E36 cheap track day toy
Discussion
Quick catch up. The last couple of years have been very hard financially. I had to sell my Sunday car, the SLK in the first pic on page one. I finished working for Mercedes and after eight years went back to Porsche. Now I have basically been forced to sell my home. But on the upside it should clear all my debts and give me a fresh start. Through all this the BMW has sat in the garage. It was a great shame that last year she only had one outing. Finally though, there is a chance, just a chance of getting her out for some track fun. I'm trying to not get my hopes up to much, but 
So summer is here. Thought it was about time for the BM to see some daylight.
The last three years have defiantly taken their toll. It's due an MOT and I just couldn't bare to let her sit for any longer. I was starting to worry she would never start. My spirits lifted with the turn of the key though. Not so much as a splutter.
Ok the throttle pedal had seized, but one quick stamp and we were away.
Booked straight in for MOT without even a quick look on the ramp. PASS, Amazingly.
The sunstrip has done well but defiantly seen better days. Time for a tidy up.
On the more mechanical side, I was massively impressed with the Performance Friction Carbon Metallic front pads I fitted just before Donington. I was running DS3000, which were good, but expensive, very noisy and quite dusty. The PFCM are about half the price, silent and less dusty. Most importantly though better at stopping, you can really stand on them. I will defiantly be swapping out the rears to. Once the Ferrodo's have worn some more, I'm not made of money.
I'm really looking forward to the next couple of months, things are still tight so we won't be back up to a full schedule of open pits at big name tracks just yet. But I can feel an airfield day and maybe an evening session coming on. Hopefully building back up to some big names next year. Possibly including Spa. Fingers crossed.
The last three years have defiantly taken their toll. It's due an MOT and I just couldn't bare to let her sit for any longer. I was starting to worry she would never start. My spirits lifted with the turn of the key though. Not so much as a splutter.
Ok the throttle pedal had seized, but one quick stamp and we were away.
Booked straight in for MOT without even a quick look on the ramp. PASS, Amazingly.
The sunstrip has done well but defiantly seen better days. Time for a tidy up.
On the more mechanical side, I was massively impressed with the Performance Friction Carbon Metallic front pads I fitted just before Donington. I was running DS3000, which were good, but expensive, very noisy and quite dusty. The PFCM are about half the price, silent and less dusty. Most importantly though better at stopping, you can really stand on them. I will defiantly be swapping out the rears to. Once the Ferrodo's have worn some more, I'm not made of money.
I'm really looking forward to the next couple of months, things are still tight so we won't be back up to a full schedule of open pits at big name tracks just yet. But I can feel an airfield day and maybe an evening session coming on. Hopefully building back up to some big names next year. Possibly including Spa. Fingers crossed.
Thanks guys, it is always nice to get feed back.
Don't ever think you can't do it. I didn't have a garage for the first two years. Now I rent a friends. As far as time goes, the BMW was built an hour here, an hour there. I have been working 6 days a week and all the overtime I could get for the last few years. I found the easiest thing to do is just approach it one part at a time. Buy an old rotter and go have a day out. Preferably a big long road trip with mates involved to. (curry and beer highly recommended). By the time you get back you will either love it and keep it, or think that was nice and sell it. If you keep it, that's when you start stripping. Oh and hit the music.
Don't ever think you can't do it. I didn't have a garage for the first two years. Now I rent a friends. As far as time goes, the BMW was built an hour here, an hour there. I have been working 6 days a week and all the overtime I could get for the last few years. I found the easiest thing to do is just approach it one part at a time. Buy an old rotter and go have a day out. Preferably a big long road trip with mates involved to. (curry and beer highly recommended). By the time you get back you will either love it and keep it, or think that was nice and sell it. If you keep it, that's when you start stripping. Oh and hit the music.
Yes it is a fibreglass rep Fluffer. I got it from absmotorsport.co.uk. Not exactly the cheapest bit of kit, but once I had stripped everything the rear end was starting to get a bit skippy, especially in the wet. It defiantly works as it has knocked 20mph of the top end. But you never get to the top end on a track, except at the ring of coarse.
I know what you mean Mark. Have had a few "Le Man" drivers behind me in the past who seem incredibly angry that I have paid the same money as them and don't have to get out of the way. If you are faster go round, if not shut up. A particular memory of one such guy was at Cadwell, in his 911GT3RS. I work for Porsche and know the speed differential between that car and mine. Passing me would have been the easiest thing in the world, but this guy obviosly thought he was gods gift to the track and no one else was worthy. Unfortunately the day turned rather wet. Most people pulled off. He obviosly didn't need to though, because a lightweight car with the engine in the back and I would imagine by that time in the afternoon quite an empty fuel tank in the front, is always going to behave driving up river.
Going down the main straight he lost it, hit the left barrier, then aquaplaned all the way over into the right barrier. As we walked away my friend and I discussed overconfidence and what it must be like to have to much money.
I know what you mean Mark. Have had a few "Le Man" drivers behind me in the past who seem incredibly angry that I have paid the same money as them and don't have to get out of the way. If you are faster go round, if not shut up. A particular memory of one such guy was at Cadwell, in his 911GT3RS. I work for Porsche and know the speed differential between that car and mine. Passing me would have been the easiest thing in the world, but this guy obviosly thought he was gods gift to the track and no one else was worthy. Unfortunately the day turned rather wet. Most people pulled off. He obviosly didn't need to though, because a lightweight car with the engine in the back and I would imagine by that time in the afternoon quite an empty fuel tank in the front, is always going to behave driving up river.
Going down the main straight he lost it, hit the left barrier, then aquaplaned all the way over into the right barrier. As we walked away my friend and I discussed overconfidence and what it must be like to have to much money.
Very small update before bed.
Got the old girl on the ramp tonight after work. Sort of a post Donington inspection even if it has sat for nearly a year since then.
The ripped out ball joint has made a bit of a mess of the front bumper. But it's not exactly ruined. Maybe one day I will find a replacement with a nice splitter.
It's quite amazing how much bumper a tyre can eat while rolling to a stop.
Other than that, all seems pretty good. The pads still have plenty of life in them. Which is great from an economy point of view, but I can't wait to get rid of these squealy rear Ferodos. All the levels are right, no play anywhere. Measured up for some ARB bushes front and back. I know the "is" was supposed to be sporty but I was surprised that it is fitted with the thicker bars front and back. 27mm front and 18mm back, from my research that appears to be the same as M3 and strangely thicker than 328.
Anyway she survived and has earned herself another medal.
Optimistically I purchased Brands, Bedford and Spa stickers at the same time. They will not go on unless at least one flying lap is completed. But hopefully it shows good future intentions.
Got the old girl on the ramp tonight after work. Sort of a post Donington inspection even if it has sat for nearly a year since then.
The ripped out ball joint has made a bit of a mess of the front bumper. But it's not exactly ruined. Maybe one day I will find a replacement with a nice splitter.
It's quite amazing how much bumper a tyre can eat while rolling to a stop.
Other than that, all seems pretty good. The pads still have plenty of life in them. Which is great from an economy point of view, but I can't wait to get rid of these squealy rear Ferodos. All the levels are right, no play anywhere. Measured up for some ARB bushes front and back. I know the "is" was supposed to be sporty but I was surprised that it is fitted with the thicker bars front and back. 27mm front and 18mm back, from my research that appears to be the same as M3 and strangely thicker than 328.
Anyway she survived and has earned herself another medal.
Optimistically I purchased Brands, Bedford and Spa stickers at the same time. They will not go on unless at least one flying lap is completed. But hopefully it shows good future intentions.
Hey Bully. Yeah the stickers are ebay bought. Made by Casiki. I'm very pleased with all of them, they also made a couple of them custom for me.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/casikisignsuk/m.html?_nk...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/casikisignsuk/m.html?_nk...
Ok some actual good news. Brands is booked and paid for. Four friends coming, should be good fun. After my measuring up the other night I have been doing some research on ARB bushes. Powerflex were the obvious way to go, but a bit pricey. I looked into flo-flex, but saw a couple of horror stories so gave them a wide birth. Then I chanced upon strongflex. Some people claiming they were as good as powerflex, others actually saying better. So I hit ebay. They do a fast road version (red) and a track version (yellow). I had already put some front bushes, rear bushes and front drop link bushes in my basket when I had a brainwave. Searching out the company's own website I saved over 15 quid.
I ran a quick check last week as well to find out why the abs light has come on. One of the rear wheel speed sensors has given up. New one on order.
More and pics to follow when work commences, shortly followed by track fun. Can't wait.
Had a little laugh last week when my girlfriend looked out the bedroom window and said, "your BMW isn't very good at hiding"!
I ran a quick check last week as well to find out why the abs light has come on. One of the rear wheel speed sensors has given up. New one on order.
More and pics to follow when work commences, shortly followed by track fun. Can't wait.
Had a little laugh last week when my girlfriend looked out the bedroom window and said, "your BMW isn't very good at hiding"!
Car back on the ramp tonight. The old bushes looked a bit sorry for themselves.
When I stripped the drop links you could see the bushes were splitting but the ball joints have no play.
The ARB bushes themselves where easy, you could really feel how much easier the bar moves in them.
The drop links where a bit more time consuming, requiring the old bushes to be pressed out.
See there is always another use for sockets when it comes to fitting bushes.
All fitted. I did think about what you said about removing the rear ARB but as I have just paid for these I may as well give them a go first.
Gave her a run home. Really couldn't tell any difference on the road. Hopefully I will at Brands.
When I stripped the drop links you could see the bushes were splitting but the ball joints have no play.
The ARB bushes themselves where easy, you could really feel how much easier the bar moves in them.
The drop links where a bit more time consuming, requiring the old bushes to be pressed out.
See there is always another use for sockets when it comes to fitting bushes.
All fitted. I did think about what you said about removing the rear ARB but as I have just paid for these I may as well give them a go first.
Gave her a run home. Really couldn't tell any difference on the road. Hopefully I will at Brands.
Hmm all good info, but you seem to need exactly the right set up to get this to work without the rear arb. Im goint to stick with the new bushes on the rear for now. I dont want to get to brands and find it wont go round corners. Up to now the handling has been awesome, hopefully this will make it slightly more so.
Edited by Hamster69 on Monday 8th September 22:23
That is very true I could. I have driven many cars with the ARB disconnected on the road, often the old S class (W221) listening for creeks and noises. Not sure I would like to try it on the back of the E36 it very near the drive shafts. Anyway it's only held on with two M8 bolts, if I disconnected it I would remove it. For now I'm more than happy with how she moves.
Back on the ramp again tonight. O/S/R wheel speed sensor to replace. Of coarse you forget how hard these can be when you haven't done one for a while. Especially when it has been in there for 18 years. In the end I had to drill through the sensor in several places and crush it to pull the old one out. Then out with the Dremel and a small sanding head to clean the rust out of the sensor hole. Realised when I finished I didn't take any pics. Sorry.
Now I'm close to being ready to go. Just a bit of wheel balancing and a clean left to do really.
Couple of new bits turned up for the track day kit this week. I decided after the ball joint went at Donnington I would be a fool not to take a Jack.
Yes the Jack was cheap but hopefully it will never ever get used. Have tried it at work on a 911, it works fine.
I still have my bandit helmet. This is for those gullible idiots who sit next to me. After nearly three years of doing this I was bored of keep having to borrow a helmet or borrow a jack if something went wrong. I am after all a professional. Should turn up on the day like one.
Defiantly enough work done for today though, time for a beer.
Back on the ramp again tonight. O/S/R wheel speed sensor to replace. Of coarse you forget how hard these can be when you haven't done one for a while. Especially when it has been in there for 18 years. In the end I had to drill through the sensor in several places and crush it to pull the old one out. Then out with the Dremel and a small sanding head to clean the rust out of the sensor hole. Realised when I finished I didn't take any pics. Sorry.
Now I'm close to being ready to go. Just a bit of wheel balancing and a clean left to do really.
Couple of new bits turned up for the track day kit this week. I decided after the ball joint went at Donnington I would be a fool not to take a Jack.
Yes the Jack was cheap but hopefully it will never ever get used. Have tried it at work on a 911, it works fine.
I still have my bandit helmet. This is for those gullible idiots who sit next to me. After nearly three years of doing this I was bored of keep having to borrow a helmet or borrow a jack if something went wrong. I am after all a professional. Should turn up on the day like one.
Defiantly enough work done for today though, time for a beer.
So I decided it was also time I did something about the angle of my harneses. So I bought a cage.
Ebay came up trumps again. Now I just have the problem of it being in Spalding, while i am in Cambridge. Every courier I have aproached have said its to large or to heavy. It deffinatly wont go in the back of my car otherwise I would just go and grab it myself.
Causing major grief and I havent even got it yet.
Ebay came up trumps again. Now I just have the problem of it being in Spalding, while i am in Cambridge. Every courier I have aproached have said its to large or to heavy. It deffinatly wont go in the back of my car otherwise I would just go and grab it myself.
Causing major grief and I havent even got it yet.
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