Questions for E30 drifters

[BimmerScreamer]

i think the biggest limiter is usually the driver not just the setup, try letting someone better then you drive your car and you'll see. The best mod is the driver.

(not aimed at anyone just my .02)

[MaxBell]

i think the biggest limiter is usually the driver not just the setup, try letting someone better then you drive your car and you'll see. The best mod is the driver.

(not aimed at anyone just my .02)

This is true in all forms of racing. I started drifting a VW Beetle in the Ottawa snow. Got an E30 and did a bunch of relearning to get used to the car. I know we all want to look for some wondersetup that is super easy to drift. There is none.

As for me, I have added and changed parts as I go along. I first upgraded the brakes to some 3DG slotted rotors and Red Stuff pads. I also upgraded the sway bars to thicker Eibachs.

Drift drift drift... then I changed the springs to H&R and shocks to Bilstein Heavy Dutys.

Drift drift drift, I changed the steering wheel to something smaller. Added an M30 intake and chipped the engine.

Drift drift drift, upgraded the injectors to 19lbs. and added a cherry bomb muffler and custom catback exhaust. Swapped to some harder springs.

Now I'm in the drift drift drift stage again, just getting back on H&R springs (they kick ass). Now, if I had jumped into the car I have now as a novice, I wouldn't have an understanding of the limits of the car and how they change and react. I know the car super well, even to the point where I have no problem noticing what I'd change in other E30s to make it like mine.

I hate to be a dick, but that's about as definitive an answer I can possibly give.

[shiboujin]

You guys make it seem like any RWD platform can drift like FD. I'm researching to find the forumula for the best E30 drift car. Can you drift a stock car? yes. Can you drift a stock car well? Kinda. Can you drift a mildly modded E30 at an FD level? no.

As I've progressed, I've learned a few things that would have made me a better driver sooner. IE stumbling around modding my car made my car harder to drift and not better.

IE my general short list for E30 drifters is this:
side wall flex contributes to large amounts of body roll. 15" minimum for rims
sway bars are your last method of controlling body roll. Springs are prior to that.
When you get really stiff, no rear sway bar is preferred

Now if I had known these few things from the beginning, I wouldn't have fucked with stock bottle caps for so long.

Also, HR Race springs are soft as hell. Most competitive E30s run spring rates near 1000#. Jstock is ~900 front and 1100 rear. HR race is 300/500.

[Chaos Theory]

You guys make it seem like any RWD platform can drift like FD. I'm researching to find the forumula for the best E30 drift car. Can you drift a stock car? yes. Can you drift a stock car well? Kinda. Can you drift a mildly modded E30 at an FD level? no.

Have to agree except for Formula Drift, that is probably the most boring "drift" to watch. Just extended power slides on long sweepers.

The drift basics are the same for all cars.

• FR Manual, lock the rear - Welded will do fine but an LSD is preferable.
• Eliminate body roll - Coil overs with stiff spring rates(in an E30 probably 10KG/MM front and 12KG/MM rear). Fat sway bars, adjustable is unnecessary.
• Reduce sidewall flex - No over sized tyres(245s on 8s etc) but you will want good tyres that grip well. Stretch is not really recommended.
• Increase lock - Modify steering knuckles/change rack/tie rods etc

Power is unnecessary. If it bogs down, kick the clutch.


Have fun.

[Mike The Bavarian]

Have to agree except for Formula Drift, that is probably the most boring "drift" to watch. Just extended power slides on long sweepers.

The drift basics are the same for all cars.

• FR Manual, lock the rear - Welded will do fine but an LSD is preferable.
• Eliminate body roll - Coil overs with stiff spring rates(in an E30 probably 10KG/MM front and 12KG/MM rear). Fat sway bars, adjustable is unnecessary.
• Reduce sidewall flex - No over sized tyres(245s on 8s etc) but you will want good tyres that grip well. Stretch is not really recommended.
• Increase lock - Modify steering knuckles/change rack/tie rods etc

Power is unnecessary. If it bogs down, kick the clutch.


Have fun.

245 on a 8 is proper sized you bozo....

[Chaos Theory]

How? 245 is almost 10 inches wide.

10" > 8".

[Mike The Bavarian]

How? 245 is almost 10 inches wide.

10" > 8".

225-245 is perfect on a 8"

[Chaos Theory]

225-245 is perfect on a 8"

[KennyT]

225-245 is perfect on a 8"

Contact patch width does not equal rim width, unless you live in stretch land. Also, higher end tires tend to recess at the bead allowing you to run wider tires on a narrower wheel. My Khumo 711's are this way, as are the Bridgestone RE-11's in my basement.

M Roadsters came with 7.5" wide fronts with 225s, 8.5" rears with 245s.

Stop doing coke.

[shiboujin]

I run 245s on my 9" wide

[Mike The Bavarian]

notice that I said 225-245...some tires run small and vise versa

[Jaxx_]

notice that I said 225-245...some tires run small and vise versa

I'm gonna agree with mike on this one. I ran a 235 on a 7" and that was OEM fitment. I later changed to 215 for the application, but i wouldn't consider 245 "oversized" for a 8".

[direction88]

E30 for drifting. I'm guessing you were the kid who's parents made him do figure skating rather than play hockey... Tough brake.

[Danny]

E30 for drifting. I'm guessing you were the kid who's parents made him do figure skating rather than play hockey... Tough brake.

And you must have been the one who was home schooled.

[lolcantturn]

E30 for drifting. I'm guessing you were the kid who's parents made him do figure skating rather than play hockey... Tough brake.

you must be homosex.