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      02-01-2013, 09:31 PM   #1
JMK007
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Weight Reduction For Track

Those who have tracked cars for a while know weight reduction is a great way to improve performance on the track in every regard (ie., acceleration, braking, and cornering). In my previous e36 M3, I could drop considerable weight by quickly removing the full spare, tools, the rear be bench seat, and using light weight wheels.

On the F30, it will be harder to drop significant weight since we have no spare tire to begin with. Does anyone know what can be easily removed or done on the F30 to reduce 100 to 150 lbs while keeping it fully streetable?

Light weight wheels, particularly good quality 17" track wheels, should be good for about 30 lbs. I have not yet tried to remove and weigh the rear bench seat let alone the entire back seat. Nor have I removed and weighed the tools or trunk liner. Has anyone done any of this yet? Other free or cheap weight reduction for the track would include a light weight battery (-20 lbs approx) and a half tank of gas (-40 lbs approx). Any other easy, free or cheap ideas other than going on a personal diet?
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      02-02-2013, 06:48 AM   #2
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The runflats are heavy as hell. Switching my stock 18s to 19" Forgestars w/ Michelin PSS tires is going to save me 10lbs of unsprung weight on each corner! That's just nuts.
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      02-03-2013, 10:44 AM   #3
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On the weight im not too certain other than what you have already said. I think if you went with a track ded'd set would be a great start. I dont know if removing the bench is even worth it. Lookin for some tires to fit with 17" stockers that can track well. I can just drive slow in the rain lol.
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      02-03-2013, 05:55 PM   #4
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Going with APEX 17" ARC-8s and some extreme performance tires, 245/40 square. The wheels weigh 16 lbs. and change. Those with NITTO NT01s would be a great handling upgrade. Camber plates would be awesome too.
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      02-04-2013, 02:01 AM   #5
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just remove the spare tire and jack! Oh wait... XD

apex wheels are serious business though
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      03-19-2013, 07:15 PM   #6
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I just do the take a dump weight mod 5 min before I make a pass.
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      03-21-2013, 08:43 AM   #7
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I just do the take a dump weight mod 5 min before I make a pass.
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      03-21-2013, 08:51 AM   #8
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It seems to me that you would want to do things that both add performance and subtract weight. The comments about wheels and tires are spot on! But also think about a lighter exhaust system, battery, brake rotors and maybe taking the trunk carpet out.

Short of stripping the car for dedicated track duty (not a bad idea - get a Hurricane Sandy car, strip it, cage it, stand-alone ECU...!) I think those ideas are about as far as we can go and still maintain the car as a DD.

If you were really serious, I guess you could swap the bottom seat frame for the manually adjustable seat from the euro 316i. Getting rid of the adjuster motors would probably save quite a few pounds.
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      04-05-2013, 05:30 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JMK007 View Post
Those who have tracked cars for a while know weight reduction is a great way to improve performance on the track in every regard (ie., acceleration, braking, and cornering). In my previous e36 M3, I could drop considerable weight by quickly removing the full spare, tools, the rear be bench seat, and using light weight wheels.

On the F30, it will be harder to drop significant weight since we have no spare tire to begin with. Does anyone know what can be easily removed or done on the F30 to reduce 100 to 150 lbs while keeping it fully streetable?

Light weight wheels, particularly good quality 17" track wheels, should be good for about 30 lbs. I have not yet tried to remove and weigh the rear bench seat let alone the entire back seat. Nor have I removed and weighed the tools or trunk liner. Has anyone done any of this yet? Other free or cheap weight reduction for the track would include a light weight battery (-20 lbs approx) and a half tank of gas (-40 lbs approx). Any other easy, free or cheap ideas other than going on a personal diet?
The passenger seat and rear flip downs are worth atleast 100 lbs.
takes about 10 minutes to remove.
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      05-29-2013, 11:22 PM   #10
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Here is my F30 with track wheels at Bimmerfest. The APEX ARC-8s are 17X9" ET42 with no spacers. The wheels weigh about 17 lbs. each. This is a really clean fit even without camber plates.

Here are the details:
APEX ARC-8s 17X9" ET42
Hoosier R6 245/45/17
Suspension: KW V3
Camber ft.: -0.7
Camber rr.: -1.9


F30-ARC-8-satin-black-17s by ApexRaceParts, on Flickr
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      05-30-2013, 11:36 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jbass524
Going with APEX 17" ARC-8s and some extreme performance tires, 245/40 square. The wheels weigh 16 lbs. and change. Those with NITTO NT01s would be a great handling upgrade. Camber plates would be awesome too.
You don't think the tires are too small?

Op: One of the first mods I do is swap my odyssey pc680 in and save 30 lbs
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      05-30-2013, 03:48 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by krnnerdboy View Post
You don't think the tires are too small?

Op: One of the first mods I do is swap my odyssey pc680 in and save 30 lbs
The 245/40/17s are too small. Hoosier makes a 245/45/17.
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      05-31-2013, 12:16 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jbass524
Quote:
Originally Posted by krnnerdboy View Post
You don't think the tires are too small?

Op: One of the first mods I do is swap my odyssey pc680 in and save 30 lbs
The 245/40/17s are too small. Hoosier makes a 245/45/17.
Thanks, Hoosiers would be too much tire for my setup. I'm looking along the lines of nt01 or federal rsr, which are available in 255/40/17, but I think that maybe too much width for my stock 17's
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      05-31-2013, 01:54 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by krnnerdboy View Post
Thanks, Hoosiers would be too much tire for my setup. I'm looking along the lines of nt01 or federal rsr, which are available in 255/40/17, but I think that maybe too much width for my stock 17's
The NT01 is available as a 245/45ZR17 also if you're sticking with stock wheels.
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      06-01-2013, 05:18 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jbass524
Quote:
Originally Posted by krnnerdboy View Post
Thanks, Hoosiers would be too much tire for my setup. I'm looking along the lines of nt01 or federal rsr, which are available in 255/40/17, but I think that maybe too much width for my stock 17's
The NT01 is available as a 245/45ZR17 also if you're sticking with stock wheels.
Nice, thanks for the heads up! My 328i is going to double as my track car until I figure out which direction I want to go on my next track car. Whatever the case, I'm sure the f30 is going to be more engaging than my e63 m6
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      07-03-2014, 06:09 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GET A GUN View Post
The passenger seat and rear flip downs are worth atleast 100 lbs.
takes about 10 minutes to remove.
Could you tell us how to remove those flips? Thanks!
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      07-03-2014, 07:12 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GET A GUN View Post
The passenger seat and rear flip downs are worth atleast 100 lbs.
takes about 10 minutes to remove.

Quote:
Originally Posted by godnamnit View Post
Could you tell us how to remove those flips? Thanks!
+1... while I think I'll need to retain the passenger seat (lest my instructor squat on the floor), saving ~50lbs on the rear flips might be worth it.
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      07-04-2014, 12:16 AM   #18
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My guess is that first we pull the 9 off (would it be safe to just grab it and take it off?)


and then unscrew 4... but let me patiently wait for his answer.
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      07-04-2014, 02:14 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by einlanzer View Post
just remove the spare tire and jack! Oh wait... XD

apex wheels are serious business though
While you're at it, remove the dipstick.
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