What do people think when they see BMW E30 going sideways ?

[161BMW]

Had the odd sideways moment on public roads. Have had a range of reactions from a woman driver looking at me in digust to a white van man giving me a thumbs up

What do people / other road users think when they see BMW E30 3 Series which looks OEM going sideways in the wet :-) ?

[161BMW]

s m said:

Rear Diff?

325i Sport with LSD

[161BMW]

A few of the times is unintentional and most are intentional.

[161BMW]

nitrodave said:

161BMW said:

s m said:

Rear Diff?

325i Sport with LSD

1.5 or 2 way, helical or viscous? these details are important

Just a standard second hand BMW LSD but I got fully rebuilt 40% lock 3.91 2-way

As standard mine would have had 25% lock 3.64 2-way

[161BMW]

jonah35 said:

How old are you OP? Early twenties?

31

[161BMW]

Yes looking into DWYB which is the good safe option

Also you see all these motoring journos with opposite lock on roads in mags so the issue of going sideways in public roads is a lot wider.

[161BMW]

I am all for the empty car park and some cones option which is ideal the only thing is that is technically illegal albeit much safer option
I would like to do DWYB to hone the skills / beat on the craft :-)

[161BMW]

pinchmeimdreamin said:

161BMW said:

I am all for the empty car park and some cones option which is ideal the only thing is that is technically illegal albeit much safer option

Where as doing it on a public road with other people about is legal ??

How many motoring journos do u see going sideways on public roads ? Lots just pick up any car magazine.

[161BMW]

lowdrag said:

If they've ever owned one, they'd know that in the wet they are a handful! I owned a 325 sport and an M6. Can't find the photo of the latter sadly.

That looks gorgeous

The LSD makes the handling a little better than having an open diff
Fact is these E30s are renowned for their tail happy behaviour especially in the wet
Something the newer BMWs lack (except the BMW Ms)

[161BMW]

pinchmeimdreamin said:

Martin350 said:

Wait, what?

Someone got a tail happy rear wheel drive car a bit sideways, probably at very low speed, in the wet!!!?

Oh no, the cats for miles around must all be dead now!

Or someone could be doing it in public trying to impress people.

161BMW said:

Had the odd sideways moment on public roads. Have had a range of reactions from a woman driver looking at me in digust to a white van man giving me a thumbs up

What do people / other road users think when they see BMW E30 3 Series which looks OEM going sideways in the wet :-) ?

More than anything is tremendous fun
There are not a lot of places to practise except DWYB which is 1 per month and is quite a drive away
Suppose it's better than nothing

[161BMW]

[161BMW]

Clivey said:

TheAngryDog said:

Therein lies the crux - most people do not see it happen when a driver is doing it for his own enjoyment as the sensible driver does it when no one is around, so the only times most people see it are when showing off is occurring. The drivers out on the B9456 at 5am on a summers morning aren't the problem. Its the idiot's doing it on the High Street in front of others who would think the driver was a nob, and they'd have a point.

Precisely. The last two cars I've seen with the tail out in public were both Ferrari F430s. - The first was in a busy Costco carpark - not cool. The second was on a quiet road in the Peak District and I think he gave me a knowing smile after he gathered it up when he saw me blatting the other way in the Mini.

Very rare to see Ferraris sideways
Given thy are mid engined I presume they are harder to control

What about donutting in empty gravel car park and styling it out cool or not cool 😎 ?

[161BMW]

Ari said:

161BMW said:

A few of the times is unintentional and most are intentional.

If you're getting out of shape unintentionally 'a few times' then probably the best advice is to change the car for something you are able to manage, maybe a 1.0 litre Yaris or something.

And get some driver training, because clearly you really are not very good at it.

Lol mate everyone can get out of shape unintentionally eg camber of the road causes back to step out
Most of the time is intentional and I love driving in wet / damp conditions.

It's a Sport mate
Recognise !!!!
Only heroes drive Sports

[161BMW]

Ari said:

Nope. 231hp rear wheel drive and never ever got it sideways unintentionally, certainly not 'a few times'.

As I say, if your driving is so inept that it happens to you unintentionally then maybe something much lower powered, front wheel drive and easier to handle is the answer until you start to get the hang of anticipating road conditions?

If you actually drive E30 325i instead of E46 330Ci you would realise E30s are renowned for their tail happy behaviour in the wet.

[161BMW]

The road has a kink and in the wet is slippery in the E30
At the kink the back end steps out where in any modern RWD car would most probably be fine
I think is due to camber and / or low grip surface
First time it happened caught me by surprise but I comtrolled the drift
Now I am a little cautious there
In the dry lots of grip on that road

[161BMW]

pinchmeimdreamin said:

161BMW said:

The road has a kink and in the wet is slippery in the E30
At the kink the back end steps out where in any modern RWD car would most probably be fine
I think is due to camber and / or low grip surface
First time it happened caught me by surprise but I comtrolled the drift
Now I am a little cautious there
In the dry lots of grip on that road

I bet someone had dropped some diesel on the road aswell.

Doubt it
E30s mate! Drive one ! :-)

[161BMW]

Kozy said:

OP, are you just attempting to justify your own heroics here?

Certainly sounds like it.

There is another sideways thread on here by someone else
Seems pHers like to bash others but sxretly indulge in some sideways action

Or maybe just lots of abuse from Quattro / lowly fwd drivers !

It's an E30 there are not all driven by chavs ! Some people just got good taste innit :-)

[161BMW]

pinchmeimdreamin said:

161BMW said:

Doubt it
E30s mate! Drive one ! :-)

Yes I'm sure they are a lot easier to get the back end out than the Ferrari or the Tvr's I've had in the past.

E30s drift alright in the wet
In the dry TVRs / Ferraris have massive advantage because lots of power
Drifting in E30 then you can drift anything mate including TVRs and Ferraris :-)

Edited by 161BMW on Friday 28th November 12:27

[161BMW]

Kozy said:

161BMW said:

There is another sideways thread on here by someone else
Seems pHers like to bash others but sxretly indulge in some sideways action

Or maybe just lots of abuse from Quattro / lowly fwd drivers !

It's an E30 there are not all driven by chavs ! Some people just got good taste innit :-)

Yes, by me. But I was simply asking if PHer's often saw other cars doing it, as personally I never do. I had not realised this thread had been started at roughly the same time.

You, on the other hand appear to have started two threads specifically about BMW E30s drifting on the road, which appears to be a thinly disguised 'do you think I look cool doing this' kind of thing.

It does read as a bit childish. I note you stated you were in your 30s, had you have not said that I would have guessed 18-19 with your first RWD car from your posts on these two threads.

If you had completely excluded the marque and model from your posts, it would have read a lot differently IMO.

Edited by Kozy on Friday 28th November 11:27

So how would u have read it if it wasn't BMW E30 325i and I don't know say Porsche Boxster / Aston Martin V8 Vantage / BMW M3 CS :-) ?

[161BMW]

T

Kozy said:

161BMW said:

So how would u have read it if it wasn't BMW E30 325i and I don't know say Porsche Boxster / Aston Martin V8 Vantage / BMW M3 CS :-) ?

Exactly the same. You'd be trying to find out what people thought of you. Comes across as a little narcissistic.

If you had instead have asked, "What do you think when you see another car going sideways on the road"... that's a different question. It's anonymous. It's not about you, therefore it doesn't look like you're trying to find out how others percieve your antics.

Just my opinion on the matter anyway.

Ok no worries :-)

Good point :-)