E30 325 - first track car?
Discussion
Can't seem to search on "E30" or "325" so this has probably been done before
Thinking at the moment about getting an E30 325i and turning it into a track car. I've no experience whatsoever in matters mechanical, but am willing to learn. So, some initial questions:
1. Is the 325 a feasible car to start with (want rear wheel drive before suggestions of Golfs etc appear)?
2. How much am I looking at for a decent one?
3. What should I look for when buying one?
4. I presume that shedding weight is fairly easy (get rid of rear seats and so on). Are other mods easy and cheap(ish) - suspension, brakes and so on?
5. I presume a Haynes manual will help with some of the easier jobs, but obviously will need help with the bigger ones. Anyone have experience of BMW independents in the SW (Glos/Wilts)?
Any other advice much appreciated - many thanks!
Thinking at the moment about getting an E30 325i and turning it into a track car. I've no experience whatsoever in matters mechanical, but am willing to learn. So, some initial questions:
1. Is the 325 a feasible car to start with (want rear wheel drive before suggestions of Golfs etc appear)?
2. How much am I looking at for a decent one?
3. What should I look for when buying one?
4. I presume that shedding weight is fairly easy (get rid of rear seats and so on). Are other mods easy and cheap(ish) - suspension, brakes and so on?
5. I presume a Haynes manual will help with some of the easier jobs, but obviously will need help with the bigger ones. Anyone have experience of BMW independents in the SW (Glos/Wilts)?
Any other advice much appreciated - many thanks!
thunderstruck said:
Can't seem to search on "E30" or "325" so this has probably been done before
Thinking at the moment about getting an E30 325i and turning it into a track car. I've no experience whatsoever in matters mechanical, but am willing to learn. So, some initial questions:
1. Is the 325 a feasible car to start with (want rear wheel drive before suggestions of Golfs etc appear)?
Yes, lots of people race them and have fun... you'll find loads of E30 specific discussion including lots about track cars at www.e30zone.co.uk.
2. How much am I looking at for a decent one?
Depends on what you mean by "decent", btu they're cheap now, a couplf of grand shoudl get you a nice one.
3. What should I look for when buying one?
They rust mostly round the wheel arches. Cylinder heads crack if they've been allowed to overheat, which they have tendency to do if not maintained perfectly. They all have slightly noisy gearboxes and fuel injectors (latter sounds like tappets), so don't worry about that!
For racing probably avoid the SE (my type) which is loaded with all the extras.
4. I presume that shedding weight is fairly easy (get rid of rear seats and so on). Are other mods easy and cheap(ish) - suspension, brakes and so on?
Same as any other motor I reckon - there's the usual vast range of aftermarket parts for them.
5. I presume a Haynes manual will help with some of the easier jobs, but obviously will need help with the bigger ones. Anyone have experience of BMW independents in the SW (Glos/Wilts)?
The Haynes manual is referred to as the Joke Book by those of us in the E30 community. You want the Bentley manual, available at Amazon etc.
The onyl people I'll trust mine to are Gliucester BMw, 01452-300150. There is another, but propriety here prevents me from mentioning them by name - I wouldn't trust them with a wheelbarrow.
Any other advice much appreciated - many thanks!
Feel free to ask me anything you want to know. To get the most power for the track (unless oyu want to go for a 2.7 conversion, or transplant an E36 M3 lump into it, is via a Schrick 288/288 cam, decent induction and exhaust.
I'm looking to do the same thing. 325i Sport is the ideal candidate becuse of the LSD and close ratio gears. However they're usually around £2500 for a sound one. So with a diff costing £300 it may well be worth getting a straight 325 and swapping over.
There's also a few ready prepped cars for sale every now and again. Keep you eyes on teh bookatrack classifieds.
There's also a few ready prepped cars for sale every now and again. Keep you eyes on teh bookatrack classifieds.
On this note ive been meaning to ask for a while- e30 325i steering rack- can you change it for somthing a bit more direct as the four thousand turns lock to lock is one of the 325i's few failings.
Ive heard an e36 rack will fit & is less turns lock to lock? & I under sytand that an e30 M£ one wont fit as LHD & I seem to remember the RHD e30 M3 bird conversions back in the day used a 325i rack & were slated for the slow witted steering because of it.
On the getting an e30 325i Sport note, saloons do seem to comand good money like £2.5k+ but the tourings seem to be worth nothing- good & fairly solid cars from as low as £350! bit heavier but less tail happy, I like 'em anyway!
>> Edited by iguana on Saturday 7th May 18:05
Ive heard an e36 rack will fit & is less turns lock to lock? & I under sytand that an e30 M£ one wont fit as LHD & I seem to remember the RHD e30 M3 bird conversions back in the day used a 325i rack & were slated for the slow witted steering because of it.
On the getting an e30 325i Sport note, saloons do seem to comand good money like £2.5k+ but the tourings seem to be worth nothing- good & fairly solid cars from as low as £350! bit heavier but less tail happy, I like 'em anyway!
>> Edited by iguana on Saturday 7th May 18:05
Hi there. I've just bought a 1990 E30 325i Sport for track days after four years in an Elise, and before that a Westfield.
I first took an E30 on track back in the mid 80s. Back then it felt stiff, composed and fast. Last Saturday at Oulton it felt soggy (although the main dealer that checked if over two days prior said it was spot on), fun (yee-hah - sideways everywhere) and fast-ish.
Boy, have things moved on - but I absolutely lurved it.
Had uprated pads (DS2500s), braided hoses and competition brake fluid put on and in it, but Saturday was a bit of a shakedown run out, mainly to decide what I was going to do with it next.
Anyway, I tried to drive it like the Elise at first - the old girl didn't like that at all.
Completely sideways everywhere in the wet, although while the Liz was virtually impossible to catch if the back end stepped out, the BM was easily driftable.
Utterly trashed the tyres when it dried out, but even more driftable on dry tarmac.
I plan to keep it looking absolutely standard, but will be adding stiffer suspension (standard ride height if I can), maybe a strutbrace, maybe stickier tyres.
Surprisingly, I found the steering to be OK. Brakes lasted about eight laps at a go before the pedal started to go a little long, but the ABS sometimes kicked in unexpectedly.
Great fun. Even passed a couple of people in the dry, but around 15 secs down on the 2 mins 4 secs it took me to get round Oulton in the Liz (I wasn't timing. of course - that was just the length of the DVD recording for a lap).
Highly recommended, and there are a few tatty ones out there for well less than £3k.
I first took an E30 on track back in the mid 80s. Back then it felt stiff, composed and fast. Last Saturday at Oulton it felt soggy (although the main dealer that checked if over two days prior said it was spot on), fun (yee-hah - sideways everywhere) and fast-ish.
Boy, have things moved on - but I absolutely lurved it.
Had uprated pads (DS2500s), braided hoses and competition brake fluid put on and in it, but Saturday was a bit of a shakedown run out, mainly to decide what I was going to do with it next.
Anyway, I tried to drive it like the Elise at first - the old girl didn't like that at all.
Completely sideways everywhere in the wet, although while the Liz was virtually impossible to catch if the back end stepped out, the BM was easily driftable.
Utterly trashed the tyres when it dried out, but even more driftable on dry tarmac.
I plan to keep it looking absolutely standard, but will be adding stiffer suspension (standard ride height if I can), maybe a strutbrace, maybe stickier tyres.
Surprisingly, I found the steering to be OK. Brakes lasted about eight laps at a go before the pedal started to go a little long, but the ABS sometimes kicked in unexpectedly.
Great fun. Even passed a couple of people in the dry, but around 15 secs down on the 2 mins 4 secs it took me to get round Oulton in the Liz (I wasn't timing. of course - that was just the length of the DVD recording for a lap).
Highly recommended, and there are a few tatty ones out there for well less than £3k.
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