E30 Zone

I've only recently got my 318iS and have been going to the ring for 3 years now, absolutely love the place

From what i have read a good few people on here go there regularly?!

What model do you have, and what mods have you done?

What do you find most useful there?

And what do you think is an essential mod(s)?

Cheers

If you want to talk to like minded people pop over to the forum linked to www.northloop.co.uk there are a few of us on there who use E30's at the ring in varying forms.

Cheers mate
Think i've spoken to some northloop guys before without knowing it
I'm on the ringers forum too...
Will get registered on north loop

My questions still stand though, more opinions the better i reckon!

Essential mods are getting the experience!

Robinson I would suggest these as the most important mods. In order


1. Experience and learning the lines with hugely experienced people. Northloop can help you with that.
2. Safety - The armco is hard and close, so crash helmet, cage, bucket seats, harness
3 Car condition - Make sure the old girl is in tip top condition
4. Brakes - they dont have to be 300 pot 500mm AP's just so long as they are working, well maintained and have good uprated pads.
5. Tyres - again they dont have to be Cup sports or R888's just so long as they are all the same make and in decent condition you will be ok.
6. Suspension - Again it doesnt have to be the best just make sure it isn't tired. H&R or KW coilovers seems to be favourite out there though.
7. Uprated ARB's - Not required.

But harping back you will gain more pace on one lap with a vastly experienced driver than you will by throwing £5K at the car. Trust me

1. I don't have that many laps under my belt, but i have an extremely good memory, so i definitely know the track, and am getting some good lines. Although there is of course loads of room for improvement. Gotta remember everyone started somewhere. Need a capable car to learn in.

2. I always wear a helmet, cage is on the cards for next year.

3. Well lol It will be sorted for next year. I have checked it over and it seems alright for a good blast this year though.

4. Got new calipers all round with pagid pads and good discs, just put some DOT 5.1 in. I am convinced there must be a bigger disc and caliper conversion that fits under std 15" bbs wheels, somewhere. And yes i want to keep these wheels.

5. Got good year eagles all round. Will get R888s when the current ones are ruined.

6. Got mtech on atm, looking at what kit to get.

7. Got these to go on already.

I'm not interested in lap times, and hence improving the cars spec is only going to make it more fun and make me less likely to get into trouble, hence wanting to know peoples ring specs to see what they think is essential.
Sorry if it sounds like i'm being arrogant or whatever, i don't mean to be

You dont sound arrogant at all

The thing that's worth remembering is that you can drive 1000 laps of the ring and still be poor at driving it Get yourself in with some truely experienced people and you will improve. Take my word for it


The car i'm currently building can be seen as a project in this section

Hi dude, I'm a Northlooper too, I have a 318is.

Car is stripped, OMP seats, 6 point Weichers cage going in next month. Brakes are Std disks and Ds3000 pads front and back (amazing) 4 point harnesses, OMp teflon brake lines, 5,1 fliud, Suspension is a mis match KW 55/55 springs and bilstein dampers. Currently has 55 profile Toyo proxe balloon tyres (comedy) but as soon as i can sneak 500 euros out of the bank without the missus questioning it, I'm getting some 888's

Like gary says, safety first.

I love the little thing, even in its un finished set up, it'll lap well under ten minutes, and it runs out of puff on some sections, but it lets you concentrate on your lines, just dont drive another car like that when or if you ever change or get the chance, as you'll find whats Flat in a 318is, certainly isn't in another faster car lol

Among other ring spec cars, i`ve got an E36 318is that gets used out there.

Its got:
Safety Devices Cage
Seats and 4 point harnesses
Spax RSX Coilover suspension
Rear eibach ARB
330 front brakes
LSD

It handles brilliantly and as Weeman says, most of the track is flat out, but it is boring/frustrating on the up hill sections.

Rear suspension is a little bit crashy, so i`m looking at new rear suspension over the winter, possibly GAZ.

I`ve also got the use of an E30 325i, again caged, with LEDA coilovers.

The rear is much more absorbent giving a great ride on track.