E36 cheap track day toy
Discussion
Yes, apologies for the slight Cat related detour Hamster.
I had an m52/2.8 with inlet, BBTB and map by End Tuning in my old car and it made 222bhp. I opted for Cat Cams this time, as Schrick were way too expensive and I thought the Cat profiles were close to the US spec M3's. They retail at about £700 I believe but mine were donated by the Cat factory in France.
http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I had an m52/2.8 with inlet, BBTB and map by End Tuning in my old car and it made 222bhp. I opted for Cat Cams this time, as Schrick were way too expensive and I thought the Cat profiles were close to the US spec M3's. They retail at about £700 I believe but mine were donated by the Cat factory in France.
http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...
e21Mark said:
Yes, apologies for the slight Cat related detour Hamster.
I had an m52/2.8 with inlet, BBTB and map by End Tuning in my old car and it made 222bhp. I opted for Cat Cams this time, as Schrick were way too expensive and I thought the Cat profiles were close to the US spec M3's. They retail at about £700 I believe but mine were donated by the Cat factory in France.
http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Unfortunately I did all mine in one big fat lump and then got it RR'd- no idea what she was kicking out standard. But the flywheel makes a huge difference to the feel... and the decat opened it up massively. The 6-branch looks amazing on yours! You did well for a donation, although having seen what happened to the car initially... ouch.I had an m52/2.8 with inlet, BBTB and map by End Tuning in my old car and it made 222bhp. I opted for Cat Cams this time, as Schrick were way too expensive and I thought the Cat profiles were close to the US spec M3's. They retail at about £700 I believe but mine were donated by the Cat factory in France.
http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Anyway, back on track, keep looking at the 318iS as a daily hack... very tempting!! Want to try and find one of the superbly rare saloons, but coupés are too cheap to overlook.
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.
I wish I had the time 
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.
Hamster69 said:
Thanks Mark. I was looking at that, have you been before? I'm not sure about these evenings, they seem to be half the price of a full day, but with only about 2 hours track time. It is also twice the price of an evening at snetterton. Is it worth it?
I know what you mean, although when have done RR evenings in the past they're nowhere near as busy and driving standards were higher than many. Except for one guy in a VW Golf who thought he was on a BTCC qualifying lap and flashing his headlights at anyone ahead of him. t
t. 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.
Hamster - great thread! Only just stumbled across this and the story sounds very true to my own journey with a similar car - In my case a 160k, 6 cyl. 320, MOT failure bought for £400 .
You are completely right when you say it's about the grip although I have to say that on the straights of Snetterton you do feel the lack of power a little!
How mine began:
To what it looks like now as a bit of a hommage to the M3 lightweight
Hope to see you on track soon.
. You are completely right when you say it's about the grip although I have to say that on the straights of Snetterton you do feel the lack of power a little!
How mine began:
To what it looks like now as a bit of a hommage to the M3 lightweight
Hope to see you on track soon.
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.
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