Fiberglass panels for E46

5150CT · #1 (**permalink**) 03-04-2005, 02:53 PM

Wondering if anybody knows where i can get widebody replacement panels for my e46 in fiberglass or carbon fiber? I'm turning my 330ci into a track car and would like a wider stance and contact patch. I am also anticipating that sooner or later the car will get some body damage, especially at the wheel to wheel level of racing and these panels would make repairs less expensive. I would like to attach the panels with dzus fastners for ease of removal and replacement and also for ease of maintenance, repair and adjustment of suspension and brakes. Any help or leads would be greatly appreciated!

LITEWAITM3 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-06-2005, 02:18 PM

Just curious, how is having carbon panels a less expensive route?

Also, making your body wider won't make your track any different, you will need to redo your suspension geometry to properly get a "wider stance."

BMW makes widebody kits

What class/series will you be racing in? Goodluck!

5150CT · #3 (**permalink**) 03-08-2005, 07:05 PM

I don't necessarily want carbon fiber, fiberglass is fine with me. The way it will be cheaper is to fix a metal quarter panel requires removing the seem weld and re-welding the panel than paint match, etc. If you have a fiberglass quarter panel that instals with dzus fastners, it is considerably a less expensive repair all the way around. You could have the panels pre-painted so as damage occurs the panels could be replaced with a flat screw driver. Fiberglass has alsways been cheaper than steel. In order to change the track of the car you need to start with the body, because if you widen the track through suspension mods and rim sizes you will still have the body clearance issues unless you address that first. Where can you purchase these widebody kits that BMW makes? Or is that sarcasm? I went on the bmw motorsports web site and saw the panel flares on their lemans race car, something like that would be ideal because it's not a complete quarter panel, so it should be cheaper. Although the factory cars are probably running carbon kevlar which is real expensive but really lightweight and strong. As far as what class i will race i haven't completely decided. I went on the scca site to download the class rules for individual classes, but my adobe acrobat wasn't working so i couldn't get all my info. Definately wheel to wheel racing is what i want to do and will build my car accordingly as far as cage specs, weight, and power. Currently i'm gathering as much info as possible so i can get a ballpark estimation on what my expense will be and how i will budget for it. Though this is my first attempt at road racing, i did import drag race in the turbo quick 8 class for a number of years when the honda turbo powered cars first broke into the 10's, with a car built by me.

LITEWAITM3 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-08-2005, 09:12 PM

Get your check book ready thats all I'll say.

And for SCCA, with those mods you'll be in ITE most likely and get your doors blown off. Build for a class you can be competitive in and have fun.

I don't see a reason for you to get a huge widebody and i dont even know what suspension components you plan on running.

Contact RRT for this type of custom setup, they can do whatever you want.

Poeple fit very large slicks under stock panels, so you probably dont have to worry

5150CT · #5 (**permalink**) 03-09-2005, 10:00 AM

Thanks for the info. Somebody was telling me that i should also keep engine mods to a minimum because it might put me in a class, that like you stated above, may render me un competative.

LITEWAITM3 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-10-2005, 04:38 PM

Stock body is fine, dont bother.

Concentrate on learning to drive it fast as is and getting the best suspension setup as is.

You can contact RRTwww.roadracetech.com for a complete suspension setup to tailor to your needs

m3ltw98 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-12-2005, 03:34 PM

I agree with LitewaitM3. RRT makes great products for anything you can imagine. Starting off w/ a widebody is not the right move. Get really familiar with the car and just drive it. Leave the widebody and big plans for later down the road until you are 100% sure what you want to do with the car.

TheWiseGuy · #8 (**permalink**) 03-12-2005, 10:53 PM

hehe thank you guys!

5150CT · #9 (**permalink**) 03-15-2005, 04:22 PM

Well it's to late to reconsider the race car idea. The car is completely stripped, the heater core is out, as is the a/c and the windows are on their way to five star racecar bodies to have them molded out of lexan. The roll cage is going in next week as soon as i decide what cage is best for the class i intend to compete in. I'm still considering the wider body because i'm having the car painted and would be wasting money having it painted again when i alter the body at a later date. As far as suspension i haven't decided if i'll be running remote reservoir or just coil overs like the Bilstein's. I ran those on my old 944 turbo, and they handled really well. A brake upgrade front and rear is also in the works, but i haven't decided what company to go with. i can get a pretty good deal through Alcon. As far as driving goes it seems the impression is i don't know how to drive. To be completely honest with you experience goes a long way, but raw talent goes even further as i'm sure you've seen in indy, cart, nascar, etc. I'm not saying i have it, but don't assume cause you've been on the track a few times, that automatically makes you the authority on driving. I do a lot of open track events at Willow and Fontana on my 600rr and am far from matching the lap times of some of the pros, but entering a corner head first at over 80 mph takes a lot more balls than being strapped in a car behind a cage with a five point harness and plenty of metal seperating you and the asphalt. Speaking from experience i've seen people their first time on the track match pace with many of the veteran track riders and it comes down to want, will, and raw talent.

TheWiseGuy · #10 (**permalink**) 03-15-2005, 05:39 PM

You really might want to think about just calling barry at RRT or pming me. He will be more of a help but I am willing to answer any questions you have. What class are you racing in?

5150CT · #11 (**permalink**) 03-15-2005, 06:27 PM

I'm not really sure. I want to set up the car so if i want to move classes as i progress, i'm not having to completely rebuild the car. I know that some classes won't allow more than a 4 or 6 point cage, while others allow you to attach to the suspension points (strut towers) etc. When i used to drag race, if the class required a 4 point but you had a 6 or 8 point, you could still run in that class. i found out that the SCCA won't allow that. At the same time, like someone stated above, i don't want to be thrown in a class with veteran or pro drivers because of the way i built my car, and be un-competative. i want to follow somewhere along the lines of what Dado did, but i can't find much info on that new class Dado was going to compete in that was for european cars with power adders. I know that for sure i want to do wheel to wheel racing. I'm not to crazy about the parking lot solo type racing. What are some good shops in the LA area that deal with BMW's and road racing, that i could talk to that could make some suggestions as far as class and the way to build the car chassis wise? Any info or sugestions are greatly appreciated.

LITEWAITM3 · #12 (**permalink**) 03-16-2005, 10:20 PM

With those mod's you will be in Modified, so you'll need an S54 to be competitive, and help from RRT to get the chassis/suspension upto spec.

Also 80mph going into a corner head first...sounds like shifter karting...on gp bikes they go quite a bit faster then 80mph into a corner

Racing is different then track days...entirely different driving style and apporach to "getting around the track as fast as possible."

5150CT · #13 (**permalink**) 03-22-2005, 06:27 PM

"At over 80 mph" was an average because it depends what corner of what track your on, big or small, rain or dry. Some have hair pins and others don't. GP doesn't exist here in the U.S. Unless your talking about the leg of the GP that will be here in June at Laguna Seca, but that is not a class here, it's just a spectator event. Why would i need an S54, i could just turbo or supercharge my current 3.0l if power is an issue?

LITEWAITM3 · #14 (**permalink**) 03-22-2005, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5150CT

"At over 80 mph" was an average because it depends what corner of what track your on, big or small, rain or dry. Some have hair pins and others don't. GP doesn't exist here in the U.S. Unless your talking about the leg of the GP that will be here in June at Laguna Seca, but that is not a class here, it's just a spectator event. Why would i need an S54, i could just turbo or supercharge my current 3.0l if power is an issue?

5150CT · #15 (**permalink**) 03-24-2005, 06:55 PM

What is your point by posting the emoticon? What are you being sarcastic or doubtfull about? Why don't you check out my websites www.5150crew.com, (motorcycles) www.ccrfabrication.com, (fabrication) www.marketimportsusa.com, (dealership) if you think i'm bullshiting. Also why don't you do a search on Eurotuner's site on both the Feb.04 cover car, and the July 04 cover car, as my shop did work on both those cars. I've posted my credetials, lets see yours!