BMW 120d Race Car
Discussion
From left to right:
Clio 182 Cup Car
E46 M3 race car
SWB Defender (modified for desert use)
DC2 race car
Civic EP3
Dodge Viper race car (not exige)
Cateram
GT3000
Skyline (~600bhp)
In the workshop the owner is building a Mark 2 Escort race car (2L Duratec, sequential quife gearbox and AP brakes).
The garage has another "shed" that has 2 desert rally Nissan Patrols and a FJ Cruiser Baja spec desert rally car plus a load of Land Rovers.
Clio 182 Cup Car
E46 M3 race car
SWB Defender (modified for desert use)
DC2 race car
Civic EP3
Dodge Viper race car (not exige)
Cateram
GT3000
Skyline (~600bhp)
In the workshop the owner is building a Mark 2 Escort race car (2L Duratec, sequential quife gearbox and AP brakes).
The garage has another "shed" that has 2 desert rally Nissan Patrols and a FJ Cruiser Baja spec desert rally car plus a load of Land Rovers.
update, hmmmmm.
basically, all involved have been busy with work commitments so progress has been minimal in the past 2mths. the car is going on the rollers this afternoon which will hopefully put the engine issues to bed [loss of top end power], and the car will get a test run at a trackday this coming friday. we will then be discussing what development we want to do [i.e. how much cash is available!] and starting a 3mth strip/build programme. the aim is to make the grid for the 24h barcelona in september.
either ian or i will aim to keep this thread updated as we go on.
basically, all involved have been busy with work commitments so progress has been minimal in the past 2mths. the car is going on the rollers this afternoon which will hopefully put the engine issues to bed [loss of top end power], and the car will get a test run at a trackday this coming friday. we will then be discussing what development we want to do [i.e. how much cash is available!] and starting a 3mth strip/build programme. the aim is to make the grid for the 24h barcelona in september.
either ian or i will aim to keep this thread updated as we go on.
StottyZr said:
How much weight can be saved through stripping the interior? IIRC these cars were a little over 1350kg from the factory, so loosing 300kg is a very big saving!
it also has GRP bonnet, boot, doors and front wings. Ian - I just noticed the yellow and white clubby in the garage shot on p1 - who's is that?!
Small update time. The was booked for a rolling session on Saturday. The 1st thing the engine tuner did was increase the fueling by 20% (shows how the air / fuel ratio was wrong on the other map!). This increased the power big time between 4-5,000 rpm. For some strange reason during the run the steering lock activated and locked the ECU.
The was then trailered off to the local indy BMW garage for a ecu flash. So now we have to find out why the steering lock activated.
The engine tuner recons he can give us 190 bhp and +400 nm safely (car weighs 1050kg) so it should pull like a train. all being well the car will be out on a track day next Saturday and if all goes well we will commence:
1) Get the gearbox rebuilt
2) Strip and rebuild each corner
3) Borescope and service the engine
4) Fit larger intercooler
5) Sort out all gauges and lighting
6) Flat bottom the floor
The Barcelona 24hr event might be on the horizon.....
The was then trailered off to the local indy BMW garage for a ecu flash. So now we have to find out why the steering lock activated.
The engine tuner recons he can give us 190 bhp and +400 nm safely (car weighs 1050kg) so it should pull like a train. all being well the car will be out on a track day next Saturday and if all goes well we will commence:
1) Get the gearbox rebuilt
2) Strip and rebuild each corner
3) Borescope and service the engine
4) Fit larger intercooler
5) Sort out all gauges and lighting
6) Flat bottom the floor
The Barcelona 24hr event might be on the horizon.....
shirt said:
NB - that power figure is at the wheels and was taken after the tuner was happy with how he'd set the fuelling. Still got to play with boost yet and it'll have a final mapping session after all mods have been implemented.
And he'll be selling copies of the map in due course? 
How 'hi-tech' are the ECUs on the E87s? Has he been able to strip off any of the 'road car' unnecessaries, like alarm systems etc?
i'll have to pass on that one sorry, will get back to you in a couple of months....
unfortunately, we have had yet another song and dance this week with local companies who shall remain nameless.
last sunday the tuner told us the ECU locked him out and needed sending to BMW for a reflash. the car then passed through 3 different garages without our knowledge until thursday night when spencer [one of the team owners] asked for the car to be returned. we collected it yesterday from a knowledgable and very friendly outfit called munich motors. the expat owner told us the tuner had actually managed to fry the ECU [and had told him so on tuesday, which was rich as the guy was still telling us that it was merely locked out] but was good enough not to charge us for his time as "it looks like you've got enough on your plate".
so, we missed the trackday test session and don't have time to wait for the next one. car is now back at HQ minus doors etc. and the drivetrain will be pulled this week [i'm doing this myself and so, being the most novice mechanic of the three, and reading the haynes manual as we speak]. 'box and diff are going out for rebuild [by NFS racing who do a great job] the rest will be done by us.
we have 14 weeks by my reckoning to have the car built, shaken down and readied for shipping. there is not a massive amount to do, but bear in mind that we all have day jobs that take us abroad for days/weeks at a time and it becomes much more of a challenge.
you can see from the front end pic that there is much to do to tidy the engine bay to make it more user friendly. the ABS module will be removed, the ECU will be moved into the passenger compartment, and we will look at the time/cost/certification involved with extending the cage to the shock mounts. at the rear we need to clarify if we need to provide better impact protection to the fuel tank.
also at the front end we'll fit a motorsport radiator and enlarged intercooler, cold air ducting for the brakes, improved airflow to the filter, and a much improved / removable lighting arrangement for night racing.
underneath we need to fit a flat floor as removing the OEM tank from under the rear bench seat has left a sizeable hole that'll act as an airbrake. a diffuser will be fitted, the exhaust re-routed and we want to design/fab some adjustable toe links at the rear.
other than that, we are simply aiming to be reliable [each corner stripped/inspected/rebuilt, new loom made up etc.] and to replace all the bodges we found with properly thought out workmanship.
as for the engine, we are quietly confident/hopeful. we think the lean running was due to the car being previously mapped using injectors we subsequently found to be massively over-fuelling. we have to build the car anyway, so have to live with the situation we find ourselves in.
should be a fun few months, will keep you posted.
unfortunately, we have had yet another song and dance this week with local companies who shall remain nameless.
last sunday the tuner told us the ECU locked him out and needed sending to BMW for a reflash. the car then passed through 3 different garages without our knowledge until thursday night when spencer [one of the team owners] asked for the car to be returned. we collected it yesterday from a knowledgable and very friendly outfit called munich motors. the expat owner told us the tuner had actually managed to fry the ECU [and had told him so on tuesday, which was rich as the guy was still telling us that it was merely locked out] but was good enough not to charge us for his time as "it looks like you've got enough on your plate".
so, we missed the trackday test session and don't have time to wait for the next one. car is now back at HQ minus doors etc. and the drivetrain will be pulled this week [i'm doing this myself and so, being the most novice mechanic of the three, and reading the haynes manual as we speak]. 'box and diff are going out for rebuild [by NFS racing who do a great job] the rest will be done by us.
we have 14 weeks by my reckoning to have the car built, shaken down and readied for shipping. there is not a massive amount to do, but bear in mind that we all have day jobs that take us abroad for days/weeks at a time and it becomes much more of a challenge.
you can see from the front end pic that there is much to do to tidy the engine bay to make it more user friendly. the ABS module will be removed, the ECU will be moved into the passenger compartment, and we will look at the time/cost/certification involved with extending the cage to the shock mounts. at the rear we need to clarify if we need to provide better impact protection to the fuel tank.
also at the front end we'll fit a motorsport radiator and enlarged intercooler, cold air ducting for the brakes, improved airflow to the filter, and a much improved / removable lighting arrangement for night racing.
underneath we need to fit a flat floor as removing the OEM tank from under the rear bench seat has left a sizeable hole that'll act as an airbrake. a diffuser will be fitted, the exhaust re-routed and we want to design/fab some adjustable toe links at the rear.
other than that, we are simply aiming to be reliable [each corner stripped/inspected/rebuilt, new loom made up etc.] and to replace all the bodges we found with properly thought out workmanship.
as for the engine, we are quietly confident/hopeful. we think the lean running was due to the car being previously mapped using injectors we subsequently found to be massively over-fuelling. we have to build the car anyway, so have to live with the situation we find ourselves in.
should be a fun few months, will keep you posted.
Edited by shirt on Sunday 6th May 09:04
V8mate said:
How 'hi-tech' are the ECUs on the E87s? Has he been able to strip off any of the 'road car' unnecessaries, like alarm systems etc?
this was done by the previous owner [it used to be a BTCC car]. we did think that a new OEM ECU would be a retrograde step in this respect, but our trusted tuner [who wasn't used this time as his rolling road was out of action] assures us he can copy the settings from the fried unit and transfer over to the replacement.after the 24hr dubai, the owners did investigate a full bosh motorsport ECU and harness, but other teams running the 120d told them it was more hassle than it was worth.
The team (well Shirt & RaBailey) have been really busy working on the car, to date they have:
Lights are out
Propshaft and diff removed
Gearbox off
Driveshaft out
Updated plans include:
Replacing all torx head bolts
Motorsport rad and intercooler
New bushes for rear suspension
Reoute all rear break lines inside car
Flat floor
I might actually be spending the week at home in Dubai next week (1st time for 10 weeks!!) so I might pop round and do a bit of light spannering.
Lights are out
Propshaft and diff removed
Gearbox off
Driveshaft out
Updated plans include:
Replacing all torx head bolts
Motorsport rad and intercooler
New bushes for rear suspension
Reoute all rear break lines inside car
Flat floor
I might actually be spending the week at home in Dubai next week (1st time for 10 weeks!!) so I might pop round and do a bit of light spannering.
jamiebae said:
I remember seeing this car hopelessly out of its depth in BTCC, fingers crossed it's a bit more at home where you plan to use it!
2nd in class as purchased. since been through a severe diet. as a touring car it doesn't make much sense, but can mix it with the best of them in 2.0l endurance classes. barca will be a good test of the car as there will be a much bigger fielding of the smaller cars. the dubai grid is predominantly gt class.
IanUAE said:
Fridge re-stocked
good to hear it!IanUAE said:
Another update:
Engine is out and bore scoped last night (50/50 on whether it needs a full strip)
And here is the video. Engine is out and bore scoped last night (50/50 on whether it needs a full strip)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z2p93gwt4I&fea...
stills and more here.
http://diary-of-mgb.blogspot.com/2012/05/down-plug...
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