I want to LEARN DRIFTING

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pony
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 11:47 am

Hi

I want to learn how to drift in my E30 325i Sport.

What parts do i need to make sure are in good condition for this so it does not fall apart? I want to go to "Drift what you bring days" once every two months to practice. My car is also my EVERYDAY road car and i want to keep it as STANDARD as possible.

At the moment am thinking of putting:

Limited-Slip differential (either NEW Genuine BMW or NEW Quaife). The car had one when new but someone has taken it out. :x

I will upgrade the suspension bushes FRONT AND REAR to Powerflex (over NEW Genuine BMW)

Oil cooler has a leak so putting in NEW Genuine BMW oil cooler and hose.

As i said earlier.
What parts do i need to make sure are in good condition for this so it does not fall apart? I want to go to "Drift what you bring days" once every two months to practice. My car is also my EVERYDAY road car and i want to keep it as STANDARD as possible.

I am on a budget so dont want to change things uneccesarily.

Thanks very much.
oldroydsr4
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 12:12 pm

Welder is a cheap option for differential but if you can afford it get a 3.91 or 4.1 LSD with tightened plates and 40% (or more lock up) both Gareth and Kevo on here can rebuild them.

Suspension bushes are important - If they are fu*ked the car will feel vague and be harder to skid.

You need very stiff suspension due to the huge weight transfer inolved - Gaz gold colivers will be ideal.

A bucket seat and harness.

An electric fan which can be turned on and off in the car.

A good service .
maxfield
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 12:19 pm

Welded diffs are 100 times than a standard LSD in an E30.
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driftmaster808
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 12:22 pm

Hi Pony,

I'm based in south east london, and I want to learn how to drift......

although some good points you have raised oldroy my man pony wants to keep the car as a everyday machine with little modification so the bucket seat may not be ideal

I have a 325i sport and 318is.............I think my sport is just too nice to drift in but I'd like to do the odd powerslide round the odd roundabout now and again...so Im thinking of maybe turning the 318is into a drift car
CaesarBob
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 12:39 pm

As a car you need to use daily I'd have thought the following would get you up and running at dwyb days:

- make sure its fully serviced (should be anyway if its a daily)
- get an lsd (3.91 like it should have)
- pair of steelies or narrow alloys with crappy tyres

and away you go :burn:
'97 E36 B3 3.2 Touring - Alpina-Blau
'15 F32 420d M Sport Coupe - BMW - melbourne-metallic (Sold)
'11 E92 320d M Sport Coupe - BMW-saphirschwarz-metallic (Sold)
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pony
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 12:52 pm

It is a MTechnic I Manual gearbox.
i thougt it was meant to have a 3.6..?

Is DWYB days are they safe? I mean safe from hitting anything. Last thing I want to do is crash my car. :cry:

All i want to do is improve my car control and have fun.
CaesarBob
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 12:57 pm

pony wrote:It is a MTechnic I Manual gearbox.
i thougt it was meant to have a 3.6..?
Ah, sorry, assumed it was a Tech II. Yep, Tech I's have a 3.64.

Never done a dwyb day so no idea, but would imagine it's going to be a nice open area to play in. Biggest problem will be other drivers and your talent.
'97 E36 B3 3.2 Touring - Alpina-Blau
'15 F32 420d M Sport Coupe - BMW - melbourne-metallic (Sold)
'11 E92 320d M Sport Coupe - BMW-saphirschwarz-metallic (Sold)
'99 E36 328iA SE "Shooting Brake" - BMW-titansilber-metallic (Sold)
'89 E30 325i
CaesarBob
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 1:01 pm

Also, if you're a total noob to drifting, have you considered a session on a skid pan? I went to one run by the local plod where i got to play in an intergalactic mileage Omega with heavily warn rear tyres and a wet slab of concrete. Best £30 I've spent in a while.
'97 E36 B3 3.2 Touring - Alpina-Blau
'15 F32 420d M Sport Coupe - BMW - melbourne-metallic (Sold)
'11 E92 320d M Sport Coupe - BMW-saphirschwarz-metallic (Sold)
'99 E36 328iA SE "Shooting Brake" - BMW-titansilber-metallic (Sold)
'89 E30 325i
oldroydsr4
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 1:57 pm

No need for a skid pan. There are instructors at Santa pod, with different tracks dependant on ability, ranging from a donut area to figure of 8 area etc etc until you get on to the edc track for the big boys.
nm1
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 2:37 pm

lower and harden your sport
e36 steering rack
camber front wheels
plus a kazz lsd
this is what i use and im not lying the car is so responsive best mod is kazz diff plus e36 steering rack. i love powersliding i just got my sport resprayed about 6 weeks ago, i said to myself no more drifting but i just cant stop myself its very addictive.
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DanThe
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 6:46 pm

This is what you need bruv

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Get down tesco's for the midnight diffin sesh innit
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mattrs
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 7:06 pm

Just put too much air in the rear tyres, maybe 45psi in slim, tyres with barely legal tread, if you can find 14 or 13 inch wheels it will help too.

If the lsd is in reasonable shape it will work fine. (welded are better but annoying if used as a daily). Other than that the car being lowerd would help but its not essensial.

Find a deserted roundabout with 2 lanes around it, wait for it to rain and away you go!

Easist way is probably "scandi flick", basicly, on entry to the rounabout/corner turn a little the wrong way, then quicly the right, whilst accelerating (2nd gear), when it goes sideways counter steer and feather the throttle. Just take it easy and watch the temperature gauge to!

Hope that makes sense, failing that there are loads of videos on you tube etc.
pacerpete
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 7:08 pm

DanThe wrote:This is what you need bruv

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Get down tesco's for the midnight diffin sesh innit

You won't need the cable ties till you have stretched the envelope and had contact with walls/hedges/animals / humans .

To stretch the envelope, you need one of these

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DanThe
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 7:12 pm

Nooooo, your wrong Pete, real men use open diffs, dont forget 'welders' are perfect for track work as they give better grip
Dezzy
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 8:11 pm

Welders are ok on the road too. In fact for the lifestylers mig diffs are the only way to roll. :wink:
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e30topless
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 8:22 pm

how to make a drift car,

use paint from your grandads shed (colour doesn't matter)
cable ties , from 4mm to 20mm ,
weld the diff and cut the springs,
shopping list on the door,
shit tyres.
Petrol light = on

how to drift,

clutch down,
depress throttle until the engine is on the limiter,
lift clutch...turn steering wheel


search You tube for 'tips' on this unique motorsport !
scottidog
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 8:34 pm

e30topless wrote:how to make a drift car,

use paint from your grandads shed (colour doesn't matter)
cable ties , from 4mm to 20mm ,
weld the diff and cut the springs,
shopping list on the door,
shit tyres.
Petrol light = on

how to drift,

clutch down,
depress throttle until the engine is on the limiter,
lift clutch...turn steering wheel


search You tube for 'tips' on this unique motorsport !

Mee fcukin ooww Steve!!!!

You need a rear wheel drive car, preferably fitted with a limited slip differential or a welded differential. Those are the only ingredients you need to get started. Having a manual gearbox car, with a good working handbrake, coilover suspension and a supportive seat will make it much easier again. The next level is to make steering geometry changes to increase steering lock, fit strong clutches, and increase the cars engine power.

You can compensate not having a lot of power by increasing the pressure in the rear tyres. It is a myth that drift cars should run poor quality / gripless rear tyres to drift. Drift cars need as much lateral grip as a track car to attain the huge speeds and huge angles, hence why a lot of top level cars run cut slick track tyres. However, learning on cheap / used tyres is a perfectly normal and good way to learn throttle control.

Have fun and try not to kill yourself or enyone else. Be prepared for lots of bumps and scrapes.

Try www.driftworks.com
You win some, You loose alot!!!
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mattrs
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 9:25 pm

Drifting is simply show boating and forcing and holding long, fast and big angle power slides, whilst that may not be every ones thing and not the quickest route around every bend, it is skillfull car control and it will make you faster and safer by learning how to do it! It’s also pretty good fun!


Also drifting or at least the ability to control and exploit over steer is necessary in every motor sport from rally cross to touring cars, even in moto gp and superbikes not to mention speedway, rally etc etc
oldroydsr4
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 9:36 pm

Fully agree, i'm not a big fan of the drift scene I find it a little try hard but without a doubt it is awesome fun and very addictive. Learning how to drift can only improve your driving ability and if done in a controled envionment isn't dangerous either.

There seems to be alot of haters on the e30zone which I just can't understand - maybe they are just getting old.
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caneswell
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 9:47 pm

I learnt to drift in a standard 316i, with an open diff and some lowering springs.....wait for a rainy day and some empty roundabouts.
pony
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 10:03 pm

mattrs wrote:Drifting is skillfull car control and it will make you faster and safer by learning how to do it! It’s also pretty good fun!


Also drifting or at least the ability to control and exploit over steer is necessary in every motor sport from rally cross to touring cars, even in moto gp and superbikes not to mention speedway, rally etc etc
here here!
pony
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 10:08 pm

scottidog wrote:
You need a rear wheel drive car, preferably fitted with a limited slip differential or a welded differential. Those are the only ingredients you need to get started. Having a manual gearbox car,

Have fun and try not to kill yourself or enyone else. Be prepared for lots of bumps and scrapes.

Try www.driftworks.com
just want to learn the basics and have fun for now. nothing more. I bought my E30 purely so i can take it on these Drift What You Bring Days though it is my everyday car as well.
I dont fancy welding my differential as that makes it "easier" to drift. please correct me if i am wrong?

I would rather learn the proper way. rear wheel drive. check. LSD. check. Manual. check. Nothing fancy. no fancy paint jobs. no fancy suspension except uprated bushes. just a standard car getting in the thick of it. I dont want to enter any competitions. just get a good grasp of the basics.

PS if i do it on DWYB days..surely this is irrelvant

"Have fun and try not to kill yourself or enyone else. Be prepared for lots of bumps and scrapes."
DanThe
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 10:10 pm

If I were you id get a 'backup' car for the everyday use :)
pony
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 10:20 pm

DanThe wrote:If I were you id get a 'backup' car for the everyday use :)
:D
LOL
pony
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 10:23 pm

PS on top of my questions in the above post. Does a LSD make it easier to get a car drifting than with an open differential?

In my old E46 323Ci Coupe i still got it sideways sometimes when i was feeling brave even though it had an open differential.
magpie
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Tue Aug 17, 2010 10:25 pm

i predict a riot,on a wing.
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