[David@ActiveAutowerke]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to take our M2 out to the Formula Drift event in Orlando, FL. The supporting venue was Orlando Speed World, and on the Sunday after Formula Drift they were holding their own drift day for locals to come out and drive on the same track as the pros!

At the time, our car had our reflash, downpipe and intercooler installed. We also had our prototype BC Racing coilovers with camber plates installed along with Nitto tires, Motorsport Hardware 14x1.25 -> 14x1.5 stud conversion kit, IND cosmetics and our XPEL wrap done by Hugh's Detailing.

With about 380whp on tap, the car was so easy to drive with the new suspension and alignment. With two previous track days under my belt in the M2, I can say that the predictability with the proper suspension and alignment was so much better. The multi link rear suspension design has so much mechanical grip, that when transitioning from one direction to another I really had to bring the car to quite a bit of angle so that it had enough momentum to snap back the other way. When I attempted to let the car swing by itself, it would snap straight and not slide out the other way (the suspension is doing what it should and trying to prevent the car from sliding, this is referred to as "side bite" in drifting). I did notice that once I had the car past a certain amount of angle it stopped accelerating and the throttle pedal would only control angle and not speed. Flooring it would just increase the car angle but not increase the speed of the vehicle whereas in an e36 or e46 chassis with the trailing arm rear suspension, if you floored the car while in drift it would just accelerate and maintain similar vehicle angle. In drifting this is referred to "forward grip". This lack of forward grip is why I suspect there are no late model BMWs in professional drifting. Starting with the e9X chassis, BMW went to a multi link rear suspension which provides great side bite, but minimal forward grip and contrary to popular belief, in professional drifing you want as much grip as possible.

We'd previously seen a bunch of M2 videos with the car in drift, but none of them really displayed any transitions or committed entries. I'm not a professional drifter or driver, but I do have about 3 years of drifting experience in other BMWs. Drifting is not the fastest way around a track, but it's so much fun. Despite the negative connotation it receives in the motorsport world, the sport teaches a level of car control that you'd likely never obtain in any other motorsport. It helps build confidence and control way above the limit of grip, allowing you to play around with that line on the racetrack comfortably.

Denis Korol of DK Mediaworks was on site and I have to personally thank him for this edit he made for us. Enjoy!

[Analog Imports]

Looks like fun!! Thanks for sharing

[JustChris]

Nice work controlling those huge drifts and transitions.

[AlexCirci]

Wow awesome video! Assuming this was with everything turned off? Not Sport+ mode?

[BMWPWR]

M2 looks the best sideways

[David@ActiveAutowerke]

Originally Posted by Analog Imports

Looks like fun!! Thanks for sharing

Originally Posted by MCarChris

Nice work controlling those huge drifts and transitions.

Originally Posted by AlexCirc

Wow awesome video! Assuming this was with everything turned off? Not Sport+ mode?

Originally Posted by BMWPWR

M2 looks the best sideways

Thanks all! Yes, this was all done with DSC completely off.

[Fabspeed Motorsport]

Right on!

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by David@ActiveAutowerke

Thanks all! Yes, this was all done with DSC completely off.

And with some different easier to drift tyres at the back?

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers
Robin

[Bigcatkian]

That motorsport golf ball shift knob tho I might need that in my life with a shift extender

[David@ActiveAutowerke]

Originally Posted by Fabspeed Motorsport

Right on!

Originally Posted by Robin_NL

And with some different easier to drift tyres at the back?

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers
Robin

Thanks Robin, the tires were 245/35/19 so a little smaller than stock but still not very small!

Originally Posted by Bigcatkian

That motorsport golf ball shift knob tho I might need that in my life with a shift extender

OEM+

[kevlee23]

Originally Posted by David@ActiveAutowerke

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to take our M2 out to the Formula Drift event in Orlando, FL. The supporting venue was Orlando Speed World, and on the Sunday after Formula Drift they were holding their own drift day for locals to come out and drive on the same track as the pros!

At the time, our car had our reflash, downpipe and intercooler installed. We also had our prototype BC Racing coilovers with camber plates installed along with Nitto tires, Motorsport Hardware 14x1.25 -> 14x1.5 stud conversion kit, IND cosmetics and our XPEL wrap done by Hugh's Detailing.

With about 380whp on tap, the car was so easy to drive with the new suspension and alignment. With two previous track days under my belt in the M2, I can say that the predictability with the proper suspension and alignment was so much better. The multi link rear suspension design has so much mechanical grip, that when transitioning from one direction to another I really had to bring the car to quite a bit of angle so that it had enough momentum to snap back the other way. When I attempted to let the car swing by itself, it would snap straight and not slide out the other way (the suspension is doing what it should and trying to prevent the car from sliding, this is referred to as "side bite" in drifting). I did notice that once I had the car past a certain amount of angle it stopped accelerating and the throttle pedal would only control angle and not speed. Flooring it would just increase the car angle but not increase the speed of the vehicle whereas in an e36 or e46 chassis with the trailing arm rear suspension, if you floored the car while in drift it would just accelerate and maintain similar vehicle angle. In drifting this is referred to "forward grip". This lack of forward grip is why I suspect there are no late model BMWs in professional drifting. Starting with the e9X chassis, BMW went to a multi link rear suspension which provides great side bite, but minimal forward grip and contrary to popular belief, in professional drifing you want as much grip as possible.

We'd previously seen a bunch of M2 videos with the car in drift, but none of them really displayed any transitions or committed entries. I'm not a professional drifter or driver, but I do have about 3 years of drifting experience in other BMWs. Drifting is not the fastest way around a track, but it's so much fun. Despite the negative connotation it receives in the motorsport world, the sport teaches a level of car control that you'd likely never obtain in any other motorsport. It helps build confidence and control way above the limit of grip, allowing you to play around with that line on the racetrack comfortably.

Denis Korol of DK Mediaworks was on site and I have to personally thank him for this edit he made for us. Enjoy!

When can we get the downpipe and front mount for it? On the site already?

[David@ActiveAutowerke]

Originally Posted by kevlee23

When can we get the downpipe and front mount for it? On the site already?

Not yet. The intercoolers will be ready to ship in 3-4 weeks. The downpipe might be a bit longer, we're playing with a few designs and haven't finalized it yet. We will likely release the downpipe with our signature exhaust system first, and then offer it for use with stock exhaust systems at a later point

[ItsAllFairGame]

Very nice!

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by Robin_NL

And with some different easier to drift tyres at the back?

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers
Robin

The compounds they use in drift tires are focused on two criteria:

1) Better high-temperature stability (as in, not turning in to flaming chunks of rubber after two laps).

2) More predictable transition between grip and slide. The transition between grip and slide needs to be predictable with any performance tire, but drift tires sacrifice some grip in the interest of a smooth, predictable transition.

You could say that these tires make drifting "easier", but that's like saying a good pair of running shoes makes running easier. They do, but what kind of moron goes for a run in work boots?

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by bradleyland

The compounds they use in drift tires are focused on two criteria:

1) Better high-temperature stability (as in, not turning in to flaming chunks of rubber after two laps).

2) More predictable transition between grip and slide. The transition between grip and slide needs to be predictable with any performance tire, but drift tires sacrifice some grip in the interest of a smooth, predictable transition.

You could say that these tires make drifting "easier", but that's like saying a good pair of running shoes makes running easier. They do, but what kind of moron goes for a run in work boots?

Yep I know. It's one of my hobbies as well.

Cheers
Robin

[m3welt]

Looks like fun! Are those e46 M3 Wheels in the rear? They look pretty sweet on the M2!

[PARTS@STBMW]

Looks like a lot of fun! Thanks for sharing.

[John Tanglewood]

Looks like SO much fun!

[Bosozoku]

Must be fun to do power slides.
But man is it boring to watch.

[vladberca]

Awesome to see an M car pushed on the track.
Either trying to shave some tenths or doing these power slides! 👍

[InTheNightKitchen]

You're a really good driver, I would like to see you in a FD car going around the circuit. I just attended FD in Jersey for the 5th time. Love it! After your explanation about suspension setup and after watching your video. I can't help but feel the M2 looked really out of place drifting. Could you elaborate a little more on how you got your experience. I'm in CT, and as far as I know we don't really have anything up this way to learn.

[adc]

Sure looks like fun. I wish I had this level of car control...


Now in regards to suspension, the E30 was the last one with a trailing arm. The E36 introduced the multi-link rear. Perhaps you are witnessing a difference in the LSD - either by build or by tuning - between the different generations?