Which performance upgrades or accessories are essential for the CT5-V Blackwing?

Question

What are the actually essential performance upgrades or accessories for the CT5-V Blackwing once you start tracking it regularly? I’ve been running V cars for years but I just picked up my 24 BW and I’m hitting some unexpected limp mode issues during long sessions which is driving me crazy. I’m thinking about the radiator upgrades or maybe some better brake cooling ducts since I’m already chewing through the stock pads faster than I did on my old CTS-V. I’m based in Florida so the humidity is a killer and I’ve got about 5k to spend before my next event in three weeks. Should I look at an alignment kit first or focus on the cooling?

Nickdog · Accepted Answer

Check the Cadillac V-Club forums for more resources. I am very satisfied with these for reliability:Red Line WaterWetter Coolant AdditiveBMR Suspension Alignment Lockout Kit

kprwymoovw · Answer

I just found this thread and honestly, it is frustrating that we even have to discuss this for a flagship car. I have been tracking cars for a decade and the Blackwing cooling is unfortunately not as good as expected once you are out in the Florida soup. I had issues with my 24 BW during a long session where it just went into limp mode without much warning, which is super sketchy when you have traffic behind you. It really ruins the confidence you have in the car and feels like a massive step back from what they promised. Like someone mentioned, thermals have to be the priority over everything else. My quick tip is to focus on the oil cooling specifically because that is usually what triggers the ECU to pull power first. I swapped in the CSF High-Performance Oil Cooler and it made a massive difference in how long I could stay out before things got hairy. Also, since you mentioned chewing through pads, the factory rotors are likely heat-soaking your whole hub assembly. I would highly recommend the GiroDisc Front Two-Piece Slotted Rotors because they vent much better than the stock setup and handle the expansion way better. Looking at the market, Cadillac really under-specced the heat dissipation for high-humidity environments. If you still have budget left from that 5k after the cooler and rotors, consider a set of Forgeline GS1R Monoblock Wheels. They are way lighter and the open design helps pull heat away from the calipers. Dont worry about the alignment yet, just get the car to stay cool first.

lupgeskeoz · Answer

I have been very satisfied with my setup since adding the Tapout Tuning Auxiliary Radiator Kit Stage 1 to handle high ambient temps. It works well and I havent seen limp mode since. Since you are in Florida, skip the alignment for now and prioritize Ferodo DS1.11 Track Brake Pads because they handle heat cycles way better than stock. No complaints here.