Anyone Track their X5M

[jml]

It's good for about 2.01 at TWS in stock trim and 3 baby seats, which is about 3 seconds behind a E90M3 with street tires. I am sure it eventually be expensive to run given the wear and tear of a 5300lb vehicle at max G.

[mrmomo313]

I'll also leave this here... Faster around VIR than an rs4, 335is, evo and z4m coupe. Can't handle a track? hmm

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...p-2012-feature

[jacobpdx]

Originally Posted by mitch808

For anyone that has truly tracked a car, they would know that a 5k+ car/SUV/SAV will never be a successful track vehicle.

I suppose it depends on what you mean by successful. Posting the fastest times? Having fun?

If your goal is the former then by your standard no one but the wealthiest of enthusiasts should be attending track days.

If it's the latter, then I'm sure rocketing around a track in a tank like the X5M and still posting better than average lap times, is probably a lot of fun!

For that matter, driving any vehicle that allows one to push the limits of their skills (mediocre at best for any amateur in the grand scheme of things) meets this criteria. I'd have a blast tracking anything from a 95 neon to an X5M if I had a safe day pushing my personal limits in a legal environment.

Just my 2 cents.

[jacobpdx]

Originally Posted by mrmomo313

I'll also leave this here... Faster around VIR than an rs4, 335is, evo and z4m coupe. Can't handle a track? hmm

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...p-2012-feature

[P6]

Well I christened the beast at the track. I had an event at Motorsport Ranch in Houston 4/11-12, and rain was in the forecast at 80-90% both days. I invited a friend to share my spec miata. He is a novice. A spec miata is not a great starter car for a first-timer under wet conditions. Dry - yes. Decided to just drive the X5M. We had a mix of wet and dry. I must say the X5M was impressive. Certainly didn't break any records, but shocked a lot of people. Brakes had no fade. No heatsoak. Sidewalls didn't appreciate the abuse, but no issues at all. Gulps fuel as you can imagine. Here is a link to a couple minute video.

[m5 guy]

That's awesome! How shocked were people when a suv passed them by?

[P6]

Originally Posted by m3 guy

That's awesome! How shocked were people when a suv passed them by?

Most people did not want to be passed by a truck. You can see that most of the cars really started pushing harder when I appeared in their rear view. That screwed up their their line which made it easier to close on them. This truck has good corner exit behavior and good straightaway speed. Fun truck for the occasional track event. Hard on tires and brake pads.

I had a covered spot next to a guy in a c5 zo6. I passed him every session. Made shop talk a little awkward.

[JupiterBMW]

This thread is excellent in all regards. Congrats to OP for getting her out there. I'd love to do the same.

[mrmomo313]

Sweet video P6! Looks like it was a fun time

[P6]

Thanks. Just put fresh race brake fluid in and you should be fine. I found a couple companies that will make custom race pads for the same price as OEM pads. I might pick up a set. But probably won't run the X5M unless the Miata breaks for the weather turns nasty.

[P6]

Thanks.

[GregWX5]

Originally Posted by P6

Well I christened the beast at the track. I had an event at Motorsport Ranch in Houston 4/11-12, and rain was in the forecast at 80-90% both days. I invited a friend to share my spec miata. He is a novice. A spec miata is not a great starter car for a first-timer under wet conditions. Dry - yes. Decided to just drive the X5M. We had a mix of wet and dry. I must say the X5M was impressive. Certainly didn't break any records, but shocked a lot of people. Brakes had no fade. No heatsoak. Sidewalls didn't appreciate the abuse, but no issues at all. Gulps fuel as you can imagine. Here is a link to a couple minute video.

Awesome! I'll have to check out MSR now that TSW is closing down! Are you around Houston?

[JeST]

Originally Posted by P6

My favorite part was the gt3 giving you the point-by

[P6]

Thanks. I am in Dallas. I was just at TWS this past weekend with NASA. I took the X5M out in the first session (wet track). Did great. It was a last minute decision so no video or timer. Ran my miata the rest of the weekend. I will miss that track. Bummer it's being bulldozed.

[cb4]

Very cool. Impressive laps.

[jml]

One of my favorite moments in the rain at COTA was exiting T11 behind a Stingray, catching him, passing him, accelerating to 150ish and braking for T12. The driver is a friend and had a good laugh with me back in the garage. I think I sold a few X5Ms that day.

[P6]

Once you get that mass rolling you can get up to speed quickly. I would love to take my X5M to COTA. My goal is at least one run session at every track I visit.

[Salottox5m]

thats excellent! thank for posting Video -- i have a 2011 x5m and if given the opportunity i may do it.. why not right!

any suggestions?

i just texted my buddy asking when next track day is around here (millville, nj) is about eo min from my house

game on!!

[P6]

Originally Posted by Salottox5m

thats excellent! thank for posting Video -- i have a 2011 x5m and if given the opportunity i may do it.. why not right!

any suggestions?

i just texted my buddy asking when next track day is around here (millville, nj) is about eo min from my house

game on!!

Do it. All you need is fresh race brake fluid like motul or SRF and plenty of pad material. If you're not already comfortable using the paddle shifters in sport mode, practice on the street until it's second nature. Put it in MDM mode then drive it like you stole it. This is a point and shoot vehicle so late apex and put the hammer down.

[Salottox5m]

so you use sport where lever is to the left and also shifters?
i use M mode... what about DSC off.. i can't see this thing getting out of control and even drifting!

[P6]

My track settings

M mode - with heads up display raised as high as possible and brightest

MDM - I didn't want to destroy the tires. If I wanted to slide it a little I'd turn everything off. MDM was fine. Didn't really notice any intervention except in wet conditions.

EDC - on in dry, off in wet

Sport mode - lever to the left

Paddle shifter - YES. Remember, as soon as you start using the paddles the system won't upshift for you. I was reminded of that a couple times when I was banging off the rev limiter. My novice friend who shared the truck just kept it in sport mode without paddles. He did fine. It will upshift at almost redline. It's downshifting that is less efficient.

3point harness - move the seat as far back as it will go. Pull quickly on the seat belt to activate the centrifugal lock. Hold tension and push the seat to your preferred driving position. Which should be much closer to the steering wheel for racing than for highway cruising. This will keep tension on the seatbelt and you will have a cheap 3-point harness

Crack rear windows - you will be required to drive with front windows down. I found that at speed the cabin was buffeting a lot. Crack the rear windows a couple inches and the pressure and noise will drop substantially.

Fold back seats down - the headrests partially obscure you view out the back.

Turn off climate control

Turn bluetooth off on your phone. Unless you want to take calls at 140.

Starting tire pressure around 32. You want hot tires around 38-40.

[Salottox5m]

thats excellent thank you! you should put a POST up with what you just said to me for anyone in future looking to track.. I just copy & paste and will save it for track day.. thank you!

every hit this speed?

Originally Posted by GregWX5

I've tracked my 2010 X5M twice at Texas World Speedway. It is absolutely a blast to drive around the track and very capable. Amazing how well it handles and how fast it is in the straights! I am all stock. The oil temperature gauge never even hit 210F. The brakes get a little bit glazed over towards the end of the day but never had any serious fade after 3x30 minute sessions. Top speed was about 135 in the main straight and 110 in the back straight!