E36 cheap track day toy
Discussion
I love reading the other E36 threads on here while I build mine and this is one of the best. Really like what you've done with the car. I don't think I will have it in me to strip all the looms etc. with mine, even though I'm being silly because it will never go back to being a road only car.
Those Macan brake cooling deflectors look interesting, did you try them in the end? What do they retail for?
Those Macan brake cooling deflectors look interesting, did you try them in the end? What do they retail for?
That's very kind mr Soul!
Finally got the exhaust tips back from my welder. He hasn't done a bad job.
They look quit smart for something I designed, very unusual.
After that I cut a slit down each side and fitted them with large hose clamps.
I drove home being able to listen to the radio at a sensible volume. They seem to work very well. It's not quiet now, but not deafening either. Easy to pull off at the track, much more comfortable to drive to Belgium with and a little safeguard against failing noise test in the future.
Finally got the exhaust tips back from my welder. He hasn't done a bad job.
They look quit smart for something I designed, very unusual.
After that I cut a slit down each side and fitted them with large hose clamps.
I drove home being able to listen to the radio at a sensible volume. They seem to work very well. It's not quiet now, but not deafening either. Easy to pull off at the track, much more comfortable to drive to Belgium with and a little safeguard against failing noise test in the future.
Had an hour or so to spare after doing a clutch on a mates E46 yesterday. Well I say doing a clutch, I took the gearbox out, found he had bought the wrong clutch and that his dual mass was knackerd. Replaced the realease bearing and put the box back in. I do love it when a plan comes together.
Anyway I had an hour or so. Ping goes the light in my head, I might as well have a play with the geometry. Last time out, (when it wasn't raining) the grip was great but the inside of the rear tyres looked like it had been working very hard. So if I wind the camber back from 2.5 to 2.0 and see what happens.
This made a tiny change to the toe. But I'm quite pleased they must have been done well last time as both toes ended up in the same place only adjusting the camber. I know toe out isn't recommended on the rear, but it is a tiny amount and I'm interested to see what it does. Most importantly the thrust angle is 0.
I decided not to move the front camber as I think adjusting everything at once makes it hard to tell what has worked. I can use Bedford and Donington as sort of test sessions ready for the big Spa trip.
I have adjusted the front toe slightly. Closer to 0 which people seem to recommend for track e36s but I do find a tiny bit of toe in makes her feel less vague.
Anyway I had an hour or so. Ping goes the light in my head, I might as well have a play with the geometry. Last time out, (when it wasn't raining) the grip was great but the inside of the rear tyres looked like it had been working very hard. So if I wind the camber back from 2.5 to 2.0 and see what happens.
This made a tiny change to the toe. But I'm quite pleased they must have been done well last time as both toes ended up in the same place only adjusting the camber. I know toe out isn't recommended on the rear, but it is a tiny amount and I'm interested to see what it does. Most importantly the thrust angle is 0.
I decided not to move the front camber as I think adjusting everything at once makes it hard to tell what has worked. I can use Bedford and Donington as sort of test sessions ready for the big Spa trip.
I have adjusted the front toe slightly. Closer to 0 which people seem to recommend for track e36s but I do find a tiny bit of toe in makes her feel less vague.
So Macan brake ducts arrived today.
I have no proof that they will fit or work if they do fit. But as I said before they looked like they might. They are handed with several fittings to click onto the track rod end. I held them up to my track rod ends and found they pushed on rather neatly.
Turning the wheel lock to lock there is a small amount of rubbing on the underside of the car, but only on an area that doesn't look so important so I cut it off.
With that they seem to clear everything and sit roughly where I would want them. Obviously the E36 track rod isn't identical to the Macan one so it doesn't exactly secure. But a cable tie seems to work well.
I can't honestly say that they aren't going to get ripped straight off or that they will do anything, I guess Bedford will be the test of that. But they really do seem to sit in the same position as on the Macan, so I can't see them doing nothing. Porsche don't tend to attach pointless bits of plastic to the undersides of their cars.
Obviously the cable ties were trimmed after the photos. I can honestly say now my car has Porsche parts. Even if they did cost a tenner.
I have no proof that they will fit or work if they do fit. But as I said before they looked like they might. They are handed with several fittings to click onto the track rod end. I held them up to my track rod ends and found they pushed on rather neatly.
Turning the wheel lock to lock there is a small amount of rubbing on the underside of the car, but only on an area that doesn't look so important so I cut it off.
With that they seem to clear everything and sit roughly where I would want them. Obviously the E36 track rod isn't identical to the Macan one so it doesn't exactly secure. But a cable tie seems to work well.
I can't honestly say that they aren't going to get ripped straight off or that they will do anything, I guess Bedford will be the test of that. But they really do seem to sit in the same position as on the Macan, so I can't see them doing nothing. Porsche don't tend to attach pointless bits of plastic to the undersides of their cars.
Obviously the cable ties were trimmed after the photos. I can honestly say now my car has Porsche parts. Even if they did cost a tenner.
Another return to Bedford Autodrome on Wednesday, but this time the rain held off until we were coming home.
This was organised by David from opentracks, again I can't rate this company highly enough. The free photography, free doughnuts and general ticket price all seem to make this company stand head and shoulders above the rest to me.
So Bedford are notoriously strict on sound limits and have a one strike and you are out policy. So as you can see I took to the track with my new silencers, or "Rats" as I'm told they are called. They really do work well noise wise but there is a definite affect on power.
I do like the track at Bedford, being an old airfield it's very flat, which doesn't hurt my humble engine size. With some large run offs, because despite having actually driven quite a lot of tracks now. I still have those raw amateur neves that in going to go plowing straight off into a wall. I don't let this hold me back however and received a few compliments during the day for my ability to hang on to other "faster" cars. Often they would creep away from me on the long straight, but as I was going through the chicane in the middle of the straight flat out in fourth, there was usually nothing to separate us on the other side.
By about 3 I was feeling brave and had also spotted the mic out on track. So the rats came off. I am loving the remap and bbtb, she feels so alive now. The higher rev limit means you don't want to change gear halfway round a corner now and when you do change up you are still in the power band rather than just below it.
I'm so happy with her now I can stop sitting up at night searching eBay for cheap m3 camshaft and m52 lumps.
The only thing I think would be a good change is if I could get a bit of front downforce. The rear is very planted, the front is very good but you just feel if it was pushed down like the rear is, there would be no stopping her.
The fan seems to have stopped working from the temp switch in the afternoon but thankfully not on the cabin switch which was able to keep her cool despite only being the half speed. The brakes got a real cooking and will need deglazing and fluid changing before the next outing. I think the tyres might need a bit of rotation to.
This was organised by David from opentracks, again I can't rate this company highly enough. The free photography, free doughnuts and general ticket price all seem to make this company stand head and shoulders above the rest to me.
So Bedford are notoriously strict on sound limits and have a one strike and you are out policy. So as you can see I took to the track with my new silencers, or "Rats" as I'm told they are called. They really do work well noise wise but there is a definite affect on power.
I do like the track at Bedford, being an old airfield it's very flat, which doesn't hurt my humble engine size. With some large run offs, because despite having actually driven quite a lot of tracks now. I still have those raw amateur neves that in going to go plowing straight off into a wall. I don't let this hold me back however and received a few compliments during the day for my ability to hang on to other "faster" cars. Often they would creep away from me on the long straight, but as I was going through the chicane in the middle of the straight flat out in fourth, there was usually nothing to separate us on the other side.
By about 3 I was feeling brave and had also spotted the mic out on track. So the rats came off. I am loving the remap and bbtb, she feels so alive now. The higher rev limit means you don't want to change gear halfway round a corner now and when you do change up you are still in the power band rather than just below it.
I'm so happy with her now I can stop sitting up at night searching eBay for cheap m3 camshaft and m52 lumps.
The only thing I think would be a good change is if I could get a bit of front downforce. The rear is very planted, the front is very good but you just feel if it was pushed down like the rear is, there would be no stopping her.
The fan seems to have stopped working from the temp switch in the afternoon but thankfully not on the cabin switch which was able to keep her cool despite only being the half speed. The brakes got a real cooking and will need deglazing and fluid changing before the next outing. I think the tyres might need a bit of rotation to.
Just read this from start to finnish and fair play to you buddy. Such and awesome build from a potentialy scrap car. Proper underdog 
Im trying to figure out what car i want to buy for my first ring trip and to use as a track car and occasional grocery getter lol. E36 has shot to the top of my list. Any other suggestions on car choice (sorry to highjack but you clearly have good taste lol)
Im trying to figure out what car i want to buy for my first ring trip and to use as a track car and occasional grocery getter lol. E36 has shot to the top of my list. Any other suggestions on car choice (sorry to highjack but you clearly have good taste lol)
Hamster69 said:
I was amazed myself that I managed to coax the old girl around all those tracks. But actually she has now done Brands twice, Bedford twice, Snetterton three times and this weekend will have a second stab at Donnington.
They built these old threes right!
Donny on BH Monday ?They built these old threes right!
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