Alright let’s get down to the requested information.
Before I start to share my personal experiences I would like to state I by no means confess to be a professional but more a die hard enthusiast in in drag racing.
For this subject I would like to break down my comment into sections :
Section 1: Achieving that perfect launch with a E90 330d
So record with this car is 13.8sec on the 400m with a 217km exit on the 1km (MSA event). These times were also achieved at different race tracks on different days. So consistency was illustrated on every trip to the dragstrip.
How was this achieved?
Add in NF boost additive – allow enough driving time for adaptation
On race day seeing that I used 265/30/19 street tyres. I drop the pressure down to 1.8bar. This will help with the hard launch Im about to explain
Now in any drag race the most important time is the 60ft time the car has to do. If a car can do a get a very good 60ft time , the 400m time will be lower.
Now you may be asking how do I get the best possible 60ft time?
Quiet simple :
Heading up towards the track I would suggest spraying the intercooler with lots of water to keep temps low as possible.
Line up the car at the Christmas lights.
Disable all driving aids, DSC etc
Engage 2nd gear in manual mode (steptronic box)
Hold 2000rpm with foot on brake
Handbrake down
Now this is key : Timing usually starts from the moment one has to leave the line , its does not start to count on green. So take your time and focus even if your opponent pulls ahead. It’s the 400m time that determines the winner and not the person that crosses the line first.
Lights goes green
Rule on the steptronic box with loads of torque available is not to hit the kick down mode , full depressed accelerator. If one does this it will engage the car back into 1st gear which will defeat the purpose of achieving a good 60ft time.
So lets try again : Lights go green , foot on accelerator holding a steady 2000rpm, handbrake down , left foot on brake pedal.
GO
Driver has to gently press accelerator to get momentum (not granny pressing), once car revs past 3000pms its safe to engage kickdown mode as car will not revert to 1st gear.
Keeping in mind we are now in manual mode 2nd gear moving forward , driver has to catch each gear at 3800rpm. Rev counter will go up till 4300rpm and do the next gear change. The steptronic box has a delay in it (torque converter) which will mean this in order to do perfect shifts one has to cater for that delay hence trying to catch each gear change at 3800rpm
As with any Diesel , high RPMS does not make power. One has to know their power band , meaning keeping the car in that power band all the time. General conesus is 3500rpm to 4200rpm for a Diesel powerband.
And that sums up how to achieve a good 60ft time and 400m time.
In order to do 1km runs , lots of persons say leave the line with lots of wheelspin it will give one a higher topend speed. I disagree as when I tested with Vbox the results where the same for topend speeds. What I would rather suggest is to the 1km run the way one would run a 400m meaning leaving the line hard and keeping the car in its powerband the entire way.
Section 2 – Power vs Weight.
Official MSA Times with my other cars :
E36 M3.2 - 13.8sec on the 400m
E90 330d - 13.8sec on the 400m
Now based on the above we have a NA car up against a Turbo Torque Monster but how do we explain the same 400m times even though the NA car is running at a loss of power due to altitude ???
Will continue with Section2 and more as soon as I get the go ahead.....
We can discuss :
1) Power vs Weight.
2) Traction with drag radials.
3) Warming up those drag radials to ensure one doesnt bog at the line
4) Breakages and strengthening of hardware components to do Hard Launches.
Let me know whats your guys take , should we continue or not?
raise:
