. Stock fluid will boil and leave you with a long brake pedal.

[Pyrat 2]

Originally Posted by CosmosMpower

No get some Hawk DTC70's or higher temp track pads and flush your fluid with high temp brake fluid too. Stock pads will melt and smear all over your rotors leaving deposits. Stock fluid will boil and leave you with a long brake pedal.

^ I did exactly that on my first track event. All four rotors had to be replaced. I'm using carbotech xp10 in front and xp8 since then instead of the hawks. Bottom line though is you need track pads.

[paradoxical3]

You will need track pads and fluids. If you are anything above a novice level driver, camber plates are mandatory. I ruined an entire set of RE71Rs in one day without them. I lost more in those tires than just buying the damn camber plates would have cost.

[Hossel19]

Originally Posted by paradoxical3

If you are anything above a novice level driver, camber plates are mandatory. I ruined an entire set of RE71Rs in one day without them. I lost more in those tires than just buying the damn camber plates would have cost.

I am hoping you are not right regarding camber plates being mandatory.

I am thinking an intermediate driver (20-30 track days) can avoid camber plates if:
1- You use tires with stiffer sidewall
2- Don't overdrive the car
3- Rotate the tires after few events

After all I read OEM front camber is at -1.5 for the M2

[paradoxical3]

Originally Posted by Hossel19

I am hoping you are not right regarding camber plates being mandatory.

I am thinking an intermediate driver (20-30 track days) can avoid camber plates if:
1- You use tires with stiffer sidewall
2- Don't overdrive the car
3- Rotate the tires after few events

After all I read OEM front camber is at -1.5 for the M2

RE71R have pretty stiff sidewalls. I was ruining the tires on the outside edges while they have full tread on the inside. After camber plates the wear is basically perfect.

This has typically been an issue with BMWs in the past, and I don't think this car is any different. Of course if you are not pushing the car you will have less wear, but the outsides will still wear first.

[swebster]

Smoked the pads and rotors after 3 track days at Thunderhill. Tried to get the dealer to replace no cost. Turns out pads/rotors aren't covered under the new warranty for 2017 models.

There is some serious pad fade on stock pads at the track. They start to chunk and get past MOT. Once that happens uneven wear on pads and rotors begins along with vibration when braking. Definitely overheated the rotors and pads with hard track driving.

You will need camber plates to get better front tire wear and hopefully to help the car from pushing on turn it.

[Twt]

Originally Posted by Pyrat 2

^ I did exactly that on my first track event. All four rotors had to be replaced. I'm using carbotech xp10 in front and xp8 since then instead of the hawks. Bottom line though is you need track pads.

Same here...XP10/8 with SS brake lines and Motul 600....still had a little brake fade at the end of a long session at RA....factory brakes would suffer a quick and painful death.

[Prollig]

Originally Posted by swebster

Smoked the pads and rotors after 3 track days at Thunderhill. Tried to get the dealer to replace no cost. Turns out pads/rotors aren't covered under the new warranty for 2017 models.

There is some serious pad fade on stock pads at the track. They start to chunk and get past MOT. Once that happens uneven wear on pads and rotors begins along with vibration when braking. Definitely overheated the rotors and pads with hard track driving.

You will need camber plates to get better front tire wear and hopefully to help the car from pushing on turn it.

Welp. Good to know. Yeah it's $600 for just pads up to 36k miles. Figure spend that 600 on a set of race pads and avoid eating up the stockers.

[Mr 2]

How come so many reviews have the M2 on a track and reviewers rave about the brakes. Would it be worth it to get the $600 ultimate care and burn the stock pads and rotors up on tracks?

[Prollig]

The reviews are done by journalists who are putting similarly new cars in similar price ranges on the track and comparing them "out of the box." I'm sure the M2 is beyond perfect for the track right from the factory if you only toss it around for 10-20 minutes and you're comparing to other cars in the same price range.

We're just talking about tracking our cars long term 2-4 or more days per year and the typical 4 to 5 sessions a day, 20-25 minute each session kind of abuse.

You might wanna double check but the $600 ultimate care does not cover rotors. I asked, they said nope. Maybe because the rotor service doesn't come until after 37k miles? I couldn't find anything to back this up but from what I remember the $600 cost for ultimate care was just pads.

If you've never tracked your car, just take it the way it is and it will be more than enough. I'm still thinking about running stock pads and I'll have a baseline to compare some track pads to next time. But running stock pads as a long term solution to going to the track probably not gonna work too long.

[ed03feng]

Good to know. Now I need to consider canceling that ultimate care package and invest that to the track pads and as brake line.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Mr 2

How come so many reviews have the M2 on a track and reviewers rave about the brakes. Would it be worth it to get the $600 ultimate care and burn the stock pads and rotors up on tracks?

Review cars are prepped with " M performance pads" , available at additional cost from your dealer. At the very least you should instead put your $600 towards those. The stock rotors are ok.


While still appropriate for a novice level driver ,
The stock M2 is the first BMW that I have ever known to be unsuitable for intermediate level HPDE drivers right out of the box. Track pads are essential.

If you plan to run more than two track weekends a year, you will find that camber plates are a "necessory..." as you will absolutely murder the outside edge of whatever sacrificial tire you run... particularly if running the stock front wheel and tire setup which are narrower up front.