trackday car 2k -3k

[saabruff]

got a 350z but want to do tackdays on a budget.
was thinking e30 or e36 saloon as supposed to stiffer as they do tend to use them for the touring series.what to buy 318 320 323 325!
i would think 320 or 325 but correct me if i am wrong or maybe 328 coupe as they are going cheap!
only ever had a 525 before on an m plate years ago.
any suggestions would be great as want this project done by march ready to go for fresh session.

[M5Dave]

Is your heart set on a BMW?

I ran a manual Carlton GSi 3000 24V as a track day car and it was fantastic. They are fast, handle very tidily, but you can also slide them around if you want, they are totally bullet proof mechanically and you can get a good one for around £1,000-£1,500.

[carlosvalderrama]

E30's are well below that now for acceptable ones. A good 325i will only be about £1500.

Otherwise 325/328 E36's are anything from £1000 upwards. There's little difference between older/newer ones so grab an early 325 and blow the rest on fancy shocks/brakes and stuff.

[saabruff]

thanks guys
the cars going to be for track days only with the odd blat on the weekend cos 350z well sell next year to get 335d coupe or touring.diesal is the way to go and they are quick with all that torque.
so the short list is as follows !

e36 325
e36 328
e30 325

did'nt have to be a bm but great handling and parts will be cheap.
those charltons are quick ready having a bit of a tear up with one in my 326bhp saab a few years back just don't know what parts will be like if things go tits up.

so 2dr or 4dr personally i think the 4dr,what do you guys think ?

[v8 racing]

I wouldnt out rule a 540 personally, an e34 540 would wipe the floor with those cars mentioned above

[clonmult]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Ta for the pics - I'm now convinced that mine is going to stay sans-boot spoiler. Just ruins the lines with them on, that looks absolutely fantastic.

[saabruff]

yeah you are right the coupe does look better and your is looking good 325 i guess.
just need to keep searching now for the right one to turn up.

[agent006]

v8 racing said:

an e34 540 would wipe the floor with those cars mentioned above

Really? I find that hard to believe. More power, yes, but even an E34 M5 will inhale its brakes after 4 or 5 laps of most UK circuits. The E34 is a good 600kg heavier than an E30.

[v8 racing]

agent006 said:

v8 racing said:

an e34 540 would wipe the floor with those cars mentioned above

Really? I find that hard to believe. More power, yes, but even an E34 M5 will inhale its brakes after 4 or 5 laps of most UK circuits. The E34 is a good 600kg heavier than an E30.

Ok i am no bmw expert here so i am only going on what cars i have owned, 325 touring e30, which now has a v8 in it, and an e34 540 touring manual, the 540 is a schnitzer so may be different to a standard one i dont know, but out of the 2 the 540 would definetly be opening a can of whoop ass on the 325, i appreciate the 5 series is heavier but it has the same brakes as the m5 which are much bigger than the e30 3 series, the 540 is such an underestimated car,

[paoloh]

Just taken a E36 M3 coupe in part ex that you can have for £3k cash today

[agent006]

Ouch, £2k trade-in on an E36.

[petrolhead76]

Just asked this on the other forum but will try here too - how much is it to actually get entrance to the track for say a day?

Plus how long do tyres typically last? I'm just trying to get a feel for what a typical track day cost would be like.

I was thinking of using an elise, but these BMs look nice !

[plowy]

How about looking a bit further than BMW for you track fun ??, for that sort of money you will end up with a dam quick 205gti with an Mi16 motor.

[Droptheclutch]

v8 racing said:

agent006 said:

v8 racing said:

an e34 540 would wipe the floor with those cars mentioned above

Really? I find that hard to believe. More power, yes, but even an E34 M5 will inhale its brakes after 4 or 5 laps of most UK circuits. The E34 is a good 600kg heavier than an E30.

Ok i am no bmw expert here so i am only going on what cars i have owned, 325 touring e30, which now has a v8 in it, and an e34 540 touring manual, the 540 is a schnitzer so may be different to a standard one i dont know, but out of the 2 the 540 would definetly be opening a can of whoop ass on the 325, i appreciate the 5 series is heavier but it has the same brakes as the m5 which are much bigger than the e30 3 series, the 540 is such an underestimated car,

Indeed it is. I have an E34 540 manual (one of only 249 built) and it really does shift (not a nikasil timebomb either). However, for loadsa fun, we have an E28 M535i track car whick has been stripped to the bone. It is the lightest 5 series built, plus with the suspension mods etc it is very quick for an old brick. Check out www.bmw5.co.uk if you need more info on these...

[dan101smith]

I'll second the idea of an E28 M535i. Cheap to buy, cheap to mod, and possibly most importantly, cheap to repair should anything happen!

There is a track prep'd one up for sale for £1k over on bmw5.co.uk at the moment, talk to a chap called Andy Laurence.