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**Jean** · 03-03-2008, 10:31 PM

Now here are my questions.

- using the s5x, what would be the easiest (read: most cost effective) way to get around 300hp?

with bolt ons, cams, and a good tune you might see that at flywheel... or go with a supercharger.

- what suspension would be good for a DD/autox (and a few canyon runs :grin:) car? I'm thinking Koni SA (500f/650r), but want to hear other peoples opinions on this.

400+ front / 600+ rear if you can deal with it, also keep in mind if you add race camber plates that does make it ride stiffer too w/o the rubber strut bushings (oem).

- Cages: I am totally lost regarding these. im guessing a full cage would be pointless if its not seeing track use regularly, so i'm thinking just a rollbar (i want to take out the back seats and put in fixed back front seats)... any help on which one to buy or who in socal makes good ones would be helpful.

for a street car I wouldn't go with a cage, unless you'll be using proper harnesses / seat and helmet. the problem with cages is that if you aren't protecting yourself completely you are risking kicking your head against a metal cage. it's basically all or nothing , if you with a cage you must look into the remaining safety elements.

- Wheels/tires: If im making around 300hp, what kind of wheels/tires should i be looking at? I see that 15/16"s seem to be common around here. I'm thinking im not going to go staggered since the e30 is so well balanced either. Is 9" all around overkill? haha, im not sure how thats going to fit under the fender, but its worth a shot

'

wheels are up to you, if you can afford go with 5lug and you'll have even bigger wheel options. e34/e39 mesh wheels are my fave and they fit the e30s really good imho. tires, pick your brand and get a sticky tire, don't go cheap with all season crap tires. tires is all that's keeping your car on the road, while cornering, braking, accelerating, avoiding something on the road etc. 8" is wide enough to accomodate 225-235" tire, and you really don't need more on an e30, it's not a huge/heavy car. the only time you'll need a wider tire is if you are trying to get the absolute most out of it in autox/track days. 275 35 15s exist for that reason ;)

- brakes: this is not discussed much on here, what are some good upgrades that will help me stop? I dont have the money for BBK, so thats kinda out of the question.

get good brembo blank rotors, flush the fluid, replace the old lines and buy GOOD pads (hawk hps, carbotech, ferrodo) and call it a day.

- and yea, besides the cosmetic stuff, what else should i be looking at? depending on how much i get for my car (im tihnking around $7k if im lucky), i will have about 15k for the project.

other than brakes, suspension, tires, wheels, safety and your motorswap you'll want to make sure your electrical and cooling system is in good order. rear bushings on subframe, trailing arms, front control arms, tie rods, steering rack, control arm bushings, alignment, shifter hardware..

**Jesse30** · 03-03-2008, 11:01 PM

- using the s5x, what would be the easiest (read: most cost effective) way to get around 300hp?
supercharger

- what suspension would be good for a DD/autox (and a few canyon runs :D) car? I'm thinking Koni SA (500f/650r), but want to hear other peoples opinions on this.
personally for my car im running it really stiff 550f/650r with adjustable 22/19 sways and thats for fast tracks, canyons and DD. but what type of suspension YOU go with for your autox really depends on what class you want to run.

- Cages: I am totally lost regarding these. im guessing a full cage would be pointless if its not seeing track use regularly, so i'm thinking just a rollbar (i want to take out the back seats and put in fixed back front seats)... any help on which one to buy or who in socal makes good ones would be helpful.
get a bolt in rollbar from autopower, affordable and nice.

- Wheels/tires: If im making around 300hp, what kind of wheels/tires should i be looking at? I see that 15/16"s seem to be common around here. I'm thinking im not going to go staggered since the e30 is so well balanced either. Is 9" all around overkill? haha, im not sure how thats going to fit under the fender, but its worth a shot :)
9's will fit no problem with proper backspacing.

- brakes: this is not discussed much on here, what are some good upgrades that will help me stop? I dont have the money for BBK, so thats kinda out of the question.
like jean said, just do maintenence and run some more aggressive pads and you'll be amazed, another thing you could do is upgrade to SS lines.

- and yea, besides the cosmetic stuff, what else should i be looking at? depending on how much i get for my car (im tihnking around $7k if im lucky), i will have about 15k for the project.

bushings and wiring issues.

**Jbs** · 03-03-2008, 11:22 PM

awesome, thanks for the replies!

regarding the cage, there would be no more backseats and the fronts would be fixed back, so i dont think hitting your head will be that much of a problem. what do you all think of matt's (racers market i think?) cage?

i might go 5 lug mabye in the future, but for now, im staying with 4, i think there is enough choice right now (then its time for some e38 basket weaves when i decide to haha).

alright, sounds good. thanks guys!

**einstein57** · 03-04-2008, 01:19 AM

It has to do more with hitting your head when you crash or roll the car. The first thing i would do before i did any mods would be to chose what type of racing you want to do first and read through the rule book regarding what mods are allowed and what is mandatory. It would suck to dump a bunch of cash and then find out you can't race with your local clubs or in a class where you can be competitive.

**Jean** · 03-04-2008, 01:38 PM

Originally posted by einstein57 View Post

It has to do more with hitting your head when you crash or roll the car. The first thing i would do before i did any mods would be to chose what type of racing you want to do first and read through the rule book regarding what mods are allowed and what is mandatory. It would suck to dump a bunch of cash and then find out you can't race with your local clubs or in a class where you can't be competitive.

Yep, and if you are doing it for fun only maybe you don't want to upgrade everything on the car at once and autox first after making sure all the oem stuff is up to par and upgrade gradually....

2 cents.

**hugh jass** · 03-04-2008, 01:48 PM

i would suggest going 5 lug before you buy wheels and big brakes. the e30 m3 5 lug setup has fantastic stock brakes and your wheel choices will be much greater

**Jbs** · 03-04-2008, 07:10 PM

jean, lol trust me im not going to be doing this all at once... I'm a broke 17 year old, so this might take a couple months :)

hugh jass, i thought the 5lug swap was more complicated than that? something involving a z3 rear end? if thats all it is, then i will definitely be doing that eventually. thanks!

**einstein57** · 03-04-2008, 08:08 PM

Who cares about good looking wheels on an e30. Most modern wheels look out of place on our cars. If your going 5 lug for the brakes it would be cheaper and better to go with Massive Brakes. Or you can save time and money and just give me your money :) An e30 can drink up 7 grand real quick.

**rThor432** · 03-04-2008, 08:31 PM

Originally posted by einstein57 View Post

An e30 can drink up 7 grand real quick.

And even then it can still live on jackstands....

**Jean** · 03-04-2008, 09:09 PM

Originally posted by einstein57 View Post

Who cares about good looking wheels on an e30. Most modern wheels look out of place on our cars. If your going 5 lug for the brakes it would be cheaper and better to go with Massive Brakes. Or you can save time and money and just give me your money :) An e30 can drink up 7 grand real quick.

TRUTH. 7k and no engine work yet lol

**Jbs** · 03-05-2008, 10:26 PM

Originally posted by einstein57 View Post

Who cares about good looking wheels on an e30. Most modern wheels look out of place on our cars. If your going 5 lug for the brakes it would be cheaper and better to go with Massive Brakes. Or you can save time and money and just give me your money :) An e30 can drink up 7 grand real quick.

I want either BBS RS's or LM's... those are 4 lug right?

oh, and i just want to use this smiley

**einstein57** · 03-05-2008, 10:58 PM

The rs wheels come in 4 and 6 lug. I have not seen a true BBS LM in a 4 lug.
Thats not a smiley. This is a smiley

**einstein57** · 03-05-2008, 11:07 PM

Originally posted by Jean View Post

TRUTH. 7k and no engine work yet lol

I wonder who has spent the most w/o engine or paint. I know there are a few cars in here in the $20K+ club but they have been sprayed and stroked or m/s5x. I get depressed when i look at my receipts cause i know the girlfriend will never let me buy her a gift under $500. That and i could have bought a clean M3 that i stumbled across after i already dropped the first 5

**M42Technik** · 03-05-2008, 11:10 PM

Originally posted by einstein57 View Post

I wonder who has spent the most w/o engine or paint. I know there are a few cars in here in the $20K+ club but they have been sprayed and stroked or m/s5x...

There are certain cars here that are in the upwards of $40K. Not joking. One of which still has an M20.

I know of one car here with a $12K paintjob which used Glasurit and had many many coats of paint and clear.

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