[heisenbergB58]

Hello all, I've been trying to do some research on this topic, but the only thing I can find is that it's common for these cars to get heat soak and downplay the timing, resulting in not huge, but noticeable power loss.

Especially when running canyons or tracks back to back.

So, since this is an excellent car for driving, and I plan to get about 100 more lb-ft of torque over time with mods/tunes... How can I avoid this issue?

Someone chime in on this; Right now I am looking at a CSF heat exchanger, and the auxiliary coolers on the sides as well. And a trans cooler. Not sure if it's a kit. Will any of these items help with the heat soak power loss? I do not have the performance cooling package.

We have 120° days ahead, and I need to drive

Thinking of getting an upgraded intake manifold/intercooler later too.

[peelerec]

Originally Posted by heisenbergB58

Hello all, I've been trying to do some research on this topic, but the only thing I can find is that it's common for these cars to get heat soak and downplay the timing, resulting in not huge, but noticeable power loss.

Especially when running canyons or tracks back to back.

So, since this is an excellent car for driving, and I plan to get about 100 more lb-ft of torque over time with mods/tunes... How can I avoid this issue?

Someone chime in on this; Right now I am looking at a CSF heat exchanger, and the auxiliary coolers on the sides as well. And a trans cooler. Not sure if it's a kit. Will any of these items help with the heat soak power loss? I do not have the performance cooling package.

We have 120° days ahead, and I need to drive

Thinking of getting an upgraded intake manifold/intercooler later too.

Are you tracking your car?
Depending on your skill level, you will or will not find heat soaking issues.
If tracking, I know chrispy28_xd tracks extensively and also has additional cooling modifications. He is also a far more advanced driver than I am, so although I don’t have heat soak issues yet, he would have more experience with hot track days at Thunderhill and Sonoma.

[heisenbergB58]

Originally Posted by peelerec

Are you tracking your car?
Depending on your skill level, you will or will not find heat soaking issues.
If tracking, I know chrispy28_xd tracks extensively and also has additional cooling modifications. He is also a far more advanced driver than I am, so although I don’t have heat soak issues yet, he would have more experience with hot track days at Thunderhill and Sonoma.

I will be, at Willow Springs most likely. For now it's only seen a pretty public canyon, as well as a very technical one, where I was able to run it pretty hard. Thats where I experienced slight power loss.

I haven't owned this car for very long btw, coming from a pre lci E90 335i and a IS300.

I think other people would have to judge my driving skill. I will say, I grew up driving mountains and canyons, I'm not usually out driven.

I do want to take it to a track to find the points that need addressing the most, but the canyon runs pulled the power loss issue after a few hours of running.

I wondered if I had gotten an exhaust leak, or vac leak, or something, but I would expect an error light for that.

Could be my imagination, but also seemed like it spooled and made boost slower later into the day. But power was still very much there, just seemed off.

[peelerec]

Originally Posted by heisenbergB58

I will be, at Willow Springs most likely. For now it's only seen a pretty public canyon, as well as a very technical one, where I was able to run it pretty hard. Thats where I experienced slight power loss.

I haven't owned this car for very long btw, coming from a pre lci E90 335i and a IS300.

I think other people would have to judge my driving skill. I will say, I grew up driving mountains and canyons, I'm not usually out driven.

I do want to take it to a track to find the points that need addressing the most, but the canyon runs pulled the power loss issue after a few hours of running.

I wondered if I had gotten an exhaust leak, or vac leak, or something, but I would expect an error light for that.

Could be my imagination, but also seemed like it spooled and made boost slower later into the day. But power was still very much there, just seemed off.

Well any turbo car will have heat soak issues if you’re running it hard for “hours”, especially on a warm day. Sounds you’re in SoCal. I’ve driven GMR a handful of times and never had any issues with heat, but again, that was only for 15-30 mins of spirited driving followed by “cool down” for a few mins due to traffic.
Streets of willow can get very hot up there, but it is a slow track relatively speaking as compared to Sonoma and Thunderhill that has many more long straight aways. Take it again with a grain of salt, but I did not have any heat soak issues at streets. If anything, I just learned even more so that our car is too large and heavy for The Streets. Needs way more suspension mods to handle that tight small course.

[RSnic]

Sorry to barge in, but have a dumb question. What is heat soak? Does it affect pre- mild hybrid M340s -- mime is a 2020?

Thanks

[AM340iMiami]

Originally Posted by RSnic

Sorry to barge in, but have a dumb question. What is heat soak? Does it affect pre- mild hybrid M340s — mime is a 2020?

Thanks

Engine gets super hot under intense driving and it causes a loss of power. Usually while tracking. Upgraded cooling is the fix.

[billnchristy]

I love the fact that these cars have electric pumps. When I tracked my x2 at the Michelin test track after we came in the car would run the pumps and fans for a few minutes to cool everything down while the poor old M5 behind us had to pop his hood and pray it didn't boil over on him.

[zazzau]

How are folks driving their cars enough to cause heat soak? I was just in Death Valley/Palm Springs couple weeks ago during the heat wave — car performed just fine with AC fully running. No heat soaks.

[heisenbergB58]

Originally Posted by peelerec

Well any turbo car will have heat soak issues if you’re running it hard for “hours”, especially on a warm day. Sounds you’re in SoCal. I’ve driven GMR a handful of times and never had any issues with heat, but again, that was only for 15-30 mins of spirited driving followed by “cool down” for a few mins due to traffic.
Streets of willow can get very hot up there, but it is a slow track relatively speaking as compared to Sonoma and Thunderhill that has many more long straight aways. Take it again with a grain of salt, but I did not have any heat soak issues at streets. If anything, I just learned even more so that our car is too large and heavy for The Streets. Needs way more suspension mods to handle that tight small course.

I am, Los Angeles. Do you think I will get any benefits from cooling mods? Since I dont have the performance cooling/tire package? I want to grab some CSF coolers regardless, but Idk.

I do have some Dinan springs and bump stops on the way 😎 hardly enough to master The Streets, but it's a start.

GMR had basically zero traffic when I went, it was amazing, but my first time on the road.

[heisenbergB58]

Originally Posted by AM340iMiami

Engine gets super hot under intense driving and it causes a loss of power. Usually while tracking. Upgraded cooling is the fix.

Do you think a upgraded heat exchanger, trans cooler, and aux coolers will be a good start? Or should I also upgrade my intercooler/intake manifold too?

My current goals for power is around 500 whp, although I dont want to risk becoming too unreliable for daily driving either. So maybe 500 wtq

[heisenbergB58]

Originally Posted by billnchristy

I love the fact that these cars have electric pumps. When I tracked my x2 at the Michelin test track after we came in the car would run the pumps and fans for a few minutes to cool everything down while the poor old M5 behind us had to pop his hood and pray it didn't boil over on him.

Is that a fact though? 🤔 Because it's not true, M340i uses 8 650 986, which is a mechanical pump lol

Older gens were electric, I'll give you that, and I can attest to watching others get fooked by their system 😅

[heisenbergB58]

Originally Posted by zazzau

How are folks driving their cars enough to cause heat soak? I was just in Death Valley/Palm Springs couple weeks ago during the heat wave — car performed just fine with AC fully running. No heat soaks.

Are you driving the car? Or just putting it in drive? haha. There's a small chance that I don't know what I'm talking about/experiencing. My 335i never had this problem, granted I drifted that car more than anything, so runs were shorter.

I'm dogging the shit out of mine through an agressive technical road, for hours on end until I run out of gas. Then I go into town, refuel, and hit the mountain a few more passes.

Death valley is something special, but I'm not playing around out here lol

[zazzau]

Originally Posted by heisenbergB58

Are you driving the car? Or just putting it in drive? haha.

LOL

[peelerec]

Originally Posted by heisenbergB58

I am, Los Angeles. Do you think I will get any benefits from cooling mods? Since I dont have the performance cooling/tire package? I want to grab some CSF coolers regardless, but Idk.

I do have some Dinan springs and bump stops on the way 😎 hardly enough to master The Streets, but it's a start.

GMR had basically zero traffic when I went, it was amazing, but my first time on the road.

I think it really depends if you are consistently pushing the car to it’s limit in that manner. From what I’ve seen, the ones who tend to see heat soak issues usually only occurs at the track. Not to say canyon runs aren’t demanding, but usually during canyon runs there will almost always be time to cool down due to traffic or length of canyon.
On the other hand, if you just want to cover all bases and cost is of no issue, then why not, buy the auxiliary radiators and main cooling unit, etc

[heisenbergB58]

Originally Posted by zazzau

LOL

Haha

It's worth mentioning too, I was running AC, because I hate the heat out here 😅 I cant do it without perforated leather seats

[peelerec]

Originally Posted by heisenbergB58

Are you driving the car? Or just putting it in drive? haha. There's a small chance that I don't know what I'm talking about/experiencing. My 335i never had this problem, granted I drifted that car more than anything, so runs were shorter.

I'm dogging the shit out of mine through an agressive technical road, for hours on end until I run out of gas. Then I go into town, refuel, and hit the mountain a few more passes.

Death valley is something special, but I'm not playing around out here lol

If you’re doing these canyon runs for hours and repeated drives, then yes, why not upgrade all cooling related components.

[heisenbergB58]

Originally Posted by peelerec

I think it really depends if you are consistently pushing the car to it’s limit in that manner. From what I’ve seen, the ones who tend to see heat soak issues usually only occurs at the track. Not to say canyon runs aren’t demanding, but usually during canyon runs there will almost always be time to cool down due to traffic or length of canyon.
On the other hand, if you just want to cover all bases and cost is of no issue, then why not, buy the auxiliary radiators and main cooling unit, etc

I just like the way it feels getting some boost and pushing ~400 through the car 😌 But I suppose I will order the CSF kit after this weekend, and see how it gets on with that. I do go pretty hard, particularly when it's competitive. Within reason of course. With track time coming soon, hopefully!

I wanna find a fine line between trackable, and reliable daily driver. 🤷

[heisenbergB58]

Side note, are these M340i capable of running Ethanol with a stock engine + JB4? I can't get 93 octane for the life of me, but E85 is easy to obtain. Bms has the ethanol kit, which monitors E levels and upgrades a couple fuel lines.

[billnchristy]

Originally Posted by heisenbergB58

Is that a fact though? 🤔 Because it's not true, M340i uses 8 650 986, which is a mechanical pump lol

Older gens were electric, I'll give you that, and I can attest to watching others get fooked by their system 😅

Ahh didn't realize that. I do know the fans run if you are hooning around because I sometimes stop and my car runs the fans loudly for several minutes. Thanks for the headsup!

[heisenbergB58]

Originally Posted by billnchristy

Ahh didn't realize that. I do know the fans run if you are hooning around because I sometimes stop and my car runs the fans loudly for several minutes. Thanks for the headsup!

Haha don't worry, I'm a big BMW fan and I work for the brand, so I take a lot of pride in whatever I do with these machines 😎 I noticed early on (car is still only a few weeks old to me) that the fans like to do their thing 😂 My E90 was electric and when the wp and thermostat went out it blew up my expansion tank 😅

[heisenbergB58]

Originally Posted by RSnic

Sorry to barge in, but have a dumb question. What is heat soak? Does it affect pre- mild hybrid M340s — mime is a 2020?

Thanks

Mine is a 2020, so yes. Pre LCI is affected haha
as is pre 48v system

[RSnic]

Originally Posted by heisenbergB58

Mine is a 2020, so yes. Pre LCI is affected haha
as is pre 48v system

heisenbergB58 ,
Y
Thanks-- igh!