RE: BMW Bits For New Seven-Style Roadster
Discussion
Gizmo! said:
This is straight out, the best idea I've heard for absolutely ages. Why there isn't a Sevenalike with a BMW engine already I can't imagine.
Are the prices quotes fully-built? £8500 for a Legend6 with an S50 engine in it is brilliant value if so, and I'd definitely be on the 'interested' list...
Now, where are they based and do they have one I can play with. I could do an independent road test for PH
The general problem with planning many engine installations in the various 7-clones is that the engine is too tall for the engine bay and bonnet bulges tend to obscure the driver's view in low cars. It sounds like this is a decent installation that avoids those problems.Are the prices quotes fully-built? £8500 for a Legend6 with an S50 engine in it is brilliant value if so, and I'd definitely be on the 'interested' list...
Now, where are they based and do they have one I can play with. I could do an independent road test for PH
swampy56 said:
what about 3litre Diesel?(now that would be a first):-)
There's been a diesel Westfield (known as the Wiesel/Weasel).Luego sports car do the Viento which can house a BMW engine. Although it uses Sierra / other ford running gear. I think the 6 cyl engine would give too much forward weight bias though. Better off with a nice revvy 4-pot. I think you'd want to view close-up the engineering / welding quality on any kit car before committing. Otherwise you could save a lot by finding the usual classified 'started but no time/money/ability to finish' package!
Thanks again for all the great comments.
I have now updated the website to show the fully built costs for both the GKD LEGEND and LEGEND Six. Please visit www.gkdsportscars.com and look in the shop section of the website.
I have now updated the website to show the fully built costs for both the GKD LEGEND and LEGEND Six. Please visit www.gkdsportscars.com and look in the shop section of the website.
Edited by BMW Powered on Wednesday 9th December 16:39
It looks 'ok' IMO and I am sure it would be a laugh for sheer grunt but I am not sure how much the weight of an M3 lump would affect turn-in and mid corner speed the two best assets of se7en type cars.
As for the lines on their clone Ginetta
Anyway its a good thing that these cars are produced, it keeps Caterham honest.
As for the lines on their clone Ginetta
Anyway its a good thing that these cars are produced, it keeps Caterham honest.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Niche, admittedly, but it's a pretty under-represented market. Try thinking of fun cars with two pedals. To me, fun means discarding anything with a torque converter. That doesn't leave much. The best fit I've found so far is a Smart Roadster. Answers on a postcard...A few comments to some of the chat on this so far.
As I have one of these in build at the moment I think I can add some clarification to some questions/comments raised.
330d - As I understand it the 330d uses a different gearbox casing to the petrol cars but the earlier E36 models used the same casing and so should fit.
The suspension set up is from the Ginetta history in geometry so should be reasonably capable and especially if set up by a professional organisation.
The Marlin's mentioned before I have seen re-use the full rear suspension setup of E30 BMs this is quite different to the GKD cars.
Legend name - have to agree with the comments on that but you don't have to put it on the car do you
Plenty of tuning around for BM engines already so should be some ability to alter the basics if you wish. If you like the 4 cyls check what can be done by searching for the S42 derivative of the M42 engine (just needs a lot of money as always with extensive tuning, much can be done with less money/ time). 6 cyls tuning I think is well known.
The exhaust system on this is not standard quite obviously so any restrictions that came from that in the E36/ E46 are dramatically reduced.
BMW components are quite interchangeable with the right research. V8's however use a different gearbox which is significantly larger so some specialist engineering would be required to fit a V8 or V10. I've not checked the Legend 6 chassis dimensions but suspect the gearbox will still be too big from these donor cars.
318is is probably the best 4 cyl donor for the 4 cyl version. For 6 cyl the choice becomes quite varied, the newer ones not weighing much more than the older 4 cyls.
The basis I think GKD have gone for is fun performance and handling at a good price point, not sure I'll use it everyday though.
As I have one of these in build at the moment I think I can add some clarification to some questions/comments raised.
330d - As I understand it the 330d uses a different gearbox casing to the petrol cars but the earlier E36 models used the same casing and so should fit.
The suspension set up is from the Ginetta history in geometry so should be reasonably capable and especially if set up by a professional organisation.
The Marlin's mentioned before I have seen re-use the full rear suspension setup of E30 BMs this is quite different to the GKD cars.
Legend name - have to agree with the comments on that but you don't have to put it on the car do you
Plenty of tuning around for BM engines already so should be some ability to alter the basics if you wish. If you like the 4 cyls check what can be done by searching for the S42 derivative of the M42 engine (just needs a lot of money as always with extensive tuning, much can be done with less money/ time). 6 cyls tuning I think is well known.
The exhaust system on this is not standard quite obviously so any restrictions that came from that in the E36/ E46 are dramatically reduced.
BMW components are quite interchangeable with the right research. V8's however use a different gearbox which is significantly larger so some specialist engineering would be required to fit a V8 or V10. I've not checked the Legend 6 chassis dimensions but suspect the gearbox will still be too big from these donor cars.
318is is probably the best 4 cyl donor for the 4 cyl version. For 6 cyl the choice becomes quite varied, the newer ones not weighing much more than the older 4 cyls.
The basis I think GKD have gone for is fun performance and handling at a good price point, not sure I'll use it everyday though.
I see from the photos on the website that the car is available in LHD 
"Linken Hand Antrieb vorhanden" stickered on the passenger side of the dash...
Does GKD put the car through type aproval in other countries than the UK? I presume the donor car would have to be LHD?
Would love one of these in France, with Caterham and Westfield getting small manufacturer Euro approval from this year on, there is an opportunity in Europe to get in on the game!
Here's hoping...
"Linken Hand Antrieb vorhanden" stickered on the passenger side of the dash...
Does GKD put the car through type aproval in other countries than the UK? I presume the donor car would have to be LHD?
Would love one of these in France, with Caterham and Westfield getting small manufacturer Euro approval from this year on, there is an opportunity in Europe to get in on the game!
Here's hoping...
Christoffer said:
BMW Power
It does look like an interesting and fun proposition for track and sunny days.
What will it be like in terms of passive safety?
Can you specify a full roll-cage and/or side impact protection? I suspect you wouldn't want to have an accident in one without a full cage?
A full race cage is available for either the LEGEND or LEGEND Six for just £595It does look like an interesting and fun proposition for track and sunny days.
What will it be like in terms of passive safety?
Can you specify a full roll-cage and/or side impact protection? I suspect you wouldn't want to have an accident in one without a full cage?
I have an E36 M3 3ltr with just enough panel damage to render it uneconomical to repair.
It'd had new discs/pads/goodrich hoses and a number of new suspension parts (eg bottom wishbones, ARB droplinks etc) just before the accident
Healthy engine despite 160k miles was still making just over 300 horses (printouts to prove).
Message me if you're interested, if not a BMW breaker will be taking it off my hands in a few weeks.
It'd had new discs/pads/goodrich hoses and a number of new suspension parts (eg bottom wishbones, ARB droplinks etc) just before the accident
Healthy engine despite 160k miles was still making just over 300 horses (printouts to prove). Message me if you're interested, if not a BMW breaker will be taking it off my hands in a few weeks.
I'm starting a blog about my Legend build here: http://crazydavesdeathtrap.blogspot.com/. Not much to report yet, other than I've ordered an engine and I need to clear my garage out pronto :-) Shame it's -4 out there...
I think "a few grand" is unrealistic - my budget for a Legend 6 (the kit for a 6-cylinder engine is about £1500 more) is £11-13k, depending on whether I get wet-weather gear, how much I spend on wheels, traction control, etc. Then again, I'm not planning to source all the parts myself, but to buy a lot of them from GKD, so I guess I am paying for convenience to an extent.
dandarez said:
Peter, I can just see you with a big wide grin on your face 
(as a Ginetta G4 fan I'm pleased for you).
And if anyone wonders whether Ginettas are race proven, they must have been hiding under a stone!
Take a look at this short vid of the G4 (from 1min 12secs into the video), how it demolishes the Elises, Morgans, Porsches etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfvDsGYqGa0
Just a thought, is this the new way forward?
Bring out a new car (ok, it's a kit) and the boss of the company answers prospective customers almost immediately with their queries on a forum.
Like it!
Well, the answering definitely works! I made a very uninformed and tentative call the other evening and Peter spent a lot of his time going helpfully through all sorts of details so now the decision is made for me. (as a Ginetta G4 fan I'm pleased for you). And if anyone wonders whether Ginettas are race proven, they must have been hiding under a stone!
Take a look at this short vid of the G4 (from 1min 12secs into the video), how it demolishes the Elises, Morgans, Porsches etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfvDsGYqGa0
Just a thought, is this the new way forward?
Bring out a new car (ok, it's a kit) and the boss of the company answers prospective customers almost immediately with their queries on a forum.
Like it!
I've spent so much on the 318 already that to strip etc. as intended and only use it for a few days per year is out. I'm going to get it tidied up, re-upholstered and use as a daily road car and possibly wet day/winter track car but, best of all . .
. . will get down to look at the Legend a.s.a.p and as long as I can fit (feet main likely issue - surgery perhaps?) will be getting a factory built 4 pot version (using another 3 as a donor) as a track car/dry day toy. Then when funds allow will go with their proposed supercharged version. That way it'll have plenty enough power but with less weight so presumably benefits to the handling.
This looks like such a good, sensible yet exciting idea I really hope it takes off and does well.
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