Z3M Coupe for trackday use

[DimrBimmer]

Congrats on your race passport.

Is there a reason for putting the car on raised pedistals vs. just driving onto 4 scales?

[gatouille]

THanks a lot, yes the reason is to be sure to have a perfect same level on each point

[gatouille]

2018 Coupé Z3M:
30 litres d’essence (petrol 8 gallons)

A vide whithout pilote and passenger :
AVG/Front left 331 kilos (729 lbs.) AVD/Front right 306 kilos (674 lbs.)
Avant/Front 637 kilos (1404 lbs.)

ARG/Rear left 276 kilos (608 lbs.) ARD/Rear right 251 kilos (553 lbs.)
Arrière /Rear 527 kilos (1161 lbs.)

Total 1164 kilos (2566 lbs)

Avec pilote (with me) :

AVG/Front left 332 kilos (731 lbs.) AVD/Front right 335 kilos (738 lbs.)
Avant/Front 667 kilos (1470 lbs)

ARG/Rear left 309 kilos (681 lbs.) ARD/Rear right 272 kilos (600 lbs.)
Arrière/Rear 580 kilos (1278 lbs)

Total 1247 kilos (2808 lbs)

Avec pilote et passager (2 persons in board):

AVG/Front left 356 kilos (785 lbs) AVD/Front right 337 kilos (742 lbs)
Avant/Front 693 kilos (1527 lbs)

ARG/Rear left 325 kilos (716 lbs) ARD/Rear right 299 kilos (659 lbs)
Arrière/Rear 624 kilos (1375 lbs)

Total 1317 kilos (2903 lbs.)

[JoshS]

2808 lbs with driver -- exactly the same as my 2.8 Coupe race car was -- and I carried 25 lbs of ballast just to get it up to that weight (minimum for the class was 2800 w/driver). I figured your car would be much lighter, given the fiberglass body panels, lexan replacing the glass, and the other more extreme weight saving measures. Just shows you how light those M52tu/M54 engines really are compared to the "S" engines.

[BimmerBreaker]

2808 lbs with driver -- exactly the same as my 2.8 Coupe race car was -- and I carried 25 lbs of ballast just to get it up to that weight (minimum for the class was 2800 w/driver). I figured your car would be much lighter, given the fiberglass body panels, lexan replacing the glass, and the other more extreme weight saving measures. Just shows you how light those M52tu/M54 engines really are compared to the "S" engines.

Engines and I think non-M diffs are lighter, non-M trailing arms are lighter as well. The weight difference makes sense when accounting for all the small things

Another way to look at it is its the same weight as yours with more power...

[gatouille]

You're right Bimmerbreaker : Engines and I think non-M diffs are lighter, non-M trailing arms are lighter as well. The weight difference makes sense when accounting for all the small things

It's really amazing that we have the same weight ! That's right that S50B32 is heavier, JoshS,

I figured your car would be much lighter, given the fiberglass body panels, lexan replacing the glass, and the other more extreme weight saving measures.

If you read all my story you will see that I have already a full fiberglass kit, and lexan everywhere but the windscreen, only the body frame is steel. THe car is 2513 lbs "dry" whithout me on board, 3141 lbs was the oem weight, (open roof and all options)
My roll cage means 200 lbs, my gearbox (6 gears) from M3 E36 (euro) is 27 lbs heawier than the oem one, my 4 big wheels (18X10") could be lighter they are 22 lbs each and meet the FIA rules for WTCC, they are very strong and light (but not the lighter).. Whith also extinguisher and circuit breaker, a battery form Odyssey (14,3 lbs) because Lithium one are forbidden in type of races I want to do, A lithium will mean only 3,30 lbs, 11 lbs could be also saved.
All of this means that my car is very light. I could save more with lighter seats(very expensive one), a lighter motor flywheel, and few parts. Also the rear suspensions and front, but that means a lot of work and money.

Now my priorities are, buying all the pilot FIA approved gear, tailored suspensions.
ALso this heavier motor S50B32 is 321 hp OEM and very nice to use (sound and revs, also very reliable, I'd like it more if it was full alloy as my Alfa Romeo's motor from 70's !

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[JoshS]

Yeah, I had the full cage as well, my wheels were lighter than yours (17lbs each), also had the fire system and electrical cutoff. Had to run a full-size battery due to rules. Basically they are both competition-legal "real race cars", the big differences for weight are the body panels and glass, vs. the engine block and transmission. And oh yeah, all that horsepower!

[DimrBimmer]

Trying to do the math and it’s 242lbs just for the rider?!? I think it’s time to stop putting butter on those croissants .

[gatouille]

Very funny ! I sware I will stop butter and croissant !
We put some weight because of tjhe full gear (helmet, Hans ans so on.... My real weight is 76 kilos (dry and naked and no croissant in my hands !) (167 lbs)

I made a mistake with this @#}~ lbs. 2749 lbs with me not 2808 lbs (1247 kilos)

So my car is lighter and so do I !

[328 Power 04]

LOL.

[gatouille]

My car is for sale, ready to race, meets international rules for races. We can send overseas...

Easy to ride, reliable, et efficient, and last but not least this a "pleasure machine" contact at philippe gatouille on Facebook

[mercedesc63]

On this topic after a conversation with Clown Shoe Motorsports in Dallas... They advise that although we might all have shoes we should prefer the E46 M3 as a track toy. Its overall more balanced, cheaper/more variety of parts, and just a better more well designed race car.

I agree completely as the M Coupe is a handful to drive compared to the two E46 M3s I’ve had.

[PbFut]

All true, but what fun is that? How serious are you about chasing the win? Or is it just to have fun and run the best with what you have? There is always better equipment. Follow the same line of thinking, why stop at the e46 when there are GT/RS Porsche cars to be had.

[gatouille]

My Gatmobile is sold, without seing my car a buyer who wants to make french races bought it by phone !

Thank you very much for all your message advices and I 'd like to buy a US Z3M roadster S52B32 if you known one thanks !

[BimmerBreaker]

On this topic after a conversation with Clown Shoe Motorsports in Dallas... They advise that although we might all have shoes we should prefer the E46 M3 as a track toy. Its overall more balanced, cheaper/more variety of parts, and just a better more well designed race car.

I agree completely as the M Coupe is a handful to drive compared to the two E46 M3s I’ve had.

Have to agree... The M3 is a better platform for performance driving. Z3 is more fun but also more butt puckering is induced. E36 M3 is a great chassis for tracking, lightweight and can handle a lot more power than stock

My Gatmobile is sold, without seing my car a buyer who wants to make french races bought it by phone !

Thank you very much for all your message advices and I 'd like to buy a US Z3M roadster S52B32 if you known one thanks !

Didnt seem you owned it long but glad the sale was quick

[gatouille]

Thanks 5 years it's pretty long ?

[ihm96]

It seems like you finished the build and never got to drive it though, I think thats what he means. Did you track it yourself once it was all finished or was this always intended to be built to be sold?

Thanks 5 years it's pretty long ?

[gatouille]

I used it 6 time this year

[gatouille]

Not intended to be sold, but I want to do something else, keep working on this car or using it on races means lot of time that I don't have any more now (new job)

The good news is that I buy a S50 (euro M3) Z3M roadster for road use....

[trkshoe]

Not intended to be sold, but I want to do something else, keep working on this car or using it on races means lot of time that I don't have any more now (new job)

The good news is that I buy a S50 (euro M3) Z3M roadster for road use....

Sorry to hear it's gone...

And the coupe is much more fun to race than a e36 or e46 (I've raced them all :-))
It takes a lot more work to setup correctly, but when you do, it's much more rewarding to drive.

[gatouille]

Thank you, you're right, I did enjoy it very much !

THe car when I bought it

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Now !

Z3_circuit_de_Bresse.jpg

[gatouille]

Another reason is that in Europe ALL Z3M are with "good" motors We have no S52B32, only S50B32 or S54B32 with are more stronger than S52B32 for US. That makes Z3M more "desirable"