[623]

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Here is a second report about tracking this car in HPDE events, following the first one earlier this year that you can find here: https://g87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2163342

Spoiler alert: The BMW M240i (G42) did an exceptional job at this track, both in terms of performance (best laps in the 1.43.xx) and reliability. We did the equivalent of three track days in one weekend, as the second day was run with two drivers on back-to-back sessions. I posted the video of the last session, with a detailed explanation of the corners before doing hot laps in the 1:43.xx and not getting to 1:42 due to traffic.

Also, the M240i constantly outpaced more powerful cars or lighter ones and impressed many people. I posted a shorter but fun video of a few laps where our little 240i is catching up with a Corvette C8 and a Porsche Cayman GT4.

Laguna is the most fun per mile you'll get on any track IMO, but it's also a track that can bite you hard if you make a mistake. Luckily, the car was easy to drive, always predictable (except on one occasion that I'll discuss later), and ultimately very efficient.



Here is what you need to know:

Track:
- Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca
- High intermediate group
- Lap times window between 1:45 and 1:43.xx
- First time ever on this track

Setup is mostly stock, with the basic mods for track day:
- Brake fluid: Motul RF600
- Brake pads: iSweep is4000
- Wheels: Apex VS-5RS 18x9 ET25
- Suspension: Vorshlag Camber plate
- Tires: Kumho Ecsta V730 255/35-18

Electronics:
- Sport+ mode
- DSC off for three sessions, then Dynamic Traction Control (middle setting) activated.

Let's start with the Traction Control ON/Off question:
On the previous track days at Buttonwillow, we ran hot laps nonstop with DSC off, and we had no issue whatsoever. Laguna has way more elevation changes and opportunities to unsettle the car though, and we had a bit of a scare entering turn 6 on the third session. You can see it in the video I posted here:

It looks like the right rear tire let go before the turn while still on the curb. I didn't feel like I did anything different than usual and it took me a bit to overcome some apprehension after the incident. Talking with various drivers at the track who were running in the same group at the same pace (with any kind of car from Porsche Cayman GT4 to Type R modified), it turns out they all used traction control for this exact same reason. I changed my setup to use the second level of Traction control on the dash (we don't have the adjustment like in the M2) and the rest of the weekend was uneventful, and the car didn't seem to be reacting any different. BMW engineers know what they're doing when designing a safety net!

Tires:
If you read my previous post, you know that I was concerned about the longevity of the Bridgestone R71Rs. I probably under-inflated them, as mentioned by a few fellow forum members. I learned from my mistake and nurtured my new set of Kumho Ecsta V730 this time. Cold pressure was around 36 psi, and hot was around 43F. Every time we saw more than 43 we removed a bit of air. After 150 laps, the tires look like they've barely been used, as shown in the pictures below.




Brakes:
The brake pads are not easy to find for this car, but I started a thread on the topic for those interested. I'll copy the last post here regarding Laguna Seca and the iSweep IS4000 race pads.

Long story short, the stopping power of the IS4000 compound is incredibly high, way above the Hawk 70 (that is more like endurance pads I believe). Where I had to stomp on the pedal with the Hawk, I barely had to press the same pedal with the IS4000... And if pushing hard, you get some impressive braking power.

These pads took some abuse, with 150 fast laps so far on two hard braking tracks: three sessions on Buttonwillow "The Circuit" and then 15 sessions at Laguna Seca. There is still some life left in the pads, and they didn't squeak much on the drive back from the track. There is one pad, front right, that is getting worn out, but for the other pads, they have probably one more track day in them on a flowy track like BW 13CW.

You can see in the pics below how they look after 150 laps on a relatively fast and heavy car like the M240i G42...

Last, but not least, I bought these race pads from RG Sports in California.



Engine:
The engine in this car is rock solid. Out of curiosity, I did another oil change after the last two track days, and the oil color was still almost new. It might not be a perfect scientific way of measuring oil life, but still, it gives a pretty good idea that no oil change was needed ;-)

During the sessions, the oil temperature stayed mostly flat, rising to 232 and staying there for the most part. In the afternoon of the second day, with a bright sun and warmer temps, the oil temp rose slightly to reach 237F. And we were running back-to-back sessions!


Suspensions:
Still running stock suspensions, with just the camber plates. In pictures, the car sometimes looks high, but it feels planted on the pavement. Even sending it through the big dip of turn 6 or diving on the inside of Corkscrew didn't unsettle the stock dampers. No excessive body rolls in turns, even on the transition from turn 9 to 10...





This second post about track day should encourage more people to track their cars. On the way back home from the track, the little coupe loaded with wheels, jack stand, helmets, etc, the drive was quiet as usual, with 34.4 mpg recorded and no rattle. Luxury, reliability, and performance in the same package, this car is the real deal!

[AdonisP91]

Sweet! Btw what phone mount and app are you using?

[623]

Thank you!

I use a ProClip mount.

It takes a bit of room but it's not moving at all even on track, and that's what I was looking for.

[pr0gi]

Great write-up! Thank you for being an awesome person and sharing this amazing experience with us! I can at least feel what it's like to be there for 2 minutes.

[623]

Awww you're so sweet! I'm happy you liked it, and I hope you'll be able to make the trip yourself one day!

[peelerec]

Glad to see another great write up! When and which is the next track day?

[Motorwerke_man]

Fantastic write-up thanks for sharing the experience. Very informative for those of us who want to track their cars.

The performance and lap times are impressive considering the minimal modifications. Love the photos showing the suspension working and the videos you've included as well.

I told myself I wouldn't track the M340i and leave my other car for that but posts like this have me very tempted to buy some camber plates, lightweight 18s and 200TW tires.

Do you have the passive dampers or adaptive?

[t0pless]

I wonder if I’ve come acrossed you. I run with speed ventures for most SoCal events, and HOD for Laguna.

You can definitely bring that Laguna time down to like 1:40. I ran a 1:42 with my z4 on ECS02’s.

Brakes:
If you’re referring to hawk DTC 70s, they have some of the highest CoF of any brake pad I ran, but you NEED to heat them up. They also have a shit ton of iron in them so make sure you use a good iron removal solution.

Dump the isweep pads. So many other options that are better than isweep.

Tires:
V730 is a great tire with good wear (and cheap), but is really more of an endurance tire. Nankang CRS, A052, or Re71Rs will be your fastest tire choices, followed by a honorary mention of the rt660/rt660+

Engine:
These b58’s get hot. I’ve had oil temps hit 300F before. When you decide to run more power, consider replacing the heat exchanger block with an actual oil cooler.

Cool to see these cars hit the track.

[AlexC2er]

Well done! In terms of brake pads, the endless me20 and me22 has the size in stock, they’re just labeled as for the g30 5 series, but they fit the ztk perfectly, I think it’s just a bit thicker than stock pads.

[623]

Originally Posted by peelerec

Glad to see another great write up! When and which is the next track day?

Thank you! IDK yet, but maybe I will start alternating more Socal and Norcal tracks? I still need to get a go to Sonoma and Thunderhill, but I love Buttonwillow 13CW as well.

Nothing will beat Laguna though, I'll be back for sure!

[623]

Originally Posted by Motorwerke_man

Fantastic write-up thanks for sharing the experience. Very informative for those of us who want to track their cars.

The performance and lap times are impressive considering the minimal modifications. Love the photos showing the suspension working and the videos you've included as well.

Thank you so much! Yeah, one picture is worth 1000 words ;-)

Originally Posted by Motorwerke_man

Do you have the passive dampers or adaptive?

Since I can select different modes for the suspension, I'd say adaptive. I don't really feel the difference on the road, and never tried anything else than Sport+ on track. They don't seem to be adjustable manually like the ride height you can option on the M2...

[623]

Originally Posted by AlexC2er

Well done! In terms of brake pads, the endless me20 and me22 has the size in stock, they’re just labeled as for the g30 5 series, but they fit the ztk perfectly, I think it’s just a bit thicker than stock pads.

Too bad I don't have the ZTK package, just the normal M Brakes (blue calipers)

[peelerec]

Originally Posted by 623

Thank you! IDK yet, but maybe I will start alternating more Socal and Norcal tracks? I still need to get a go to Sonoma and Thunderhill, but I love Buttonwillow 13CW as well.

Nothing will beat Laguna though, I'll be back for sure!

Where do you reside? I’m originally from Pomona but now live in the north bay. I also have a good mix of SoCal and NorCal track experience. I’m absolutely in love more with the NorCal tracks overall. Sonoma, Laguna, Thunder Hill.
If you haven’t had a chance to go down to Chuckwalla in riverside, I highly recommend.

[623]

Originally Posted by t0pless

You can definitely bring that Laguna time down to like 1:40. I ran a 1:42 with my z4 on ECS02’s.

Knowing the track will help next time, hopefully, but thank you for the vote of confidence!

Originally Posted by t0pless

Brakes:
Dump the isweep pads. So many other options that are better than isweep.

Not so many options out there for the G42 LCI (2023+), annoyingly. I started a thread about this and I'm planning on trying as many brands as I can to see which compound offer the best ratio power/longevity. This will take time, but it's already two brands checked!

Originally Posted by t0pless

Tires:
V730 is a great tire with good wear (and cheap), but is really more of an endurance tire. Nankang CRS, A052, or Re71Rs will be your fastest tire choices, followed by a honorary mention of the rt660/rt660+

True, and agreed! But for now, as I discover new tracks, that's what I'm looking for, an endurance tire. If I put my ego on the side, I have to admit there is probably more lap time to gain in the driver department than in the tires at this point. The V730 are supposed to be slower than R71Rs, but I can tell you that they don't get greasy and are very consistent. At Buttonwillow, the best laps on R71Rs were the second or third lap of each session. With the V730, any lap could be a good one, there was no difference between the begining and the end of the session. And they wear good, which makes me feel good with my wallet since it's a HPDE and not a race ;-)

Originally Posted by t0pless

Engine:
These b58’s get hot. I’ve had oil temps hit 300F before. When you decide to run more power, consider replacing the heat exchanger block with an actual oil cooler.

B58 cooling seem to have been improved with the G42. I have two small oil coolers on my car, one on each side, beign the triangle shaped openings. We will see if they are enough. I know that european models don't have them tho, which might explain why they are selling an extra package?

Originally Posted by t0pless

Cool to see these cars hit the track.

Cool to be the underdog indeed ;-)

[623]

Originally Posted by peelerec

Where do you reside? I’m originally from Pomona but now live in the north bay. I also have a good mix of SoCal and NorCal track experience. I’m absolutely in love more with the NorCal tracks overall. Sonoma, Laguna, Thunder Hill.
If you haven’t had a chance to go down to Chuckwalla in riverside, I highly recommend.

I'm in SoCal, but I'm like you, the NorCal tracks have a better vibe, a better flow for the most part, and a nicer environment.
I love the original Buttonwillow, the new one not so much. Chuckwalla is one local track I need to try, I went there to watch once but never got to drive there. I thought it was more of a motorcycle track, design-wise, but I might be wrong. It get hot over there though...

[peelerec]

Originally Posted by 623

I'm in SoCal, but I'm like you, the NorCal tracks have a better vibe, a better flow for the most part, and a nicer environment.
I love the original Buttonwillow, the new one not so much. Chuckwalla is one local track I need to try, I went there to watch once but never got to drive there. I thought it was more of a motorcycle track, design-wise, but I might be wrong. It get hot over there though...

Absolutely agree with the better environment in the NorCal tracks
I’ll be at Sonoma for my next track day, 4/19 with Light Speed if you happen to be able to join.

[t0pless]

Originally Posted by 623

Cool to be the underdog indeed ;-)

Laguna lines overall looked pretty good FYi. Looks like you were late trail braking in to turn 6, which is big no no with how fast and steep that camber is on that turn. Glad you saved it though- that’s a hairy spot! Here is my lap if you want to compare notes for next time!

I’m not entirely familiar with g42 platform, but curious on a couple of things…

Are you running the 348mm rotors or 374mm? Wasn’t sure if the m sport performance kit was an optional upgrade for these cars I know the 348mm calipers updated the retaining pin location which is a bummer. You can reach out to Carbotech, Mike should have the backing plates for the updated design. You can PM me as I got his direct line (not business affiliated with him, just like the pads).

Do these cars come with the optional oil cooler like the 3 series? Otherwise my understanding is the main radiator + aux heat exchangers with a sandwich plate for an oil cooler.

You should come out to Las Vegas Motorsport campus for a track weekend. Speed ventures is hosting 4/19-4/20, and also doing BimmerChallenge! Free to sign up, and you get to win shit if you podium in your class!

[623]

Running the 348mm rotors, with the updated pin location indeed, which is why it's hard to get pads. I'll PM you about the Carbtech pads

Engine: The B58 engine features a cooling system with three frontal radiators, one large central radiator and two smaller auxiliary radiators located in front of each wheel. They should suffice for the stock engine, but can be upgraded if using a tune (either via option on order or via aftermarket)

Oh yeah I forgot about Las Vegas! No way to make a podium when it's the first time on track but I should try it indeed! Good call ;-)
I'm just worried about Speed Ventures events being packed with too many cars on track at each session?

[623]

Originally Posted by peelerec

Absolutely agree with the better environment in the NorCal tracks
I’ll be at Sonoma for my next track day, 4/19 with Light Speed if you happen to be able to join.

Long drive but why not? On the same weekend, I could pick Buttonwillow, Las Vegas, or Sonoma... Too many options haha!

[t0pless]

Originally Posted by 623

Engine: The B58 engine features a cooling system with three frontal radiators, one large central radiator and two smaller auxiliary radiators located in front of each wheel. They should suffice for the stock engine, but can be upgraded if using a tune (either via option on order or via aftermarket)

I'm just worried about Speed Ventures events being packed with too many cars on track at each session?

Definitely no need to change any of the OEM radiators as you move down the line. They make 0 difference other than the reliability of having metal end tanks. Those aux coolers on the side hardly do much, anyway. Until it’s 90F+ outside, you’ll be fine with stock power/stock cooling.

You’ll be surprised! It’s SV first time running CCW in Vegas, so it’ll be new for most. They can get a little crowded, but they usually make a 5th run group if that’s the case. Sundays are pretty open. We got a good sized group, some with enclosed trailers so feel free to hang out if you go.

[peelerec]

Originally Posted by 623

Long drive but why not? On the same weekend, I could pick Buttonwillow, Las Vegas, or Sonoma... Too many options haha!

Great problems to have

[MXDsigner]

That's great Info, Thanks for Posting! see you soon.