E36 328 Track Slag

[mikef1]

Hi Guys

I'm going to buy an e36 328 hopefully this weekend to strip out and use for track days. My question is what are the differences between an se and a sport? Is it only cosmetic or are there power/suspension changes?

Would love to hear from anyone who drives a 328 or even better anyone who has done what I intend on doing.

Cheers

Edited by mikef1 on Friday 16th April 17:21

[Shropshiremike]

mikef1 said:

Hi Guys

I'm going to buy an e36 328 hopefully this weekend to strip out and use for track days. My question is what are the differences between an se and a sport? Is it only cosmetic or are the power/suspension changes?

Would love to hear from anyone who drives a 328 or even better anyone who has done what I intend on doing.

Cheers

If the SE has option 704 it will be down to different dampers, different bushes at the rear of the front wishbones and bigger wheels and tyres as standard....oh and the cosmetic bits. ( The Sport if it's an early one may well have a LSD as well )
If the SE doesn't have that option it will be springs and ARB diameters as well

[mikef1]

If the SE has option 704 it will be down to different dampers, different bushes at the rear of the front wishbones and bigger wheels and tyres as standard....oh and the cosmetic bits. ( The Sport if it's an early one may well have a LSD as well )
If the SE doesn't have that option it will be springs and ARB diameters as well
[/quote]

thanks for this i was of the understanding all 328's had a lsd?

[Idiot Gimp Boy]

Check if it's alusil or nikasil too.

[g3org3y]

mikef1 said:

thanks for this i was of the understanding all 328's had a lsd?

Nope, iirc early Sports had LSDs but this was replaced by ASC (traction control) but retained as an option.

[Shropshiremike]

mikef1 said:

thanks for this i was of the understanding all 328's had a lsd?

No, not really, early Sports had them. Chances are if it's got an ASC button on the centre console in front of the gearstick it won't have a LSD ( unless someone has retro-fitted one ).
If you're not sure, jack rear wheels up and spin a rear wheel round by hand.

I'd concentrate on finding a decent car first and worry about a LSD later. To be honest a non-EVO M3 one will fit and give you a useful gearing drop ( 3.15 vs OE 2.93 ) if it's just a track car

[Shropshiremike]

Idiot Gimp Boy said:

Check if it's alusil or nikasil too.

Or even Nicasil or steel liner

[NickXX]

If it's a coupe it will have Sport suspension anyway.

[Shropshiremike]

NickXX said:

If it's a coupe it will have Sport suspension anyway.

Yep should do. I guess if he's going to use it on track he won't be too bothered about the OE stuff anyway. The only really useful bit on the Sport is perhaps the LSD off an early one

[mikef1]

Shropshiremike said:

mikef1 said:

thanks for this i was of the understanding all 328's had a lsd?

No, not really, early Sports had them. Chances are if it's got an ASC button on the centre console in front of the gearstick it won't have a LSD ( unless someone has retro-fitted one ).
If you're not sure, jack rear wheels up and spin a rear wheel round by hand.

I'd concentrate on finding a decent car first and worry about a LSD later. To be honest a non-EVO M3 one will fit and give you a useful gearing drop ( 3.15 vs OE 2.93 ) if it's just a track car

Very interesting, I wasn't looking to do lots of work to this basically I'm looking for something around the grand mark to strip out and spend another 500 tops seats harnesses maybe some cheap performance mods if poss.

[g3org3y]

Typical M50 inlet manifold and BBTB is worth doing, should take it over 200bhp.

[NickXX]

Shropshiremike said:

NickXX said:

If it's a coupe it will have Sport suspension anyway.

Yep should do. I guess if he's going to use it on track he won't be too bothered about the OE stuff anyway. The only really useful bit on the Sport is perhaps the LSD off an early one

Yeah, I found my sport suspension way too soft and too high after I removed the interior.

There are lots of coilover kits for the e36 of various prices and qualities.

[mikef1]

g3org3y said:

Typical M50 inlet manifold and BBTB is worth doing, should take it over 200bhp.

Any ideas of cost for the manifold? and what BBTB?

cheers

[Idiot Gimp Boy]

Shropshiremike said:

Idiot Gimp Boy said:

Check if it's alusil or nikasil too.

Or even Nicasil or steel liner

Cheers Mike!

[varsas]

I have an e36 328 that I use for track days (castle coombe in a weeks time!).

Do your own research on 'the nikasil issue' I have two nikasil cars and it didn't/doesn't bother me.

The standard brakes are not up to track work (but that's true of most cars...)

The sports aren't worth the extra money, they cost a lot more and it's almost all cosmetic. What has been said about the LSD's is true, early, non 'TSC' equipped sports only.

BBTB = Big Bore Throttle Body, the standrad stuff is very restrictive (hence max. power at 5300rpm) so you can put the manifold and throttle body off an M50 (e36 325) engine for a bit more high rev power.

IMHO you might be better off with an M3? Probably a better place to start if you are serious.

[JayPee]

mikef1 said:

g3org3y said:

Typical M50 inlet manifold and BBTB is worth doing, should take it over 200bhp.

Any ideas of cost for the manifold? and what BBTB?

cheers

A friend of mine did the manifold job with a second hand one off ebay and all BMW replacement parts, I think it came to less then 100 quid. The only other mod was a DaveF induction kit. RR'd at the weekend at 220Bhp from the 190-ish standard, which was pretty impressive I think, not sure whether he had fiddled the ECU much to achieve that though. Great cars for the money, seemed to do well on an airfield day, would definitely benefit from an LSD if you can get one.

[BlueSmoke]

NickXX said:

If it's a coupe it will have Sport suspension anyway.

Incorrect. If it is a coupe it will have black M-Tec shocks by default. If it's a Sport it will have Yellow Bilsteins.

The early pre 97 models had LSD. The ASC models didn't. Retrofitting is easy, and as said, the M3 diff is much better and boosts acceleration. A modified 325i manifold bolts on and releases a further 20 horses or so too

[mikef1]

All good stuff guys cheers, I don't really want to go down the m3 road as the purpose of this is for cheap fun so if it goes wrong or pop its not the end of the world.

If i were to get a car with traction control and retro fitted the diff can the tc be fully disabled

cheers

[Shropshiremike]

mikef1 said:

All good stuff guys cheers, I don't really want to go down the m3 road as the purpose of this is for cheap fun so if it goes wrong or pop its not the end of the world.

If i were to get a car with traction control and retro fitted the diff can the tc be fully disabled

cheers

You can just switch it off via the console rocker switch when you get in at which point you should see the dash warning light come on.....it's the work of seconds.
It has 3 points of attack
1. a throttle flap in the intake tract ( basically it kills the throttle ).
This is solenoid activated so you can disconnect the multi plug which a lot of people do
2. below about 60mph it will also apply the rear brakes subtly ( less subtle below about 25mph )
3. adjusts the ignition via the DME

[mikef1]

Thanks for all the advice so far, with regards to the lsd how would one from an evo do?

ie

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-E36-M3-Evolution-Manual-...