There was only one option to keep the car in a reasonable condition without robbing a bank. Strip it and cage it!
What really kicked it off was all the water constantly soaking the carpet. Sometimes 2" high in the passenger footwell. Or the glove box FULL to the brim.
So out came the carpet and after 3-4 weeks without the carpet (nice race sound inside
) the rear bench and after that.........slow start, removing the tarmac inside
I stripped out as much as possible before taking the car to ETA Motorsport (opposite Brands Hatch) to get a cage welded in.
Matt at ETA didn't waste any time, I got round there the following week and the whole car was stripped down!! I was shocked when I saw the car, nothing was left, just the shell and the rear axle!! Wasn't prepared for that.
I knew it wouldn't be pretty.....
just a little bit of cutting rotten metal out here and there
an replacing it. Nothing major.....
out came the sunroof
and some other bits.
--aux tank
--central locking
--complete ABS (didn't work anyway, but still wish I would have kept it)
--every wire which wasn't connected to anything
--all sound deadening
--parcel shelf
--stereo amp and speakers
--OBC
after the shell was welded/repaired Matt started with the cage. Main hoop first.
to cut a long story short, approx 35m of CDS tube later we ended up with this.
after painting (the colour looks much lighter in the pictures)
added some grip tape to the floor and my new bucket seat
I am really happy with the outcome of the whole project. In my wildest dreams I wouldn't have imagined how much work that really would be. Big thanks to Matt from ETA Motorsport who really worked his a*** off the get the car ready for my trip to the NÃarbring.
I have been to the Ring 3 times this year and done Brands Hatch twice. The car is a blast to drive and I can only recommend to anyone who is serious about trackdays and the Ring to weld a cage in. It has transformed the car. It handles so much better and taking all the weight out has really made a difference. It's a pain for daily driving (have got another car, but can't stay away) but as soon you are out on the track it's all smiles.
Well not always. on the way home from Brands Hatch (after 250 miles on track without a single scratch!) I had the urge to smash the M3 into the back of a new 320d going into Dartford tunnel. oops!
Car was looking rather sorry and had to stay with the bodyshop for a few weeks. While it was there, some more rust was sorted out and the whole car was sprayed glossy black. Haven't got proper pictures of that, but it is sooo shiny.....
