Track day project car? 10k

[Lennard]

After doing a couple of track days in my impreza, i'm looking for a much more dedicated project to take to the 'ring in september, since I know the gearboxes are like in imprezas and I wouldn't want to heavily modify one unless it was a p1/type r...etc so I could run wide arches/wheels.

My budget is 10k including modifications (I can weld and fabricate myself, so exclude labour for the most part), my gut instinct is to go with a three door E36 325i and swap out the engine for something much lighter and moves the engine behind the front wheels like a tuned sr20det since i've never owned a quick rwd car... thoughts?

[A.Wang]

There are loads of questions you'll need to answer when you're picking a track day project car...get it wrong and you'll have to sell the first car, write it off as a learning experience and try again. I'm speaking from experience here...

So, are you after a 4WD or RWD dedicated track toy? What do you want it for - learning to go through corners quickly, have a bit of a laugh or a bit of both? Any particular favourites or preferences apart from the Impreza? Will it need to be road-legal (so you can drive to and from tracks) or are you happy/able to trailer it to venues?

You mentioned the E36 325i...that's is a very nice-handling car to start with. I'd be inclined to keep the engine though, BMW spent millions getting the weight distribution etc. right and they all handle very well in stock form anyway...why do the extra work?

For the project, I'd just strip it out, weld in a proper roll cage, get some decent seats (anything without steel tubes in would be fine - Corbeau Sprints are cheap) & harnesses, change the suspension for coil-overs, get some brand new brakes (stick with stock discs and calipers but put race pads on - no point going nuts with after-market big brake kits, you'll just over-brake the car) and braided hoses, and get it all set up correctly. Should set you back between 5-7k all in...with enough left over from you budget for a nice holiday in the Caribbean!

Edited by A.Wang on Monday 11th May 22:04

[Lennard]

I would prefer something RWD, i'm after learning to go through corners quickly.

I've visited a few BMW enthusiast forums and the general consensus is the 318is handles better but lacks the grunt of the 325i, so I thought I could start with the 325i which has a better LSD and diff ratio for track work, plus I can sell the engine, leather and brakes...etc to recoup some of the outlay afterwards. And get that 4 pot lower weight advantage back again, or go for something which is easier to tune.

I'd rather a set of brembos or AP's,than a holiday in the Caribbean

What sized alloys should I be considering, i've found some magnesium BTCC wheels but they are only 8" wide front and back, will that be enough?

Edited by Lennard on Monday 11th May 22:33

[GC8]

Id go with a Type-R. The 'technical' forums in Scoobnet would be a good place to start. Id avoid the 'general' forums though if I were you, as theyre full of baseball cap wearing halfwits, trolls and thieves now...

[sniff diesel]

Lennard said:

I've visited a few BMW enthusiast forums and the general consensus is the 318is handles better but lacks the grunt of the 325i, so I thought I could start with the 325i which has a better LSD and diff ratio for track work,

No UK market E36 325i's had an LSD as standard, very few have it fitted as an option. The 318is does handle better, but then a 328i has the lighter M52 alloy block engine than the cast iron M50 325i engine. Properly set up with decent suspension, ARB's, bushes etc they don't tend to understeer anyway.

[agent006]

Lennard said:

I thought I could start with the 325i which has a better LSD and diff ratio for track work

Don't make the mistake of assuming any BMW has an LSD. There's not really an easy way to tell which model has one as it seems to be rather hit and miss. Physically checking is the only way to be sure.

[Lennard]

sniff diesel said:

Lennard said:

I've visited a few BMW enthusiast forums and the general consensus is the 318is handles better but lacks the grunt of the 325i, so I thought I could start with the 325i which has a better LSD and diff ratio for track work,

No UK market E36 325i's had an LSD as standard, very few have it fitted as an option. The 318is does handle better, but then a 328i has the lighter M52 alloy block engine than the cast iron M50 325i engine. Properly set up with decent suspension, ARB's, bushes etc they don't tend to understeer anyway.

Bahhh, i was miss-lead there, hate crap info... thanks diesel, did the M3 and 328i have an LSD as standard?

[juansolo]

Towbar for the Impreza then a Caterfield + trailer. Easily doable for £10k. I'd have suggested a old Radical Clubsport, but it's got to be road legal for the ring I'd expect.

[bull996]

Lennard said:

sniff diesel said:

Lennard said:

I've visited a few BMW enthusiast forums and the general consensus is the 318is handles better but lacks the grunt of the 325i, so I thought I could start with the 325i which has a better LSD and diff ratio for track work,

No UK market E36 325i's had an LSD as standard, very few have it fitted as an option. The 318is does handle better, but then a 328i has the lighter M52 alloy block engine than the cast iron M50 325i engine. Properly set up with decent suspension, ARB's, bushes etc they don't tend to understeer anyway.

Bahhh, i was miss-lead there, hate crap info... thanks diesel, did the M3 and 328i have an LSD as standard?

328 Sports had LSD as standard, but ONLY before the introduction of traction control. 1995/96 is the best bet. Other models had them, but only as an option.

M3s all have LSDs, but the output flanges will have to be changed. One is a 4 bolt flange, the other 6.

[A.Wang]

Lennard said:

What sized alloys should I be considering, i've found some magnesium BTCC wheels but they are only 8" wide front and back, will that be enough?

Beyond the fact that they are nice-handling cars out of the factory, I know very little about the E30/36s so can't really help you there...

In terms of wheels - smaller is better. I'm running 16" Design 90s on my 944 (the ones that came with the car), 7" front, 8" rear (225/50/16 tyres) and from what I'm told by people who have successfully raced these cars in the Porsche Club championships, that's the best wheel for my car.

[bramley]

E36 M3 for £4k, £6k to spend on nice bits. Job done.

[swtmerce]

bramley said:

E36 M3 for £4k, £6k to spend on nice bits. Job done.

Ditto

I have a 328i track car and although it's excellent, an M3 is the way to go for your proposed budget.

[mrpink]

do you fancy an E30 with a Honda S2000 engine - dedicated track car but also fully road legal? built by a well respected hybrid car builder!!

Edited by mrpink on Tuesday 12th May 18:52

[TIPPER]

With 10K to spend you should be able to find a well specced track modded Elise S1. Be patient and you'll find a car with the engine modded to give about 160 (reliable) bhp, Nitron suspension, harnesses etc, etc. If its not fitted you might want to add an oil cooler.

[mrpink]

e30 with 230bhp (standard) of Honda reliability and RWD fun! - with the spare change you could always turbo it :-)

[matt frost]

You could build a brand new Westfield Megablade for around 10k.

Or and MK Indy R1 for a bit less.

[Lennard]

matt frost said:

You could build a brand new Westfield Megablade for around 10k.

Or and MK Indy R1 for a bit less.

No chance, have you ever been in a L7 based kit car at real speed (over 100mph)?

They are el terrible.

[matt frost]

Lennard said:

matt frost said:

You could build a brand new Westfield Megablade for around 10k.

Or and MK Indy R1 for a bit less.

No chance, have you ever been in a L7 based kit car at real speed (over 100mph)?

They are el terrible.

Erm yes...look at my profile.

What is terrible?

And what are you referring to with 'no chance?'

Edited by matt frost on Wednesday 13th May 16:22

Edited by matt frost on Wednesday 13th May 16:25

[Lennard]

bull996 said:

Lennard said:

sniff diesel said:

Lennard said:

I've visited a few BMW enthusiast forums and the general consensus is the 318is handles better but lacks the grunt of the 325i, so I thought I could start with the 325i which has a better LSD and diff ratio for track work,

No UK market E36 325i's had an LSD as standard, very few have it fitted as an option. The 318is does handle better, but then a 328i has the lighter M52 alloy block engine than the cast iron M50 325i engine. Properly set up with decent suspension, ARB's, bushes etc they don't tend to understeer anyway.

Bahhh, i was miss-lead there, hate crap info... thanks diesel, did the M3 and 328i have an LSD as standard?

328 Sports had LSD as standard, but ONLY before the introduction of traction control. 1995/96 is the best bet. Other models had them, but only as an option.

M3s all have LSDs, but the output flanges will have to be changed. One is a 4 bolt flange, the other 6.

Is there anyway to tell if it's a genuine 328i sport or just a 328i? Since i've found a fitting example but it doesn't have the sport spoiler *scratches head*.

[kriss]

A kit car like Matts or mine will have a LSD, so thats another tick in the box!