I was battling a cold and felt like crud. But I was committed to go on our annual pilgrimage to Metric Mechanic. So I packed up my camera and cold meds and took off to meet Tom Kyle. We’d decided to caravan on a separate route from the rest of the group. It would take a little longer, but the back roads would be a lot more fun.
I’d taken the route myself one other time, but it was a lot more enjoyable going with a friend. It ended up being the PERFECT day for the drive. The weather was made to order and the leaves were well into their glorious fall colors. The route itself offered the kind of twisties that are the very reason we buy these cars.
We’ve always been greeted warmly by the gang at Metric Mechanic and this time was no exception. This was my third or fourth trip and it felt like a homecoming. Tom and I ended up arriving a little earlier than the rest of the crew. Apparently they were delayed due to some lane closures on Hwy 44. While Tom and I waited, Teddy explained a few things about a motor they were working on for a guy in New Jersey.
It turned out to be a perfect day for a race at Road America on Saturday, August 20, 2011.
The forecast showed a good chance of rain throughout much of the day and the skies looked a little angry. The practice session was a little wet, but the rest of the day was beautiful.
The Muscle Milk Aston Martin took pole in the P1 class, and Joey Hand took pole in the BMW for the GT class.
The closing laps were exciting as I watched from turn 3. The Dyson Mazda caught the Aston Martin but was not able to pass. After 4 hours of racing the gap between first and second place was only 0.112 seconds – a record in ALMS racing.
The #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 took first in GT, with BMW taking second and third in class. Joey Hand and Dirk Muller maintain a firm lead in the points standings, making BMW fans very happy.
The complete official race results are HERE.
BMWs have weaknesses in their cooling systems that many owners like to address.
The complaint is the use of plastic in certain components, like the radiator, the water pump impeller and the thermostat housing. Those pieces can become brittle, break and cause a lot of trouble.
At about 80,000 miles I did a lot of work on the cooling system.
Here’s a video of the work I did.
I replaced the radiator on my (14 year old) 1997 M3. I also replaced the water pump with a Stewart High Performance unit and I upgraded to an aluminum thermostat housing. Of course, I replaced the thermostat while I was in there.
UPDATE ON NEW TIRES
I’ve talked about the new tires I have on My BMW M3. I have a “straight” set of wheels with Yokohama S.drive tires that are about 4 years old. Two of them are pretty worn and hydroplane on certain surfaces. These tires have done well for me and they still have a little life in them. I can use them as long as I’m on a dry surface. I like the tires so well that I’m getting them again. This time I’m putting them on my original wheels, which are “staggered.” (The rear wheels are wider than the front.)
Here’s what I noticed after taking the tires for their first drive.
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Comparing an old Dunlop SP Sport 9000 to a new Yokohama S.drive
Old tires with plenty of tread can perform poorly or even be dangerous. Time and exposure to elements degrade the rubber and the compound begins to harden. That means that the tire won’t grip as well. This video talks about tire aging and compound degradation.
Aging can also effect the tire structure below the surface. The generally accepted sweet spot of tire life is around 5 years for normal driving. High performance driving and trucks pulling or carrying heavy loads might have a shorter practical life. Some have suggested 4 years.
