M3 project from Finland

[rearwheelsteercompact]

http://www.trailtechproducts.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Vapor.html

http://www.dirtbikebitz.com/enduro-atv- ... p-446.html

What size are they?

[Susiraja]

http://www.trailtechproducts.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Vapor.html

http://www.dirtbikebitz.com/enduro-atv- ... p-446.html

What size are they?

We have the one in the trailtechproducts link. Don´t have the exact size, but pretty small. A bit bigger than a cigarette pack. I think you can´t follow it on the stage because a lot of info on a small display. You can either program a gear change light or water temperature warning light.

Our plan is to program water temperature warning so that you immediately wake up on the stage if there is a problem with temperature. Yellow light for high temperatue and red for "pull over". During the stage we won´t have time to follow any "nice to know" info. On the stage start we plan to follow rev counter so that the engine revs would be optimal for traction. Between the stages we plan to use it following the speed limits and checking from the trip computer the distances travelled.

Other device for collecting info is to use Racechrono free software in a mobile phone. With that you can collect the stage profile, stage time, G-forces and speeds during the stage. A very nice application that you can also import on top of your onboard footage with suitable editing program.

[Susiraja]

We haven´t updated any project info lately. The car is in a phase where you can´t see the progress in pictures even though a lot of small things have been done. Also our current back up car Opel Astra has been taking a lot of working hours from the M3 project. We know, "Why do you work on the Astra and not finish the BMW?!" We have a pretty good reason for that, but we´ll tell more about it sometime in January

The M3 will be finished in the near future, but before that Happy New Year to everybody!

We are also in Facebook now with "Heikkinen Racing Team" name. The texts there are in Finnish, but don´t be afraid to comment on the discussion side also in English if something comes to mind

[Susiraja]

Some updates on the M3 again. We installed a smaller heater unit inside the dash and removed air from the clutch and brakes. That´s about it. We haven´t forgotten BMWs though. The reason we were working around the Opel Astra was that we sold it to one of our friends and in the same time bought a 325 E30 to replace the Opel

The 325 is very nicely build and we know the history of the car. Normally we wouldn´t have bothered to change the back up car, but then this car came for sale. There are a lot of things done "right" in this particular car so when the opportunity came we decided to buy the car. The only thing that doesn´t click is the "Kermit the frog" green colour. During next week the outside will change to something more orange. A couple pics on the Finnish side in our web pages.

I posted one onboard clip on the bmws on action topic. The engine really sings nicely for a 325
I also posted a race report from the Mänttä 200 -ajo rally to the English side on our web pages.

[Susiraja]

Last post was done in February. After that we have actually made some progress. The car is finished now and pictures can be found from our web pages. None from the finished interior, but we'll post them when we have put on the sponsor stickers and so on.

After the first testing on a rally cross track and one dent richer we found out some little issues with the car. Seems that a clutch cylinder is leaking a bit, brake balance is terrible and the throttle pedal jammed once for a second. The rev limiter works OK

Nothing major so far so we try to do some actual setup testing for the suspension in July and participate in a rally in August. The setup testing is important since at the moment the M3 is lacking grip. Spits gravel nicely though.

[is-si]

Good luck with the testing and dont bend it again before August!
Thanks for the update
Looking forward to the in-car video in August

[Susiraja]

Embarrassing. Last update was ages ago

The car is ready and we went to the first rally in October. Everything went well except the suspension was too stiff so at the moment we are having those serviced and have a softer setup in the future. The web site's English section hasn't been updated in ages either, but some report in English from the first rally can be found from Matti's co-driver blog http://finnishcodriver.blogspot.com/

Also we had some challenges with the in-car camera, but in youtube there are some clips from our BMW. In this one our orange BMW appears around 3min18s mark. Lots of other BMWs in that clip also.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nl243SAFZE
Same corner, but from a different angle and only our car in this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlNgLRQlPbU

But as a summary the M3 is FUN! Lots of power which never seems to run out. And when the softer suspension setup provides more traction it should be faster. First rally next year for the M3 is at the latest in February.