[bentom2]

I just wrapped up my first weekend following installation of the Dinan fuel pickup mod and was disappointed to find it probably only gained me a few additional minutes of time before I'm at risk of an unintended parade lap.

I've resorted to ordering a 5 gallon fuel jug to take next time, but would love to hear about any alternate solutions.

Has anyone tried hydramat in the tank or a surge tank in the trunk? Maybe something else? I'd prefer not to take up space in the car or deal with the stink of the fuel jug on the drive home if there's different solution.

I'd love to get closer to 50 minutes per tank, rather than the current 35 or so before I'm at risk.

[E90convert]

Where are you at on the fuel gauge when you hit starvation? I’ve driven to the 1/6th mark with no problems. Granted, I’m stock power with 300tw tires.

[bentom2]

Originally Posted by E90convert

Where are you at on the fuel gauge when you hit starvation? I’ve driven to the 1/6th mark with no problems. Granted, I’m stock power with 300tw tires.

I’m pretty much guaranteed to get limp mode at the 1/6 mark. Before the Dinan kit, I’ve gotten fuel starvation that usually resulted in limp mode as high as 1/2 tank. With the kit, I seem to be in the danger zone just below the 2nd (1/3 tank) hash mark.

It’s nearly 100% repeatable in a particular complex on my primary local track when the fuel level is low enough. Long right hand sweeper up a hill, hill crest that unweights the car, and then a fast left hander under full throttle, followed by a tight left under heavy trail braking. When I try to get back on throttle exiting the slow left, the car stumbles and usually goes into limp mode.

Sticky 200TW tires definitely contributed to the problem, especially in 265 or 275 width.

[M2guru]

I think our experiences are similar with the Dinan kit. Here is a video of me running for 45mins and at the end I didn't get limp mode, but the car was telling me I had less than 10 miles of driving left and I was at maybe an 1/8 tank - which I am still very thankful for the extra run time. You can skip to the end of the video to see the fuel level better.

Warning about the Dinan kit: The hoses they sent me weren't good for gas. I never ran ethanol, but the hose(s) ruptured leading to an end to my day and almost needing a tow home. If don't replace the hoses and have the same situation as I had, you'll get fuel cut REAL early due to the rupture and will need a nearly full tank to get to your destination. Dinan didn't care about my experience because "racecar parts."

[ZM2]

GasBurnlife(landapanda) mentioned Bimmerworld is working on something.

[bentom2]

Originally Posted by ZM2

GasBurnlife(landapanda) mentioned Bimmerworld is working on something.

Nice. I’d love to find a kit rather than bodge something together.

[bentom2]

Originally Posted by M2guru

I think our experiences are similar with the Dinan kit. Here is a video of me running for 45mins and at the end I didn't get limp mode, but the car was telling me I had less than 10 miles of driving left and I was at maybe an 1/8 tank - which I am still very thankful for the extra run time. You can skip to the end of the video to see the fuel level better.

Warning about the Dinan kit: The hoses they sent me weren't good for gas. I never ran ethanol, but the hose(s) ruptured leading to an end to my day and almost needing a tow home. If don't replace the hoses and have the same situation as I had, you'll get fuel cut REAL early due to the rupture and will need a nearly full tank to get to your destination. Dinan didn't care about my experience because "racecar parts."

Thanks for the warning. The hose in my kit seemed to be properly labeled as fuel hose. I’ll hope thy had a bad batch since it’s already in the tank, but I guess I’ll be prepared if it happens to me too.

I’d love to get to 1/8th tank. That would be a satisfactory outcome. Unfortunately I’m a ways off from that mark.

I have video from my last incident of the weekend on my Catalyst. I’ll pull it later this evening and add to the thread so folks can see the lead in to being stuck on the apex of a corner until I could get the air purged from the fuel system.

[bentom2]

Here’s video from the worst instance. It took a number of tries to get the car to restart. Sitting on an apex made it extra exciting.

[M2guru]

Originally Posted by ZM2

GasBurnlife(landapanda) mentioned Bimmerworld is working on something.

That would be nice! They'd probably sell more than Dinan...Dinan's price for the kit has about doubled since I bought mine.

[M2guru]

Originally Posted by bentom2

Here’s video from the worst instance. It took a number of tries to get the car to restart. Sitting on an apex made it extra exciting.

Scary! Good thing there appeared to be not much trafffic!

[ThreeStripes]

This thread makes me grateful to have gas pumps in the paddock and 5mins away if you want to save a few bucks.

[bentom2]

Originally Posted by M2guru

Scary! Good thing there appeared to be not much trafffic!

Totally! Fortunately this was the last session of the day in very hot weather, so most folks opted not to run. In a busier session, that could've gone much differently.

[bentom2]

Originally Posted by ThreeStripes

This thread makes me grateful to have gas pumps in the paddock and 5mins away if you want to save a few bucks.

I do love that feature when I get down to Cali tracks. Not a big deal to fill up each session when it's just a run across the paddock. We have one local track with only race gas on site, so I do just top up occasionally when I'm tight on time, but that adds up if I get too friendly with the 100 octane pump.

This track is around 10mins from the nearest gas station and we were running three run groups on 25 minute sessions, so not much time to relax if you run out each break. A fuel jug should get me through two sessions easily, but transporting it inside the car for the drive home is not something I'm too enthused about.

[ThreeStripes]

Yeah I have a similar dilemma to face should I move to an E85 blend.

[bentom2]

Originally Posted by ThreeStripes

Yeah I have a similar dilemma to face should I move to an E85 blend.

Current lack of range is a big part of why I haven't tuned my car. I suppose if I can only get one session per tank as it is, maybe I should just make the most of it!

I'd imagine any high e-mix would be frustrating to stay on top of. You'd probably need your own fuel truck.

[M2guru]

I get high 5.x MPG with 93 octane. E85 blend would make that a bit worse I would guess... :-)

[ZM2]

Originally Posted by ThreeStripes

Yeah I have a similar dilemma to face should I move to an E85 blend.

I can get 40min on my setup with e50.

I fill my tank with e50 in the morning, and bring two 5gal e85 jugs with me to mix with pump 93 at the track. If I start to run out of e85, BM3 Multimap with the Flexfuel sensor automatically dials back timing for me and I run 93 the rest of the day.

Next morning, fill the tank with e50 and the two jugs with e85, and go again.

[GasBurnlife(landapanda)]

Originally Posted by bentom2

Nice. I’d love to find a kit rather than bodge something together.

Latest post by Phil W. From BW is that their kit is not quite production ready. Unfortunately looks like we all have to wait until the spring.

[GasBurnlife(landapanda)]

Originally Posted by M2guru

That would be nice! They'd probably sell more than Dinan...Dinan's price for the kit has about doubled since I bought mine.

I bought the secondary pickup kit and it didn’t really help with some long sweeping corners of sticky tires ….

[M2guru]

Originally Posted by GasBurnlife(landapanda)

I bought the secondary pickup kit and it didn’t really help with some long sweeping corners of sticky tires ….

How many g's? Mine seems good less than 1/4 tank and 1.3 g's.

[bentom2]

Originally Posted by GasBurnlife(landapanda)

Latest post by Phil W. From BW is that their kit is not quite production ready. Unfortunately looks like we all have to wait until the spring.

Looking forward to more details as they become available.

I looked up the M2 CSR tank cost and … I don’t see that as a viable option. Might as well get a nice trailer and start towing the car everywhere with fuel jugs.

[bentom2]

Originally Posted by M2guru

How many g's? Mine seems good less than 1/4 tank and 1.3 g's.

I think there’s more to it than lateral g forces. I get limp mode on the same track in the same place every time I’m there if I let the tank get below half. There must be some track geometry at play as well and not just g forces alone.