E30 Aerodynamics request

[EtaSax]

So we all know that the misty spray behind a car when it is travelling on wet roads can reveal a lot about the pocket of low pressure at the rear of the car. It's been raining a lot and here and that got me really curious as to the difference in this mist pattern between the mist from behind an E30 without a spoiler and from behind an E30 with the is spoiler (or other spoiler). Maybe someone can snap a picture or two and post them up here for a comparison. This might reveal through a little more of the effects of spoilers on E30s without getting into a windtunnel. Just food for thought....

[Mr. Tasty]

I will get right on that

[e30shmobberr]

lol its not a huge difference. probably very little if that

[R3Z3N]

I think the IS spoiler adds like 100lbs of downforce at 60mph. But you have so much drag that you can't accelerate much faster than a Prius.




Totally serious. ;-)

[EtaSax]

I know these changes are probably extremely minor and may not be perceptible at all, but it has to change the aerodynamics in some way. Even "No Change" is a significant discovery. I've seen threads talking about the aerodynamics but I've never seen any visual tests. It's a far-fetched request but might be worth a shot, just for discussion sake. It's forecasted to rain a lot more around here in the upcoming days. I'll see what I can to get a pic with my spoiler. That'll be fun, using ye 'olde Hyundai Azera as a chase car.

[McGyver]

you should also try to match speed in a straight line and amount of water on the road/rain intensity for a good test. so take a picture of the rain coming down and take a picture of the road surfaace to go with the picture of the spray pattern for compairison.

[Cynical 1]

simple thought would be have a car with and a car without spoiler follow each other a few hundred yards apart and take pics/video. rules out variables on temp/wind/water.

i doubt it is that much of a difference. likely to have more spray difference due to tire tread/size, ride height, mudflaps, bumper design, etc than spoiler/no spoiler.

[future rs]

simple thought would be have a car with and a car without spoiler follow each other a few hundred yards apart and take pics/video. rules out variables on temp/wind/water.

i doubt it is that much of a difference. likely to have more spray difference due to tire tread/size, ride height, mudflaps, bumper design, etc than spoiler/no spoiler.

These where my exact thoughts. From a science stand point. It would be best to take a single car and test all the spoilers on the car on a closed course with a measurable amount of moisture on the road.

Not related to the spoilers but still interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS3sbYJHkSw

[Garageaholic]

Lol and you need 2 guys to get into the car because.......

[CabbE30]

I dont even think air hits the spoiler, look at all the turbulence on the roof of a dirty E30.

[E30Gus]

Pee out the sunroof on a dry day. Prior to this research you need to take a vitamin B complex pill so the pee will be sure to stand out. Take pictures. Publish findings. Award.

[dannyyisntt]

Upon further research, the e30 does indeed resemble a brick.

[10Toes]

Go out to a race track on a rainy race weekend when a E30 group is running and find who has a spoiler on who does not and watch them go down the straight.

[Wergen7]

Definitely some interesting ideas here. If i was looking for downforce on an e30 without putting a big ass wing on I'd go for a flat under tray and rear diffuser

[ELVA164]

I know these changes are probably extremely minor and may not be perceptible at all, but it has to change the aerodynamics in some way. Even "No Change" is a significant discovery. I've seen threads talking about the aerodynamics but I've never seen any visual tests. It's a far-fetched request but might be worth a shot, just for discussion sake. It's forecasted to rain a lot more around here in the upcoming days. I'll see what I can to get a pic with my spoiler. That'll be fun, using ye 'olde Hyundai Azera as a chase car.

When BMW tested the iS spoiler, they found a 2% reduction in turbulence at the rear. I cannot source that, as I merely read it somewhere and it may be completely made up.