Few E30 questions

[Nobimmer 694]

I am beginning to come to my senses and ditch my (lack of) suspension ways.

Basicly I want to get another E30 but a 325 manual coupe this time and spend money in the right places so I can take it round the track etc.

So what I was thinking of doing was stripping the interior of all things I wont need..sound deadening,rear seats etc etc, getting decent suspension of some sort(will figure it out when I get there) and do some minor engine work.

What I wanted to know is,will I run into WOF problems etc if I strip the car and (later on) put a half cage in the back.

This isn't a waste of time thread I am seriously looking into it and have been saving for a long arse time.

Anything else anybody can recommend/suggest?

Cheers

Ashkan

[CamB 48]

If you remove the rear seats and belts, and register as a 2 seater, I **believe** you are fine. Ditto with a half cage (again, I think). JiB on the forum has no rear seats or belts, race seats on runners which bolted to the unmodified mounting points (important to avoid a cert), and he runs harnesses which needs the owner to have a Clubsport licence (join BMW Club and also pay Motorsport NZ ~$60) and a LVVTA Authority Card from MSNZ. Harnesses have to meet certain rules, and you don't NEED harnesses.

Keep in mind some $$$ for uprated brake pads and race fluid (at a minimum) if you are going on the track for more than a couple of laps at a time.

[Mark 178]

There's this 320i for sale... could be a good buy.

1986 320i coupe

[Nobimmer 694]

Sorry I don't think I made myself too clear.

It's still going to be driven daily so will not be needing harnesses etc.Just want to make sure if I do want to take it for a thrash it would be able to handle etc.

[Nobimmer 694]

Would really preffer a 325.But damn prices have gone up since I had my E30 :S

What does a drive in/drive out manual conversion cost these days

?

[ED1RTY 2]

325 2 door. No sunroof.

Get a C3 or GC coilover kit and do all Urethane bushings everywhere. Sways, Subframe, G/box, Engine etc.

Go for the E30 series brake setup, talk to some of the boys and see what they think works best. Spend money on Good discs, Pads and Fluid. Possibly SS lines also.

CAI and Zorst. Do a good service on the motor and replace cam-belt, waterpump and wearing parts.

You should be sweet for a track hack with that stuff. Dont get a half cage. Go for a full welded in cage. You can get them street legal if you follow some guidelines which can found on LTSA.

Id do at least one bucket seat and harness. It will make a difference for you on the track.

Hope that helps.

P.S good sh*t Ashkan

If you did all the work yourself id reckon that could all be done for 10 - 12k including car.

Edited July 8, 2008 by ED1RTY

[Nobimmer 694]

Think your on track there Chris,minus the full cage as it will be mainly driven on the road.

Was planning on spending around about 10k( or whatever I can get for the E39) as I have just went halves on a project house with my folks so am spending 70% of my weekly pay packet on mortgage!

In my head I had this:

Car-Under 5k

Suspension-2k(ish) have been looking at some coilover kits at around 1600 landed which will be sufficient for me.+ Bushes/strut braces and other small bits and bobs.

Brakes-Hopefully hoping it has discs front and back,if not I have access to a disc brake rear end for free but will have to research more on how to do it exactly.

Interior-2 bucket seats.Have some tired looking Racetechs in the shed which would be ideal...they're comfy as and dont weigh much,so wont cost anything.Strip interior etc and make up some lightweight(material will decide on later) interior panels

Engine/Driveline- Parts for full service(belts/pumps/oils) Set aside 1k. And then tinkering with bits like the CAI and exhaust system etc another 800-1000

Wheels:Either something cheap and light with decent rubber or something with dish.These will be the last thing I worry about depending on how much $ I have left over.

Thats all I can think of for now,any input would be much appreciated.

[tire 10]

Dont forget e36 / e36 M3 / Z3 steering rack (quicker lock to lock).

What about grabbing that 320i and putting togates 2.7 in it

[CamB 48]

Don't forget an LSD at $700-800.

[ED1RTY 2]

Meh, just do a locker

Andrew has one in his racer for how long!

[westy 614]

Sounds pretty good Ash.

I think you'll need more than 2k for your suspension if you're gonna spend 1600 on coilovers tho.

[ED1RTY 2]

Sounds pretty good Ash.

I think you'll need more than 2k for your suspension if you're gonna spend 1600 on coilovers tho.

Yea id be budgeting around 3500 for suspension, a 325 comes with factory rear discs.

[Andrew 30]

Don't bother with coil overs.

Get good shocks and springs and it will handle way better than a badly setup coil over kit.

[JiB 0]

Don't bother with coil overs.

Get good shocks and springs and it will handle way better than a badly setup coil over kit.

+1

And if daily driven I'd leave the interior in. Do all bushes....$$$ but means you can afford to buy an older car with bushes on the way out etc.

Definitely budget for LSD.

Beware, I did budget for a $5000 racer, have spent much much more. So add a couple of thousand on top on all the miscellaneous stuff that WILL come up.

[westy 614]

Don't bother with coil overs.

Get good shocks and springs and it will handle way better than a badly setup coil over kit.

+2

1600 will get you some good springs and shocks instead of very average coilovers.

Suspension will be where you make the biggest difference and have the most fun.

[Andrew 30]

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html/detai...ID=E30TMSJSTOCK

$2100 USD gets you the BEST suspension hands down and has matched shocks/springs/sways set up by people that know what they are doing. It is by far the easiest bolt in package and I personally vouch for it.

You can buy parts of that kit (it comes with all reinforment bits etc) Get the shocks/springs then do the sways and bushes and reinforcement bits as you get the cash.

[CamB 48]

I'm curious about that setup. I've seen some # online that suggest it is ridiculously stiff.

[Nobimmer 694]

Cheers for the help fullas.

Am getting stuck into paneling some of the dents out of the E39 and tidying up a bit so I can sell it.Am really keen on doing this and will probably wait for a bit till a decent one comes up.

I have a friend who works at Racelign so will see if he can suss me some shocks etc and if he can do it for me I will see if he's willing to do a deal for others.

Rang Neil Fraser today and he said if I was to take the rear seats out I would have to get it certed for no rear seatbelts etc and have to register it as a 2 seater sports car

So may just rip all the stuff out that I can and put seats in for WOFS etc.Definitly put my Racetechs in the front,heaps lighter.

Will probably use a locker for a bit until funds and supply allow for an LSD.

Have been quoted $550 to get a 2 1/4 full exhaust with 1 resonator and 1 muffler.Should keep it under the new exhaust laws etc.Although the guy at Muffler World (I think) didn't really know alot about BMW's.Anyone got any better ideas?

[Nobimmer 694]

Looks like this idea may be out of the picture now.

Have just bought a house with the folks and paying $750 a fortnight leaves me with pretty much nothing to spend after gas+food+beer.

Will more than likely still be buying an E30 of somesort to get me from a to b but for now I will wait patiently till I have the means to do it properly.