Whic BMW for track use?

[OldDogmeatDan]

Hello all,

Myself and a friend are presently looking at a dedicated tracktoy that needs also to be road legal because we simply can't tow a car for various reasons.

We've been scouring all the usual places including PH classified etc and have narrowed it down somewhat but are still a bit unsure.

We've decided RWD and it has to be relatively cheap (Max of around £4k); Ideally needs to be cheap to insure, fairly reliable and most of all good fun.

The RWD cars we've been considering in the main are MX5's and older BMW's, hence me posting here.

A number of friends and aquaintences, who know a bit about cars and track driving, have mentioned E30 325's as being one good option; I've also discovered that E36 M3's are quite cheap but generally have 100kish miles on them in our price bracket and wonder what the people on here think about that for track use.

I should just add that we dont want to buy a car and then spend a small fortune in modifying it or rebuilding engines etc. We want to do the minimum of maintainence and prep and just get out there and have some fun.

The car will need to remain road legal and we'll be driving it to and from the circuit but we'll likley throw a cage in, some buckets and throw the rear seats out to make way for track wheels/rubber.

What do people think regards what we should realistically be looking for?

Thanks in advance,
Dan

[Mroad]

I would forget an E36 M3 for a total budget of £4k (including track mods), if it could be done it would no doubt spend more time being fixed than on the track unless you were really lucky. Insurance is also expensive on the E36 M3 (I currently have an E36 M3 Evo track car and an F355 is cheaper to insure!).

The E30 325 is good but is obviously older than the E36 so finding a good one is not as easy. A decent track car be built for around £4k (including car purchase). I put together a BMW Kumho spec car for similar money but that was a few years ago now.

Best value for money BMW track toy would be an ordinary E36 328/325, plenty around for not much money.
Either that or the MX5 you mention, there's a vast amount of track/tuning/performance mods available for it and being so popular a lot of 2nd parts availability.

In all cases finding a car ready built (with a spec near to what you want) will work out a lot cheaper than building it yourself.

[buffly]

I`ve got just what your looking for....

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1220206.htm

[sniff diesel]

You can get an M3 for as little as £2k, I did and took it to the Ring where it performed brilliantly. But if you want to have some cheap fun then a 328 or 325 would leave more budget left to modify it and cost less to run.

[OldDogmeatDan]

buffly said:

I`ve got just what your looking for....

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1220206.htm

Hehe, I spotted this earlier today whilst searching about; It looks like a great car and pretty much what we want but it's well over our budget unfortunately.

[juliann]

You could try the below (not mine). It's a Production BMW E30 320i. They're not the fastest in a straight line but track use is about the corners isn't it ;-)

The regs say car has to be capable of passing an MOT. Although a bit over budget, you'd be able to sell off the spares to PBMW drivers and the transponder will fetch £200 all day long on ebay (or I'd buy it off you !). You also have a ready resale market for the car when you've finished with it at the PBMW cars are highly sought after.

THE CAR WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE END OF NOVEMBER

THIS CAR HAD A FRESH ENGINE FITTED AUGUST 2008 AND HAS ONLY DONE FOUR MEETINGS. THIS YEAR IN TTRS WE GOT 1st & 3rd IN CLASS AT SILVERSTONE THEN AT SNETTERTON IN TTRS WE GOT A 9th IN CLASS.

THIS CAR WILL BE SOLD MINUS THE SEAT AND BELTS

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED GIVE ME A CALL 07973 744 791
ASK FOR MATT
or email [e-mail]

£5500 WITH THE SEAT AND BELTS £5000 WITHOUT.

1990/G DELPHIN GREY WITHOUT SUNROOF With V5 and number plates


UNDER THE BONNET

Fresh engine Aug 2008
Alloy Catch Tank
K&N Air Filter
Oil Cooler
Miltech S/Steel Exhaust,
Transponder

INSIDE THE CAR

Fully welded in roll cage going off to all four suspension turrets and crossed door bars
Water temp gauge
Oil pressure gauge
AIM Lap Timer
Suede steering wheel
Short shift gear stick
Plumbed in fire extinguisher
Drivers foot rest

OUTSIDE THE CAR

Powerflex bushes all round
Braided brake lines
Discs all round grooved on the front
Pads, Pagid in the front Mintex in the rear
KW coilovers on the front with 550Lbs Springs
KW rear shocks with 450Lbs springs
Converted to wheel studs
Ground force adjustable caster/camber top mounts in alloy
Four part worn Toyo 888 on Team Dynamic Pro1’s
Four part worn Toyo 888 on BMW BBS Alloys
Second fuel pump in tank

This car holds the lap record of Silverstone National Circuit , 1:13.909 class F of TTRS

This car usually runs in the top ten of the grid. It feels very positive on the track. I will be sorry to see her go but time and other projects forces sale. With a more committed driver this car will collect more silver ware.



SPARES

Brand new Pagid pads
Complete engine which came out of car at the end of the year
A second engine which came out of a scrapper only 98K
Gear Box
Rear Diff
Prop shafts
O/S Front wing in Delphin grey
Bumpers, front in Delphin grey
Fuel tank
And other bits and bobs

Edited by juliann on Sunday 8th November 11:00

[crimbo]

BMW wise I would try to source a e36 328 that has been lowered to improve the suspension and handling as they tend to suffer from a little understeer, you should get one well under budget and with some of the excess cash I would then fit a 325manifold as it is less restricted and get the car remapped to suit which should get you to around 230bhp ( I say this because on a standard car they are breathless and restricted at the top of the rev’s and doing this makes the car pull all the way to redline which you will appreciate more on track), then pop a 3.23LSD in from an evo m3 which will improve the grip, handling, acceleration and you should have a fun track car that should be reliable. Ideally go for a 1998 car with the better engine as early cars where recalled back, but if it’s an early car with proof that it got recalled and improved then that should be sound too.
An mx-5 would also be great fun if not a little more but at least you have the sound of a straight six under the hood which is nice. If your after RWD with big power then 300zx TT maybe an option but if the engine goes pop I think it’s around £1500 for a rebuilt replacement to be dropped in, With a remap an a bar of boast my friends is 380BHP and it don’t handle to bad for a big car either though around a track I think you would enjoy NA more.

[phatgixer]

Thread expanded over here with some E36 M3 photos...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...