E46 320d/330d on track?
Discussion
Hi James,
I've regularly used my 330d Sport(s) at the Ring. Have been there with 2 different cars. It's fine for that kind of use. My standard E46 comfortably managed an 8m47 lap (BTG), 4 up. Wouldn't fancy using one on a shorter UK circuit though. They'd probably run out of brakes in a short while.
At the Ring
Might be worth checking out Ant and Petes website. They're the guys who run the 330d and 320d on the Gumballs.
Cheers
Matt
I've regularly used my 330d Sport(s) at the Ring. Have been there with 2 different cars. It's fine for that kind of use. My standard E46 comfortably managed an 8m47 lap (BTG), 4 up. Wouldn't fancy using one on a shorter UK circuit though. They'd probably run out of brakes in a short while.
At the Ring
Might be worth checking out Ant and Petes website. They're the guys who run the 330d and 320d on the Gumballs.
Cheers
Matt
I've run my 330d Sport at the Nurburgring, Oulton Park and Donington. Has been great fun throwing it about. Had it remapped on saturday, so my last outing was a little smokey on full tilt 
Brakes were fine at Donington and Oulton Park. I had a mate in a 330i gunning it round who had no issues either. It's paying another visit to the Ring in April
Brakes were fine at Donington and Oulton Park. I had a mate in a 330i gunning it round who had no issues either. It's paying another visit to the Ring in April
Edited by NickXX on Wednesday 21st February 20:58
It appers that many derv owners go tracking then, !!, did two at croft last year, 330d Sport manual, blew the turbo first time whacked a set of tyres the second, as said above the brakes are very limited, not many laps of croft and they were totally shot, big heavy lump up front so prone to understeering real bad when the tyres start to cook, at the end of the day it's a competant road car and a limited track car but it won't stop you having a bit of fun.
Edited by plowy on Sunday 25th February 22:35
Above post says it all - if you accept the limitations and enjoy yourself then that's fine. If you have to be one of the quickest things out there then get something like a Caterham etc.
I tracked my 540i Touring Auto (!) last year on an evening at Bedford and it was surprisingly good fun even though I'd done it in a Caterham the preceding month. Going quicker than some faster cars that were poorly driven was the icing on the cake
Even with short stints, cool down laps and rests, the brakes still went almost to the floor by the end of the evening. I am shortly going to treat it to Axxis Ultimate pads with Dot 5.1 fluid and braided hoses. This relatively cheap mod will, I hope, give me brakes a bit longer and I plan to do 2 or 3 evenings this year with it.
I don't actually think it matters what you take on the track as long as you are driving up to and not beyond your own and the cars limits and, most of all, you are having fun
I tracked my 540i Touring Auto (!) last year on an evening at Bedford and it was surprisingly good fun even though I'd done it in a Caterham the preceding month. Going quicker than some faster cars that were poorly driven was the icing on the cake
Even with short stints, cool down laps and rests, the brakes still went almost to the floor by the end of the evening. I am shortly going to treat it to Axxis Ultimate pads with Dot 5.1 fluid and braided hoses. This relatively cheap mod will, I hope, give me brakes a bit longer and I plan to do 2 or 3 evenings this year with it.
I don't actually think it matters what you take on the track as long as you are driving up to and not beyond your own and the cars limits and, most of all, you are having fun
Surprised no one's mentioned the Volvo Estate that TWR used to race in British Touring Cars...They elected to race the estate because they said the aerodynamics were superior to the booted car.
Back in the 70's a bloke called Tony Faul used to do National stage rallies in a Merc SL auto. Did amazingly well following the Chequered Flag Lancia Stratos. In later years, one Tony Worswick used to rally a Ferrari(might have been something like a 360.)
I'd have thought the 3 series Touring was a better choice than all of the above, although I think the steering's a bit light.
It all depends on the depth of your pockets, and whether you could afford damage.
Good luck.
Back in the 70's a bloke called Tony Faul used to do National stage rallies in a Merc SL auto. Did amazingly well following the Chequered Flag Lancia Stratos. In later years, one Tony Worswick used to rally a Ferrari(might have been something like a 360.)
I'd have thought the 3 series Touring was a better choice than all of the above, although I think the steering's a bit light.
It all depends on the depth of your pockets, and whether you could afford damage.
Good luck.
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