E30 M3 S54 track day car build

[Motorhole]

I'd be interested to know if the E46 strut bodies had to be cut down for sufficient travel? Or are they standard length?

Thanks!

[Superleggera]

They were cut down as they need to accomodate the shock travel and approx ride height of the car. I have some pictures somewhere of where they were cut if you want to see them - i think you have my email address ? Just let me know.

[Motorhole]

Yeah if you could send them through, that would be great, thanks! Using E46 struts/hubs is something I've considered for a future mod as it should increase caster over the E36 struts - though not seen anyone do it before.

Car's coming together nicely!

[Superleggera]

Yeah if you could send them through, that would be great, thanks! Using E46 struts/hubs is something I've considered for a future mod as it should increase caster over the E36 struts - though not seen anyone do it before.

Car's coming together nicely!

Is that on the basis that the E36 struts dont centre the wheel in the arch ? As part of the installation it was a must to use E36 Evo control arms and adjustable rear bushes - I was only able to centre the wheel using the maximum amount of adjustment. The adjustable top mount will let me increase the caster a couple of degrees more.

Or am I missing the point here ?

Interestingly Spencer Latham who is helping me with this build said that had I used standard e30 struts and hubs, that i would not have had to use full adjustament as the lower ball joint is off centre, whereas on the e46 the are centred

[Superleggera]

Lewis - here is the pic of where we cut the leg (you can see the black mark on the leg) - although we installed a sleave for the coileovers too

[Superleggera]

You can see in these pics the difference in position of the lower ball joint location from e46 to e30 hubs - this obviously affects the castor and wheel position in the arc.

[Superleggera]

Test fitting wheels to make sure all my calculations of tyre widths, offsets, brake caliper sizes and clearances were done right given that brakes and wheels were custom orders

[Motorhole]

Thanks for that! Very useful.

Yeah the spindle on the E36 hub/strut assembly sits slightly further back than on the E46 hub/strut assembly, which would bring the wheel further forward - although I think the angle of the strut to the vertical (castor) would be unaffected.

I'm using E36 M3 Evo arms, hubs & brakes with E30 M3 eccentric bushes, which does just about centre the wheel.



However there would be no harm bringing the wheel forward another 6-10 mm or so and I believe the geometry of the E46 hub (in terms of lower ball-joint - tie rod distance & scrub radius) is superior. If such a mod brought the wheel too far forward, I could always revert back to concentric bushes.

On the downside, I don't know what I would do with brakes if I wanted to stay with 16" wheels!

[MarkT]

Nice build! Just out of interest, looking at the first pic, it looks like the car had in-car adjustable ARB's. Is that correct? Looks like it was a serious toy! Hopefully it will be again!

[MarkT]

Also, where did you get the rose jointed castor adjusters from?

[Superleggera]

Yes, car previously had in-car adjustable ARBs - it no longer does. Previous owner set it up as a DTM replica to a large extent and I dont need to go to that far right now. The main goal is simply to get the car running reliably and road legal. I can then think about upgrading some areas of the car - i think only areas that will need wanting are front adjustable arms and struts and perhaps suspension.

The front arm rear adjustable bushes are from AKG in the US although PMC sell similar items too.

[Superleggera]

Some updates



plenty of space upfront with the engine moved back over 2 inches




Oil cooler and Fan in now

[Demlotcrew]

Nice took box

[Mikey_Boy]

Looking good...! What radiator and oil cooler are you running for this one?

[Superleggera]

E36M radiator and a E46M aftermarket oil cooler - both Mishimoto

[Superleggera]

Since I went with a Z4 manual rack the steering linkage ended up being a bit of a hybrid of Z4 and E34

[Demlotcrew]

You're going for non assisted?

The UJ's are out of phase too.

[Superleggera]

You mean one of the UJs needs to be spun 180 degrees ? Does it make a difference ?

[Demlotcrew]

TBH it wont make a difference, but for me I would have to have it as it needs to be. Devil's in the detail!

I think you are mad running a manual rack with those big wheels, if you spin the car, theres very little chance you'll be able to catch it.

[DanThe]

Manual racks are hard work, I guarantee you will be fed up after half a days driving on anything wider than about 185 tyres.
Might just be the picture but the rear exhaust primary looks very close to the linkage, can't see any E34 parts on it

[Superleggera]

Too far in with the rack now to change it so will just have to see how it goes. If I don't like it I'll change it for a e46 purple tag rack.

[Superleggera]

Forward facing hollow roll bar and mounts sorted:


Now with everything installed and fitting correctly Spencer has been busy taking everything out again so the bay can be tidyied up:

[Mikey_Boy]

That's a beefy anti roll bar! What's the thinking behind it?

[Superleggera]

It looks beefier than other aftermarket ones but it is hollow (as the bar is going around the front I wanted to keep the weight down) and has a larger diameter as to make up for some of the strength.

[Demlotcrew]

It's an Ireland one, still too small

[Superleggera]

The bay is slowly coming along. Wheel wells finally looking respectable - previous owner had them raised by an 20mm/inch but the finish didnt look so good.

[Superleggera]

It's an Ireland one, still too small

25mm too small ? Will see - some of this is guess work and suspension components may need changing and fine tuning once I get the car out and feel how it is it all working together, and ultimately how I want/like the feel of the car.

I was also suprised to see that some people dont run any rear ARB ?

On a side note Ive been reading about your MK60 setup - looks interesting but again wont be going down that road until this thing is up and running and I get a feel for it - but i do like the idea of it.

[MarkT]

If you get fed-up with the manual rack. Give me a shout and I'll take the set-up off of your hands

[Demlotcrew]

Are you going to Gaydon this weekend?

I'm on the Ergen Motorsport Stand with the MK60, I can talk you through even more of it a‘aaaa

[Superleggera]

Unfort not going to Gaydon - will reach out to you closer to the time im in a position to consider this in more depth though.

[Superleggera]

So I had some used carbon Ferrari Challenge seats from a 360 which were looking a bit worn so got them recovered. Will fit nicely in the E30 and only weight a touch over 5kg each with side mounts

[Mikey_Boy]

^^^ Tasty!!

[jmc330i]

So I had some used carbon Ferrari Challenge seats from a 360

As you do

I can't wait to see more of this as the work continues

[Superleggera]

Engine bay is coming along and is almost ready for primer. Spencer has been welding up some of the holes. Hes doing a great job and very particular - instead of just sheet metal he been using the original panels so they match up:

[Superleggera]

Probably not the most cost effective method but I decided to got the manifolds ceramic coated by Zircotec to help manage under bonnet temps - they came out nice. I used this coating on my 650hp Mitsi Evo to great effect: