Best race set-up for an E36?

Jd886 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-12-2004, 09:29 PM

I've been battling lately with whether I want to go Forced Induction or Naturaly Aspirated. I love driving my fathers M3, but I also love the pure power some of the turbo cars i've been in can deliver.

But now, I'm at the point I definetly am projecting my car to be converted over to full track car in about a 1 1/2 years to 2 years, considering my budget. In this sense I have to preplan way in ahead what exactly I want to do so I can buy parts one at a time or spend money in certain areas (engine, then suspension, or etc...). So what is most legal and benificial in the race seen? Should I be thinking about a Euro M3 engine swap or just pure power from a turbo?

I do not really know which classes, or types of racing BMW's race in, and would like to know. Can someone direct me to certain books that can explain this?

Dado · #2 (**permalink**) 11-13-2004, 12:42 AM

I would recommend starting with an NA car and down the road you can reconsider your option. FI is fun but it can give you lots of headaches if it's not done right. I went through a whole year of testing and the car wasn't going to last a race. At least now we know what needs to be done so the car is currently being rebuilt for this coming season.

Jd886 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-13-2004, 07:57 AM

Can N/A E36's hang with higher power Turbo'ed E36's?

Remember, I'm doing this way long term, so I have much time to research absolutely everything before doing it.

czm3 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-14-2004, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jd886

Can N/A E36's hang with higher power Turbo'ed E36's?

Remember, I'm doing this way long term, so I have much time to research absolutely everything before doing it.

The turbo M3s are much faster.

Its good to take a lot of time for research. One of the first places I would suggest, is the rulebook from your sanctioning body. Most of them will require that your car stays NA. You'll also find specifics on safety gear, brakes, suspension and drivetrain. If you are not sure, about where you want to go, stay NA because it frees up an extra $10K, that can be spent elsewhere.

Hint Hint, spend a lot of money on improving the driver.

John · #5 (**permalink**) 11-14-2004, 04:19 PM

Noone races turbocharged M3s. There are only two supercharged BMWs that I know of in CR racing in north america.

What makes a race car fast is being light weight. That being said I would build your car towards a specific class with keeping in mind going up in class down the road. If BMW CCA club racing is where you want to start, depending on what you have done to your car so far you'd probably want to start in J-stock or J-prepared.

While you're getting to the point where you will be ready to race, stay away from the horsepower mods. Learn to be fast without the help of a lot of HP. It will serve you the best in the long run. Worry about dropping weight from the car, tunning the chassis, and your own driving skills.

The best mod you can do is a really good cage. Gut your car to the sheet metal and send it to a quality cage builder. Then put back in only those things you need to meet the rules in your class.

You want to look at http://www.bmwccaclubracing.com

Jd886 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-14-2004, 07:52 PM

Yea I'm thinking I'm leaning towards N/A. I've always been one for the handling of a car, and I think that's the racer in me. When I first go to performance products sites, I always to go to the suspension section first, becuase that stuff always amazes me the most. Turner motorsport is suspension heaven for websites.

I am now leaning towards a Euro motor with new internals.

Is BMW CCA one of the better ways to get into racing? This excluding all the preperation (driving schools, experience, etc..). I am currious as to what classes and organizations people have most luck and fun in.

project325is · #7 (**permalink**) 11-15-2004, 09:35 AM

you could also run SCCA ITS. the bimmers are killing in ITS right now. i built an ITS rx-7 but it just wasn't up to the bimmer. definitely stay NA for now. you can always upgrade. but if you spend the money on the turbo now, then change your mind, you'll be in for a headache and losing a ton of cash.

m3ltw98 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-15-2004, 11:23 AM

If your on a budget, stay away from the euro motor. Parts are expensive, its expensive to work on and needs valve adjustments every once and a while. Find out what class you want to run in and build the car accordingly. Get a year or so of driving events under your belt and then maybe step up to club racing.

LITEWAITM3 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-16-2004, 03:41 PM

If you have a good driver,solid chassis, and a $20-25K Na race motor (most top cm/dm cars have a a pretty good engine package) you will be fine. Building a competitive CM/Dm from scratch will be $60-70K, $80K if you build it right for a driver who can handle it

Going turbo is a waste for CR really, since you wont have any competition...and thats if you can beat the NA car, which i still think you';d have trouble doing.

LITEWAITM3 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-16-2004, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dado

I would recommend starting with an NA car and down the road you can reconsider your option. FI is fun but it can give you lots of headaches if it's not done right. I went through a whole year of testing and the car wasn't going to last a race. At least now we know what needs to be done so the car is currently being rebuilt for this coming season.

Have you thought about selling the car and getting one of the E46 WCT cars and dropping an S54 engine in?

It'll be competitive, cheaper, and you'll easily get afull season of racing with it without doing anything to it..other then repairs from accidents/rubbin.

Sofronas has acouple stretch has a couple, turner is selling their fleet, lots of good stuff for sale.

Dado · #11 (**permalink**) 11-16-2004, 03:48 PM

You would never understand until you drive a 600hp m3. Try it out once

m3ltw98 has been with me on the track. Maybe he can give you some input on the difference.

LITEWAITM3 · #12 (**permalink**) 11-16-2004, 04:37 PM

How does it compare to an 850Hp F40GTE?

If it can do 0-60 in under 3 seconds, then it'll be as fast as the car I am currently racing

HP don't mean much...when are you going to learn? lol jk goodluck, should be interesting to see the car in BMWCCA CR in 05!

Jd886 · #13 (**permalink**) 11-16-2004, 04:42 PM

Well so far, I've figured out that I want to figure out what class I want to eventualy race in. However, its hard to "pre-plan" what I'm going to eventualy end up in a year from now, since I'm such a fickle. Thats why I'm trying to research and find out what's the best to do. I need a good resource for racing classes. I'll start searching..

Dado · #14 (**permalink**) 11-16-2004, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LITEWAITM3

How does it compare to an 850Hp F40GTE?

If it can do 0-60 in under 3 seconds, then it'll be as fast as the car I am currently racing

HP don't mean much...when are you going to learn? lol jk goodluck, should be interesting to see the car in BMWCCA CR in 05!

lol right.

I did get a chance to have some fun with two F40LM's. The front one was being piloted by Roland Linder. This was at Topeka Raceway for a special event.

http://www.dtmpower.net/videofileno/followingf40s.mpg

tylere36m3 · #15 (**permalink**) 11-17-2004, 01:15 AM

i take it you weren't pushing 100%!!! (short shifting)

nice, that car sounds sick on the straight!