E39 540 as a track car?

Does a 540 make a terrible track car? I've joined the BMWCCA and intend to take some 'driver's ed' at the local track this summer. Not that I have the dough for a track car (and my wife would remove a part of my body if she knew I was even entertaining the idea) but what I need is an older 3-series, I'm thinkin'.

I know that there is a distinction between the 540 and the I6 versions, with the steering, but I am no gearhead and can't elaborate on the finer points of that, but Im thinking my car's better-prepared than the average E39 as it's got the Dinan suspension and brakes and other goodies. Has anyone taken their E39 out on the track, done the cone courses and all that? I'm particularly interested in the SCCA Solo Racing.

I've done my first BMWCCA autox season last year. It was a blast to push car around coned courses. My class has a lot of e36/e46/e90-92 running with me.

IMHO, get a 3 series if you are competitive. Our cars are too heavy to manuever around the tight courses. If you are doing it for fun and just want to fish tail around the cones, the e39 will do.

540i makes a fine track car. When I lived in Tennessee I took it to a 5km track a few times and it was a blast.

Originally Posted by SilverE39

I've done my first BMWCCA autox season last year. It was a blast to push car around coned courses. My class has a lot of e36/e46/e90-92 running with me.

IMHO, get a 3 series if you are competitive. Our cars are too heavy to manuever around the tight courses. If you are doing it for fun and just want to fish tail around the cones, the e39 will do.

Cool!! I couldn't tell from the video how many cones you ran over, though.

Now, dumb question, why, in the pictures, does it look like your car is dipping way down on turns? Were you just turning and braking hard?

I don't think it's so much a matter of making it a good track car or not. Taking the BMWCCA driving courses are great for learning what your car can and cannot do without having to worry about running off the road or getting a ticket. Just don't go out there with brand new tires like I did the first time I went, took like half the life out of them in a day.

Originally Posted by BigCo540i

Just don't go out there with brand new tires like I did the first time I went, took like half the life out of them in a day.

LOL, good call. I remember going with about half the tread and coming home after just a few laps with nothing but steel belts and faded brakes
Still had a great time though.

I never got to autocross though, looking at doing it soon though. I hear it's a good time.

Originally Posted by AirWreck

Does a 540 make a terrible track car? I've joined the BMWCCA and intend to take some 'driver's ed' at the local track this summer. Not that I have the dough for a track car (and my wife would remove a part of my body if she knew I was even entertaining the idea) but what I need is an older 3-series, I'm thinkin'.

I know that there is a distinction between the 540 and the I6 versions, with the steering, but I am no gearhead and can't elaborate on the finer points of that, but Im thinking my car's better-prepared than the average E39 as it's got the Dinan suspension and brakes and other goodies. Has anyone taken their E39 out on the track, done the cone courses and all that? I'm particularly interested in the SCCA Solo Racing.

If you haven't already, get an M5 rear sway bar before you go. I did this to my 540i6 and I definitely felt the difference.

Well for a track car it may be ok. I woould still prefer something more lighter. Now if you are using it for autox them it may not be such a good idea since generally autox courses at a lot tighter.
Make sure if you track the car get a good suspension, after mkt sway bars, and better brake pads.

I took my former 530i once, to Infineon Raceway for my first BMWCCA HPDE. After that I realized the E39 was too big and heavy if I were to get serious about it, which I also learned that I was gonna get serious about it. My first ever track day was March 2005. May 2005 I took delivery of the E46.

I had fun with the E39, no doubt. But, I have much more fun with my E46 and probably would have even more fun with a stripped out E36 M3. I do love having a dual purpose car tho, makes driving it fun ALL the time instead of only at the track.

Track days eat tires (bushings, bearings, and brakes too), fact of life. Best to go your first time with your car as you drive it every day. You'll feel like you don't even know how to brake and turn after the first session out with your instructor. Then you'll sort it out and begin to "get it." No corner will ever be looked at the same again.

The M5 rear sway is good to do no matter what. I had that and a CDV delete, plus some higher temp brake fluid in the 5'er.

It's a real blast and everyone should do it at least once. You'll probably get hooked and dedicate all your time and money to going more often. It happens, see sig.

Originally Posted by AirWreck

Cool!! I couldn't tell from the video how many cones you ran over, though.

Now, dumb question, why, in the pictures, does it look like your car is dipping way down on turns? Were you just turning and braking hard?

My suspension has a slight rake look, thus when turning in slalom area, my fronts dip!

I have thought about that myself; get a 540 6 speed and strip it. you could make decent money selling the parts you wouldn't need. i was surprised how well my 528iA Sport w all season tires did at VIR last fall, but it is heavy. Working on an E30 318iS to take down in March now.

Video at VIR:

Its a great track car. Swap out the sway bars with M5 ones, put some negative camber in the front, track pads and youre good to go.

I'm not sure it would make a good track car. mine wouldn't at least.


Thats why my next car is an s52 e30 haha

Originally Posted by erkinak

Its a great track car...

No it isn't BUT, it is incredibly adequate for a track day here and there. With the OPs upgraded suspension and brakes it'll make a fine first time car.

They're just too heavy and lumbering (comparatively) for dedicated, or even regular track use.

e39 530i is about 100kg heavier than a 330ci, with some decent suspension they're not too bad. I've taken my 525i Auto to the track and it's pretty decent for a large sedan, I beat my friends Astra which has a little less power, but weighs a lot less. At the end of the day it is more about becoming smooth, knowing your lines, and breaking points on track and using what you have to the best of your abilities and improving upon it. I actually think that our cars are good cars to learn tracks in before you go crazy on e30's. I don't think you need to go out and buy a dedicated track car to have some fun once in awhile.. only if you plan on going more than 2-3 times a year.

It also depends on what type of track you are taking it to. The one I normally go to has a few hairpins etc but in general has long sweeping high speed corners, but as the others said our cars are obviously not built for tight corners as much as a 3 is.

My 528iA passed a couple of Golf R32s. But they might have had a slower driver, because some others passed me My E39 seemed very stable at high speed corners and did very well during heavy breaking.

Or just spend the $5 grand it'll cost on this.

http://azeuropeans.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=977.html

I visited a local autox meet last summer, one of my customer runs a Vette. I had my 540
there and asked what class I'd be in. Looked like I'd be in the same class with Camaros and Mustangs. I thought long and hard but chickened out. Did'nt want to chew up the new BFG.'s. The wife would have killed me. We use to campain a 67 Cooper S and our 73 Vette. We had a blast back in the day. The Cooper was race prepared with slicks on all 4 corners. It ran pretty well. Had FTD afew times. The Vette was all stock except for the brakes. Autox is a blast. The 540 is a little heavy and big but I'll put it against a stock F body any day!

it doesn't matter if you're driving a 3, 5 or 7, it's good to learn how your car handles. hell, if you get good enough, it doesn't even matter anymore (at the auto-x at least). there's this one guy locally by me who showed up to an auto-x in a Lincoln Towncar; his competition were Mitatas. he kick the snot out of most of them. he also took a minivan out before and whipped 90% of the drivers that day. it's not the car, it's the driver.

i'm thinking about tracking the 540 w.m5 diff. that should help out around the corners but i'm also thinking about tracking the iX. steering debate are for rookies; it doesn't matter. you turn the wheel and it turns is what matters. how it feels is up to experience and preference. all the same to me to be honest.

since you're a beginner, don't go out there aiming to be #1 in your class or place. it'll only fustrate you and make you NOT learn what the purpose of these classes and races are. just go out there to learn and have fun.

Originally Posted by chivas

... there's this one guy locally by me who showed up to an auto-x in a Lincoln Towncar; his competition were Mitatas. he kick the snot out of most of them. he also took a minivan out before and whipped 90% of the drivers that day. it's not the car, it's the driver...

Case in Point...

Originally Posted by PutterMcGavin

Case in Point...

she could have made up that 8 seconds if she drove neekid. gotta shave all that weight... speaking of shaving... errr.... nevermind, let's keep this car related.

Originally Posted by chivas

she could have made up that 8 seconds if she drove neekid. gotta shave all that weight... speaking of shaving... errr.... nevermind, let's keep this car related.

Hey, anything having to do with Sabine IS car related


Still I only think Winter clothes, including big down jackets and long underwear are worth 8 seconds. Regular pants/shirt kind of garb is only worth 4.25

Originally Posted by PutterMcGavin

Case in Point...

Great video! For five years I drove a Chevy minivan for a company car, and got that thing to move like you wouldn't believe. Maybe I should find an old Lumina van for my track car?

The driver is such a large potential in making a car go fast. That's why we are running the 318iS on the track this year. Everytime you think you are a good driver and meet someone better you realize that there is still a long way to go. Isn't that also one of the things instructors usually tells you too: get rid of your ego on the track. It doesn't seem to make you go faster.