328 Track car. What mod's £1000 budget,
Discussion
Well I picked up a 328 coupe yesterday which I intend to use solely for trackdays.
It's a good solid car although the paints a bit tatty but it should form a good base and provide a few smiles.
I've done a search and there’s loads of info about these which has been useful but as someone who's new to car trackdays (always done bike trackdays)I need to know where to spend my money or more importantly which manufacturers to be looking at. I've noticed that the price of coilovers for example start at £300 up, what are these cheaper kits like?
Any advise from people who have already been down this road would be gratefully received
Many thank in advance,
Darran
It's a good solid car although the paints a bit tatty but it should form a good base and provide a few smiles.
I've done a search and there’s loads of info about these which has been useful but as someone who's new to car trackdays (always done bike trackdays)I need to know where to spend my money or more importantly which manufacturers to be looking at. I've noticed that the price of coilovers for example start at £300 up, what are these cheaper kits like?
Any advise from people who have already been down this road would be gratefully received
Many thank in advance,
Darran
Forget cheap coilies for track work - they just wont cut it.
Handling and brakes are they way to go if you're new-ish to track work. Decent oe shocks (avus package as fitted to the 328 sport) and eibach springs can provide a cheap and quality foundation. Add to that a set of ARB's and things will come together nicely.
Cheap brake upgrade would be E46 330 calipers and discs. You can run them ob the oe bmc without any worries and they'll provide a nice extra dollop of braking torque. Be sure to change to braided hoses and fresh fluid to make the most of the pedal feel.
Remove the clutch delay valve. This will hugely improve clutch feel for quick changes. Its worth fitting a braided hose here, too.
Strip the life out if the car and sell the bits to put towards other mods. Like an LSD. Sorted.
Handling and brakes are they way to go if you're new-ish to track work. Decent oe shocks (avus package as fitted to the 328 sport) and eibach springs can provide a cheap and quality foundation. Add to that a set of ARB's and things will come together nicely.
Cheap brake upgrade would be E46 330 calipers and discs. You can run them ob the oe bmc without any worries and they'll provide a nice extra dollop of braking torque. Be sure to change to braided hoses and fresh fluid to make the most of the pedal feel.
Remove the clutch delay valve. This will hugely improve clutch feel for quick changes. Its worth fitting a braided hose here, too.
Strip the life out if the car and sell the bits to put towards other mods. Like an LSD. Sorted.
Original sport spec springs and dampers will eat a long way into the budget.
The £300 James coilovers are fine, just don't expect them to be like a £1000 set.
We spent £300 on cheap coilovers, £100 on powerflex bushes (evo ones on the front trailing arms), £80 on adjustable camber top mounts, £65 on braided hoses, £35 on decent brake fluid, £150 on decent front pads and new discs, £180 on used seats, £100 on harnesses and £200 on a set of 17" e92 alloys with part worn bridgestone re050 run flats on (good dry grip and last for ages, amusingly poor in the wet).
Give or take a few quid that's your £1k and your left with an e36 that won't be the quickest around the circuit, but will happily spend the day lapping and you'll have fun doing it.
As already mentioned, decent coilovers and 330 brakes would be the next step when you have more cash to spare.
The £300 James coilovers are fine, just don't expect them to be like a £1000 set.
We spent £300 on cheap coilovers, £100 on powerflex bushes (evo ones on the front trailing arms), £80 on adjustable camber top mounts, £65 on braided hoses, £35 on decent brake fluid, £150 on decent front pads and new discs, £180 on used seats, £100 on harnesses and £200 on a set of 17" e92 alloys with part worn bridgestone re050 run flats on (good dry grip and last for ages, amusingly poor in the wet).
Give or take a few quid that's your £1k and your left with an e36 that won't be the quickest around the circuit, but will happily spend the day lapping and you'll have fun doing it.
As already mentioned, decent coilovers and 330 brakes would be the next step when you have more cash to spare.
Thanks all for the advice,lots of good stuff so far.
The budgets not set in stone but I need to put a figure on it otherwise I'll get carried away.
Cmoose, Loving the seats. What make were they? Agreed about the Gaz gold kit, It looks to be a good compromise between value and performance.
Thanks again
The budgets not set in stone but I need to put a figure on it otherwise I'll get carried away.
Cmoose, Loving the seats. What make were they? Agreed about the Gaz gold kit, It looks to be a good compromise between value and performance.
Thanks again
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