Best model for Track/Race?

[notbob]

Just out of curiosity (please excuse ignorance, recent BMW M3 1999 purchaser), what is the best year / body for building a pure track / race BMW that is available in the US?

Not for 1/4mi drag only but for 1/4 & AutoX & Road Racing?

Which body is basically the lightest / most nimble that can be built to handle and drive like an utter beast? Obviously stripped down for racing only

I have 0 plans of doing that to my M3, but thinking of at some point building a racing level BMW to replace my 76 Trans Am that I use for that purpose now 455 pontiac v8 with 4-spd super t-10 tranny, posi-trac rear, handles like a boat but finding anything in my town that can beat it straight line has been pretty much impossible to find on the street. At the 1/4mi track well yeah it does lose to the non-streetables all day long :P

Considering it as a long term project finding either a wrecked or non-running bmw car to start with and super lighten it up and build the motor / suspension. I'm thinking something with an I6 and going the turbo route. There any independent engine management systems that are easier to tune then the stock bmw one for building a race only bmw?

[BLACKTAPE]

e30.....

89 M3 Period

[zerog6]

E30's #1 on the track, if you want something prettier you can do an E36. E46's are bad on the track compared to the others. I go to track events every once in a while, also I have the roundel magazine from bmwcca. All the standings in the races have the E30's setting the fastest laptimes everywhere, followed by the E36s which can be brought to less than a sec from the E30's, but the E46s are way back in the pack all the time.

[Scho]

i hear E30's, but E36's are easier to find I think. The market is swamped with them.

[sunir]

e36 cars consistantly turn faster lap times all driver being of equal skills...this is why K-preppared is not combining e36 and e30 chassis models together....e30 M3 is fun and true its a great track car, but to say it is the best, hands down, is flat out wrong and misinforming...the kind of Bullsh*t information that contributes no value to a thread....quite frankly, there are too many factors that play into the answer to this question....please be more specific in your asking criteria (what class do you want to run, your budget, etc...)

[notbob]

Not really certain on class, looking for basically what would be the ultimate chassis to start with.

I'm wanting to lighten the whole thing to death and back, ie stripped interior but added in roll cage, run carbon fiber body panels, lexan glass, etc...

Looking for the chassis that I could build a killer suspension on easily (readily available parts) and good power levels w/turbo or nos or just NA even.

Sounds like a wrecked or theft recovery E36 would be a good project to start with at some point Maybe a 318 or 325 with an M3 motor swap.

What E36 chasses is the lightest?

More for mental curiosity at this stage then anything. Makes for some interesting discussion.

[stevewashington]

The 4 door e36 has a much stiffer chassis and is better balanced F/R. I think there is a slight weight penalty but it is made up in chassis rigidity and balance. That is why all the BMW's in the SPEED touring classes are all 4-door e36/e46 cars. The same holds true for e30's.

Steve
** E36/E46 Wheels for SALE**