autocross the 128 with an autotragic..

[olds350]

Please save the bashing about this being an automatic. There's a ton of backstory to the questions I want to ask. I know this isn't optimal, but it's what I have to work with right now.

OK, I'll be selling my autox & track prepped mustang in order the put money down on the new bulllitt mustang that's coming out later this year. That said, has anyone had issues autox'g one of these cars with the auto tranny? I've done this once late last year and car was fun to drive. Just put into sport mode and drive. I guess the question is, are these auto trans robust enough to take about 5 minutes of hard beating? I've not heard of any automatic related issues, but wanted to check with drivers...

For those that do autox, what tires work well with a stock chassis? I'm not putting any money into the car, it will be run in stock configuration. Only looking to have some fun this year, I know I won't be competitive.

I'd appreciate any positive feedback you might have please...

[BimmerAg]

Your auto transmission should be just fine for autocross. For tires, the fastest ones are either the Bridgestone RE-71R or the Goodyear Rival S 1.5. The I've heard good things about new Nexen SUR4G, nearly as fast as the above named tires for a lot cheaper. Right now I'm running a square setup of 255/40R17 Federal 595 RS-RRs which are kinda in the second tier but about half the price of the RE71 or Rival S. I'd highly recommend going with a square tire setup to balance out the inherent understeer in the 128/135 chassis. One small free mod you can also try is to remove the camber pin from your front strut top mounts and slide the mounts inward for a little bit more front camber. It won't be much, but every little bit helps with front end grip and tire wear.

What kind of class structure dour your autocross club run? SCCA classes or something else? With good tires and good driving, you could be reasonably competitive in the D-Street class at local SCCA events

[olds350]

Originally Posted by BimmerAg

Your auto transmission should be just fine for autocross. For tires, the fastest ones are either the Bridgestone RE-71R or the Goodyear Rival S 1.5. The I've heard good things about new Nexen SUR4G, nearly as fast as the above named tires for a lot cheaper. Right now I'm running a square setup of 255/40R17 Federal 595 RS-RRs which are kinda in the second tier but about half the price of the RE71 or Rival S. I'd highly recommend going with a square tire setup to balance out the inherent understeer in the 128/135 chassis. One small free mod you can also try is to remove the camber pin from your front strut top mounts and slide the mounts inward for a little bit more front camber. It won't be much, but every little bit helps with front end grip and tire wear.

What kind of class structure dour your autocross club run? SCCA classes or something else? With good tires and good driving, you could be reasonably competitive in the D-Street class at local SCCA events

Excellent info, thank you!! Can you forward or post a pick of the pin please? Not heard of that before. Good call on the Nexen tires. Wanting to keep costs as low as possible since this is a temp autox car. I have a set of factory wheels, so I should be good to go. I assume there's no issues running the tires with no TPMS aside from annoying dash light. I assume there's no audibles to deal with...

As for the club, THSCC.com in Raleigh NC. We follow the SCCA classings...

[1and1]

Here ya go- There are worse ways to spend 30-40 minutes

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[asiflicious]

1addicts is pretty mature and we don't bash people for the transmissions they get. Your transmission will be just fine for autox. I'd use manual mode instead of sport mode though

[tock172]

I participated in multiple autocross events in one of my E46s, which was equipped with the direct predecessor ZF automatic that's in your 128i. I never experienced any issues and drove at 10/10ths during every lap of every event. I adhered to a standard fluid and service interval somewhere between 30k and 60k.

Also, it's best to just slap the lever into sport and go. Manual doesn't pay off and you end up getting caught in the wrong gear far too often. Autocross laps are over before you blink as I'm sure you know.

[BimmerAg]

Originally Posted by olds350

I assume there's no issues running the tires with no TPMS aside from annoying dash light. I assume there's no audibles to deal with...

Yep, no issues! My track wheel/tire set doesn't have them and there's a dash light, and an audible ding when you first start the car to warn you about it, but that's it.

[asiflicious]

Originally Posted by tock172

I participated in multiple autocross events in one of my E46s, which was equipped with the direct predecessor ZF automatic that's in your 128i. I never experienced any issues and drove at 10/10ths during every lap of every event. I adhered to a standard fluid and service interval somewhere between 30k and 60k.

Also, it's best to just slap the lever into sport and go. Manual doesn't pay off and you end up getting caught in the wrong gear far too often. Autocross laps are over before you blink as I'm sure you know.

128i has the GM transmission, not the ZF

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by asiflicious

128i has the GM transmission, not the ZF

If I remember correctly, I think the earlier cars had a Getrag automatic, and the later ones got a ZF...I'm pro'ly wrong, though...

[tock172]

Originally Posted by asiflicious

128i has the GM transmission, not the ZF

The 128i actually had both. Early E46s also used GM transmissions before the ZF 5-speed superseded them. Very similar design between the two as it is.

Originally Posted by chris_flies

If I remember correctly, I think the earlier cars had a Getrag automatic, and the later ones got a ZF...I'm pro'ly wrong, though...

Getrag does not manufacture conventional torque converter automatics like the units used in the 128i. They do, however, manufacture a few different dual clutch designs.

[FrostyDC4]

Originally Posted by chris_flies

If I remember correctly, I think the earlier cars had a Getrag automatic, and the later ones got a ZF...I'm pro'ly wrong, though...

I thought all of the auto 128's came with the GM 6AT. Its a good trans though.

Originally Posted by asiflicious

1addicts is pretty mature and we don't bash people for the transmissions they get. Your transmission will be just fine for autox. I'd use manual mode instead of sport mode though

Yep the 1addicts userbase is very mature

Originally Posted by olds350

Please save the bashing about this being an automatic. There's a ton of backstory to the questions I want to ask. I know this isn't optimal, but it's what I have to work with right now.

OK, I'll be selling my autox & track prepped mustang in order the put money down on the new bulllitt mustang that's coming out later this year. That said, has anyone had issues autox'g one of these cars with the auto tranny? I've done this once late last year and car was fun to drive. Just put into sport mode and drive. I guess the question is, are these auto trans robust enough to take about 5 minutes of hard beating? I've not heard of any automatic related issues, but wanted to check with drivers...

For those that do autox, what tires work well with a stock chassis? I'm not putting any money into the car, it will be run in stock configuration. Only looking to have some fun this year, I know I won't be competitive.

I'd appreciate any positive feedback you might have please...

Just buy tires and better pads and have fun. I have not driven an AT 128 in ages but I dont think the AT will let you bounce off the limiter.

[snub-nose 28]

Originally Posted by olds350

Excellent info, thank you!! Can you forward or post a pick of the pin please? Not heard of that before. Good call on the Nexen tires. Wanting to keep costs as low as possible since this is a temp autox car.

As for the club, THSCC.com in Raleigh NC. We follow the SCCA classings...

The alignment pin drifts out by firm mallet blow downward. A rat-tail file used carefully elongates the mount bolts 'inward' adjustment. Three-eights gives you -2.0 to -2.20.

Bear in mind these were all fitted with Rfts. Many like mine was P-Zero 17". Sidewalls stiff enough to support a small bungalow.

Correspondingly the entire suspension was super compliant to mitigate the harshness for everyday use.

Now we're all (this forum) on 'normal' sidewalls...consider how, shall we say, flexible the result becomes. Fully optimized suspension parts become essential. Unless you resist.

Just have fun in it.

Be careful not to get drawn in to the $$$ mod rabbit-hole vortex.

[olds350]

Originally Posted by snub-nose 28

Be careful not to get drawn in to the $$$ mod rabbit-hole vortex.

Been there, done that.... twice. I look at my spread sheets at the money burned... damn. But I had a good time setting up my old e36 and the current mustang. Now the focus is on the 401k so retirement can become a reality...

[1and1]

lolz- been there, spent that....

For me it was on my Speed6- full bolt on, suspension etc, then realized I had built it into the street mod class... ouch.

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by FrostyDC4

I thought all of the auto 128's came with the GM 6AT. Its a good trans though.

The 128i auto is the GM transmission. The 135i auto was initially a standard ZF unit, which changed over to a DCT.

[asiflicious]

For what it's worth, I didn't really notice a difference with the transmission going from my GM transmission 128i to my ZF 335i and 135i. They're all solid transmissions and extremely capable for a traditional torque converter automatic. The new ZF 8 speeds however... simply masterpieces

[Hops128i]

Before i did any autocross or track events, i imagined myself banging through the gears with joy in my manual, but the reality is in autocross, you're in 2nd gear the whole time, and with the tracks i've been at i'm either in 3rd or 4th gear (maybe 5th)... that's it.
And at the track, i now think i'd actually appreciate an automatic so i can focus on my entry speed, line... etc, but i'm an intermediate driver that can't heal and toe... only rev match down shifts.

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by Hops128i

Before i did any autocross or track events, i imagined myself enjoying banging through the gears with joy in my manual, but the reality is in autocross, you're in 2nd gear the whole time, and with the tracks i've been at i'm either in 3rd or 4th gear (maybe 5th)... that's it.
And at the track, i now think i'd actually appreciate an automatic so i can focus on my entry speed, line... etc, but i'm an intermediate driver that can't heal and toe... only rev match down shifts.

Yeah, Summit Point is a 3rd, 4th, and sometimes 5th gear track. The carousel would allow for 2nd, but the mid-range torque (NA FTW) in 3rd feels faster and less frantic. I haven't done any autocrossing yet, but I really want to get into it (much less expensive than HPDE).

To the OP: I'd say go ahead, autocross your autotragic!

What could possibly go wrong?

[BimmerAg]

Originally Posted by chris_flies

Yeah, Summit Point is a 3rd, 4th, and sometimes 5th gear track. The carousel would allow for 2nd, but the mid-range torque (NA FTW) in 3rd feels faster and less frantic. I haven't done any autocrossing yet, but I really want to get into it (much less expensive than HPDE).

To the OP: I'd say go ahead, autocross your autotragic!

What could possibly go wrong?

I started out with track events as well and thought autocross would be kinda boring, I mean, you're just driving around in a parking lot right? But I tried it and it's an absolute blast! Sure, seat time is limited, but like you said the cost is much more attractive, and you really can learn a lot more about your driving and the handling of your car. You have 5-6 runs to learn the course, plan the ideal driving line, and try to execute that plan to perfection. It's really a great challenge and a ton of fun! Plus, all of the other drivers are super friendly and great to talk to and ride along with. I still love track days, but find myself doing autocross much more frequently because of the cost and convenience

[1and1]

Originally Posted by chris_flies

go ahead, autocross your autotragic!

Words to live by- hell, autocross anything, allthethings

[olds350]

Originally Posted by BimmerAg

I started out with track events as well and thought autocross would be kinda boring, I mean, you're just driving around in a parking lot right? But I tried it and it's an absolute blast! Sure, seat time is limited, but like you said the cost is much more attractive, and you really can learn a lot more about your driving and the handling of your car. You have 5-6 runs to learn the course, plan the ideal driving line, and try to execute that plan to perfection. It's really a great challenge and a ton of fun! Plus, all of the other drivers are super friendly and great to talk to and ride along with. I still love track days, but find myself doing autocross much more frequently because of the cost and convenience

^^^this^^^ well said.

When I try to explain what autox is to non-drivers, they look at me like a have a hole in my head. All you gotta do is try it. Great bang for the buck and as mentioned, you can run just about anything...

[FrostyDC4]

Originally Posted by olds350

^^^this^^^ well said.

When I try to explain what autox is to non-drivers, they look at me like a have a hole in my head. All you gotta do is try it. Great bang for the buck and as mentioned, you can run just about anything...

Yep I agree. It’s very good for sharpening your reflexes and feeling the balance of a car!