track preparation of w124 E500E, a hypothetical...

[yao500e]

Gents, not that we would ever harshly drive our E500E's on a track...

However, what if we prepared our cars for mostly spirited local roads / highway driving and occasional track driving such as smaller windy track or even the Nurburgring style track?
How would you guys prepare and mod your cars for this?

My intitial thoughts is to keep key areas of the car as cool and not over heating:

Engine is stock, no power mods
PWM electric radiator fan
upgrade to superior oil cooling system
upgrade to superior 722.3 tranmission cooling system
upgrade 722.3 valve body with faster shift kit

Suspension mods would include sport springs, better struts and thicker sway bars
Front strut mount brace.
17 inch or 18 inch wheels and very sticky michelin tires

Is there a way provide better cooling to the front brakes?

Any other thoughts?

@gsxr

 

[gsxr]

Factory PWM fan setup would be fabulous. Ditto for the factory oil cooler. An auxiliary ATF cooler may not be necessary, but wouldn't hurt. Forget the shift kit, if you don't have your name on the side of a factory-sponsored race car, shift speed isn't going to matter - not even a little bit. Sticky tires are mostly going to help you stay on the pavement and off the Armco, so yes, shell out for track tires. Wheel diameter won't make a big difference other than allowing larger brakes (see below).

The main thing missing from your list is brake upgrades. Like, at an absolute minimum, Silver Arrow brakes all around AND also a race-compound pad in place of street pads. Top-shelf brake fluid with very high boil points is also required as a safety net. Ducts to the front brakes wouldn't hurt, but also won't help stock brakes/pads enough to make a difference.

AFAIK only @szvook and @jhodg5ck have actually put their 036's on the track. Vookster has the SA brakes. I think Jono's TrackRat® has some sort of later AMG brakes, I forget exactly, but they ain't stock.

If you want low lap times, driver skill will by far make the most difference. Shell out for all the HPDE's and schools you can get to. Imagine how embarrassed you'd be flogging your race-prepped, 400+hp AMG E60 around the 'Ring and watching helplessly as Sabine Schmitz passes you driving that diesel Ford Transit van...

 

[yao500e]

Factory PWM fan setup would be fabulous. Ditto for the factory oil cooler. An auxiliary ATF cooler may not be necessary, but wouldn't hurt. Forget the shift kit, if you don't have your name on the side of a factory-sponsored race car, shift speed isn't going to matter - not even a little bit. Sticky tires are mostly going to help you stay on the pavement and off the Armco, so yes, shell out for track tires. Wheel diameter won't make a big difference other than allowing larger brakes (see below).

The main thing missing from your list is brake upgrades. Like, at an absolute minimum, Silver Arrow brakes all around AND also a race-compound pad in place of street pads. Top-shelf brake fluid with very high boil points is also required as a safety net. Ducts to the front brakes wouldn't hurt, but also won't help stock brakes/pads enough to make a difference.

AFAIK only @szvook and @jhodg5ck have actually put their 036's on the track. Vookster has the SA brakes. I think Jono's TrackRat® has some sort of later AMG brakes, I forget exactly, but they ain't stock.

If you want low lap times, driver skill will by far make the most difference. Shell out for all the HPDE's and schools you can get to. Imagine how embarrassed you'd be flogging your race-prepped, 400+hp AMG E60 around the 'Ring and watching helplessly as Sabine Schmitz passes you driving that diesel Ford Transit van...

that is really incredible the time she did in that diesel van! but point well taken!

 

[R129 UK]

I've (fortunately) not seen close up the inside the sump of an M119 but I've read and seen videos of cars suffering oil starvation at the 'Ring so maybe a baffle would be a good idea?

 

[gsxr]

I've (fortunately) not seen close up the inside the sump of an M119 but I've read and seen videos of cars suffering oil starvation at the 'Ring so maybe a baffle would be a good idea?

Interesting! I've not heard of this. There were M119's which had oil starvation at the 'Ring? Any details about year/model/chassis/etc?

 

[R129 UK]

Interesting! I've not heard of this. There were M119's which had oil starvation at the 'Ring? Any details about year/model/chassis/etc?

No, apologies for the confusion, I meant cars in general suffering oil starvation not those specifically with M119s.

 

[gsxr]

No, apologies for the confusion, I meant cars in general suffering oil starvation not those specifically with M119s.

Phew. Glad to hear that. The M119 has baffles / channels in the upper oil pan but nothing in the lower pan/sump area. However, in general, it is probably a good idea to make sure the oil level is not at MIN on the dipstick. Ideal level is halfway between MIN+MAX with the oil at normal temp, checked after the enigne has been shut down for about 5 minutes.

 

[TerryA]

@yao500e,
You should be asking Jono @ Blueridge MB about tracking the 500E. He has a “500E Track Car” and in the past has driven it on some East Coast tracks. He should have the answers.

PS; @szvook has tracked his car in the past.

Check the Similar Threads below this thread for more info.