geeman's 318is

[benwilamowski]

Hi guys just a quick post to introduce myself and say I have just bought Geeman's silver 318is track toy.

Rest assured she has gone to a very good home and I am extremely chuffed that I have managed to buy her. She is absolutely spot on for the track day work that she will be doing as of Jan next year.

I have a few tweaks planned and intend to change all the oils & fluids asap, plus add guages, lightweight panels front and rear should get a bit more weight out and then maybe bin the sunroof and add a couple of race seats to finish her off.

I will post some pictures as soon as I can.

All the best Ben.

[eko]

Well done and welcome mate.

[Demlotcrew]

Will be good to see the car about again.

Andrwe

[Dan318-is]

a fantastic purchase my good man

best of luck to you

[chaosss]

Nice purchase mate.

I've got a 318is I use for the track (stripped out, roll cage, bucket, harnesses etc). which is having an overhaul this year (coilovers, semi-slicks, rear strut brace etc.)

Wish I had seen Geeman's earlier though probably would have bought it but I already had mine then.

[chaosss]

A couple of weight saving tips I have done if you are interested (can't remember how much was already stripped).

Get rid of the sound deadening (hot air gun)
Remove all the bonnet hinge mechanism (this weighs quite a bit and is right at the front) and use bonnet pins.
Remove as much wiring as you can (I am in the process of converting to manual windows, removing central locking basically anything you can).

Can cut the passenger side of the dashboard away (i haven't done this yet and not sure if I will).

then move the battery to the boot as mine is very very light at the back now all the weight has been removed. Then move the washer bottle to the old battery location to shift some of the weight backwards.

Also worth strengthening the linkage from the brake pedal to the master cyclinder to improve braking.

[Geeman]

Nice one Ben... welcome to the Zone dude!

Oil and fluids were recently changed, though it might be best to change them even if it's just to satisfy yourself with having done it. I reckon it's only done a few thousand miles on the existing stuff. I suppose that with the track use you'll be giving it, it's probably for the best!

Have to keep us updated as to what mods you do and a few action shots would be great!

Here's a few of it at it's only outing on Cadwell... (with BBS's on)











Hope you enjoy it!

Giles

[benwilamowski]

Thanks for all the encourangement guys.

Am hoping to change the oil and fluids tommorrow depending on the amount of snow we get!!!!

First track day is pencilled in for the 28th of Jan at Snett so I will post some pics of the day asap.

All the best and Merry Xmas to everyone.

Ben.

[Karan]

wkd car... has some bits from my old iS on it

[benwilamowski]

Just a quick up date to let you know that things are progressing nicely for Snett.

I now have 15" crossies back on her and I have done an oil service with nice fresh Castrol Magnatec plus some new plugs to replace the old ones.
Tightened up all the various hoses under the bonnet to cure a slight coolant weep. Raised the front coilovers as they were catching the plastic wheelarch liners and the front was so low that it scraped along some of the country lanes where I live!

If anyone is interested I have the old wheels available for sale, will post up properly when I get a chance to snap some pictures.

Giles do you know what the db reading is for your car at say 3,500rpm with the new exhaust? I am slightly concerned about whether it will be too noisy for the 98db trackdays so may have to change the rear box?

Can't wait for Snett to come round as I am desperate to see how she performs on track, should be really chuckable and great fun.

All the best

ben.

[Geeman]

Sorry dude, no noise tests I'm afraid. The system is one piece too if I remember... custom mounted to the original down pipe section...

I can vouch for the wheels / tyres being in A1 condition if anyone's interested, though the front calipers will need to be 'slightly' modified for them to fit.

Glad it's all coming together nicely for you.

[MrDazzle]

Where've the fog light blanking plated gone?

[Geeman]

They had fog lights in... so I just removed them.

[MrDazzle]

Just increases the drag coefficient, having big holes in the front is all...

[Geeman]

Keeps the brakes and tyres a little cooler though while you're hammering it round the track... lol

Wasn't really interested in drag coefficients to be honest... Cadwell isn't exactly 'straight line speed' track.

[chaosss]

Excellent mate. Bet you are well excited to get on track.

With regards to your old wheels are they the racing wheels? If so I might be interested. What modifications are need to teh front calipers though?

[Geeman]

A tiny bit of metal on the leading edge of the calipers needs to be ground off as it catches on the internal weights of the wheels.

They are 14" Weller racing, from a Single Seater Formula Vauxhall car.

[Hyperion]

great buy mate, nice to see the car back on the zone. Those pics Geeman are sweet, poetry in motion.

[MrDazzle]

How much hassle is it fitting and living with bonnet pins?

Every day doable, or track only? How much difference does it make? While we're here, does anyone know if you can get plastic panels for E30's?

[dazleeds]

i may well be interested in the wheels too when you come to sell them

[Geeman]

Daz... they're great wheels. Although they're steel, you'll be guaranteed that they'll be unique!

Bear in mind they are only 14" though...

[dark_sounds]

that car looks uber retro, just looks so good on the road.... i want full red rear lights! next on the to do list me thinks

]edit: welcome

[Geeman]

These are the steel wheels that are available for it...



And this is it looking even cooler with Alpina reps on it...



And this is how it looked when I first got it... (although already with the new suspension on it) - but before a trip to the paintshop...!

[bmwbreaker]

those steelies have made me sex wee!

[dazleeds]

gee

you know i fell for them wheels first time i saw them

Damn shame theyre not 15s tho

i had em as fulltime wheels if they were for sore

reminds me of my younger days in e30s on the floor with steelies

[Demlotcrew]

What suspension has it got?

Andrew

[Geeman]

FK coilovers at the front and 60mm spax springs with FK shocks at the rear.

[Demlotcrew]

Its just that it has quite a bit of roll.

What ARBs are on the car?

Andrew

[Geeman]

Standard ARB's...

I didn't think when I took the car out on the track that I had made the right choice with the suspension. It's more suited to the road. Should have spent a little bit more (or less) on something more suitable. You live and learn. Still, it went round the track with some decent pace, so there's plenty of fun to be had with it though!

Plus, you have to remember that Cadwell is a bloody tight and twisty circuit!

[Kedge]

Wish mine was that low and silver

Never did get to see it in the flesh or get any of those parts i wanted i wanted off it

[Demlotcrew]

Fair enough G!

Andrew

[benwilamowski]

Hi folks,

sorry I haven't been here for a few days.

The steels are defo still availble and I have five wheels and tyres available with dunlop's that have plenty of life left in them.

Sorry I haven't had time to take any photos but they are all absolutely mint without any kerb damage or detoriation at all .

If anyone is interested please feel free to pm me and make me an offer, I am not going to be silly with the price as they are currently sitting in my parents gargage not being used.

Cheers

Ben

[Geeman]

Ben... you taken the Bridgestones off them?

[benwilamowski]

I will be interested to see how she feels on track if there is too much roll that will very easily be fixed by a replacing the springs up the front, the beauty of coilovers is you can tailor what you want. I know from experience that 350llb eibach front springs will kill of any roll very nicely and make it turn in incredibly well. The rears will be absolutely fine as I only ever used to run approx 150llb at the back to retain traction when I was racing in Kuhmo and Seloc. I imagine that the stock FK springs are more street oriented than track oriented, certainly the ride is pretty compliant on the road so I guess I will be changing the front springs before I am too much older so but I will let you know how I get on.

Plastic or rather glassfibre panels are available from most of the motorsport boys, Nigel Moselely of Moselely Motorsport definitely sells them for the E30 becasue I have bought bonnet and bootlid from in the past.

Cheers

ben

[benwilamowski]

ER no I haven't, I must confess I just assumed they were dunlops, not sure why actually!

I stand corrected if Gee sais they are bridgestones then I am sure they are!!

Anyway they are up for grabs and I would like Ԛ£250. Condition of both the rims and tyres is very good, the rims look like new with no detoriation or kerb damage at all.

Cheers

Ben.

p.s. Had another good weekend prepping the car for Snett on the 28th, sorted out the rear anti-rollbar link that was slipping off, fitted a VDO oil pressure guage so I know what the 4 pot is up to, fitted a mikalor clamp to the exhaust so it doesn't catch anymore and generally gave her a good run down the lanes. Cracking fun to drive.