Looking for first BMW to race, any advice?

[march109]

Hi guys,

been lurking for a while reading topics and taking in all the info, just got a few questions really and hope someone can help.

Think I've read most of lloydie38's posts and hes pretty much doing what I want to.

I want a 325i E30 to race occasionally nothing too organised just track days, maybe sprints, something fun to take down a few 1/4 miles and something that can drift. Which is why I'm here I think the 325i would be awesome.

I have a pretty limited budget, but I'm realistic! I don't need the car for everyday use but it will be used on the road at weekends when I don't want to use the company car. Insurance isn't a problem either even though I'm only 24, but the girlfriend/new house/dog/family is hence the budget.

How much work is required to get it to 200bhp ish? I've see the cams and chips for sale on the site, where will these get me bhp wise? I have a local rolling road I used for my last toy and a mate who builds engines for a living, so head work is probably on the cards too, so not sure if I should just get a reporgrammable ecu instead of the chip for sale on the site but its a good price and others seem to have responded well to it.

What sort of power was the 325i as standard?

My other problem is I'm willing to travel most places within a 100mile radius of either Swansea or Bournemouth, but I can't find any decent 3 door 325's, there are plenty of over priced supossed "show" cars for sale and a lot of owners who obviously had one too many shandys before setting teir price, I have around £1000-£1500 for the car and initially another £500 for mods/improvements in the first month and then its a case of as and when really but I won't start going to any events until next spring so have plenty of time to do the work. However I've seen loads of 5 doors.

I don't want either the tourer or cabriolet, so is there any huge reason I shouldn't go for a 5 door if I find a minter? What are the handling and weight penalties associated with buying a 5 door?

Any other advice you might have for a newbie to both BMW's and racing them would be great. And whats your opinion on the E36 525i (seen plenty of them!)

Ta

[E30BeemerLad]

Look in the for sale section, there's a lad called Ollie, screen name Slowlysideways, he is selling his track prepared 325i, got all of the essentials done to it and within your budget.

the car is roadworthy too I believe.

Pretty much ready to go, think he is midlands area but not sure

Welcome to the Zone by the way.

Edit: here's a link to the car for sale
http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... ic&t=42596

[march109]

Just took a look, looks almost perfect except I don't want a roll cage, at least not a weld in one yet.

Until next spring I won't be using it on track and until then I'm going to also be using it weekends, and need a back seat (for now anyway). for the little one. I want to sort the engine and suspension and brakes before I strip it and fit racing seats and roll cage and then I'll probably put in a bolt in cage, at least until I start taking it more seriously. Next year will be my introduction to racing so I'll take it slowly, and want the car set up right first.

But price wise thats awesome, I'm amazed how many people think their car is a show car because of a respray and aftermarket alloys. Went and saw a car last night, 50 miles each way to find the panels didn't line up, and it was silver but one door was black on the inside and the engine bay was black, and yet under the boot carpets it was silver, couldn't move away fast enough. Didn't even get as far as crawling underneath.

I know alot of these can be worth good money but I think some people try it on, they describe a car and when you get there you can't believe its the same car. Thats why I joined this site, everyone here looks like they know what there talking about and I'd rther buy from an enthusiast rather than some nutter.

People who love their car and spend time talking to like minded people and offer advice and help are the same people who look after their cars.

Just read the 525i buyers guide, I'm looking for that 1 lady owner, with a mechanic husband, and garage.

Gonna be a long search me thinks

[m3ben05]

I know you say you dont want a cage but slowlysideways's car looks really cool and would be perfect for what you have in mind!

Still worth considering, its amazing value for what you get

[E30BeemerLad]

well you can either keep searching or look at buying a car like that which is ready to go and buy a smoker to run about in?

plenty of unwanted 318's etc can be had for a couple of hundred quid with tax & MOT, generally a zoner selling their car will be pretty honest about it, although there are some people who sign up/ join purely with the intention of off-loading a rotten turd.

best of luck with your search though dude

[march109]

I think I'll keep looking, for the moment, untill I get bored (which doesn't take long!).

I know what your saying though I doubt cars as good as that come up very often for that price, its just a bit soon. and the cage really puts me off, I like the idea of a bolt in one because I can put seats back in and easier for insurance if I only put it in for events, I've heard most comapnies don't want to know if you have a roll cage??

I haven't been looking for long just the last month, and I already have 2 cars on the drive and one in the warehouse at work waiting for an engine, and another I'm striping for parts so I'm in no hurry. Just looking for something to consolodate all the 'fun toys' into one car, then just have that and my rep mobile.

It is a lot of car for the money and looks seriously cool though.

[agent006]

I'd change the allocation of the budget. Spend 900-1000 on the car, and then spend 1000 on Seats harnesses and suspension.

[march109]

is it possible to find a good straight 325i for 900-1000?

[e30_Turbo]

is it possible to find a good straight 325i for 900-1000?

Yes, I bought my 88 325i for £650 two years ago

Poor bloke had bought a mk3 golf convertable and his misses told him to sell the e30, he cried as I drove off and best of all I found £9.23 in change when I ripped out the back seat, so £640.67 all in all!!

I go back too see him every few months, last visit was best though, he couldn't get over what I'd done and he aint seen the Holset yet

[JimmyC]

You say racing in your title? Do you mean racing or just trackdays?

If so which series are you looking at racing in? If for example you were looking at Production BMW, the ideal start if your on a budget, but a 325 would be no good, as our regs dont allow it.

If you are looking for a trackday toy then, you can have plenty of fun in a road going car with suspension, stickies and a 4 point harness.

I guess it all depend what the final goal is

You wont get much in the way of a seat, harness and suspension if your looking at racing for £1000 though

[march109]

sorry just meant track days. All good suggestions guys.

Any ideas on power figures, is the e30 325 around 170bhp standard?

But alas as I've mentioned struggling to find a decent 325i even for £1500, let alone less than a grand. But I'm not gonna rush out and buy the first car I see (or at the moment 2nd 3rd or 4th either!) I want a nice example, that I can move forward with slowly.

As I say I have £2000 all in this month, won't be using it properly until next spring so have plenty of time to prep and earn more readdies to put into the car, looking at a total spend of £4000-£5000 when finished, for basically just an expensive toy.

Just out of interest what model would I need for a production racing series???

[agent006]

I bought my 325 for £400. It's a 1989 with 107k at the time. Had a crached head, but pretty much a spare engine with it though. All in it cost me about £1k to get it running ok and through an MOT. Looks a bit shabby but the chassis is solid which is what matters.
Just keep looking and you'll find something. Keep an eagle eye on the for sale section here, check before you go to work, at lunchtime and the moment you get back, it can move really fast. I've lost count of the things i've missed by an hour or so on here.

[Cabrio]

Hi jc-bm has a very good shell coupe for sale it had a 320 and I think he may have put in a 325 and he wants about £800 ..the shell is mint I know as I sold it to him...in silver

Cheers

[AC_S]

check this out

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/95695.htm

[JimmyC]

Just out of interest what model would I need for a production racing series???

320 or 318 not is models, standard engine only to keep it cheap

You could build a race car with £4-5k and get some racing in to, if lucks on your side- I say that being on engine number 4 in 1 season, and a huge bill for engine parts and rebuilds

Loads more fun than trackdays- you know it makes sense ;)

[march109]

Fancy the 320 but is that not "is" as in injection-sport variants? does that rule out injection models too ( i ) or just iS?

What else is needed then to compete? for £4-5k i'm very interested.

What mods are allowed to the engine, by standard do you mean none? not even chip, race cam or cone filter? I did fancy using the MegaSquirt is that not allowed either?

Is there a thread here I can learn more? I didn't really think that would be possible on my budget but that seems interesting!

[E30BeemerLad]

check this out

http://www.selocmotorsport.com/

[march109]

Just have, awesome. Thanks

God what do I do now, gain experience in track days in a 325? or just get a 320 and race?

[E30BeemerLad]

get in and race
maybe do one track day or so at the most but otherwise you're just wasting money when you could be racing and going much quicker

[JimmyC]

Best place to get some info if your keen is www.seloc.org you'll need to register, then go to the motorsport and trackday forum, then Production BMW- theres a weeks worth of reading in there for you ;)

No engine mods, cone filter allowed but thats it really, means cheap CLOSE racing, not whos got the biggest chequebook ;)

Suspension is free, tyres are control TOYO R888's, exhaust is free to, full cage, race seat FX and cut off needed- thats it in a nutshell

318i and 320i only

If I was you and you are really keen get a 320/18 and start track daying that, then step up when your ready, pop over to Snetterton on 22nd/23rd September for the last race of the season and see what its all about!

[Dunx]

Just took a look, looks almost perfect except I don't want a roll cage, at least not a weld in one yet.

your in swansea? or around there?

Tell you what- get that car and I'll buy that roll cage off you ;)

[march109]

Yeah I am Dunx, you the same dunx whose on sw-cc too?

[Cabrio]

As said before jc-bm has a mint 320 coupe with no cage for sale..he is in the Midlands or he could bring to the car to London if you bought it...best be quick as I know he is clearing out cars...he was going to use this car himself for racing in that challenge...when you are ready for a cage I can get you one

Cheers

[Dunx]

Yeah I am Dunx, you the same dunx whose on sw-cc too?

Yeah and the rest of the sites

[m3psm]

Have a look on www.bmwtrackdays.com/forum ;)

Paul