325ti Compact as a track day car

[zakelwe]

Hello All,

Sorry I am a complete BMW virgin so hopefully I won't say too many dumb things.

I drive a boring diesel FWD small car to work and wish to get back into track days after a "bit of an incident" a year or so back. I thought I would try RWD as a change from my normal drive, and it has to be an automatic after motorbiking exploits when I was young and foolish. Hence the auto 325ti mentioned above. A 6 cyl petrol will be a nice contrast to my diesel.

I see a 2002 88 000 mile example for about £2700 and it piqued my interest.

Does anyone have any experience of this car and could advise problems or suitability, I know they were not as popular as the standard 3 series, perhaps due to the looks. Any thoughts on it being used on track?

I am assuming the range of more sporty brake / suspension etc upgrades for the standard 3 series of that age are also available in general for this "chopped" version, but here my ignorance might be showing.

Any help would be gratefully received of course.

Andy

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

I think they're going to be the next Escort for Rallying. Compact (no pun intended), front engined, rear wheel drive; all the ingredients that the Escort had. Plus they're cheap and I think I'm correct in saying there's a fair bit of space in the engine bay so the choice is yours.

Go for it.

[liam1986]

i have a 325ti and use it as a track car.

completly standard apart from coilovers, arb's & braided brake lines.

go for it, its great fun on a track. put some pilot sport cups on it for dry track days, and you will love it.

[bolide]

I think the automatic gearbox is the only real problem

Nick Froome

[liquidken]

They're a popular choice with a chassis that is easily exploited.

Slushbox is a no-no, though. You could do a manual swap, but it will be a bit of a ballache (and costly) unless you're handy with the spanners.

Wait for a manual to come along and you'll have a cracking base car.

[kiethton]

liquidken said:

They're a popular choice with a chassis that is easily exploited.

Slushbox is a no-no, though. You could do a manual swap, but it will be a bit of a ballache (and costly) unless you're handy with the spanners.

Wait for a manual to come along and you'll have a cracking base car.

read the op - auto is a must......

does this generation of auto learn your driving style/have manual overide?

[mph1977]

bolide said:

I think the automatic gearbox is the only real problem

Nick Froome

did you read the OP fully ...

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

Even if it's got an automatic it'll still be fun. It wont be quite as much fun as a manual, granted, but nevertheless good fun.

As you definitely need an automatic - perhaps look at E36's? More choice, that's all.

[zakelwe]

Thanks all for your thoughts, it seems quite positive.

Yes, my left leg doesn't work much so I am stuck with auto's and similar. Buttons and paddles would be good but for this age it is the normal type of shift of course so I will have to lump it.

The RWD, 6 cyl engine etc to some extent compensate.

Andy

[NickXX]

It will be a superb track car. One thing to note though, is that they did an SMG version of the 325Ti too - so that might be one to look out for if you decide not to go for this one.

[zakelwe]

NickXX said:

It will be a superb track car. One thing to note though, is that they did an SMG version of the 325Ti too - so that might be one to look out for if you decide not to go for this one.

I didn't know that, thanks very much, I will do a bit more investigation.

Andy

[danp]

Hi Andy,

How serious will the track stuff be? (the odd track day, entering some kind of series?)

Is this an addition to, or a replacement for the daily driver?

If it's the former then I'd have thought there are many more suitable cars for a bit of a track/fun toy? (tho' the requirement not to have a clutch pedal obviously makes it trickier)

Dan

[danp]

Without knowing what you want to do with it, other ideas, with some hastily found examples ;-) (all RWD, up to 4k)

- mk2 mr2 with the SMT box

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

- mx5 auto

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

- BMW 325i E30 auto (stripped?)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

- 328i E36 Sport

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

- M3 E36 SMG

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011... (LPG as well!)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011... (cab)

- 330Ci E46 coupe

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

- z3 2.8 auto

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

- Nissan 200 SX auto

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

- Porsche 944 auto

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

- Wild card ;-)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Edited by danp on Friday 3rd June 01:03

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

Danp - some great finds there!

For me the stand out cars there are the Mx-5 (lightweight mitigates the autobox), the E30 and the E36 M3 LPG.

Only because I've had an mx-5 and loved it, have two e30's currently and I'd really like an E36 M3!

I'd be inlined to go for the Mx-5 to be honest. Simple to work on (actually like the E30 in that respect), cheap, plentiful parts, useful forums, very light, not very powerful but if you're a track day novice it'll be a very good introduction (they handle well is what I'm trying to say) and as you grow in confidence, become a better driver, the car will be more than able to keep up with you as you do so.

I really like the E30 in that respect too. You can take alot of weight out of them too. The key with E30's is the body not the mechanicals. Rust is a killer on these. Plentiful parts (either from BMW or second hand, some v good forums etc, etc).

The only issue with the E36 M3 is that it might ( might ) be expensive if something goes wrong with the engine. Anything with an M in front of it is 40% more expensive to fix than standard stuff. But that engine......

[zakelwe]

Thanks Oi_Oi_Savaloy and danp for your thoughts and help, danp that was very kind to look and provide so many examples ..

As a bit of background I used to have an AMG C43 that was a money pit, ie £3300 for a new gearbox. So that went to be replaced by an Aygo believe it or not. Not a money pit . As it had no power it got stripped out, suspension, tyres, and slight engine work and I did 3 or 4 track days plus one round of the Toyota Sprint series. Unfortunately some idiot rolled it at a track day, ahem . As it was not insured my wife was not over the moon as you can imagine. I survived the roll only to be severly injured by a rolling pin....

I then bought a diesel Yaris as penance, promising my wife I would not alter it. I then superchip'd it straight away. Great for getting me to work, 60+mpg but

1) It has the chassis of a blancmange
2) It is boring me to tears.

I went to Brands Hatch a week or so ago and the bug bit again. My wife was not that delighted of course, which is a long way around to saying I don't think I will be able to get something like the Porsche or M3 as it will be seen as another money pit. However the convertibles danp put up would have an attraction, especially something like that Z3 .. er maybe.

The reason I chose the 325ti Compact was that I had a suspicion they may not have been thrashed as much as the standard car, ie a different type of buyer, so less likely bills. As you can tell getting another car for track work is not making my other half happy and if it was a money pit as well getting problems fixed, that would add to it. Adding more track orientated parts would be ok though.

Sorry for the long story. I think I need to have a long think.

You BMW guys have been very helpful, as an old AMG fan I might even start letting you out of junctions now .. only joking.. the help has been great.

Wish me luck with my wife. I get the feeling I might still only have the Yaris come 6 months time

Andy

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

I think the necessity for you to have an auto might work in your favour to a certain extent. Take the E30 for example. It's an accepted rule that the engines will not have been worked as hard as a manual if it's been attached to an autobox. less stress, owner's tend to be less aggressive, older etc, etc.

I still think the Mx-5 should be looked at. Don't forget that imports (Eunos of course) would be cheaper still.

If you don't go overboard with the roll cage etc etc you never know - your wife might like it too. Plus it's cheap as chips to run.

Incidentally the 328i e36 would still be brisk and represent a far more pocket-friendly downside if something went wrong. Good cars too. And if you bought a more-door it'd be cheaper than the equivalent coupe too. Or for the win - buy a tourer. Lowered - i think they look better than the coupe! (but then again I have a tourer/touring fetish and others might think my tendencies are a tad odd.)