E46 Weight Reduction?

vti · #1 (**permalink**) 01-22-2002, 06:24 PM

I've noticed many discussions about increasing HP but not many about reducing the vehicles weight to increase the HP to weight ratio. What are some of the ways E46 owners reduce the vehicles weight without spending massive amounts of cash for carbon fiber bodyparts?

Kaisake · #2 (**permalink**) 01-22-2002, 06:50 PM

Welcome to DTMpower!

Take out the rear seats, spare tire (not advised), tool kits, CD deck + speakers, and sound deadening material... I have also heard that each power seat (2 up front) is 40kg. Of course, your car woudn't be that passenger friendly after all this.

mrbanshee · #3 (**permalink**) 01-22-2002, 07:04 PM

What's up? Some of the ways I have found to reduce weight is to get mechanically adjustable seats in the front. Also, remove the spare tire and exchange it with a bottle of fix-a-flat. That saves you about 10 to 15lbs from the seats and about another 40lbs from the spare tire. Which is a total of 50 to 55lbs. Also, change body panels to carbon fiber or fiber glass. Which are the front and rear bumpers, side skits, and the hood. Also, getting lighter wheels will help out with rotating mass. Such companies as Volks and Racing Hart are some of the lightest out there. Be sure to use wheel locks though they are very expensive. Another neat one which cuts rotating mass is to get a lighter flywheel. Rogue Engineering makes one that is 15lbs lighter then the stock flywheel which is a heavy 26lbs. This helps the engine to cut down on weight as well as rev faster. I hope this helps good luck.

vti · #4 (**permalink**) 01-23-2002, 12:43 PM

Thanks for the reply. That's pretty much what I thought. Well time to tell the wife the heated seats are going

Quote:

Originally posted by mrbanshee
What's up? Some of the ways I have found to reduce weight is to get mechanically adjustable seats in the front. Also, remove the spare tire and exchange it with a bottle of fix-a-flat. That saves you about 10 to 15lbs from the seats and about another 40lbs from the spare tire. Which is a total of 50 to 55lbs. Also, change body panels to carbon fiber or fiber glass. Which are the front and rear bumpers, side skits, and the hood. Also, getting lighter wheels will help out with rotating mass. Such companies as Volks and Racing Hart are some of the lightest out there. Be sure to use wheel locks though they are very expensive. Another neat one which cuts rotating mass is to get a lighter flywheel. Rogue Engineering makes one that is 15lbs lighter then the stock flywheel which is a heavy 26lbs. This helps the engine to cut down on weight as well as rev faster. I hope this helps good luck.

JawKnee · #5 (**permalink**) 01-24-2002, 12:08 AM

There are certainly good reasons for building a lightweight car. However, the advantages of reducing rotating weight are greater and it starts at the front with the flywheel...

AC weighs alot too!! Close to ~100 lbs I think...

mrbanshee · #6 (**permalink**) 01-24-2002, 06:33 AM

Rogue engineering's lightweight flywheel is a huge improvement in the revolutions of your M54. I have noticed that the E46 330i revs up slow and has a low compression. 10.2:1 to be exact, it would nice to have 11.5:1 compression piston. I am not sure if you can just drop it in without computer adjustments though. The best aftermarket piston would probably be a JE forged high compression piston. Which is lightweight and way stronger than the stock cast pistons.

ktec28 · #7 (**permalink**) 01-31-2002, 07:59 PM

haha vti!! Just tell wifey to bring a blanket- the butt warmers gotta go.

Blitz · #8 (**permalink**) 02-01-2002, 11:45 AM

I was just wondering if there are any downsides to having a lighter flywheel (besides lightening up your wallet)? Also, are there any downsides to lightening up your car? I dont think there should be thoguh...

ktec28 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-01-2002, 06:53 PM

The only down side is more speed. But seriously, lightening up your car won't produce any problems. The only problem i see is how you lighten up the car. For instance, if you take out the seat (heated/power) do both at the same time cause 100lbs. (for the motor or heating unit) is significant. If you only do one you got to worry about weight distribution which might compromise handling but other than that i can't think of anything. Also about the flywheel, i've heard that you can't do it in combination with a lightweight cam sprocket or the balance would be thrown off but i'mnot really sure. I have a couple of friends that have lightweight flywheels on their e36's and they never had any problems with it. They all say have gained significant power and was worth the money. If it was me and had to empty my wallet i would.

mrbanshee · #10 (**permalink**) 02-02-2002, 12:04 PM

The only problem with a lighter flywheel is that at idle it makes a chutering noise.

dallasbboy · #11 (**permalink**) 02-02-2002, 04:49 PM

There is no spare tire on E46 M3s!

Brian

M54TU_Schnitzer · #12 (**permalink**) 02-02-2002, 05:43 PM

Hi,

Does anyone have Rogue engineering's flywheel installed in their car? I want to order the Rogue engineering's flywheel, too. Is this ok if I have RE's flywheel with evosports pulleys set?

And If I change flywheel, do I have to do anything to my clutch?

Thanx

injunfeller · #13 (**permalink**) 02-02-2002, 07:45 PM

http://forums.roadfly.com/bmw/forums...=286809&page=1

M54TU_Schnitzer · #14 (**permalink**) 02-03-2002, 01:18 PM

I am interest in getting flywheel for my E46 330i. Which is better in terms of quality, performance and maybe price?

Active autowerke lightweight flywheel?
OR
Rogue Engineering lightweight flywheel?
OR
Tuner motorsport lightweight flywheel?

AA flywheel - weight 12 lbs $689-

RE flywheel - weight 11 lbs , replaceable friction plate is made from a heat-treated 1050 steel (vs. 1020 of the others) , balanced to 8000rpm on a Stewart-Warner balancer to ensure vibration free performance , eliminates the typical "idle chatter"
$595-

TMS flywheel - weight 11 lbs , "...with the TMS lightweight flywheel the noise may increase SLIGHTLY. The increased noise is very slight..." , crafted from aluminum with a replaceable heavy duty steel insert which contacts the clutch disc
$699-

Thanx very much

MeanRex · #15 (**permalink**) 09-09-2002, 07:13 PM

the only advantage of heavier flywheels is for drag racing and controllability.

Drag Racing
more torque, and less bogging on launchs. With a lighter flywheel you have to launch it at a higher RPM to make up for the lost RPMs from the lighter rotating mass. Rotating mass=torque

Controllability
Some may feel that TOO LIGHT of a flywheel is harder to control accurately. They may like the less touchy throttle.

A flywheel of around 16lbs or so would be ideal to still be an enjoyable street car. Once the flywheel gets to certain points, it's just not as fun to drive on the streets anymore.
I know someone w/ a 3lb flywheel on his racecar