E46 325ci track car-advice required
Discussion
I've decided to keep my old '03 325ci sport and use it as a track car. It will be getting all its mechanical and suspension issues taken care of before this, however I was looking for advice on what to bother with and what not to bother with.
Firstly, is there any point in taking as much weight out of the car as possible? I want to retain the two front seats for driver and passenger so it would be everything else I would be getting rid of. Car weighs 1575kg with driver and 3/4 tank of fuel so it isn't the lightest.
Brake fade seems to happen quite quickly in some spirited hoons, so I'm expecting them to barely last a couple of laps, if that. However upgraded brake systems are worth more than the car, are there any cheaper brands/alternatives that are okay to use? This was another reason for stripping weight out of the car.
What tyre choice for track days? I'm assuming the majority of them would be done in damp/wet conditions considering our crap weather. Car is currently fitted with a cheap brand which are good in the dry but very poor in wet conditions.
Any other advice appreciated.
Firstly, is there any point in taking as much weight out of the car as possible? I want to retain the two front seats for driver and passenger so it would be everything else I would be getting rid of. Car weighs 1575kg with driver and 3/4 tank of fuel so it isn't the lightest.
Brake fade seems to happen quite quickly in some spirited hoons, so I'm expecting them to barely last a couple of laps, if that. However upgraded brake systems are worth more than the car, are there any cheaper brands/alternatives that are okay to use? This was another reason for stripping weight out of the car.
What tyre choice for track days? I'm assuming the majority of them would be done in damp/wet conditions considering our crap weather. Car is currently fitted with a cheap brand which are good in the dry but very poor in wet conditions.
Any other advice appreciated.
Daveco - I would strongly consider replacing the front seats in the car.
Two reasons - no. 1 the stock seats do not offer much support when you really start giving it some
no 2 - the stock seats weigh an awful lot, especially if you have electric ones!
Other than that, brake pad upgrades alone seem to make a big difference for a lot of people. I have just got myself an E36 325I track car so am looking forward to seeing how that goes
JM
Two reasons - no. 1 the stock seats do not offer much support when you really start giving it some
no 2 - the stock seats weigh an awful lot, especially if you have electric ones!
Other than that, brake pad upgrades alone seem to make a big difference for a lot of people. I have just got myself an E36 325I track car so am looking forward to seeing how that goes
JM
Is the car just going to be used for track days? If so I'd take out as much as possible AC, central locking, rear seats, sound deadening, carpets, roof linings etc etc and chuck it all on ebay to fund upgrades.
Loosing weight will improve the car on track in every way, less to drag around so better acceleration, lighter on brakes, better through the bends and costs nothing to achieve just a bit of time.
Loosing weight will improve the car on track in every way, less to drag around so better acceleration, lighter on brakes, better through the bends and costs nothing to achieve just a bit of time.
As said, a good set of pads on standard discs will make the world of difference. No need for a big brake kit just yet.
A couple of lightweight bucket seats and then strip out lots of weight. You'd be amazed at what can go. Even go as far as removing the air con if you can. I reckon you could get it down to 1250kg with a carbon boot and bonnet
A good set of r888 tyres and you'll be good to go!
It would also be worthwhile checking over and reconditioning part of the cooling system also, that will have a proper workout on track.
I know you said you'd be sorting suspension, but also fit a new prop shaft bearing and coupling donut/guibo. They are prone to causing problems when driven hard
A couple of lightweight bucket seats and then strip out lots of weight. You'd be amazed at what can go. Even go as far as removing the air con if you can. I reckon you could get it down to 1250kg with a carbon boot and bonnet
A good set of r888 tyres and you'll be good to go!
It would also be worthwhile checking over and reconditioning part of the cooling system also, that will have a proper workout on track.
I know you said you'd be sorting suspension, but also fit a new prop shaft bearing and coupling donut/guibo. They are prone to causing problems when driven hard
Cheers for the info chaps *doffs cap*
I will be doing it in bits and pieces and the cooling system as you say is definitely a weak point.
It handles well even at close to 1600kg!
It seems somewhat overtyred though, 255 section at the rear might be chopped in for 235 or 225 section tyres.
I will be doing it in bits and pieces and the cooling system as you say is definitely a weak point.
It handles well even at close to 1600kg!
It seems somewhat overtyred though, 255 section at the rear might be chopped in for 235 or 225 section tyres.
Personally I would make the aircon and the heater/ventilation system among the last things you pull out for the sake of weight. Assuming you use the car to drive to and from the track, they will make the journey a lot more comfortable. I also much prefer being able to do track days with the windows up! Aircon will make this feasible on very wet days and hot days.
nitrodave said:
As said, a good set of pads on standard discs will make the world of difference. No need for a big brake kit just yet.
A couple of lightweight bucket seats and then strip out lots of weight. You'd be amazed at what can go. Even go as far as removing the air con if you can. I reckon you could get it down to 1250kg with a carbon boot and bonnet
A good set of r888 tyres and you'll be good to go!
It would also be worthwhile checking over and reconditioning part of the cooling system also, that will have a proper workout on track.
I know you said you'd be sorting suspension, but also fit a new prop shaft bearing and coupling donut/guibo. They are prone to causing problems when driven hard
Done properly, he could get a lot, lot more off than that, even caged can get it to not much more than a ton, when the heavier non compact is easy in the 1100s even caged.A couple of lightweight bucket seats and then strip out lots of weight. You'd be amazed at what can go. Even go as far as removing the air con if you can. I reckon you could get it down to 1250kg with a carbon boot and bonnet
A good set of r888 tyres and you'll be good to go!
It would also be worthwhile checking over and reconditioning part of the cooling system also, that will have a proper workout on track.
I know you said you'd be sorting suspension, but also fit a new prop shaft bearing and coupling donut/guibo. They are prone to causing problems when driven hard
No to sticky tyres for novices IMHO, learn to drive properly 1st, then go stickys.
Decent coilies, race pads & fluid, proper track geo & a bucket seat, darn good service & some bushes would do for starters & less than a couple of £k spent, see how you like it then see if you are on the slippery path you have the choice on few bits, don't think the compact came with a slipper as stock? even if so it will be too high geared no doubt, I think that will be your 1st purchase after your 1st td, careful tho its easy to chuck many thousands at it tho unless you do everything yourself.
Lots of bimmer track knowledge on ph & a ton of other forums, worth a use of the search function on here.
Some great info here chaps 
I will concentrate on getting the brakes, cooling and suspension up to speed first. Getting the weight down will wait for now though a 1 tonne RWD 200hp car does sound great!
The car has been dyno'd several times too, how accurate are these things really?
It is apparently putting out 205hp and 195lb ft of torque which are a little bit up on the official figures.
I will concentrate on getting the brakes, cooling and suspension up to speed first. Getting the weight down will wait for now though a 1 tonne RWD 200hp car does sound great!
The car has been dyno'd several times too, how accurate are these things really?
It is apparently putting out 205hp and 195lb ft of torque which are a little bit up on the official figures.
I was just going to put my 325ti on ramps ready to do some work the other day and in the end I had a mad hour and stripped a load of interior. Still the roof and middle carpet under the front seats, but going to leave driver footwell carpet to keep the floor level. I just put on Ebay discs and pads and they feel good with new 5.1 fluid, but to drift I don't really need track spec brakes, the tyres take the punishment 
Not weighed the aircon, but it feels heavy, the pipe on the car I bought was already split so it had no gas.
I have overhauled the cooling system which seems to be worthwhile as it was a bit of a mess.
Not weighed the aircon, but it feels heavy, the pipe on the car I bought was already split so it had no gas.
I have overhauled the cooling system which seems to be worthwhile as it was a bit of a mess.
You might want to consider removing the heavy viscous clutch/fan. If a blade is going to go it'll probably be at high revs and take hoses, belts and anything else that it hits. You might get away with relying on just the aux fan (in front of the rad) but if that makes you nervous you can go to a single bigger electric fan in place of the viscous.
WilsonWilson said:
You might want to consider removing the heavy viscous clutch/fan. If a blade is going to go it'll probably be at high revs and take hoses, belts and anything else that it hits. You might get away with relying on just the aux fan (in front of the rad) but if that makes you nervous you can go to a single bigger electric fan in place of the viscous.
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