Keep my e30 as a race car?

[ColdAccord]

OK so here I am with my Touring, my black 87 325e coupe, and a 71 240z. 240z is getting a cage and an rb26dett, and some nice brakes over winter. Touring is getting a stroker motor at some point this summer, already have all the parts just need the time to do the work.

Well here's the thing. I love auto-x, and would like to get into road racing. But I've never had the chance, my first track day will be in about a month actually.

I thought about picking up a 240z for track purposes, but an e30 track car also crossed my mind.

Basically here are my 3 thoughts/options -e30 track car using my 87 325e and the motor from my touring, keep the m20 in now, maybe an m50 down the line. Or pick up another 240z and build that for the track. OOr pick up one of those track rat e30 m3's that I see pop up every once and a while. You know the ones, come with cage and a bunch of other crap for $6k, but they have no title or something.

what do y'all think? also, anyone have any sites about info for classing and what not? I don't want to mod a car out of a good class or anything. Basically what I'm saying here is I'd like to get into track days and eventually racing, but don't know anything about it

[e30sd]

rb26 is cool, but e30 will be cheaper

[kansas-ix]

e30, m50 the E

[GaryE30]

M3

[GaryE30]

M3

[nando]

start with a stock e and go from there. no point in trying to race in a car that has much, much higher limits than the driver, right?

[Jon325i]

start with a stock e and go from there. no point in trying to race in a car that has much, much higher limits than the driver, right?

I have to agree with this. Keep the E30 and develop your skills while modding the car some. After some seat time (and money saved), think about getting something quicker. Either twin-cam 6 the E30 or get something else.

Jon

[Digitalwave]

start with a stock e and go from there. no point in trying to race in a car that has much, much higher limits than the driver, right?

Agreed. Get on the track, get some experience, then worry about what you are driving.

[ColdAccord]

seat time is definately the most important, and I do not take that for granted

But the 325e would take a shitload of money to get it up and ready. Which is why I'm thinking for a similar amount of money I could just start with an m3. The 325e sits right now with no motor or tranny, I'd have to get brakes and suspension, etc etc, looking at thousands and thousands of dollars.

the rb Z is already happening, but I'm saying that's just a fun car, I don't want to track it. So I don't know if, for a race car, I should pick up another 240z and turn it into a track car, dump a shitload into my 325e for a track car, or just buy an m3 track car.

[silverblades181]

if your looking to spend thousands and thousands of dollars.....M3!

[Mystikal]

Actually some good advice in here, nice.

I'd buy a good condition 325i/iS, spend some money bringing the suspension/brakes up to spec, and drive the shit out of it.

[rwh11385]

fuckin a. going to say the exact same as Jay.

screw dropping grands on the eta to get it track ready (as in passing inspection).

a friend got a junkyard e30 for $300. spent $3000 on getting it up to par.


buy a used track-prepared (as in problems replaced and taken care of) and decent suspension, brakes, etc. nothing super mad uber cool go-fast, just something that will hold up. 325is. it's not like a stock 325is is too much to handle. just keep your head on straight and learn. you'll grow into it fine.