Cheap e36 m3 track car - WOW!
Discussion
Last year I began to track a car that cost me in excess of 30K - it was a mistake. I won't go into detail but it all went pear shaped and I nearly came away from the whole track day experience feeling more than a little war torn although thankfully only from a financial standpoint.
In November '08 my wife and I took a holiday in Malaga and in the mornings before my good lady had awakened I would go down to the foya and use the computer to look at these here pages and spotted a cheap e36 M3 in the classifieds. Without going on and on I managed to negotiate a deal on the car and bought it. Since then I have been modifying the car and have done Donington, Snetterton and on Saturday last, Goodwood. I have got Leda two way adjustable coil overs, camber plates, 330mm discs with 6 pot A.P.'s, braided hoses, Dot 5.1 fluid and Carbon Friction pads and as of Saturday, a set of X BTCC slicks. The car is a revelation, and all for under 3.5K! These cars and the correct s/h performance parts are now so readily and cheaply available I can't understand why everybody does not have one
The downside? (the Yin and Yang) I now have the bug and as of yesterday own 2 X e36 M3's! The second car is for a spares; motor, gearbox, diff etc. I will be fitting a rear cage and stripping all of the interior out in the pursuit of reducing weight. The car has a Supersprint exhaust, ITG induction kit and some kind of chip, Superchip I think but I will not spend out on any further tuning as I do not yet require more power and engine longevity is at the top of my list for now. The slicks improved my lap times by 6 seconds and I can't imagine going back to tread-ed tyres again now (with the exception of 888's or the like)
In November '08 my wife and I took a holiday in Malaga and in the mornings before my good lady had awakened I would go down to the foya and use the computer to look at these here pages and spotted a cheap e36 M3 in the classifieds. Without going on and on I managed to negotiate a deal on the car and bought it. Since then I have been modifying the car and have done Donington, Snetterton and on Saturday last, Goodwood. I have got Leda two way adjustable coil overs, camber plates, 330mm discs with 6 pot A.P.'s, braided hoses, Dot 5.1 fluid and Carbon Friction pads and as of Saturday, a set of X BTCC slicks. The car is a revelation, and all for under 3.5K! These cars and the correct s/h performance parts are now so readily and cheaply available I can't understand why everybody does not have one
The downside? (the Yin and Yang) I now have the bug and as of yesterday own 2 X e36 M3's! The second car is for a spares; motor, gearbox, diff etc. I will be fitting a rear cage and stripping all of the interior out in the pursuit of reducing weight. The car has a Supersprint exhaust, ITG induction kit and some kind of chip, Superchip I think but I will not spend out on any further tuning as I do not yet require more power and engine longevity is at the top of my list for now. The slicks improved my lap times by 6 seconds and I can't imagine going back to tread-ed tyres again now (with the exception of 888's or the like)
The E36 M3 is a great car, very underestimated. I had a couple of these a number of years back. I have contemplated building a track car using the E36 M3 as the base but just haven't found the time to do it properly (properly meaning stripping it bare, cage, perspex windows etc etc, the whole hog!!). I ended up buying an E46 M3 last year to use as a track car. Coilovers, big brakes, strut braces and tyres all made for exceptional fun!! I still fancy getting hold of an E36 though, I have a soft spot for these cars, and as you quite rightly said, the parts are relatively inexpensive and readily available nowadays.
Is it a 3.0 version or the 3.2??
Is it a 3.0 version or the 3.2??
Nice post.
Interested in what you had before (as context) and how compromised the car is for road use? Also if you can recommend a garage / mechanic to do the work?
Am thinking of changing my Boxster for something I can use on track but also on the road and an E36 is one of the cars on the list.
Interested in what you had before (as context) and how compromised the car is for road use? Also if you can recommend a garage / mechanic to do the work?
Am thinking of changing my Boxster for something I can use on track but also on the road and an E36 is one of the cars on the list.
The model in question is the 3.0ltr single vanos variant.
The car I was using up until the end of last year was a Z4MC. It was good and fast but I pushed it to hard and ran out of ability, simple as that.
I find that exploiting all the e36 has is within my capabilities and as a result is extremely comfortable to drive on the limit (my limit at least).
I am not able nor do I wish to drive at 8/10ths, I drive as fast as I am able to and to that end find the e36 suits me right down to the ground
I would say that as it is at the moment the car could be used as a daily driver and only last Friday I used it for a 200 mile round trip and although the ride is uber firm, it is not uncomfortable. The turn in is so sharp I found myself mounting a curb on the short journey home from Goodwood: oops!
I guess I am lucky in the fact that I do not need to use the e36 as an everyday car but it would be totally do-able if I had to although I feel that I should point out that comfort is not my number one priority.
Sorry, forgot to mention a garage to use. I have used Bexley Motor Works who were good but my preferred garage is West Tuning in Thruxton, the proprietor Ray West is a really down to earth, knowledgeable and capable guy.
The car I was using up until the end of last year was a Z4MC. It was good and fast but I pushed it to hard and ran out of ability, simple as that.
I find that exploiting all the e36 has is within my capabilities and as a result is extremely comfortable to drive on the limit (my limit at least).
I am not able nor do I wish to drive at 8/10ths, I drive as fast as I am able to and to that end find the e36 suits me right down to the ground
I would say that as it is at the moment the car could be used as a daily driver and only last Friday I used it for a 200 mile round trip and although the ride is uber firm, it is not uncomfortable. The turn in is so sharp I found myself mounting a curb on the short journey home from Goodwood: oops!
I guess I am lucky in the fact that I do not need to use the e36 as an everyday car but it would be totally do-able if I had to although I feel that I should point out that comfort is not my number one priority.
Sorry, forgot to mention a garage to use. I have used Bexley Motor Works who were good but my preferred garage is West Tuning in Thruxton, the proprietor Ray West is a really down to earth, knowledgeable and capable guy.
Edited by GTWayne on Tuesday 19th May 21:43
I also bought a e36 M3 (3.0 4 door) to convert to a trackday car after a full days 1 to 1 tuition in one. It is a great track car all be it a littly heavy in standard trim. It is not so fast to get you into trouble too quickly but has a fab smooth throttle response and is beautifully balanced so you can feel what the car is doing even when I am putting in my clumsy inputs. Unfortunatly I have not organised my time well enough to do a track day this year but cant wait to go again.
^ That depends on your personal experience with a given car in a particular circumstance don't you think? I agree that potentially said car can be costly to run but if prepared properly and combined with the fact that they are fundamentally such a sound and well designed base vehicle to begin with, the running cost should be little more than many lesser candidates.
I think that yes, the M3 is easier to drive on track than the Z4MC or at least that is what I found to be the case for me but remember, I am just a humble 'enthusiastic' driver that has taken part in around a dozen track days to date and although my skill level is on the up I still have an awful lot more to learn yet. The point I was trying to make is more of a personal one in that the M3 suits me down to the ground at the moment where I happen to be in the scheme of things because I feel that we are an equal match (and it is very cost effective). On a separate note I am trying to get my Ultima GTW on track but the closer I get the more the thought of over 600bhp/ton seems to be putting me off which again has highlighted all that I have already said about the M3.
I think that yes, the M3 is easier to drive on track than the Z4MC or at least that is what I found to be the case for me but remember, I am just a humble 'enthusiastic' driver that has taken part in around a dozen track days to date and although my skill level is on the up I still have an awful lot more to learn yet. The point I was trying to make is more of a personal one in that the M3 suits me down to the ground at the moment where I happen to be in the scheme of things because I feel that we are an equal match (and it is very cost effective). On a separate note I am trying to get my Ultima GTW on track but the closer I get the more the thought of over 600bhp/ton seems to be putting me off
which again has highlighted all that I have already said about the M3. 
;)Completely agree that the E36 M3 is a great base for a track car. I too am turning mine into one, with the intention of not just tracking it, but racing in the Kumho series next year.
There are some very effective modifications you can do that don't cost the earth, too - Z3 steering rack is a revelation, as are decent tyres. As you say, ex-BTCC slicks are £100 a set, and so offer fantastic value.
It's difficult to stop developing the car, though - always more that can be done!
GTWayne - any pics of yours?
There are some very effective modifications you can do that don't cost the earth, too - Z3 steering rack is a revelation, as are decent tyres. As you say, ex-BTCC slicks are £100 a set, and so offer fantastic value.
It's difficult to stop developing the car, though - always more that can be done!
GTWayne - any pics of yours?
I was talking to a pall earlier who is running an e36 in the Khumo series along with his son and he was saying that it is quite frustrating because although steps are taken to keep costs down and level it still comes down to the more you spend, the better chance of success you will have, and it is actually more cost effective to do track days
I am looking into the Z3 rack option and will also be fitting an Evo sump as oil starvation becomes a very real prospect when using slicks. Developing the car is a major part of the fun for me with the track day only part of the involvement, not the sole purpose.
I will try and get some pictures up but such modern day new fandanglement is not really my speciality.
I am looking into the Z3 rack option and will also be fitting an Evo sump as oil starvation becomes a very real prospect when using slicks. Developing the car is a major part of the fun for me with the track day only part of the involvement, not the sole purpose.
I will try and get some pictures up but such modern day new fandanglement is not really my speciality.
Ah, so yours is a 3.0. Have you fitted the oil restrictor valve?
You might be interested in this site: ::clicky::
You might be interested in this site: ::clicky::
MPWR321BHP said:
Not heard of this one? please tell more.
The steering rack from a 4 cylinder Z3 is much quicker than the standard Evo rack, and bolts straight on apart from needing a 2" square flat bracket with two holes to support the PAS pipes.I recently got one on mine, and it makes a real difference on track. The downside is it is a little more twitchy on the motorway, especially with my 350mm steering wheel.
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