How 'fuhraze' would it be?

[PiercedE30]

If you do, go overkill on the foam.

[payney8]

how? if you protect the surfaces at which you could hit with ur head in case of an accident you would have a less chance of death due to impact from the whole idea of the rollcage. Its main purpose is to form a cage around the occupant and if you think about it rather then just replying you would realise that headbutting the roof of ur car is pretty much the same as headbutting a rollcage with foam padding.

[rThor432]

plus whats wrong with overkill?

Dying.

[rThor432]

Should everyone be wearing helmets all the time?

Yes absolutely.

A roll bar is a good option, but I'd chose to install nothing and wait to do a full cage in that case. The main reason I'm interested in one is the side impact and foot well protection it offers. Have you ever seen an e30 take a side impact? Scary stuff.

You could get an Autopower with the removeable door bars. We have a setup at the shop for a Mk5 GTI like that. I assume there is something similar offered for the E30. That way you could have a full or half cage depending on your mood or the weather or whatever.

I saw the remains of an E30 that t-boned an F-150 @ 80 mph. Both the driver and passenger were unharmed. Amazing how safe they really are.

[speedhop]

I say go for that back half. It might be overkill but you'll be able to go balls to the wall and not worry about killing yourself! DO IT!

[payney8]

I reckon go for it. The rule in Australia is if you can touch the cage with your outstretched hand while sitting in the seat its illegal for road. But you guys are lucky so id just cover all the bits u could at a stretch hit in foam and away u go :D plus whats wrong with overkill?

[AlarmedBread]

Unless you plan on wearing a helmet all the time.... bad idea.

Everyone says this, but I don't really understand how possibly hitting my head on a tube from the cage is any worse than hitting my head on the steel structure of the door, b pillar and a pillar. Should everyone be wearing helmets all the time? I've been in a few caged e30's and without a helmet, I couldn't hit one of the tubes unless I raised up out of the seat. By then you're already into the roof anyway, this is true of 99% of the cars with cages I have been in. The only time the tubes got in the way was when I put the helmet on, and at this point in some cars (mine currently included) I'd be nearly rubbing my head on the roof.

Not trying to be a smart ass, I'm really curious why this common perception of you must wear a helmet with a cage is so prevalent. This probably wasn't the best place to ask these types of questions, but I know several members have experience with it.

A roll bar is a good option, but I'd chose to install nothing and wait to do a full cage in that case. The main reason I'm interested in one is the side impact and foot well protection it offers. Have you ever seen an e30 take a side impact? Scary stuff.

[Raxe]

Wearing a helmet everywhere would be pretty sweet, though.

[rThor432]

That cage would be overkill on a daily driven car. Ridiculous overkill.

In my opinion.

[PiercedE30]

Just do the rear half. That's what I plan on doing.

[Mtriple]

Unless you plan on wearing a helmet all the time.... bad idea.

[TopOfTheLine89]

Where are the cons in looking badasss everywhere you go. Next thing to do would be to weld the doors shut dukes of hazard style.

Getting in and out would be a bitch, i think a roll bar like suggested above would be better.

[einstein57]

how about just doing a nice roll bar setup and you can always have it converted in to a full cage later on.

[AlarmedBread]

To put a roll cage into my daily driver?

Situation is this - I have a friend who does paint/body/fab work and is in need of a car, I happen to have a parts car (decent body, bad engine/clutch) he is interested in taking in exchange for a respray, cage and some other misc. fab work I'd planned on doing down the line. For me it would work out nicely because I'd be hard pressed to find someone to just do the work for what the parts car is worth and I'd be helping a friend into an e30 .

I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons of doing it now rather than waiting to turn it into a track toy in a couple years, but this opportunity is pretty hard to pass up, and worst case scenario is I'm unhappy with it as a dd, store it or sell it to someone as a spec e30 car. It would seem that having a cage in a daily makes sense, better side impact, foot well protection etc. I've also heard that it is dangerous so I'm not really sure who to believe on the issue. I'd retain the 3 point belts to use daily and only use a harness at the track.

This is the basic design I'm considering (Thanks to Beertech!)


The paint is kind of a no brainer and since I'll be replacing the front windshield (cracked) and removing the rear glass to take care of the headliner, it would be a great time to stick in a cage, delete the sunroof and some other little things.

I'm not worried about people talking crap about my slow car having a cage in it etc. However if it is a safety issue for myself or a passenger in my car not wearing a helmet then it might be better to wait.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Comments?