Minimum M4 Track Prep for Experienced Driver

[Manifold]

I just got a 2020 F82 M4 competition DCT and would like to occasionally track it. I've done a lot of track days during the past decade in Porsches, so I could be classified as an 'advanced' driver.

I'd appreciate suggestions on what track prep I need to do (pads, brake fluid, rotors, tires, etc.). I'd like to do the minimal prep needed to make the car durable on the track, and am not interested in mods to optimize the pace of the car, since I'll only be doing about 8/10ths in this car.

Also, my understanding is that the factory warranty isn't voided if the car is tracked - correct?

[RKP]

Honestly - these cars already come great out of the box for track use with little changes required. I have only changed the brake fluid to Castrol SRF and pads to Ferodo DS1.11. It’s great on the track - but I’m sure other experts here provide more insights.

[uncle ben]

I second what RKP says, brake pads and fluid. But I would also add to that list a nice set of Camber Plates. Vorshlag makes great ones that work with the factory struts and springs. These cars need more front camber, or else you end up blowing the outside shoulder off a new set of tires in a couple track days.

[Manifold]

Originally Posted by uncle ben

I second what RKP says, brake pads and fluid. But I would also add to that list a nice set of Camber Plates. Vorshlag makes great ones that work with the factory struts and springs. These cars need more front camber, or else you end up blowing the outside shoulder off a new set of tires in a couple track days.

How much camber do you guys typically run for the track, and what's the factory camber? I'm thinking that I'll be tracking the M4 less than 10 days a year, so there will be some compromise to keep it feeling and behaving right for the street.

[polarbearz]

Originally Posted by Manifold

How much camber do you guys typically run for the track, and what's the factory camber? I'm thinking that I'll be tracking the M4 less than 10 days a year, so there will be some compromise to keep it feeling and behaving right for the street.

Factory is like -1.7 or less. I do about 8 track days a year with -3 camber in the front without uneven wear. But it also depends how hard you push your car at track.

[uncle ben]

-3 degrees +\- a 1/2 depends on individual car setup. But in general the car needs more front camber.

I read someone here on the forum ran the “lap of America” where you drive like 3000miles and hit up a bunch of race tracks and run laps. Apparently they had no issues running track camber on the road. Maybe they will chime in. But if you are concerned, you can mark your camber plates and before you drive on track, set it to -3, then after you are done, set it to a more conservative -2 or whatever.

[polarbearz]

Camber doesn’t really affect uneven wear that much on the street, but toe does. I have 0 toe in the front.

[Manifold]

Do you guys find that the optimum track camber depends on the tire? Michelin Sport Cup 2 has an asymmetric tread with the outer part being gripper rubber, the rest of it harder rubber for better wear.

[MineralWhiteF80]

+1 for just brake pads, fluid, and camber plates!

I run Performance Friction 11 pads, Motul 660, and Vorshlag camber plates at -3.0 camber with -0.3* total front toe (toe out).

Stock tires pair well with the stock suspension.

a good set of 200 treadwear tires is a bonus item just for heat management and more consistent lap times but if you are daily driving the car on normal high performance tires (~300tw), then you just have to remember to drive the car at a pace that does not exceed the limit of that tire. For the stock Michelin Pilot super sports or PS4S tires, in a 20 minute session, I get about 4 or 5 fast aggressive laps (middle of the session) before the tires start noticeably falling off and you can see it in the lap times.

[Manifold]

Originally Posted by MineralWhiteF80

+1 for just brake pads, fluid, and camber plates!

I run Performance Friction 11 pads, Motul 660, and Vorshlag camber plates at -3.0 camber with -0.3* total front toe (toe out).

Stock tires pair well with the stock suspension.

a good set of 200 treadwear tires is a bonus item just for heat management and more consistent lap times but if you are daily driving the car on normal high performance tires (~300tw), then you just have to remember to drive the car at a pace that does not exceed the limit of that tire. For the stock Michelin Pilot super sports or PS4S tires, in a 20 minute session, I get about 4 or 5 fast aggressive laps (middle of the session) before the tires start noticeably falling off and you can see it in the lap times.

Haven't run Super Sport on track in about a decade and never tried PS4S on track - which is better?

What 200 tw tires do you guys use with the 20" OEM wheels? I've been running Cup 2 on my GT3 for years, but recently switched to Goodyear Supercar 3, which I like better.

[uncle ben]

I ran the supercar 3 on the oem 19” wheels. They worked great on the car, but the only issue I had was excess outer shoulder wear on the front tires. I’ve since switched to nitto nt01’s on 18” wheels and they seem to be wearing much better, but they are no faster than the supercar 3’s, which surprised me.

[NYG]

You'll need race pads, SRF to compensate for brake heat produced by platform and camber plates so that your tires last more than a day without eating away the shoulder.

That should be the bare minimum.

[Manifold]

Which camber plates do you guys recommend? I've been doing a little research, and I see that some have issues with wear and failure of the bearings.

[NYG]

Originally Posted by Manifold

Which camber plates do you guys recommend? I've been doing a little research, and I see that some have issues with wear and failure of the bearings.

I was a very happy owner/user of GC camber plates but Vorshlag appears to make a very high quality camber plate as well. I have no experience outside of GC on the f8x but maybe this video can help.

[NYG]

Originally Posted by Manifold

Haven't run Super Sport on track in about a decade and never tried PS4S on track - which is better?

What 200 tw tires do you guys use with the 20" OEM wheels? I've been running Cup 2 on my GT3 for years, but recently switched to Goodyear Supercar 3, which I like better.

Super Sports are better on track. PS4S for everything else.

The mixed sidewall construction of the PS4S is crappy on the track. They're only a pin drop slower than Super Sports but are very finicky/hard to get temperature in/much more sensitive to pressures

I tracked the PS4S on my F8X and R8 before - won't ever do it again.

[pilotedecourse]

Originally Posted by NYG

I was a very happy owner/user of GC camber plates but Vorshlag appears to make a very high quality camber plate as well. I have no experience outside of GC on the f8x but maybe this video can help.

+1 for Vorschlag. My track setup ('18 M3 Comp Manual) is as follows and I'm a fast intermediate driver:

Motul 600
PFC 08s
Girodisc Ti Shims
Speed Engineering Front Brake Ducts
18"x10" (can go wider square) w/ 200TW tires (Falken 615k)
Vorschlag Camber Plates set to -3.0 degrees (I just leave it there all the time because adjusting is a PITA)
Front "mud" flaps (the side of your car will thank you)

[uncle ben]

Agreed. The mudflaps will help. Cheap mod that’s worth doing.

Also +1 for Vorshlag camber plates.

[Manifold]

Link to mudflaps, please?

[Manifold]

Have any of you guys tried Sport Cup 2 on track?

[NYG]

Originally Posted by Manifold

Have any of you guys tried Sport Cup 2 on track?

Yes, faster than both SS and MP4S but very weak in wet conditions and they don't last very long. 3 days and they're more or less done.

It's a great street/track tire.

[Manifold]

Originally Posted by NYG

Yes, faster than both SS and MP4S but very weak in wet conditions and they don't last very long. 3 days and they're more or less done.

It's a great street/track tire.

Yikes. I've used many sets of Cup 2 in my 991 GT3, but got 6-10 days out of them. 3 days is crazy, that's $600-700/day just in tires.

[NYG]

Originally Posted by Manifold

Yikes. I've used many sets of Cup 2 in my 991 GT3, but got 6-10 days out of them. 3 days is crazy, that's $600-700/day just in tires.

You can use them for 6-10 days but they've got half the grip after 3 or 4. Depends on how fast you're trying to run.

RS4/NT01 are superior options for this.