Newbie Question, 328i convertible racer...

[saj1011]

HI!

Self confessed newbie, not going to lie! Hope this is posted in right section...

I am looking to get into track days, many people have suggested the E36 328i, however I have been offered a mint convertible one with M packet, with a hard top add on roof for a good price.
I have tried to search on this topic with a convertible, but not much luck, hence post.

Can I rip out the convertible kit, stick with the hard top and use it as a racer? That is basically my question!
if not why not?

Also, I had envisaged to be able to use it occasionally for normal driving also.
Thanks

[BlitzE34]

I would not bother.

[E30M3SE]

As above.

[Luca Brasi]

If it's mint, why track it?

[LanceRS]

As above, get a working but tatty saloon or coupe to spend your hard earned on.

[saj1011]

Luca Brasi said:

If it's mint, why track it?

I live in a city centre and don't need to use a car much for everyday driving. I have the opportunity to have a nice e36 328i with very low mileage, but would like to know why this is a good idea or not.

Are there any significant problems I may face if turn into track car?
Can anyone explain to me for example why from a technical view point this is bad or good idea?

Thanks in advance.

[M3greg]

Isn't a convertible going to be a lot heavier because of the extra bracing etc?

I'd have thought a coupe or saloon would have been a better bet for the track.

[4rephill]

M3greg said:

Isn't a convertible going to be a lot heavier because of the extra bracing etc?

I'd have thought a coupe or saloon would have been a better bet for the track.

According to BMW:

UNLADEN WEIGHT (Including driver, ready for road with tank full, without optional extras):

BMW E36 328i SALOON & COUPE: MANUAL = 1395Kg / AUTOMATIC = 1430Kg
BMW E36 328i CONVERTIBLE: MANUAL = 1505Kg / AUTOMATIC = 1540Kg

Added to the extra weight, the lack of rigidity due to having no roof means that the car is going to be a bit wobbly around a track in comparison to a coupe or a saloon (even with a hardtop fitted!).

And if your seriously thinking of racing it around tracks then you might need to think about fitting a rollcage, which:

A) Is going to add even more weight to an already heavy car.
B) I'm not even sure you can get a rollcage for a convertible.

As others have said, if you want a trackday toy, don't go ruining a mint convertible, find yourself a slightly worn coupe/saloon.

The E36 convertible is already a compromised package that's mainly for posing in, and on serious trackdays, I suspect other drivers are just going to take the piss!

[saj1011]

Thanks for insight 4rephill!
There is the hard top roof, but I suppose it is only a clip on and would not add much to cars structure. I did mention ripping out the convertible kit to save weight, although how much it would save I don't know.
I was going to add a roll cage.

It would seem the feedback is negative and I will pass on this car for use as a racer and let someone else have it for posing in.

Thanks for advice.

[4rephill]

saj1011 said:

Thanks for insight 4rephill!
There is the hard top roof, but I suppose it is only a clip on and would not add much to cars structure. I did mention ripping out the convertible kit to save weight, although how much it would save I don't know.
I was going to add a roll cage.

It would seem the feedback is negative and I will pass on this car for use as a racer and let someone else have it for posing in.

Thanks for advice.

The convertible is a nice car for cruising around in, but the chassis is really too handicapped by the extra weight and lack of rigidity to make a serious track-day car/racer (for a start you'd have to strip 100Kg out of it just to get it down to the standard weight of a coupe/saloon!)

As for the hard-top, as you've noted, it just sits on top of the car rather than being structural like the fixed roof of the coupe/saloon so it doesn't really add that much rigidity.

For a track-day/race car you really need a coupe or a saloon (and the committed enthusiasts will tell you that you need a saloon without the (rare)folding rear seat option, as they are slightly more rigid than the coupe's and saloons with folding rear seats).