190mph? Possible?

[maxfield]

Been having a discussion on MSN with someone about doing 190mph in an E30.

Personally I don't think this would be possible, I'm guessing if it was you would need in excess of 1000hp. The E30 is not that aerodynamic. Personally I wouldn't want to go that fast in an E30. Can't see the guttering trim reaching them speeds either...

Jamie.

[d6dph]

No chance imo

[fowler]

NFC= NO F****** Chance mate

[fuzzy]

anythings possible . maybe not as much as 1000bhp needed but decent gearing and some weight loss would certainly help. i cant get over 140 with my gearing/weight/aerodynamics

[Dan318-is]

Never. No were near enough Aero on the car and even if you could get it up to 190 then bits would probably start flying off.

[josh-hocking]

no way!! if someone can i want to see it!

[gooner1]

no way!! if someone can i want to see it!

Me too but not while im in it.

[ShakeyC]

was it on a cargo plane on route to africa via ebay

[fuzzy]

Never. No were near enough Aero on the car and even if you could get it up to 190 then bits would probably start flying off.

bits would be flying of long before reaching 190 but that would reduce weight and increase your speed even further . maybe

[maxfield]

Not possible was my opinion...

[Dan318-is]

Never. No were near enough Aero on the car and even if you could get it up to 190 then bits would probably start flying off.

bits would be flying of long before reaching 190 but that would reduce weight and increase your speed even further . maybe

Fuzz, Mass is a minimal factor with top speed. Power and aerodynamics are needed to overcome the opposing forces against the frontal and underside areas of the vehicle. Infact, the amount of air flowing underneath the car at 190mph, on an e30, it wouldn't suprise me if enough lift was created to lift the thing of the ground!

[no1_jazz]

Hi guy's I am the guy that max has been speaking to on MSN about the topic of an E30 doing 190MPH, rite I was the one saying it is possible.

Well guys I think personally anything is possible within reason, talking about speed and an e30 well I mean it is possible and that to with some serious work done to it engine and body modifications would need to be done of course. One would need to work on the whole dynamics of the car and to make it reach a certain speed they will need to do all the rite required modifications needed.

So guys what I'm saying is that it is possible with the entire rite Modifications done to the mean machine. Some may think it is not designed to do that speed but may be for those who love the design and also love speed equally I say they can reach their desired speeds again only with the rite engineering behind it all.

Jazz

[josh-hocking]

ok but it would meen cutting the roof/windscreen off! and the driver ducking

[maxfield]

ok but it would meen cutting the roof/windscreen off! and the driver ducking

That would make the aerodynamics worse. As the air going over the car would go through the interior and not around like with a roof.

[MrDazzle]

Has anyone got an accurate power and top speed for their car? Down to the bhp and mph if possible...that info should allow me to perform some educated guestimating!

Cheers.

[Ziggy]

If you replaced enough of the car, then sure it's possible. I'd go with the body off a macca f1 & the drivetrain out of the same car, but the choice is yours really. I'm sure the E30 interior's up to it. (Actually, best go with a body that'll fit all the seats in - d'oh).

[MrDazzle]

BTW, personally I reckon it'd be extremely sketchy at that speed in an E30, even if you could do it! You've only gotta look at the way ater flows around the rear windscreen when you're on the motorway to know it's not gonna be the most stable at the rear when you're going very fast.

[maxfield]

Has anyone got an accurate power and top speed for their car? Down to the bhp and mph if possible...that info should allow me to perform some educated guestimating!

Cheers.

269hp. 163mph. M3 so that will create more drag than an E30.

[MrDazzle]

Will have a think and get back to you...

[josh-hocking]

my dad doesnt drive fast or break speed limits therefore the fastest mines ever done was 90mph when i forced him to put his foot down!! he said his foot was nowhere near the bottom and it did run well!

[Scruffymurphy]

Infact, the amount of air flowing underneath the car at 190mph, on an e30, it wouldn't suprise me if enough lift was created to lift the thing of the ground!

Excellent, so we would be able to fly in our E30's. Now I'm really interested. This is the way of the future.

Let's do it.

[Steve-E30]

With the right engine , power and gearing anything is possible

[no1_jazz]

WOW Steve-E30 that looks nuts now thats what u call a mean e30 looking gooooooddddddddd

and u are rite anything is possible ofcourse within reason

Jazz

[JONUK]

Steve E30, spot on. I was just about to say anything is possible if you through enough money at it.

I am surprised no one has as yet created a mid engined touring, enough room for a V12 huh huh!!! something usefull to have on the back seat.

[Rich_W]

Well compare other Modified Road Car's that hit those speeds.

Reyland's Escort Cosworth. GPS verified 194mph
Norris Evo 9SWB Over 200mph
A multitude of R34 Skylines do over 200mph
There are Various FWD Hot Hatches doing high 160/170's
Didnt Dips White Alpina get somewhere near 170 as well?


How fast did the DTM cars go in a straight line. Albeit running a lot of downforce? And only with a max of 360BHP or so.

190 is not easy, definetly possible with a lot of money. More than most people will be happy to spend. And really there more to life than going 190 in a car from the 80s

[maxfield]

175mph... Supposedly

[StuBeeDoo]

The E30 is not that aerodynamic.

Dunno about not "that aerodynamic". E30's aren't aerodynamic - end of!
Throwing enough money at any car, 190/200 is on. I'd have thought that anything over 165ish in an E30 is going to worry 99.99% of all drivers.
Mine starts to get very "light" at an indicated 115, so even a very well sorted one isn't going to feel happy over about 150.
Didn't Ian get his somewhere near 160? Perhaps he'll be along to give us his "take" on it.

[SPADGE]

A guy i know called Rod Tarry did over 200 mph on proper timing gear in his 750 hp Sapphire Cosworth.
They arn't exactly the most aerodynamic of charriots either so my answer would be yes with the correct gearing and the right amount of power then 190mph can be done.

[Gwynleym10]

Well I must say I was very impressed with mine at an indicated 135mph on super smooth French roads (it does have new suspension though) no hintness of lightness. I was two up and had camping gear (and beer) etc in the boot!

I was nearly hitting the rev limiter though...


The speedo doesn't go upto to 190mph so its immpossible, unless you are in a hartage!

[old_skool]

How about a pair of these to get the power you are after Jamie:







No more need for S50's with these puppies

[maxfield]

I think they would be sufficient for 190mph. You would need balls like church bells to drive at that speed in an E30 though...

[ste]

A guy i know called Rod Tarry did over 200 mph on proper timing gear in his 750 hp Sapphire Cosworth.
They arn't exactly the most aerodynamic of charriots either so my answer would be yes with the correct gearing and the right amount of power then 190mph can be done.

Saph Cosworth is the next generation in terms of aerodynamics compared to an E30. The 'Jellymould' era of cars the Sierra came from had very low CD. In fact lots are more aerodynamic than modern motors with their silly pedestrian impact areas etc.

Evo mag recently ran a review on a 200MPH Omega. It was chosen as the chassis to fit the bonkers 1000bhp+ rotary engine in becaue it offered such a low CD. That thing only just cracked 200MPH with that horsepower so you can see what a struggle you're facing.

You'd need in excess of 1,000bhp to see 190mph in an E30. You'd definately loose bits off it at that speed too. My gutter trims survived until 145 before the passenger side one made a bid for freedom.

[maxfield]

My gutter trims survived until 145 before the passenger side one made a bid for freedom.

My Dad's went about that speed too.

Sounded like a really loud whip!

[tomstickland]

For standard shell, the power can be estimated quite easily. I'd expect the car to be totally unstable though.
318iS is 135BHP and 125mph, so for 190mph you'd need about 135*(190/125)^3=480BHP.
What's the top speed (book) and power outputs of the 325 sport and the M3?

Mine starts to get very "light" at an indicated 115, so even a very well sorted one isn't going to feel happy over about 150.

That's odd, because both E30s I've owned were very stable all the way up to top speed. Unlike 80s hot hatches.

Remember that drag depends on frontal area and the E30 is small and low by modern standards. Bit of a brick though.

[Gwynleym10]

My gutter trims survived until 145 before the passenger side one made a bid for freedom.

My Dad's went about that speed too.

Sounded like a really loud whip!

I lost mine on my old m10 at about 75mph!