E30 v E36 32 for trackdays

[ol]

Hi,

I've got a MK2 Golf GTI 16v that i originally bought for doing trackdays in. After i'd done a couple the head gasket went, and after having had this along with a million other bits and bobs fixed, it's now a perfect example of an unmodified classic.

The trouble is, now the Golf is in such good condition i don't dare track it again.

To cut a long story short, i'm thinking of selling the Golf and buying a 325 BMW.

I already have an E46, and love BMWs, and the local garage has an E30 325 sport (with the LSD) that he would swap for the Golf.

I was also looking at E36's (i once had the 320 and loved it), but was wondering what would make the best track car?

I'm talking both driver involvement, smiles per mile, and how cheap it would be to buy parts for it.

Any advice or knowledge would be much appreciated.

[ol]

The title was meant to say:

E30 v E36 325 for trackdays

Could someone please change it for me?

[s62]

Get an E36 M3 - the power issue sorted right away

[anonymous-user]

s62 said:

Get an E36 M3 - the power issue sorted right away

Seconded...

[sniff diesel]

With both cars fully stripped, an E36 weighs just over 100kgs more than an E30. E36's are cheaper at the moment, and have a huge amount of parts available so that's what I went for. I've got a small build thread going on here if you're interested:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

Remember with M3's that even though there are a few around for £2k ish, you still have the running costs of a £30k+ car. If my M50 engine goes pop in my 325i it only costs me a couple of hundred quid for a replacement from a scrapyard, if your S52 goes pop it's a couple of grand for a replacement...

[ol]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm not going to go for the M3 at the moment, we're renovating a house, so i shouldn't be spending anything on cars really, but it was just the fact that the E30 at the local garage has made me fall in love with it...

If the guy agrees to swap my Golf for the E30 325 i think i'll do it. I much prefer the look of the E30 to the E36. it was just the price of parts etc and which one would provide me with more fun on the track. To be honest i'm not really bothered which is 'faster' but i'd rather have a car that feels responsive, accelerates well and is fun in the corners.

The E36 320 I had before was good fun, and was very capable at taking roundabouts sideways! But i've never driven or been in an E30...

Sniff Petrol - Thanks for the link, i have already been reading through that thread as well as the white one the other chap did with the touring car graphics and roll cage.

So it seems daft to pass up the opportunity to swap the Golf for the E30.. Or am i being daft and should sell the Golf and buy an E36 325?

[sniff diesel]

ol said:

So it seems daft to pass up the opportunity to swap the Golf for the E30.. Or am i being daft and should sell the Golf and buy an E36 325?

A nice E30 325i sport is worth around £2k, you could get a very tidy 325 or 328 for half that (mine only set me back £300 as I didn't really want to be butchering an immaculate car just for track use) so if your Golf is worth about that then it sounds like a fair swap. The E30 despite having lower limits than the E36 will be more fun at those limits, plus as long as you keep it in nice condition it should even go up in value.

[RB Will]

My standard E30 325is has now done 6 trackdays and numerous road miles as a daily driver. I have only had to replace 1 full set of tyres, 1 set of front brakes and front lower arm bushes ( think thats what they were anyway). Still returns nearly 30mpg in daily use. Brakes are about 150 a set (pads and discs) tyres typically around £70 each. If it has standard suspension it wil be a little bit wobble , I really need to buy some coilovers and new springs, and they are a major handful/ fun in the wet.

[carlosvalderrama]

My '95 328i coupe has cost me the equivalent of about £30. Bought for £350 with a cracked bumper and damaged indicator. Interior, airbags, steering wheel and some sensors and covers were sold and made over £300 back.

I was originally looking for an E30 thinking they would be cheaper, but they're generally not. The E30 is firmly in modern classic status, the E36 is still languishing in cheapskate repmobile. Similarly priced E30's are rotten, a servicable mostly rust free one was three to four times as much.