E36 M3 Evo - Handling

[S800VXR]

Decided to get one of these as I really want a track slag, allbeit a tidy one. What the best mods handling wise as I dont want to tune it bar an exhaust really, just want to get as good as I can round the Ring and a few UK circuits and dont want to worry about breaking it as I have up to now in my also road/daily cars.

[swtmerce]

It all depends on your budget. How much do you want to fritter away??????

[S800VXR]

Well if past cars are anything to go by - far to much!!

TBH though probably a few grand over the winter on the suspenders etc.

[Tango13]

I may be wrong but I think there is a way of bolting the lower strut brace from the cab onto the underside to tighten things up a bit.

[GTWayne]

I bought a rather shabby 3.0ltr example for little over 2K early last year, put some S/H Ledas on it and some x touring car AP 6 pots + zorst, rims, slicks etc. and the car is absolutely blinding. I have also got the cab X brace and technically it does stiffen the chassis but I challenge the lay man to notice the adition.
The whole thing owes me less than 5K and it has been the best money spent to date.

[andygtt]

unless your spending silly money the E36 is unbeatable as a track day slag IMHO... like wayne I have some serious toys which would destroy the M3 in all areas, but we both have the M3 as a track toy, mine used to be my company car so has been to the moon and back and after years of use I have retired it to the track... no other car i have ever owned could take the same abuse and yet perform so well.
I will never sell mine!

Wayne
hows it going bud? long time no speak, need to catch up for a beer and a blast

[swtmerce]

I use my M3 Evo for the track and it has Bilstein PSS9 Clubsport suspension, the OEM cross brace, and Powerflex bushes. I use the standard front top mounts crossed over (L fitted to R and vice versa) to get around -3 degrees negative camber. It's good on the road but not as comfortable as, say, the standard PSS9. On track it's great but, if I were being super critical, could do with ARBs to reduce the initial roll that is a result of the progressive rate springs.

An area you'll need to consider is the brakes. I used the standard calipers with hot pads (Performance Friction 06 compound) but found the set up still wanting for the way I drive. I now have AP Racing 4 pots front and back which are perfect for the job.

[S800VXR]

Cheers for the feedback, looking to get something the end of next month as get a small lump sum then, some nice cars out there amoungst what can only be described as total shyte!

[CRACKIE]

Some of the info on this thread ( ARBs, braces, quicker steering rack ) should be useful even for track work. Coilovers, upgraded rear shock mounts and a big brake upgrade are the way to go though. Still haven't decided whether or not I'm stripping mine out at the end of the year ???

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... M3 EVO upgrades&mid=30882

[_Neal_]

Good stuff on both threads, I'll certainly be referring to them when/if I'm looking at upgrades. From what I've read/spoken to owners about, I'm not sure that a big brake kit (i.e. replacement calipers) is strictly necessary, if you're running OEM Evo discs and good quality uprated pads, especially if you're looking at reducing the weight of the car too. Crackie, what brake set-up are you running?

[CRACKIE]

_Neal_ said:

Good stuff on both threads, I'll certainly be referring to them when/if I'm looking at upgrades. From what I've read/spoken to owners about, I'm not sure that a big brake kit (i.e. replacement calipers) is strictly necessary, if you're running OEM Evo discs and good quality uprated pads, especially if you're looking at reducing the weight of the car too. Crackie, what brake set-up are you running?

Hi Neal ~ I'm using OEM discs and currently Black Diamond pads but I'm not entirely happy. I've seen posts saying the standard brake setup works fine even at the 'ring but my experience is that the standard setup can struggle on public roads let alone on track i.e. soft & long travel pedal with a big drop off in power.

Edited by CRACKIE on Sunday 12th September 14:58

[leem5]

We run RS29's with braided lines and decent fluid with the standard brake setup and it's very good without needing to go to a BBK. The car is stripped to minimum.

[_Neal_]

CRACKIE said:

Hi Neal ~ I'm using OEM discs and currently Black Diamond pads but I'm not entirely happy. I've seen posts saying the standard brake setup works fine even at the 'ring but my experience is that the standard setup can struggle on public roads let alone on track i.e. soft & long travel pedal with a big drop off in power.

Thanks Crackie - how hard do you push on the road?! Tried any other pads?

[CRACKIE]

_Neal_ said:

CRACKIE said:

Hi Neal ~ I'm using OEM discs and currently Black Diamond pads but I'm not entirely happy. I've seen posts saying the standard brake setup works fine even at the 'ring but my experience is that the standard setup can struggle on public roads let alone on track i.e. soft & long travel pedal with a big drop off in power.

Thanks Crackie - how hard do you push on the road?! Tried any other pads?

I'd always had OEM pads before the BD ones ~ going to try either Pagid RS29s or EBC next. The brake issues I've had were when the car was very heavy; worst occasion was with a couple of friends ( est 165+Kg extra )on board so brakes were working harder than usual. Its worth mentioning that I never had any brake concerns with the OEM setup on the 4 door EVO I had previously.

Edited by CRACKIE on Sunday 12th September 23:34

[E36GUY]

andygtt said:

unless your spending silly money the E36 is unbeatable as a track day slag IMHO... like wayne I have some serious toys which would destroy the M3 in all areas, but we both have the M3 as a track toy, mine used to be my company car so has been to the moon and back and after years of use I have retired it to the track... no other car i have ever owned could take the same abuse and yet perform so well.
I will never sell mine!

Well said. I feel completely the same way! Although I did sell shares in mine to four of my mates and we share it as a track car and split all the associated costs which has worked out very well in year 1!

Running Gaz Golds, all corner weighted and balanced. Stonking handling allowed me to bring it to a 2010 model GT3RS at Rockingham the other week.