Congrats to Alex!!

[arsevader]

Alex,

Congrats on a podium finish.....

I have always wondered about why using a four door E30 compared to a two door?

Don't know if this is why Alex uses one but the 4 door is slightly stiffer than the 2 dr due to the B pillar.

James

[Bavarian3]

That was I thinking too but worth the extra weight (if there is much extra weight ?)

[Charlie]

Look at the price of a nice 4 door e30 vs a nice 2 door car.

-Charlie

[Bimmerfanatik]

That was I thinking too but worth the extra weight (if there is much extra weight ?)

Pretty sure the weight is negligible - I asked him the same thing in person. I'm one of the lucky ones that's not only watched Alex race in person, but been in the car myself :)

[alex]

Scott, you are such a pimp... ;)

That's the car that I had when I started racing so I wasn't about to change in the middle. Plus there's some questionable data that suggests that 4 doors are stiffer. I don't know how much the weigh difference is exacly. Although I think that nicely equipped 2 door 325is would be just as heavy if not heavier than a stripped 4 door.

Thanks.

[Bimmerfanatik]

Scott, you are such a pimp... ;)

That's the car that I had when I started racing so I wasn't about to change in the middle. Plus there's some questionable data that suggests that 4 doors are stiffer. I don't know how much the weigh difference is exacly. Although I think that nicely equipped 2 door 325is would be just as heavy if not heavier than a stripped 4 door.

Thanks.

Pimpin' aint easy Alex ;)

According to the tech specs on Autotrader.com:

A 1990 BMW 325is weighs 2845 lbs.

A 1990 bmw 325i 4 door sedan - weighs 2854. I'll gladly accept a 9 lb. gain for what's probably a more rigid car.

PS - wheelbase and length are identical for both as well.

[nando]

That was I thinking too but worth the extra weight (if there is much extra weight ?)

it's like 30lbs. not a big deal..

[Bimmerfanatik]

That was I thinking too but worth the extra weight (if there is much extra weight ?)

it's like 30lbs. not a big deal..

Dammit nando - READ! :)

9 lbs. Only 9.

[rwh11385]

four doors also have the added benefit of being able to use light racing shells without losing the use of the back seat. it's a shame to not be able to use the backseat

[nando]

That was I thinking too but worth the extra weight (if there is much extra weight ?)

it's like 30lbs. not a big deal..

Dammit nando - READ! :)

9 lbs. Only 9.

it's different for different years. my owners manual shows about a 30lb difference. in any case, it's not a big enough difference to worry about.

[Bimmerfanatik]

That was I thinking too but worth the extra weight (if there is much extra weight ?)

it's like 30lbs. not a big deal..

Dammit nando - READ! :)

9 lbs. Only 9.

it's different for different years. my owners manual shows about a 30lb difference. in any case, it's not a big enough difference to worry about.

Who reads those manuals anyways? :)

Interesting. I wonder why the discrepancy. Who cares - in any case, you're right, it's negligible.

[nando]

the later i cars were actually a little lighter, so maybe the difference between a 4 door and 2 door are larger.

[E30 Racer]

Alex,

Congrats on a podium finish.....

I have always wondered about why using a four door E30 compared to a two door?

Me too. We all know 2-dr cars are much stiffer and infinitely better looking.

[Bavarian3]

I don't know what you were trying to prove with the usage of my quote....

And wouldn't 'we all know' that a iC is stiffer than the 2d or 4d model? Hmph....

Fire starter...

[Skafrog]

You know what kills the "stiffness" of a car? Fold-down rear seats, not the b-pillar. The rating of 2dr vs 4dr e46's are about the same at 18k Newtons or something, but the fold down rear seats drop that almost to cabrio levels (11k).
I'll look at the sheet sometime this week and get real numbers.