Another E36 Trackcar - 323
Discussion
I thought it was about time to put some pics up of my E36 323 Coupe that I'm slowly turning into a trackday car. The aim is for it to be budget - even more so since I've just been made redundant - so at the moment its a case of just sorting out the basics.
The car was bought for £600 from a friend whose Dad took it in PX. No service history, and cosmetically it was an absolute shed, but the engine is good, and the bodywork solid. It came with four odd wheels, and the spoiler is mounted at an angle because someone obviously split the threads and decided to just drill a new hole rather than doing a proper job. On the plus side I found a pack of opal fruits in the back which made me £20 on ebay!
Since buying it, I've spoken to the last but one owner who stopped me in a supoermarket car park and gave me some history on the car. He'd owned it for 3 years and sold it with FSH, so last owner obviously lost it. Last owner clearly wasn't the most careful, as it has obviously had a bit of front end damage evidenced by the bumper being partially torn off and needing a new mount, the smashed air-con fan (and removal of the belt) and they also replaced the lights for some horrible aftermarket angel eyes.
Jobs done so far are changing the wheels (£40), fixing the front bumper (£5) and fitting some OEM lights (£40), replacing discs and pads all round (£70) and changing all the fluids and filters (£50). So far I've stripped out half the interior, with the front left to do. Oh, and there are some tacky aftermarket seat covers put in to hide the half leather interior (half leather, half gaffer tape).
I've got a sparco seat to put in when I can afford a seat frame, and plan to fit new springs and dampers and replace all the bushes which are quite worn. New tyres are going on this afternoon as the current ones are on the limit. At some point it will get either some vinyl or a rattle can respray but the aim is to get it in reasonable driveable state before looking at the cosmetics.
Thanks to everyone on the BMW General forum for helping me out on the jobs undertaken to date (especially Caboosemoose) as I'm not at all mechanically minded, but learning fast (another aim of the project).
Some pics:
The car was bought for £600 from a friend whose Dad took it in PX. No service history, and cosmetically it was an absolute shed, but the engine is good, and the bodywork solid. It came with four odd wheels, and the spoiler is mounted at an angle because someone obviously split the threads and decided to just drill a new hole rather than doing a proper job. On the plus side I found a pack of opal fruits in the back which made me £20 on ebay!
Since buying it, I've spoken to the last but one owner who stopped me in a supoermarket car park and gave me some history on the car. He'd owned it for 3 years and sold it with FSH, so last owner obviously lost it. Last owner clearly wasn't the most careful, as it has obviously had a bit of front end damage evidenced by the bumper being partially torn off and needing a new mount, the smashed air-con fan (and removal of the belt) and they also replaced the lights for some horrible aftermarket angel eyes.
Jobs done so far are changing the wheels (£40), fixing the front bumper (£5) and fitting some OEM lights (£40), replacing discs and pads all round (£70) and changing all the fluids and filters (£50). So far I've stripped out half the interior, with the front left to do. Oh, and there are some tacky aftermarket seat covers put in to hide the half leather interior (half leather, half gaffer tape).
I've got a sparco seat to put in when I can afford a seat frame, and plan to fit new springs and dampers and replace all the bushes which are quite worn. New tyres are going on this afternoon as the current ones are on the limit. At some point it will get either some vinyl or a rattle can respray but the aim is to get it in reasonable driveable state before looking at the cosmetics.
Thanks to everyone on the BMW General forum for helping me out on the jobs undertaken to date (especially Caboosemoose) as I'm not at all mechanically minded, but learning fast (another aim of the project).
Some pics:
Edited by therealpigdog on Wednesday 13th October 13:29
How much do you want to spend? with some blagging etc etc I have managed to get for 2.3K :
325
pretty much stripped out.
Gaz coilovers + top mounts(f/r) and front strut
Seats with welded in harness mount points, and custom made seat mounts.
Metal kickplates for both footwells.
Uprated front/rear bushes.
Plastic windows all round
Uprated pads on the front + blue dot racing fluid
1 set of BBS 17" with part worn semi slicks
1 set of 17 alloys (235/45) with normal road tyres (well wet sport ones)
m3 steering wheel.
matt black paint and orange paint.
I shall go and update my thread
325
pretty much stripped out.
Gaz coilovers + top mounts(f/r) and front strut
Seats with welded in harness mount points, and custom made seat mounts.
Metal kickplates for both footwells.
Uprated front/rear bushes.
Plastic windows all round
Uprated pads on the front + blue dot racing fluid
1 set of BBS 17" with part worn semi slicks
1 set of 17 alloys (235/45) with normal road tyres (well wet sport ones)
m3 steering wheel.
matt black paint and orange paint.
I shall go and update my thread
Edited by joe_90 on Wednesday 13th October 14:04
Paint job is last on the list of things to do. The pics flatter it as just had a wash - perhaps you can polish a turf after all!
Not looking to spend anything else until I get another job, but overall budget was going to be c£2k. Got to include labour for all but the simplest of jobs as not
mech-minded.
Also need to sort out the gearbox as it doesn't like going into third at the moment. Been quoted £120 which seems cheap.
Not sure what to do with the suspension - budget will probably dictate cheap eBay coilovers. Given it will only do four or so trackdays a year I can't justify spending much more and they cost similar to replacing the standard set-up which needs doing anyway. Can always be improved later if finances allow.
Not looking to spend anything else until I get another job, but overall budget was going to be c£2k. Got to include labour for all but the simplest of jobs as not
mech-minded.
Also need to sort out the gearbox as it doesn't like going into third at the moment. Been quoted £120 which seems cheap.
Not sure what to do with the suspension - budget will probably dictate cheap eBay coilovers. Given it will only do four or so trackdays a year I can't justify spending much more and they cost similar to replacing the standard set-up which needs doing anyway. Can always be improved later if finances allow.
Quick update because I'm getting excited:
The car has been sat in a barn since december doing nothing - occassionally started by my brother-in-law to make sure it's ok (started first time every time). I couldn't organise to get the MOT sorted before it ran out on 1st Jan, so it has been Sorned and pretty much left.
Just ordered the first batch of stuff - a full set of powerflex bushes, coilovers, air filter, fuel filter, oil filter and a new set of indicators to replace the one that fell off on the way down to my brother-in-laws and which is currently held in place by gaffer tape.
Hopefully the bits can be fitted in the coming month and then it can be taxed and tested and driven again!
I've got a Sparco Sprint Seat that I need to get a fitting kit for, and then organise for someone to weld in some harness mounting points for the harness I've been given.
The car has been sat in a barn since december doing nothing - occassionally started by my brother-in-law to make sure it's ok (started first time every time). I couldn't organise to get the MOT sorted before it ran out on 1st Jan, so it has been Sorned and pretty much left.
Just ordered the first batch of stuff - a full set of powerflex bushes, coilovers, air filter, fuel filter, oil filter and a new set of indicators to replace the one that fell off on the way down to my brother-in-laws and which is currently held in place by gaffer tape.
Hopefully the bits can be fitted in the coming month and then it can be taxed and tested and driven again!
I've got a Sparco Sprint Seat that I need to get a fitting kit for, and then organise for someone to weld in some harness mounting points for the harness I've been given.
mig25_foxbat2003 said:
Hi mate, could you list the Powerflex bushes you've bought? Did you get a kit or buy them individually, and if so, where from? I'm looking to Powerflex my newly-acquired 323 cabby and not sure which bits to buy (being a bit of a spanner when it comes to such things).
Cheers,
Russell
It was all quite easy really - I rang Larkspeed (0113 2643231)! I'd seen a full kit on Ebay from them for £186.25 but thought that it was easier to ring and check with them. You need to know what size bushes fit your car (see my thread in the BMW forum) but Larkspeed double-checked themselves on realoem.com - mine needs the 25mm bushes.Cheers,
Russell
Kit contains:
Front Lower Wishbone Rear Bush x2
Front Anti-Roll Bar Mounting Bush x2
19mm Rear Anti-Roll Bar Mounting Bush x2
Rear Beam Mounting Front Bush x2
Rear Beam Mounting Rear Bush x2
Rear Trailing Arm Front Bush x2
I have no idea what any of these things are! No doubt someone more knowledgeable will let me know if I've missed anything. All I know is that my suspension is pretty shot - could be another voyage of discovery once the car starts being worked on and no doubt a few more trips to the shops!
mig25_foxbat2003 said:
Cracking stuff. I'll give them a call. Many thanks. Are you going to fit the bushes yourself or have a garage do it?
Am I heck as like! I'm somewhat lacking in skills on that front (and am in awe of most of the guys who post on here with their rebuilds). I did manage to assist with the brake disks and pads though (I made the tea and bought the biscuits).A local indie is doing it for me at the same time as they fit the coilovers - they reckoned it should cost about £200 so I'm expecting a £400 bill at least because I'm pretty certain they'll find more gremlins (they always do) - that said, I trust them to do it right. Seemed in keeping with the other quotes I got last year when I first bought the car.
stabbed rat said:
Same as wackojacko, im looking at an E36 for a track project so my eyes are on this thread 
I'm in for £1.5k at the moment and expect another £500 in labour. Proves it can be done on a budget even if you have no skills. That said, if I was doing it again I'd get a ready prepped car.
I'm not quite there with the being ready to buy part 
I'm not really fussed if I start off with a 2.5 or a 2.8 what ever it is it will be full opposite lock most of the time hehe.
Just want a descent shell to start with.... considered E36 M3 but if I crashed one I'd be pissed off or would cost me a fortune in Trackday insurance aswell as 3 times the running costs for less fun/more worry.
Whereas I couldn't careless if I crashed a 2.5 OR 2.8 as they can be re shelled for £500 New engine £500 etc.
Just want a descent shell to start with.... considered E36 M3 but if I crashed one I'd be pissed off or would cost me a fortune in Trackday insurance aswell as 3 times the running costs for less fun/more worry.
Whereas I couldn't careless if I crashed a 2.5 OR 2.8 as they can be re shelled for £500 New engine £500 etc.
Two weeks of being sat at the garage and it's finally had an MOT ahead of them starting work. Only failed on the horn and a front suspension ball joint. Woo Hoo!!!! Work commencing today fitting the new suspension and bushes and then hopefully will be ready to be picked up when I get back from Le Mans.
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