Camber and Toe

[603Racing]

What are the stock camber and toe settings on an e30? My '90 325i had H&R race springs installed by PO. I'm adding the IE rear camber/toe kit to allow for adjustment. I will also be adding front camber plates.

I just need to know what the original settings were for the alignment that will be done after I install this stuff. Thanks in advance!

[jlevie]

Is the car only a daily driver or does it also see track time? In the former case use the settings in the Bentley manual. In the latter case, set 2.5deg for front & back camber, zero front toe, and 1/6" total rear toe. That is a compromise between street and tack settings. For a pure track car as much front camber as possible and 3deg of rear camber. 1/16" of toe out in the front and zero toe in the rear.

[603Racing]

It is mostly street driven, will only see one or two track days this year (no counting solo). The IE kit is easy to adjust from what I've read. I'm thinking i'll just leave the toe at the "hybrid" setting then adjust camber for track days. I'll mark the track and street settings for camber so I know where to set it when I adjust it.

Did you mean 1/16" total rear toe for street/track mix? Thanks for the input.

[jlevie]

Yes I mean 1/6" of total rear toe.

Adjusting front camber is easy, but rear camber not so much. A change in front camber has essentially no affect on toe. But that isn't the case in the rear. Twiddling with one affects the other. If the car is only going to see one or two track weekends a year I'd go for the street setup and leave it there. You could go a little more aggressive but that would be at the expense of increased tire wear.

[603Racing]

I am familiar with how the rear camber/toe/ride height is all intertwined (is that a word?). However, I don't have any experience with setting it up for street or track. If I can get a good street setup then I can adjust it for track days then back again for street. You input has given me what I need to get a good, slightly aggressive street setup.

I have the IE toe/camber kit with the interlocking teeth, so once i find the settings that work well for me I can mark them and will know exactly where to set them when I adjust them.

Thanks again!

[Chuck C]

jlevie--I assume your alignment specs are for a dry setup. If so, what changes, if any do you make for a wet race?

[cabriodster87]

What are the stock camber and toe settings on an e30? My '90 325i had H&R race springs installed by PO. I'm adding the IE rear camber/toe kit to allow for adjustment. I will also be adding front camber plates.

I just need to know what the original settings were for the alignment that will be done after I install this stuff. Thanks in advance!

[b*saint]

wait so since rear camber isnt adjustable, how does BMW change the rear camber from the factory?

[jlevie]

wait so since rear camber isnt adjustable, how does BMW change the rear camber from the factory?

They don't. The specs for the rear wheels are there to tell if damaged parts need replacement.

[110stx]

Is the car only a daily driver or does it also see track time? In the former case use the settings in the Bentley manual. In the latter case, set 2.5deg for front & back camber, zero front toe, and 1/6" total rear toe. That is a compromise between street and tack settings. For a pure track car as much front camber as possible and 3deg of rear camber. 1/16" of toe out in the front and zero toe in the rear.

Hmm, interesting. I'd be curious about other setup details with that alignment. Especially the toe settings. The front I get, but zero toe in the rear isn't what works for me.

I am most certainly NOT an expert, and I most certainly defer to thejlevie, who clearly knows his shit.

My alignment on my STX/sometime daily driver autoX e30 is -3 camber in front, zero front toe and as much caster as I can get.

The rear is about -2.5 camber, 1/16th toe in.

Cheers,
d.hitchcock