Poor 1/4mile Results, Need Advice

I went to the dragstrip the other day and got the following results:

Reaction 0.691
60ft 2.334
330ft 6.152
Mid-MPH 78.53
660 9.208
MPH 105.63
ET 13.926

Weather was around 95F out and sun was setting. No burnout, launch at 3500rpm and MDM mode on. The dragstrip is an old airport and the ground is concrete. The ground is pretty bad but even with a crappy ET the MPH should be higher then 105.63mph. Whats the best way to launch the car, should I use MDM? I also have a 4wd turbo car which I thought was hard the launch because it tends to bog but wow the m3 isn't easy (I had times of 14.2, 14.1, 14.5, and 13.9).

I tried without MDM and the car was all over the place couldn't get traction until 3rd gear (I upshifted to fast).

What was the altitude of the airfield? The hot temperature combined with how well the track was prepared will have a great affect on your times but you are right, you should be trapping faster than 105 unless you are way above sea level. I don't launch with LC anymore, just time the tree and ease into the gas pedal. It worked for me, I didn't even bother messing around with tire pressure and still ran a 12.53 with a trap of 116. Mostly stock car with AA Green Filter, AA pulley, Akrapovic Evo exhaust, and Contisport 5P tires.

Im at sea level (in Montreal) humidity is around 50-60%, car has 25,000 miles, air filter is original from my understanding, and car is a 2008 e92. 105mph vs 110mph makes me feel like something is off but then again the track is concrete and traction is a huge issue, coupled with old air filter it might make sense.

Is spark plugs and air filter an issue on these cars?

mitch32 wrote

Im at sea level (in Montreal) humidity is around 50-60%, car has 25,000 miles, air filter is original from my understanding, and car is a 2008 e92. 105mph vs 110mph makes me feel like something is off but then again the track is concrete and traction is a huge issue, coupled with old air filter it might make sense.

Is spark plugs and air filter an issue on these cars?

I think you are on the right track. Time to get a new filter! Also read up on this thread: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=676637 The older software is more sensitive to worn out spark plugs apparently and will pull timing. I'm actually talking out of my ass but read up on it and you'll get a better understanding of what I was trying to say.

mitch32 wrote

Im at sea level (in Montreal) humidity is around 50-60%, car has 25,000 miles, air filter is original from my understanding, and car is a 2008 e92. 105mph vs 110mph makes me feel like something is off but then again the track is concrete and traction is a huge issue, coupled with old air filter it might make sense.

Is spark plugs and air filter an issue on these cars?

The filter in the 2008/2009 cars is more restrictive due to the presence of a charcoal liner. An aftermarket filter is definitely a good option for your car (I got a K&N from Perry Auto in Laval for 75$). It will not make a huge difference but every bit helps .

You should also look at upgrading your software (do some in the site), older software versions have been found to produce less power, especially with old plugs.

In a 6 speed manual, does anyone shift to 4th gear?

My time in my first post was done in 3rd gear and I was on the limiter at the finish line. Perhaps this is why my mph was so low?!?

mitch32 wrote

60ft 2.334

^

It's not the car dude.

The HACK wrote  

mitch32 wrote

60ft 2.334

^

It's not the car dude.

Amazing 60ft!!!

But no matter what a trap speed should be the same or relatively close, even if you run 16 sec or 12sec (if the same car is used). I know that 60ft is poor even at best. What rpm should I launch at? Should mdm be on or off? Whet gear should I be shifting at?

mitch32 wrote

In a 6 speed manual, does anyone shift to 4th gear?

My time in my first post was done in 3rd gear and I was on the limiter at the finish line. Perhaps this is why my mph was so low?!?

i don't know about NA cars but i'm always in 4th at the end of a quarter mile run

The HACK wrote

^

It's not the car dude.

Exactly what I was about to say.

Hi fellow Québecer M3 owner!

Sorry to tell you like this but unless your car is really sick, it's really the driver the problem! I've been going to the 1/4 mile a couple of time since last year with my M3, it is a 08 manual and it only has a Corsa exhaust so no real hp gain and my worst trap was 106mph but usually I trap around 108-111mph depending on the temp! I don't know what you do to make a 60foot as bad as this but in at least 50 runs I have'nt done worst then 2.1 and now that I'm a bit more use to it I do at least 2.0 each time when it's not 1.9(sure I have 295s AD08s but 2.3 is REALLY inconceivable). Also I don't know what you do to pass the line in 3rd but you do it wrong, I'm not even close to the line when I shift in 4th.

IMO apart from not knowing how to launch your car, you must really don't know how to shift effectivelly cause an M3 like yours should run at least low 13s easily, I been running 13.0 all day this week-end and it was really warm outside, by best time is 12.8 so far! So before putting any money in your car like updated software, spark plugs, filters, ect...(those wont make you launch better or pass the line in the right gear) make sure it's not you that slow the car down!

By the way I live in Gatineau, if you ever go to the track again, feel free to PM me, could be fun to meet you there!

mitch32 wrote

Amazing 60ft!!!

But no matter what a trap speed should be the same or relatively close, even if you run 16 sec or 12sec (if the same car is used). I know that 60ft is poor even at best. What rpm should I launch at? Should mdm be on or off? Whet gear should I be shifting at?

Oh, I forgot to tell you, personnally I put the EDC in confort so more weight tranfer to the rear wheels, I put the throttle in less aggressive mode so easyer to gauge when I launch and I try to launch between 3000-3500rpm! That worked for me, hope it'll help!

mitch32 wrote

Amazing 60ft!!!

But no matter what a trap speed should be the same or relatively close, even if you run 16 sec or 12sec (if the same car is used). I know that 60ft is poor even at best. What rpm should I launch at? Should mdm be on or off? Whet gear should I be shifting at?

Read this.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47538

I used to work for a company that supported the professional drag racing community, and I have to say, this is one of the best "tips" for noobs I've seen:

SilverStreak wrote  

When the green hits, don't slam your foot down on the gas to the floor, quickly and steadily squeeze it to the floor, and gradually but quickly let out the clutch, sense too much throttle, keep it steadily continually going down and adjust the power to the wheels with the clutch, not the gas.

WAY TOO OFTEN do I see beginners plant their foot all the way down the floor on launch only to have a miserable time finding traction and losing precious seconds up front. The more your tire spins at launch, the slower you will be at the trap, period.

The HACK wrote

The more your tire spins at launch, the slower you will be at the trap, period.

Not really true. The E.T. will suffer, but you can spin the wheels hard off the line and still run a nearly optimal trap speed.

turbo8765 wrote

Not really true. The E.T. will suffer, but you can spin the wheels hard off the line and still run a nearly optimal trap speed.

True!

My best traps of 111mph were when I was launching too hard, now that I drop the clutch at around 3000-3500rpm instead of 4000-4500 my ET and my 60foot are better but I never trap more then 108-109, there's also the temp that does'nt help but still...

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