e30 vs e36 as a track-day car?

[Lennard]

Can't decide on which would make the better track day car?

leaning toward e36...

[nervous]

e30.

my e30.

Nervy wins.

[OllieWinchester]

E30 would be for fun, and probably cheaper, and would get my vote, just watch for rot.

[_Batty_]

nervous said:

e30.

my e30.

Nervy wins.

though yours was for sale

(comission in the post? )

[sniff diesel]

E30's are getting rarer and more expensive. E36's are easy and cheap to get lots of upgraded parts for so that's what I chose.

[Lennard]

sniff diesel said:

E30's are getting rarer and more expensive. E36's are easy and cheap to get lots of upgraded parts for so that's what I chose.

Tell me about it, I remember when 325i sports were dirt cheap, then one day it seems people realised they are rwd, have an lsd and are pretty fun out of the box let alone tuned.


Value/price aside, which is technically the better tool for going fast on tarmac when modified?

Edited by Lennard on Friday 8th May 22:56

[sniff diesel]

Lennard said:

Value/price aside, which is technically the better tool for going fast on tarmac?

Depends what kind of roads, but I find the E36 better at higher speed cornering than an E30. E30's need a quicker steering rack (either a Z3 or E36 rack) as the steering is bus like as standard.

[Lennard]

sniff diesel said:

Lennard said:

Value/price aside, which is technically the better tool for going fast on tarmac?

Depends what kind of roads, but I find the E36 better at higher speed cornering than an E30. E30's need a quicker steering rack (either a Z3 or E36 rack) as the steering is bus like as standard.

Well, track days, at purpose built courses?

[sniff diesel]

Lennard said:

...when modified?

Now that changes things a bit.

I've been lucky enough to have passengered around Oulton Park in Simon Hudson's E30 Khumo racer and Benny C's awesome E36 track car. With both car's preppared to that level there didn't seem to be anything in it from corner speeds/acceleration/braking/stability. I suppose ultimately an E30 is that 100 kgs or so lighter (spec for spec) so could be a bit more nimble and easier to catch if driven over the limit.

Power wise the M50 or M52 in the E36 has the edge over the M20, despite the extra weight.

[sniff diesel]

Lennard said:

sniff diesel said:

Lennard said:

Value/price aside, which is technically the better tool for going fast on tarmac?

Depends what kind of roads, but I find the E36 better at higher speed cornering than an E30. E30's need a quicker steering rack (either a Z3 or E36 rack) as the steering is bus like as standard.

Well, track days, at purpose built courses?

To sum it up, I'd say that an E30 was more fun but the E36 ultimately quicker (for the same given spec)

What's your budget for a car and upgrades?

[Lennard]

sniff diesel said:

Lennard said:

sniff diesel said:

Lennard said:

Value/price aside, which is technically the better tool for going fast on tarmac?

Depends what kind of roads, but I find the E36 better at higher speed cornering than an E30. E30's need a quicker steering rack (either a Z3 or E36 rack) as the steering is bus like as standard.

Well, track days, at purpose built courses?

To sum it up, I'd say that an E30 was more fun but the E36 ultimately quicker (for the same given spec)

What's your budget for a car and upgrades?

In total, if I sell my impreza type ra, (which is getting on my nerves), i'm looking at 10k initially and then what ever it takes to get to a point where i'm happy.

[nervous]

_Batty_ said:

nervous said:

e30.

my e30.

Nervy wins.

though yours was for sale

(comission in the post? )

it very much is, or at least will be when I can be bothered to write the ad.



















It is/ has:

• 1988 2.3 M3
• engine totally standard
• 89k on this engine
• total bare metal respray 1 year ago
• lightweight wings and bonnets with tie downs
• baffled sump
• lowered ratio Russ Cockburn made differential
• bilstein shocks
• eibach springs
• eibach adjustable top mounts
• eibach anti roll bars
• fully polybushed
• braided brake lines and uprated fluid.
• uprated discs and pads (with new still in box extra uprated pads, too).
• schnitzer strut brace.
• recaro pole position seats with full harnesses
• evo airbox
• bmc airfilter
• carbon mirrors
• full omp roll cage
• omp alcantara steering wheel
• flocked dash and front door cards
• carbon rear door cards and bulkhead/ floor trim
• new radiator and electric fan.
• z3m quick shift
• removable bumpers
• evo splitter and rear spoiler
• new oil cooler
• super sprint rear section and back box
• black kidney grills
• black chequer floor trim and footrest
• brand new conti sport contacts 2's on the black BBS wheels (300 miles old)
• spare set of CSL-type 18's with 500 mile set of Marangonis Zetalineas (was planning on them being track wheels.
• full extra set of Zetalineas for the bbs's 16's on the car (still got labels on, as delivered)
• extendable map/ nav lights.
• serviced 3 weeks ago
• 12 months tax
• 11 months mot

Nice, huh? Go on, try and tell me you can even consider an e36 now.

[thinfourth2]

I would say E36 as there is more hanging around scrapyards so bits are easy to come by

Lennard said:

In total, if I sell my impreza type ra, (which is getting on my nerves), i'm looking at 10k initially and then what ever it takes to get to a point where i'm happy.

However if your initial budget is 10K plus a bit for upgrades then you are into elise/westfield/caterham money which will be way more fun on a track then a lardy saloon

[bull996]

I have just track prepped an E36 325 and its great.

However, if I had £10k I would defo be looking at an M3. You would get a fantastic one at that price.

[nervous]

bull996 said:

I have just track prepped an E36 325 and its great.

However, if I had £10k I would defo be looking at an M3. You would get a fantastic one at that price.

my one, in fact

[ross-co]

I am in love with nery's E30.

so my vote goes E30.

[tertius]

nervous said:

bull996 said:

I have just track prepped an E36 325 and its great.

However, if I had £10k I would defo be looking at an M3. You would get a fantastic one at that price.

my one, in fact

Is that really 10K?

[dave_s13]

Nervous.

Your Beemer is orgasmatronic

Someone will have a lot of fun with that, I wish it were me!! feckin babies and wives and stuff.....grumble

[300bhp/ton]

Lennard said:

sniff diesel said:

Value/price aside, which is technically the better tool for going fast on tarmac when modified?

Edited by Lennard on Friday 8th May 22:56

That's very open ended question. How much money and how modified??

And does it have to be one of these, there are lots of other cars out there.

[nervous]

tertius said:

nervous said:

bull996 said:

I have just track prepped an E36 325 and its great.

However, if I had £10k I would defo be looking at an M3. You would get a fantastic one at that price.

my one, in fact

Is that really 10K?

10.5, but yeah.