BMW 328i Sport Track Car
Discussion
So, Haven't written a post in years. i always look at other peoples and enjoy reading them. Im also forever getting tips from them so thought it was about time i started one and tried to share some tips myself.
Since i was young i always wanted to do rallying, Mid 2011 i decided it was time. Went out and brought myself a 1998 BMW 328i Sport coupe. Great car, full service history immaculate! absolutely criminal to do what i had planned but i was on a mission and nothing was stopping me.
I planned to use it in The BMW RWD Challenge (moddified class), The stripping process began late 2011 and i was full of enthusiasm. Ordered all the safety equipment ended up spending quite alot of money. As the Year went on the cold winter weather set in an it brought about a stop to all work being carried out on the car. Unfortunately progress on the car did not recommence till mid 2012, i just found myself so busy work wise. This then made me realise that there was no way i was going to be able to commit to a rally season, it was a great dream while it lasted.
So Work on the car stopped again towards the end of the summer, by this time i had stripped the majority of the interior fitted a full safety devices roll cage, fitted plumbed in fire extinguisher and also fitted a 3.91 LSD. perfect for rallying. i had also had the gearbox out to check the condition of the clutch, which was more or less new and also replaced the spring sleeve which centers the gear lever. Grief!
So 2013 came and the car has been sitting in front of my front door for more than 5 months now untouched. Brake discs all corroded and the car is filthy and full of rubbish which i couldn't find space for in the house!! I suddenly had a brain wave. if i couldn't use the car for rallying or anything else that requires serious commitment then i will use it for track day which i can go on as and when i please. The base car was there, just needed so modifications to get it ready.
I started on the brakes, the standard brakes would have been fine for rallying, as loose gravel is not so hard on the brakes as on tarmac due to there being alot less grip on the tyres. I decided on the 330I front brake conversion, i sourced some Front brake calipers and carriers off ebay and have fitted some good quality OEM discs and some EDC Red Stuff Pads. This take the front disc from 285mm to 325mm diameter, a healthy increase. this won't make it stop any better but i t will allow them to take more stick and last longer on the track. Maybe i should have forked out and got groved disc but i thought i would try standards for now so i have a base to work from.
The same is going for the engine, i have not modified it in anyway yet just serviced it. This way i will get to know how the car feels before i make to many mods.
As i mentioned before, i had already fitted a 3.91 LSD at great expense so was very keen to keep it. The car accelerated like a rocket but would top out at less than 120 mph. The plan was to fit a 6 speed box with 6th gear as an overdrive. this way i would keep the acceleration but also gain some top speed for the long straights.
I know no post is not complete without photos with i have been very lazy with, however i have been taking some so will dig them out tomoz and get them posted. I will also carry on the progress so far!
Since i was young i always wanted to do rallying, Mid 2011 i decided it was time. Went out and brought myself a 1998 BMW 328i Sport coupe. Great car, full service history immaculate! absolutely criminal to do what i had planned but i was on a mission and nothing was stopping me.
I planned to use it in The BMW RWD Challenge (moddified class), The stripping process began late 2011 and i was full of enthusiasm. Ordered all the safety equipment ended up spending quite alot of money. As the Year went on the cold winter weather set in an it brought about a stop to all work being carried out on the car. Unfortunately progress on the car did not recommence till mid 2012, i just found myself so busy work wise. This then made me realise that there was no way i was going to be able to commit to a rally season, it was a great dream while it lasted.
So Work on the car stopped again towards the end of the summer, by this time i had stripped the majority of the interior fitted a full safety devices roll cage, fitted plumbed in fire extinguisher and also fitted a 3.91 LSD. perfect for rallying. i had also had the gearbox out to check the condition of the clutch, which was more or less new and also replaced the spring sleeve which centers the gear lever. Grief!
So 2013 came and the car has been sitting in front of my front door for more than 5 months now untouched. Brake discs all corroded and the car is filthy and full of rubbish which i couldn't find space for in the house!! I suddenly had a brain wave. if i couldn't use the car for rallying or anything else that requires serious commitment then i will use it for track day which i can go on as and when i please. The base car was there, just needed so modifications to get it ready.
I started on the brakes, the standard brakes would have been fine for rallying, as loose gravel is not so hard on the brakes as on tarmac due to there being alot less grip on the tyres. I decided on the 330I front brake conversion, i sourced some Front brake calipers and carriers off ebay and have fitted some good quality OEM discs and some EDC Red Stuff Pads. This take the front disc from 285mm to 325mm diameter, a healthy increase. this won't make it stop any better but i t will allow them to take more stick and last longer on the track. Maybe i should have forked out and got groved disc but i thought i would try standards for now so i have a base to work from.
The same is going for the engine, i have not modified it in anyway yet just serviced it. This way i will get to know how the car feels before i make to many mods.
As i mentioned before, i had already fitted a 3.91 LSD at great expense so was very keen to keep it. The car accelerated like a rocket but would top out at less than 120 mph. The plan was to fit a 6 speed box with 6th gear as an overdrive. this way i would keep the acceleration but also gain some top speed for the long straights.
I know no post is not complete without photos with i have been very lazy with, however i have been taking some so will dig them out tomoz and get them posted. I will also carry on the progress so far!
Theres a Belgium company on ebay selling custom engine mounts for fitting v8 into e34, food for thought!
So following from yesterday, 330i 6 speed box to be fitted. I have sourced a gearbox however the input shaft on this model is shorter and the spigot bearing is in the fly wheel. I dont have the fly wheel and to be honest dont want to spend £600 on a new flywheel and clutch atleast until i know it all will work.
I spot of luck came when i was searching on ebay and a serviceable clutch and flywheel came up for a 320 diesel, these use the same gearbox (Different ratios but otherwise the same). The fly wheel is slightly different to the petrol model but will be suitable for test purposes, or so i thought!
Fitted the clutch, flywheel and the new box. everything went together great, except for when refitting the gear box the last 1/4 inch was tight which left me a little uncomfortable. i braced the back of the gearbox and started the engine all sounded good for first 15 seconds then a loud screeching appeared and the clutch was heavily dragging.
so off with the gearbox again! It would seem the when the fly wheel is fitted to a diesel engine it sits less proud from the back of the block because the guide tube fitted to the gear box was pressing against the friction plate of the clutch. the guide tube is readily available from bmw at about £15 so the easy fix was to cut it down slightly. Once i had done that i fitted the gearbox back on and test it, all sorted. havnt driven yet as im waiting for the prop shaft to be shortened to accomadate the extra length of the 6 speed box. should be back tomorrow. Whilst the car was stripped like this i took advantage and fitted a gear lever from the z3m coupe, the shift pattern now feels alot tighter.
Will try and get some pics tomorrow!
So following from yesterday, 330i 6 speed box to be fitted. I have sourced a gearbox however the input shaft on this model is shorter and the spigot bearing is in the fly wheel. I dont have the fly wheel and to be honest dont want to spend £600 on a new flywheel and clutch atleast until i know it all will work.
I spot of luck came when i was searching on ebay and a serviceable clutch and flywheel came up for a 320 diesel, these use the same gearbox (Different ratios but otherwise the same). The fly wheel is slightly different to the petrol model but will be suitable for test purposes, or so i thought!
Fitted the clutch, flywheel and the new box. everything went together great, except for when refitting the gear box the last 1/4 inch was tight which left me a little uncomfortable. i braced the back of the gearbox and started the engine all sounded good for first 15 seconds then a loud screeching appeared and the clutch was heavily dragging.
so off with the gearbox again! It would seem the when the fly wheel is fitted to a diesel engine it sits less proud from the back of the block because the guide tube fitted to the gear box was pressing against the friction plate of the clutch. the guide tube is readily available from bmw at about £15 so the easy fix was to cut it down slightly. Once i had done that i fitted the gearbox back on and test it, all sorted. havnt driven yet as im waiting for the prop shaft to be shortened to accomadate the extra length of the 6 speed box. should be back tomorrow. Whilst the car was stripped like this i took advantage and fitted a gear lever from the z3m coupe, the shift pattern now feels alot tighter.
Will try and get some pics tomorrow!
ok so finely got some pics for you to look at, any advice would be appriciated.
The car is currently raised whilst im working on the gearbox
The following is a pic of the 330i brakes, they really fill the wheel which looks good.
The roll cage is fully installed bar the X door bars which are just offered up, they fit even with the door cards still on which im thinking about keeping for now.
Floor foot plates are fitted, chequered aluminum.
The following is a pic of the gerbox fitted, it is a little tighter around the bell housing and the tunnel i think as it was a little tighter getting it in.
The fabricted gearbox support
Im still working on the gear lever as it sits a little further back so i have the hole and am thinking about raising it an inch or so as it sits very close to the prob.
The car is currently raised whilst im working on the gearbox
The following is a pic of the 330i brakes, they really fill the wheel which looks good.
The roll cage is fully installed bar the X door bars which are just offered up, they fit even with the door cards still on which im thinking about keeping for now.
Floor foot plates are fitted, chequered aluminum.
The following is a pic of the gerbox fitted, it is a little tighter around the bell housing and the tunnel i think as it was a little tighter getting it in.
The fabricted gearbox support
Im still working on the gear lever as it sits a little further back so i have the hole and am thinking about raising it an inch or so as it sits very close to the prob.
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