E36 cheap track day toy
Discussion
This week unfortunately I have ended up stuck back at home, as my back is rather bad again. But it did give me the opportunity to send away the DME.
EndTuning did their usual brilliant job. The DME back with me in three days. Gave the touring a little run out last night, obviously within the bounds of the law! It definitely pulls well now. I didn't want to go to mad as it is still on awful tyres. That being said I have ordered some Toyo T1R. The nice thing about have old fashioned small wheels is the tyres are quite cheap. Although it's quite hard to find ones with the right load rating. Most tyre manufacturers seem to think if you are running a 195 on a 15" that you are driving a Saxo. Well the touring isn't the biggest car in the world but it's defiantly not a hatch back. I have had to order 205/50R15 just to get a load and speed rating high enough. That being said I don't mind having a little more rubber on the floor and a little less in the sidewall. I was originally going to get some more Nankang NS2R semi slicks for it. Being the 15" they are a fair bit cheaper than the 17" on the coupe but they still weren't cheap. As the Nurburgring is the only track the touring will do in my ownership, it seems silly to buy a track tyre. I have read some very good things about the T1R, being halfway between a road tyre and the R888. They were considerably cheaper too.
This left me a tiny bit in the budget. So I have treated it to something to perk up the interior.
Bushes are all here now so a few late nights this week if the back holds out.
EndTuning did their usual brilliant job. The DME back with me in three days. Gave the touring a little run out last night, obviously within the bounds of the law! It definitely pulls well now. I didn't want to go to mad as it is still on awful tyres. That being said I have ordered some Toyo T1R. The nice thing about have old fashioned small wheels is the tyres are quite cheap. Although it's quite hard to find ones with the right load rating. Most tyre manufacturers seem to think if you are running a 195 on a 15" that you are driving a Saxo. Well the touring isn't the biggest car in the world but it's defiantly not a hatch back. I have had to order 205/50R15 just to get a load and speed rating high enough. That being said I don't mind having a little more rubber on the floor and a little less in the sidewall. I was originally going to get some more Nankang NS2R semi slicks for it. Being the 15" they are a fair bit cheaper than the 17" on the coupe but they still weren't cheap. As the Nurburgring is the only track the touring will do in my ownership, it seems silly to buy a track tyre. I have read some very good things about the T1R, being halfway between a road tyre and the R888. They were considerably cheaper too.
This left me a tiny bit in the budget. So I have treated it to something to perk up the interior.
Bushes are all here now so a few late nights this week if the back holds out.
Personally I wouldn't have bothered with the T1Rs, and would have gone for completely standard Conti S/C 5s.
They are my road/wet weather tyre & are absolutely phenomenal for both.
www.tyrereviews.co.uk
And view the "all tests" tab when you look at the tyres you want to know more of, Conti S/C 5s have pretty much won every professional tyre test in the last 3 years.
They are my road/wet weather tyre & are absolutely phenomenal for both.
www.tyrereviews.co.uk
And view the "all tests" tab when you look at the tyres you want to know more of, Conti S/C 5s have pretty much won every professional tyre test in the last 3 years.
I know tyres are always going to be one of those arguing points. Different people like different levels of grip.
The tyrereviews website is always good, I did in fact check it before I bought the toyos. The Contis as you say have a very good overall rating of 76%, but the Toyos do come in at 74%. The fact that the cheapest continental in the size I need is double the price of the toyos had a factor in it. Oh and those aren't Sport Contact 5, because they only start making them at 17". As I needed 15" I'm quite happy with what I got.
New belt idler pulley has also arrived now, so I can see some late evenings working this week.
The tyrereviews website is always good, I did in fact check it before I bought the toyos. The Contis as you say have a very good overall rating of 76%, but the Toyos do come in at 74%. The fact that the cheapest continental in the size I need is double the price of the toyos had a factor in it. Oh and those aren't Sport Contact 5, because they only start making them at 17". As I needed 15" I'm quite happy with what I got.
New belt idler pulley has also arrived now, so I can see some late evenings working this week.
I do know what you mean about tyres, although when looking at the tyrereviews website, I have to admit I completely ignore the ratings as they are written by non professionals and you don't really know if they know what they are talking about. I just use it as a concentrated area for reading the professional tests/reviews on the "all tests" tab, when you look on there you see that the s/c 5s are head & shoulders above everything on the planet.
I have to say, I didn't know they only started in 17" sizes, so that is, completely irrelevant to you obviously. I just got 4 225/45/17s for £280, which I think is incredibly cheap for what they are like.
Either way, still nice to hear your regular updates.
I have to say, I didn't know they only started in 17" sizes, so that is, completely irrelevant to you obviously. I just got 4 225/45/17s for £280, which I think is incredibly cheap for what they are like.
Either way, still nice to hear your regular updates.
The first of a few long evenings done. Finally got the rear bushes in.
The horribly creaky cheap bush I fitted a couple of months back, came out easy. The other was a bit of a sod but finally it came out. You could feel the difference in the new bushes. They fitted easily and left the mount easy to move when all done up.
The mounts themselves did not want to fit over the new bushes, but I thought of a quick fix. I used the rod from the press tool and worked two nuts from the inside out. Gently the mount opened up a slid straight over the new bushes.
I did attempt to swap the squeeking belt tensioner pulley, but it was the wrong one. It's quite hard to order the right parts for a car with the wrong engine in it. Especially when you don't know what year the engine is.
The horribly creaky cheap bush I fitted a couple of months back, came out easy. The other was a bit of a sod but finally it came out. You could feel the difference in the new bushes. They fitted easily and left the mount easy to move when all done up.
The mounts themselves did not want to fit over the new bushes, but I thought of a quick fix. I used the rod from the press tool and worked two nuts from the inside out. Gently the mount opened up a slid straight over the new bushes.
I did attempt to swap the squeeking belt tensioner pulley, but it was the wrong one. It's quite hard to order the right parts for a car with the wrong engine in it. Especially when you don't know what year the engine is.
Second late night. Front bushes and lower arms to go on tonight.
One of those times when I'm glad I work in a place with some good kit. This job is so much easier with a press.
Finally on, both sides fitted with road spec superflex bushes.
This evening was going surprising well, I thought I might even get some of my tyres fitted. I got to the last step, pulled the ARB down to reattach it to the arms, only to find that the N/S arm has the hole drilled in the wrong place!
This is how it should fit, shown on the O/S arm.
Nice and central in the arm. I pulled the stud through the hole and wound a nut up finger tight. You can't even do it up as it hits the outer rim.
I can't fit the old arm back on as I had to cut it off, (very seized nut,) so I had to grind out some of the rim just to get the nut on flat. Even with it done up the ARB bush holder is at an angle because it's not flat on the arm.
GSF will be getting a shouting at until I get another, properly made arm. I would quite like some money back too considering the amount of work I have done tonight for nothing.
One of those times when I'm glad I work in a place with some good kit. This job is so much easier with a press.
Finally on, both sides fitted with road spec superflex bushes.
This evening was going surprising well, I thought I might even get some of my tyres fitted. I got to the last step, pulled the ARB down to reattach it to the arms, only to find that the N/S arm has the hole drilled in the wrong place!
This is how it should fit, shown on the O/S arm.
Nice and central in the arm. I pulled the stud through the hole and wound a nut up finger tight. You can't even do it up as it hits the outer rim.
I can't fit the old arm back on as I had to cut it off, (very seized nut,) so I had to grind out some of the rim just to get the nut on flat. Even with it done up the ARB bush holder is at an angle because it's not flat on the arm.
GSF will be getting a shouting at until I get another, properly made arm. I would quite like some money back too considering the amount of work I have done tonight for nothing.
Finally my tyres have arrived and tonight they went on. I'm sure most of you know enough about tyre fitting so maybe this isn't the post for you. It is something that pisses me off when I see corners being cut that will only save you a couple of seconds. So here is my guide to proper tyre fitting.
With the wheel off the car and the tyre bead broken. We remove the old tyre, making sure to use a rim protector. I have seen so many wheels damaged by tyre leavers when there really is no need.
Tyre off. Have a good look over the wheel. With a wire brush remove any lumps of rubber, corrosion or dirt especially on the tyre sealing surfaces.
Then fit a new valve. Fit a new valve every time you replace a tyre. They perish and crack in the same way tyres do. Oh and use a rim protector!
Pop your new tyre on and remove from the machine.
Now remove the old wheel weights. With a plastic wedge! Not a screw driver or lever bar!
Now use a toffee wheel to remove all the old glue. Including the stuff left behind from a previose set of weights.
Now put the wheel on the balancer. Making sure the tyre is inflated to the manufacturers standard, the valve cap is fitted and any tyre labels removed. These can all affect the balance.
Now select the size of the tyre and set the ballencer so you will be placing weights behind the wheel face and on the inner rim. Never should a wheel weight be seen on the outside of a wheel. Especially not bang on weights, which always damage the rim and look awful!
With good weight positioning you should get readings of 0 when you spin it up again.
Now refit to the car, with the centre badge and locking wheel bolt all in line with the valve.
Anal I know. But it's all easy stuff which makes the customers experience better and the car look better. I know my wheels are small corroding rubbish. But my workmanship standards are still the same.
With the wheel off the car and the tyre bead broken. We remove the old tyre, making sure to use a rim protector. I have seen so many wheels damaged by tyre leavers when there really is no need.
Tyre off. Have a good look over the wheel. With a wire brush remove any lumps of rubber, corrosion or dirt especially on the tyre sealing surfaces.
Then fit a new valve. Fit a new valve every time you replace a tyre. They perish and crack in the same way tyres do. Oh and use a rim protector!
Pop your new tyre on and remove from the machine.
Now remove the old wheel weights. With a plastic wedge! Not a screw driver or lever bar!
Now use a toffee wheel to remove all the old glue. Including the stuff left behind from a previose set of weights.
Now put the wheel on the balancer. Making sure the tyre is inflated to the manufacturers standard, the valve cap is fitted and any tyre labels removed. These can all affect the balance.
Now select the size of the tyre and set the ballencer so you will be placing weights behind the wheel face and on the inner rim. Never should a wheel weight be seen on the outside of a wheel. Especially not bang on weights, which always damage the rim and look awful!
With good weight positioning you should get readings of 0 when you spin it up again.
Now refit to the car, with the centre badge and locking wheel bolt all in line with the valve.
Anal I know. But it's all easy stuff which makes the customers experience better and the car look better. I know my wheels are small corroding rubbish. But my workmanship standards are still the same.
To continue my point, I was working on a Porsche today. Knock on wheel weights on the outside of the wheels. Why, why would you do it. Rant over.
Couple of little bits done tonight. New belt idler pulley. Finally no more squeeking.
New spark plugs in, went with the Bosche Super. Hopefully they will live up to their reputation. I have fitted them to a couple supercars this week, so I guess they can cope with my estate.
Nice to find the old plugs not in to bad a condition. The tubes seem relatively clean and free of oil.
Also nice to find Bosche super already fitted. Someone has obviously looked after the engine at least. These are not the cheapest plugs for this car from Bosche let alone other brands.
Couple of little bits done tonight. New belt idler pulley. Finally no more squeeking.
New spark plugs in, went with the Bosche Super. Hopefully they will live up to their reputation. I have fitted them to a couple supercars this week, so I guess they can cope with my estate.
Nice to find the old plugs not in to bad a condition. The tubes seem relatively clean and free of oil.
Also nice to find Bosche super already fitted. Someone has obviously looked after the engine at least. These are not the cheapest plugs for this car from Bosche let alone other brands.
Final day of prep before the ring trip yesterday. Took the front struts back out and fitted them with bump stops and dust covers, now I have managed to get some.
When refitting the struts I have added some camber. No I'm not going mad and putting camber adjustment plates in. No more money going on the touring unless it wears something out. But I have put some washes in between the struts and the hub, like I used to run on the coupe. Trying to get the same amount of camber on both sides I even bought some brand new shinny washers and some marine grade steel longer bolts.
So did it work, did I get a nice equal amount of negative camber on both sides?
Did I balls!
But it's better than having none. With the rear being totally adjustable though I did get that spot on.
I have to say being able to get 2 degrees of camber on an 18 year old estate stock rear suspension is great!
(With the exception of the front camber) I have gone for my standard track day set up. As you can see from the numbers I spent a while getting it spot on. Never thought I would be setting up a tatty old estate ready for a Nurburgring trip after all the time and money I have spent on the coupe, but then stag doos aren't supposed to be sensible are they?
Anyway I am pleased to report it seems to have worked. It's not the coupe, but it's so much better than it used to be.
Last couple of bits. New fuel filter. Swapped the pads out of the coupe and bled the brakes again. The Performance Friction pads out of the coupe have done so well and there is easily half the meat left on them. But they are a few years old and starting to crumble. So I though I would use them up on the daily drive, with that bit of extra stop for the ring.
Don't worry though, anyone thinking the coupe is going more onto the back burner with me pinching the pads out of it. In fact I have just bought some e46 330ci front callipers. When the stag is over and done with I will be looking to get the m3 front bumper on, poly windows in and a bigger better brake set up sorted.
Back to the Touring though, I hate the steering wheel. It's to big, the leather is breaking up and it's just rubbish. So this happened.
No I haven't taken leave of my senses! It is a very cheap copy of an OMP wheel. It's just a bit of stag fun, I totally expect it to fall apart within a few months. But I did buy a proper momo boss. So when this wheel is done I can get a nice tasteful wheel on there. Apart from a clean and checking the tyre pressures it's ready to go.
When refitting the struts I have added some camber. No I'm not going mad and putting camber adjustment plates in. No more money going on the touring unless it wears something out. But I have put some washes in between the struts and the hub, like I used to run on the coupe. Trying to get the same amount of camber on both sides I even bought some brand new shinny washers and some marine grade steel longer bolts.
So did it work, did I get a nice equal amount of negative camber on both sides?
Did I balls!
But it's better than having none. With the rear being totally adjustable though I did get that spot on.
I have to say being able to get 2 degrees of camber on an 18 year old estate stock rear suspension is great!
(With the exception of the front camber) I have gone for my standard track day set up. As you can see from the numbers I spent a while getting it spot on. Never thought I would be setting up a tatty old estate ready for a Nurburgring trip after all the time and money I have spent on the coupe, but then stag doos aren't supposed to be sensible are they?
Anyway I am pleased to report it seems to have worked. It's not the coupe, but it's so much better than it used to be.
Last couple of bits. New fuel filter. Swapped the pads out of the coupe and bled the brakes again. The Performance Friction pads out of the coupe have done so well and there is easily half the meat left on them. But they are a few years old and starting to crumble. So I though I would use them up on the daily drive, with that bit of extra stop for the ring.
Don't worry though, anyone thinking the coupe is going more onto the back burner with me pinching the pads out of it. In fact I have just bought some e46 330ci front callipers. When the stag is over and done with I will be looking to get the m3 front bumper on, poly windows in and a bigger better brake set up sorted.
Back to the Touring though, I hate the steering wheel. It's to big, the leather is breaking up and it's just rubbish. So this happened.
No I haven't taken leave of my senses! It is a very cheap copy of an OMP wheel. It's just a bit of stag fun, I totally expect it to fall apart within a few months. But I did buy a proper momo boss. So when this wheel is done I can get a nice tasteful wheel on there. Apart from a clean and checking the tyre pressures it's ready to go.
So that was a fantastic stag. Many hours in the car, first night in Strasbourg. Few beers and a very good laugh.
A beautiful city, one evening is defiantly not long enough to see it all.
Up bright and early then on to the Nurburgring.
We arrived about an hour before the public session opened. Checked in to ring rental, who though not the most comfortable I would recommend. Then we headed up to the track.
I have only been to closed track days at the ring before. This is very different. The Sunday was one of the few totally open public sessions of the summer and a lot of people had obviously decided to go. On the Saturday evening the track was open from five thirty until seven. I would hazard a guess at around a thousand cars being there. The car park was full, the fields were full and the que of cars trying to get in stretched to the horizon.
Many more pictures to follow when my friends send me them. But I was a bit more concerned with getting out on track.
I got in the que and sat still for a good half an hour. But eventually we got on track. It was brilliant! Hugely busy with everything from my car to Lamborghinis and Ferraris. I started to settle in, just about remembering the track and finding the limits of the estate.
First lap complete and I pulled my phone out to check my lap timing app. Really annoyingly it hasn't stopped counting, but we were into the car park and it was just turning over 11 mins. So it can't have been a bad lap. My friend sitting in the passenger seat admitted he had never held a door handle so tight.
Time for another lap. I was really impressed with the car. Obviously not the grip of the Coupe, but not bad. The engine was great, pulled so strong. Then things went wrong!
I was coming up to the famous set of corners that you see on all the videos, Eschbach. I went to turn in, then found a 911 up my inside. I started to brake but it was to late. I held it around the corner, right on the limit of the track, but as the corner straightened out my O/S/R wheel touched the grass. She turned in very sharply.
Now apparently the Nurburgring are very against people posting videos or pictures of crashes and I don't want to get the thread closed. Surfice to say an onlooker was filming and it was on YouTube within a couple of hours.
The barrier made a mess of the front end and my bank balance. Happily though I have inspected and the engine is still fine. So not all is lost.
You get the general idea. This photo was taken the morning after on an incredibly helpful chaps driveway. He approached us at the ring. Telling us he was British but lived locally. He has spun at the same corner before and new how expencive the storage would be if I left the car with the recovery company until I could sort out getting it home. He was so helpful I can not thank him enough. The car was recovered back to the UK the following Friday and is now back where it spent the early part of this year, dumped down the back of my mates unit.
Always look on the bright side. I spent the rest of the stag in an air conditioned car and didn't have to drive. So much more drinking happened.
We moved onto Amsterdam for the last night and another brilliant time was had!
Home now and just about recovered.
So the Touring is dead, long live the Coupe!
A beautiful city, one evening is defiantly not long enough to see it all.
Up bright and early then on to the Nurburgring.
We arrived about an hour before the public session opened. Checked in to ring rental, who though not the most comfortable I would recommend. Then we headed up to the track.
I have only been to closed track days at the ring before. This is very different. The Sunday was one of the few totally open public sessions of the summer and a lot of people had obviously decided to go. On the Saturday evening the track was open from five thirty until seven. I would hazard a guess at around a thousand cars being there. The car park was full, the fields were full and the que of cars trying to get in stretched to the horizon.
Many more pictures to follow when my friends send me them. But I was a bit more concerned with getting out on track.
I got in the que and sat still for a good half an hour. But eventually we got on track. It was brilliant! Hugely busy with everything from my car to Lamborghinis and Ferraris. I started to settle in, just about remembering the track and finding the limits of the estate.
First lap complete and I pulled my phone out to check my lap timing app. Really annoyingly it hasn't stopped counting, but we were into the car park and it was just turning over 11 mins. So it can't have been a bad lap. My friend sitting in the passenger seat admitted he had never held a door handle so tight.
Time for another lap. I was really impressed with the car. Obviously not the grip of the Coupe, but not bad. The engine was great, pulled so strong. Then things went wrong!
I was coming up to the famous set of corners that you see on all the videos, Eschbach. I went to turn in, then found a 911 up my inside. I started to brake but it was to late. I held it around the corner, right on the limit of the track, but as the corner straightened out my O/S/R wheel touched the grass. She turned in very sharply.
Now apparently the Nurburgring are very against people posting videos or pictures of crashes and I don't want to get the thread closed. Surfice to say an onlooker was filming and it was on YouTube within a couple of hours.
The barrier made a mess of the front end and my bank balance. Happily though I have inspected and the engine is still fine. So not all is lost.
You get the general idea. This photo was taken the morning after on an incredibly helpful chaps driveway. He approached us at the ring. Telling us he was British but lived locally. He has spun at the same corner before and new how expencive the storage would be if I left the car with the recovery company until I could sort out getting it home. He was so helpful I can not thank him enough. The car was recovered back to the UK the following Friday and is now back where it spent the early part of this year, dumped down the back of my mates unit.
Always look on the bright side. I spent the rest of the stag in an air conditioned car and didn't have to drive. So much more drinking happened.
We moved onto Amsterdam for the last night and another brilliant time was had!
Home now and just about recovered.
So the Touring is dead, long live the Coupe!
will you be salvaging parts? 
So Saturday came, the coupe made a great return to the track at Bedford.
The day was thankfully dry, despite what the weather forecast said all week.
The nitrogen worked really well. I kept checking the pressures all day and despite getting some really hot tyres. The pressure didn't rise at all.
I had invited a friend along to try driving. He is thinking about getting a track car of his own. So with him in the passenger seat I went out to try and show him the lines and how much grip she has. Now I have never claimed to be a good driver, but I believe that a good driver is consistent?
Not the fastest laps of the day. I did that in the afternoon when the number of people on track had gone down. But I was amazed I was able to string three laps together so similarly.
Not much else to report. We had to bleed the brakes again in the afternoon. I may have to invest in some better fluid when the bigger callipers go on.
Other than that it was brilliant!
The day was thankfully dry, despite what the weather forecast said all week.
The nitrogen worked really well. I kept checking the pressures all day and despite getting some really hot tyres. The pressure didn't rise at all.
I had invited a friend along to try driving. He is thinking about getting a track car of his own. So with him in the passenger seat I went out to try and show him the lines and how much grip she has. Now I have never claimed to be a good driver, but I believe that a good driver is consistent?
Not the fastest laps of the day. I did that in the afternoon when the number of people on track had gone down. But I was amazed I was able to string three laps together so similarly.
Not much else to report. We had to bleed the brakes again in the afternoon. I may have to invest in some better fluid when the bigger callipers go on.
Other than that it was brilliant!
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff