E46 M3 fast road - track car
Discussion
e21Mark said:
Just fitting KW V3's to my E30 M3. Any issues with the rear springs touching on the turret? Gold looks great on the airbox. Is it the stuff made by ATL?
No problem for me. E46 run separate shock and spring on the rear. Gold heat tape came from Mishimoto. Edited by e21Mark on Wednesday 8th July 20:48
e21Mark said:
Sorry, I see that now. Final pic didn't load for me earlier. Am surprised they didn't offer true coilover though. Will check out the heat tape and see if it's more affordable that ATL?
Yeah idealy I'd want a true rear coilover but would have to go for something like Nitron or Intrax to get that. Not seen the ALT stuff. The mishi is £30 for 15' x 2" or £58 for 35' x 2" I know because I've brought both. tsinc said:
Open pit lane, 102db drive by, GP circuit. There's a good few GTRs going so should be an interestImg day. Not been to Silverstone before myself. You can book it through the Silverstone site.
Would have loved to have joined but that's a expensive day! And I've just had a expensive month. Trying a new lap timer on my phone though so can see how we compare.geraintthomas said:
Just beautiful mate. Those yellow headlights with the blue paint is an absolute winner move.
Thanks man, went for it after watching Le mans e21Mark said:
M52/2.8 with Cat cams, 6 branch, alloy flywheel, Jenvey ITB kit & DTA Pro ecu. I was tempted to simply go with an S50 or S54 but M52 are so cheap I figured I would just see what I could get using 'off the shelf' upgrades.
Wow not seen those intakes before! You looking to wrap them in the gold?Drove over the weekend on the KW's, there sitting level now but settled bit more than I expected, so will be raising it a tad before geo on Friday
Engine bay all back together no after the vanos repair
And have just took delivery of some Powerflex black series goodies!
Went for their rear top mounts as the KW came with ones that didn't work with my rear strut brace so I had to nut and bolt them, so was a two person job to remove and install the shock which is not ideal.
And then to add even more caster and again black series, front control arm bushes
Be chucking these on after work, Tracking Friday, Sliverstone GP sunday
Engine bay all back together no after the vanos repair
And have just took delivery of some Powerflex black series goodies!
Went for their rear top mounts as the KW came with ones that didn't work with my rear strut brace so I had to nut and bolt them, so was a two person job to remove and install the shock which is not ideal.
And then to add even more caster and again black series, front control arm bushes
Be chucking these on after work, Tracking Friday, Sliverstone GP sunday
the mishimoto stuff is the cheapest. This weekend just past Grant and I were invited to the Meguiar's private BBQ at the UK HQ, was a pleasure to be part of it.
Managed to get the Poweflex caster offset front bushes installed last night, quite a pig of a job without a press, but got there in the end
Also noticed some scrubbing at the top of the front arches so removed the famous screw
Have tracking booked in at Blackboots in Chesham Friday all ready for Sliverstone on Sunday, cannot wait to see how the upgrades have worked.
Managed to get the Poweflex caster offset front bushes installed last night, quite a pig of a job without a press, but got there in the end
Also noticed some scrubbing at the top of the front arches so removed the famous screw
Have tracking booked in at Blackboots in Chesham Friday all ready for Sliverstone on Sunday, cannot wait to see how the upgrades have worked.
Some big parts been going on lately
Yesterday I fitted a few parts supplied mostly by Hack Engineering, few replacement parts and a major upgrade.
New prop shaft guibo, centre bearing, paper gasket into diff, foam pad inside shifter knuckle, exhaust heat wrap, ally foil heat tape, another fresh steering wheel, dry carbon audio black (reduce glare) and most importantly and CAE shifter
Still playing with the ash tray lid as not happy with how I chopped it.
The shifter is just the bo**ox!
___________________________________
So I cover all of 3/4 tank of fuel on the KW v3's and there gone! From my short experience with them they done okay, had a lot of damper adjustment but the fall down is the length of the rear dampers, there just too long, an to ride at not even a overly low height to achieve grip you were just on the bump stops so all the fancy adjustment is doing nothing.
See how I get on with some Nitron R1's
First impressions on installing was the weight different, KW boxed up came to 32kg, R1 boxed only 17kg. Only chucked the shocks on after work and took for a quick test, need to play with ride height, front damper and dampening.
Yesterday I fitted a few parts supplied mostly by Hack Engineering, few replacement parts and a major upgrade.
New prop shaft guibo, centre bearing, paper gasket into diff, foam pad inside shifter knuckle, exhaust heat wrap, ally foil heat tape, another fresh steering wheel, dry carbon audio black (reduce glare) and most importantly and CAE shifter
Still playing with the ash tray lid as not happy with how I chopped it.
The shifter is just the bo**ox!
___________________________________
So I cover all of 3/4 tank of fuel on the KW v3's and there gone! From my short experience with them they done okay, had a lot of damper adjustment but the fall down is the length of the rear dampers, there just too long, an to ride at not even a overly low height to achieve grip you were just on the bump stops so all the fancy adjustment is doing nothing.
See how I get on with some Nitron R1's
First impressions on installing was the weight different, KW boxed up came to 32kg, R1 boxed only 17kg. Only chucked the shocks on after work and took for a quick test, need to play with ride height, front damper and dampening.
e21Mark said:
I do like that shifter. I think I'm going to have to get one for the E30.
You will not be disappointed with it! TheAllSeeingPie said:
For the in-initiated: what's so good about the shifter? Looks like it'd be a nicer action but looks like a broomstick compared to the normal one!
Its spurn loaded to return to neutral and has a lock to reverse. Super short shift and precise. Beedub said:
either the way that is one HUGE assumption from someone so intelligent....
The rear of the z4m/m3 platform was never designed to take the additional loads of a full rear coilover conversion, unless properly reinforced this will cause a head-ache you don't you OP. We are not talking about assumptions here we are talking fact as proven by numerous people on both platforms, whats more the stock rear configuration of separate damper / barrel spring isn't a hinderance anyway so it seems silly to move to a setup that will eventually lead to the very thin sheet metal failure. If you saw the piece in question in person then factor the new linear spring rates that are much higher that anything bmw intended failures WILL occur. OP some sort of reinforcement is needed for that rear.
http://www.cslregister.com/forum/showthread.php?t=...
I have the Z3 plates and a rear strut brace, but will be getting a cage welded into it over winter. The rear of the z4m/m3 platform was never designed to take the additional loads of a full rear coilover conversion, unless properly reinforced this will cause a head-ache you don't you OP. We are not talking about assumptions here we are talking fact as proven by numerous people on both platforms, whats more the stock rear configuration of separate damper / barrel spring isn't a hinderance anyway so it seems silly to move to a setup that will eventually lead to the very thin sheet metal failure. If you saw the piece in question in person then factor the new linear spring rates that are much higher that anything bmw intended failures WILL occur. OP some sort of reinforcement is needed for that rear.
http://www.cslregister.com/forum/showthread.php?t=...
e21Mark said:
I was aware of the same issue with my E30 M3, when I swapped to KW true coilers, so fitted Z3 strengthening plates. I also run Millway Motorsport rear top mounts, as they afford enough offset to allow the springs not to foul the turret wall.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z3-rear-top-mount-re...
http://www.millway.se/bmw/3-series/e46.html?limit=...
It appears Thorney Motorsport developed a bolt-in brace to help with this issue, where non caged cars have swapped to true coilover rears.
That's brace is made by safety devices, think Thoney just sell it.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z3-rear-top-mount-re...
http://www.millway.se/bmw/3-series/e46.html?limit=...
It appears Thorney Motorsport developed a bolt-in brace to help with this issue, where non caged cars have swapped to true coilover rears.
Edited by e21Mark on Saturday 8th August 11:20
Nothing too exciting has been going on as of late, just a few little bits.
Went from some so call "uprated" rear drop link bushes back to OEM, can see how utter poor the orange ones were, from time to time the drivers side one would completely pop off the rear ARB.
Finished off and finally happy with my CAE install, relocated my cig lighter to the glove box so could make a nicer blank and managed to trim another stick surround to keep it in one piece, was going to paint it back but quite like to contrast in the grey.
Tweeked the Nitrons and installed a even bigger front screen sun strip
Done a evening at Snetterton 300 in extreme wet conditions, on these cut slicks my car was like a chocolate tea pot, couldn't even build up to full throttle, couldn't brake remotely hard let along cornering. Even pondering along it was on the limit, cars were spinning on the siting laps it was that bad.
Changed a few seals that had small oil leaks. Chain tensioner guide and CPV
Going to soon be making my own flat front door cards in prep to make way for a cage with door bars.
Last of all have a solid steering coupler to go in when I source a shorter rack.
Went from some so call "uprated" rear drop link bushes back to OEM, can see how utter poor the orange ones were, from time to time the drivers side one would completely pop off the rear ARB.
Finished off and finally happy with my CAE install, relocated my cig lighter to the glove box so could make a nicer blank and managed to trim another stick surround to keep it in one piece, was going to paint it back but quite like to contrast in the grey.
Tweeked the Nitrons and installed a even bigger front screen sun strip
Done a evening at Snetterton 300 in extreme wet conditions, on these cut slicks my car was like a chocolate tea pot, couldn't even build up to full throttle, couldn't brake remotely hard let along cornering. Even pondering along it was on the limit, cars were spinning on the siting laps it was that bad.
Changed a few seals that had small oil leaks. Chain tensioner guide and CPV
Going to soon be making my own flat front door cards in prep to make way for a cage with door bars.
Last of all have a solid steering coupler to go in when I source a shorter rack.
Edited by PBMWsam on Saturday 12th September 11:15
Don't think I'll be making the BMW show, Will be attending the Kop hill climb this weekend though.
Managed to get the car on a weigh bridge today, was a little more than I expected but then driving away it twigged to me that its nay on 200kg lighter than stock! Was 1350kg worked back to a empty fuel tank (and no dog)
Managed to get the car on a weigh bridge today, was a little more than I expected but then driving away it twigged to me that its nay on 200kg lighter than stock! Was 1350kg worked back to a empty fuel tank (and no dog)
Few little parts in yesterday
Hack Engineering sourced Grant and I some purple tag steering rack
Pretty easy to swap over as all mounts and pipes match
With the solid coupler
Also finished off my door cards to make way for cage with door bars, my first experience with fake carbon
is a ABS plastic sheet that works a treat as its so flexible and light.
T45 6 point cage with a few extras is booked in the begging of November with JC Weldfab, been a job I've been putting off for a long time now so cannot wait to see the results.
Also attending the Sliverstone PHSS and have booked a track session at 14;10
Hack Engineering sourced Grant and I some purple tag steering rack
Pretty easy to swap over as all mounts and pipes match
With the solid coupler
Also finished off my door cards to make way for cage with door bars, my first experience with fake carbon
is a ABS plastic sheet that works a treat as its so flexible and light.
T45 6 point cage with a few extras is booked in the begging of November with JC Weldfab, been a job I've been putting off for a long time now so cannot wait to see the results.
Also attending the Sliverstone PHSS and have booked a track session at 14;10
When along to the PistonHeads Sunday Service at Sliverstone with a few friends and had a couple of track sessions booked.
Car drove better than ever!
Last time I done SS was on KW v3 and to be honest they performed crap! Even with a fettle on the damp settings lead to no improvements. The rear shocks are just too tall so bottomed out straight away, was quicker on budget HSD's.
First dry testing I've had on the Nitron R1's and not a bad word to say about them, handled great. Biggest improvement I noticed was the solid steering coupler and 067 purple tag rack supplied by Hack Engineering , if the car became out of shape a very small amount of adjustment sorted it out.
For once I was suppressed with the NS2R, ran them at a higher pressure, grip was okay and they didn't go off after 20 minutes.
First time I've used a lap timer as well and managed a 1:08 around the national circuit.
Video from the first session https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaGofYbUHWU
Car drove better than ever!
Last time I done SS was on KW v3 and to be honest they performed crap! Even with a fettle on the damp settings lead to no improvements. The rear shocks are just too tall so bottomed out straight away, was quicker on budget HSD's.
First dry testing I've had on the Nitron R1's and not a bad word to say about them, handled great. Biggest improvement I noticed was the solid steering coupler and 067 purple tag rack supplied by Hack Engineering , if the car became out of shape a very small amount of adjustment sorted it out.
For once I was suppressed with the NS2R, ran them at a higher pressure, grip was okay and they didn't go off after 20 minutes.
First time I've used a lap timer as well and managed a 1:08 around the national circuit.
Video from the first session https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaGofYbUHWU
Sf_Manta said:
Are you planning for a Ring trip in the new year?
I know Carpetsoiler (Sam) is planning one in April and I might time mine to co-en side.
Would be good to have a few E36/46 BMW's in convoy
Looking forward to seeing the cage work, I know the manager at JC from years ago when we went to local car meets.
Haven't planned anything for next year yet. Will need a ring friendly seat to go on, plus one that doesn't give me a numb behind after a hour.I know Carpetsoiler (Sam) is planning one in April and I might time mine to co-en side.
Would be good to have a few E36/46 BMW's in convoy
Looking forward to seeing the cage work, I know the manager at JC from years ago when we went to local car meets.
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