What could I do with my old E36 - budget track special?

[KingRichard]

My ultra-reliable 3 series is starting to look a bit down at heel. It needs a few things for the MOT in a couple of months such as new shocks all round, a clutch and it now needs a new front wing due to some dickless piece of st launching his K-swiss at it

Anyway... I was going to look for an old school hatch to mess about with, but it seems a waste when I've got a worthy candidate sitting on my drive.

It's a 1996 318is Coupe.

All I know so far is that I need to improve the driving position if I keep it. That means a smaller steering wheel and some more supportive seats - The wheel doesn't adjust low enough for me to get comfy

The handling has been a bit freaky lately - it can be pin sharp or really wallowy and I haven't been confident to explore the handling (especially after I put it in a ditch!). I'm guessing a set of replacement shocks will sort this out, but what else could I do? Bushes? Stiffer springs?

I really, really want to get involved with some of the PH trackdays and similar. Maybe a few trips to the ring so I'm really going to need more power

Would it be worthwhile tuning the 16v four pot, or is it more economical to just whack a bigger engine in there? It hasn't got to be insane. Good, tractable power and sweet handling would be great.

I think it's got the potential, however I don't want to end up spending a fortune - I'd be using second hand bits where possible. I've never set a car up for this sort of thing before so all advice is welcome. Most I've ever done is stick on tasteless bodykits and paint my calipers back in my mispent youth

I also have limitless supplies of bacon and tea to anyone willing to help me spanner

[wpo750]

I think the 318is would make an excellent first time track day candidate. Rev happy and more nimble than it's 6 pot brethren. Ditch the interior, rip out the AC if it has it, get a couple of buckets in their and replace the bus wheel with something more suitable and your halfway there. I'll assume the shocks have had it so you'll have to replace, perhaps with a set of coilovers? Definitely replace all bushes with some poly ones, knackered RTABs are probably contributing to your wallowy ride. Uprate the pads, get some fresh brake fluid in there and I reckon you'll be well on your way.

I'm on the lookout for a daily driver come track day car myself and I can't wait to start ripping it all apart!

Edited by wpo750 on Wednesday 13th August 10:51

Edited by wpo750 on Wednesday 13th August 10:51

[KingRichard]

wpo750 said:

I think the 318is would make an excellent first time track day candidate. Rev happy and more nimble than it's 6 pot brethren. Ditch the interior, rip out the AC if it has it, get a couple of buckets in their and replace the bus wheel with something more suitable and your halfway there. I'll assume the shocks have had it so you'll have to replace, perhaps with a set of coilovers? Definitely replace all bushes with some poly ones, knackered RTABs are probably contributing to your wallowy ride. Uprate the pads, get some fresh brake fluid in there and I reckon you'll be well on your way.

I'm on the lookout for a daily driver come track day car myself and I can't wait to start ripping it all apart!

Edited by wpo750 on Wednesday 13th August 10:51

Edited by wpo750 on Wednesday 13th August 10:51

It's got a bit of a transmission whine and a slightly sticky throttle pedal too... I want to do all the spannering myself rather than farm it out so I'll need a few tools too.

Gonna hit ebay and E36 breakers yards and start costing it out

RTAB's?

[Gravy]

RTAB's = Rear Trailing Arm Bushes!

I have often ponderd the same thing with the g/f's 318is but I have got a bike engined kit car scratch that needs to be scratched, and then scratched some more!

Good luck with it

[Talkwrench]

RTAB's -: Rear Trailing Arm Bushes!
You'll need a bush removal tool to remove and replace these. I got one off Ebay for about £30. Made the job a piece of cake

[KingRichard]

A cursory inspection of ebay would suggest it's possible to get most of the stuff needed quite reasonably.

A FULL chassis and suspension poly bush kit is £115.00.

A set of coilovers appears to be £100 or so. Would you buy second hand suspension though?

How can I make the engine more responsive? It doesn't have air con so that's a start, but although it happily revs away in gear it's not the snappiest of throttle actions. Would an induction kit and exhaust help, or even a lighter flywheel? The engine seems to keep an awful lot of momentum at present... if that makes sense

[abarber]

Go for it. It's a cracking car, imho by far the best handling E36 out there. Much better balance than the sixes.

Keep us posted

[Gravy]

Have you considered the turbo route? I believe these engines respond well the F.I but my information is second hand and would need further investigation.

I do know where you could start looking though, if it was of interest?

[KingRichard]

abarber said:

Go for it. It's a cracking car, imho by far the best handling E36 out there. Much better balance than the sixes.

Keep us posted

Really? I've always thought it was a bit st

Maybe that's because of its worn suspension though

[KingRichard]

Gravy said:

Have you considered the turbo route? I believe these engines respond well the F.I but my information is second hand and would need further investigation.

I do know where you could start looking though, if it was of interest?

I haven't considered anything at the moment mate. There are a few four pot BMW's that have appeared in PPC with turbo's on them. One this month with a turbo from a train!

Where do you know of where I could start looking then?

[wpo750]

I'd shelve the power mods for now and get it running and riding in a respectable manner. You'll be surprised how much faster it will be 200kg lighter with no sound deadening. Weight saving is free and it should definitely be your first modification.

Also I'd far sooner source a decent set of second hand shocks of reputable brand than buy into these cheapo ebay coilovers.

[KingRichard]

wpo750 said:

I'd shelve the power mods for now and get it running and riding in a respectable manner. You'll be surprised how much faster it will be 200kg lighter with no sound deadening. Weight saving is free and it should definitely be your first modification.

Also I'd far sooner source a decent set of second hand shocks of reputable brand than buy into these cheapo ebay coilovers.

Well yes. I don't necessarily want it on the floor, touring car style - it's still got to be driveable on the public road, with all it's speed bumps, kerbs and potholes etc.

I was thinking more of stiffer springs and some Koni's. Maybe upgrade the wheels to something a bit wider with some stickier rubber. See if I can get a deal on some Yokohama's or something. I never spend money on tyres. Always go for the cheapest. Maybe it's time that trend changed.

Also, with reference to weight saving, I don't want the car uninhabitable. It's got to be sociable enough to get to germany and back without too much nagging from SWMBO. What can I safely junk? ie; I'd quite happily rip out all the sound deadening as long as I could leave carpet down. For example. Or is it not worthwhile with an half-arsed attempt?

Ta

[Gravy]

KingRichard said:

Gravy said:

Have you considered the turbo route? I believe these engines respond well the F.I but my information is second hand and would need further investigation.

I do know where you could start looking though, if it was of interest?

I haven't considered anything at the moment mate. There are a few four pot BMW's that have appeared in PPC with turbo's on them. One this month with a turbo from a train!

Where do you know of where I could start looking then?

It's something I thought about doing pre-M5 purchase and I got in contact with Ant at A-Tech (01959 534718). He seems to be somewhat of a BMW FI guru, so would be a good place to get some ideas going!

I find our "is" to be tight as a drum, the steering is streets ahead of the M5 in terms of weight and feedback, but then it is rack and pinion!
Another thing you could do is fit a faster rack, I think the fastest is in the E36 compact, but I need to bugger off and check that as I have the info somewhere....

[abarber]

KingRichard said:

abarber said:

Go for it. It's a cracking car, imho by far the best handling E36 out there. Much better balance than the sixes.

Keep us posted

Really? I've always thought it was a bit st

Maybe that's because of its worn suspension though

Lol. Should be great Not far off an MX5 with wooly steering, and a bus sized steering wheel.

[monthefish]

Plenty of E36 inspiration here...

[wpo750]

KingRichard said:

wpo750 said:

I'd shelve the power mods for now and get it running and riding in a respectable manner. You'll be surprised how much faster it will be 200kg lighter with no sound deadening. Weight saving is free and it should definitely be your first modification.

Also I'd far sooner source a decent set of second hand shocks of reputable brand than buy into these cheapo ebay coilovers.

Well yes. I don't necessarily want it on the floor, touring car style - it's still got to be driveable on the public road, with all it's speed bumps, kerbs and potholes etc.

I was thinking more of stiffer springs and some Koni's. Maybe upgrade the wheels to something a bit wider with some stickier rubber. See if I can get a deal on some Yokohama's or something. I never spend money on tyres. Always go for the cheapest. Maybe it's time that trend changed.

Also, with reference to weight saving, I don't want the car uninhabitable. It's got to be sociable enough to get to germany and back without too much nagging from SWMBO. What can I safely junk? ie; I'd quite happily rip out all the sound deadening as long as I could leave carpet down. For example. Or is it not worthwhile with an half-arsed attempt?

Ta

I'm not averse to having a car slammed to the ground, it's how it's slammed that's important! A decent set of Koni coilovers would be ideal but getting hold of some without spending loads will be the challenge. Plenty of OEM 17in rims can be had off ebay and as you've stated avoiding budget brand tyres is preferable. Pop down to your local friendly tyre shop and see what part worns they have. The place I go to let me go through their stock and I pick out decent pairs of premium brand tyres for £30 - 35 a corner for 17in fitment. Just check for even wear and signs of past repairs.

If the cabin needs to remain civilised then junk the rear seats, replace the fronts with lightweight buckets, take out the spare and boot carpet etc. Once you get to this point hopefully you'll be tempted to rip out everything else... Oh and SWMBO? I don't know who or what that is but if it's nagging then stick a crash helmet on it...

[Gravy]

wpo750 said:

KingRichard said:

wpo750 said:

I'd shelve the power mods for now and get it running and riding in a respectable manner. You'll be surprised how much faster it will be 200kg lighter with no sound deadening. Weight saving is free and it should definitely be your first modification.

Also I'd far sooner source a decent set of second hand shocks of reputable brand than buy into these cheapo ebay coilovers.

Well yes. I don't necessarily want it on the floor, touring car style - it's still got to be driveable on the public road, with all it's speed bumps, kerbs and potholes etc.

I was thinking more of stiffer springs and some Koni's. Maybe upgrade the wheels to something a bit wider with some stickier rubber. See if I can get a deal on some Yokohama's or something. I never spend money on tyres. Always go for the cheapest. Maybe it's time that trend changed.

Also, with reference to weight saving, I don't want the car uninhabitable. It's got to be sociable enough to get to germany and back without too much nagging from SWMBO. What can I safely junk? ie; I'd quite happily rip out all the sound deadening as long as I could leave carpet down. For example. Or is it not worthwhile with an half-arsed attempt?

Ta

I'm not averse to having a car slammed to the ground, it's how it's slammed that's important! A decent set of Koni coilovers would be ideal but getting hold of some without spending loads will be the challenge. Plenty of OEM 17in rims can be had off ebay and as you've stated avoiding budget brand tyres is preferable. Pop down to your local friendly tyre shop and see what part worns they have. The place I go to let me go through their stock and I pick out decent pairs of premium brand tyres for £30 - 35 a corner for 17in fitment. Just check for even wear and signs of past repairs.

If the cabin needs to remain civilised then junk the rear seats, replace the fronts with lightweight buckets, take out the spare and boot carpet etc. Once you get to this point hopefully you'll be tempted to rip out everything else... Oh and SWMBO? I don't know who or what that is but if it's nagging then stick a crash helmet on it...

If coilovers are a bridge too far, I think Bilstein and Eibach spring/damper combo are very good.

I would go with the stripping out weight routine, then upgrade/renew suspension and bushes whilstat the same time addressing the brakes and see where you are at that stage with the improvement in performance.

By then the bug will have probably caught and a full program of road to track car transition, will ensue!

[KemP]

KingRichard said:

A cursory inspection of ebay would suggest it's possible to get most of the stuff needed quite reasonably.

A FULL chassis and suspension poly bush kit is £115.00.

A set of coilovers appears to be £100 or so. Would you buy second hand suspension though?

How can I make the engine more responsive? It doesn't have air con so that's a start, but although it happily revs away in gear it's not the snappiest of throttle actions. Would an induction kit and exhaust help, or even a lighter flywheel? The engine seems to keep an awful lot of momentum at present... if that makes sense

Do you have the link for the chassis and suspension poly bush kit as Im needing to get mine done..

[KingRichard]

KemP said:

KingRichard said:

A cursory inspection of ebay would suggest it's possible to get most of the stuff needed quite reasonably.

A FULL chassis and suspension poly bush kit is £115.00.

A set of coilovers appears to be £100 or so. Would you buy second hand suspension though?

How can I make the engine more responsive? It doesn't have air con so that's a start, but although it happily revs away in gear it's not the snappiest of throttle actions. Would an induction kit and exhaust help, or even a lighter flywheel? The engine seems to keep an awful lot of momentum at present... if that makes sense

Do you have the link for the chassis and suspension poly bush kit as Im needing to get mine done..

I just typed 'E36 suspension bushes' into ebay and several kits came up from the same company. right near the top of the search

[Frik]

E36 rear top mounts aren't strong enough for coilovers though shirley?