Lightweight glass options for E30's...all the glass needs to be gone

[ROLLingKING]

So im doing little lightening things to my car here and there. Making the car lighter is my most urgent priority. Im sure some of u ppl will bitch and moan at the idea of lightening my car by its glass but its seems VERY logical to me. it keeps the car balanced all around by not just removing front or rear weight, it removes weight all around the chassis. And the height of the weight has an effect on drifting. less weight up top=less lean and inertia

Anyway im removing a bunch of shit in my car and this is something id reeeally like to do. what are my options here? what materials are out there? has anyone done it??

I dont really know anything about glass material or whats safe and what is not. I just want to replace the rear window, windshield, back vent windows, and the door windows. my only problem with the door windows being 1/2 the weight is how will I roll em down.haha right now its automatic windows but im sure the weight loss could shoot the glass up waaay to fast.
The cars an 87 325is so I have historic tags and dont worry about inspection. also will a different glass have my car cold as ice in the winter because of a lack of insulation properties or anything like that

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction

[Emre]

Is this a joke? You've obviously got to lose the power windows if you want to switch to Lexan. Even if you use the best Lexan that's molded and has a scratch-resistant coating, it won't work with window winders.

[jlevie]

For the windows, take the regulators and glass out and use Lexan drop in's for transport. That removes quite a bit of weight. Of course you won't have operable windows, but if weight reduction is the goal some sacrifice will be necessary.

The rear side windows are easy as they are flat. The rear window and windshield will require molded Lexan. I don't know of anyone that makes those for E30's, so you would probably have to do your own molding.

[Mr. Tasty]

fuhraze

[j0oftheworld]

I'm doing lexan/polycarb..
Glass/stock windshield
Removable door inserts w velcro to hold them up during storage, trailering.
Bolt in rear 3/4 and rear windows. Working on using a non-popout 3/4 frame to make the 3/4 windows look stock.

Most racing groups suggest leaving the windshield stock glass unless you plan on having rated, impact resistant lexan and supports/framing to support it.
Lexan is pretty "floppy" so that's why you see the metal strips and depressurizing holes/vents cut into them.

[gofredo50]

Can't wait to see what you are doing with the car Malik!

[mikeedler]

isn't makrolan required nowadays? I am 90% sure you have to have it even to get on the Nürburgring.
it honestly doesnt seem like much of a weight savings to me, sorry.

EVO3 M3s had 3mm glass in them (except windshield) vs. the 4mm in reg M3/E30s, so I guess it will do something.

[robgoesvroom]

If you are serious about cutting weight from your E30 save your money for FRP body parts.

[Chris916]

Yea honestly there's lots of other parts that should be removed from the car for weight savings before windows. And the windows on these cars really are'nt that heavy. Im switching to lexan all around, but keeping front glass.

[lennon]

You shouldn't even post until you can type legibly and ask a clear question or two. It's hard to answer your rambling. If you can't make a coherent post, what makes you think you can undertake replacing all of your car's glass with custom-made pieces?

It seems silly to replace all the glass with lexan for the weight, but still want to keep window functionality and a tight seal from the elements. Is it a track car or isn't it?

Do some research on replacing glass with lexan/other materials. It doesn't have to be specific to E30 BMWs (but I'm sure there's plenty of info about it on here, E30 tech, and the spec E30 forums). People do this to all sorts of race cars, and the ideas can be carried over to your car. Our door windows are not flat, so getting them to fit, roll-up well, and seal well, will be difficult with a window cut from a flat sheet of lexan.

Some people use the stock window guide (no motor) and straps to pull up the window and hold it in place. Some people just rig up a way to hold the stock glass up, and remove it when not parked/on the trailer (easiest and lighter than lexan!) I would leave the windshield and rear window alone. The side pop-out windows are easy to cut replacements for. All this will take some ingenuity and creativity. And if you want your windows to roll up and down, your car is definitely a street car and the windows the car came with will work best.

Good luck. Maybe post back with more specific (and clearly written) questions. And don't forget the sunroof. That would go at the same time as the glass, if not first.

[FunfGan]

Ftiw, everyone knows how "race car" my car is... Some of it may be silly, but this is just pointless imo. I know you "drift", but are you professional or even go very often? I would rip out the interior, tar, sound deadening and switch to fiberglass or carbon body panels before I messed with the windows. The only way they'll even be somewhat operable, is to build a sliding door type thing into the windows. But really, as everyone else has said, is it worth it?

[Texas Toast]

I suggest you gut the interior, remove AC, throw some lightweight wheels on there and then decided if you need to remove the windows or not.

my car will have the interior stripped soon enough, I already have the ac system removed, I have to keep the windows functionality because living in south texas without AC is full retard enough.

The hassle of lexan can't be worth the weight savings unless you're going full blown racecar.

[devon.818]

Ftiw, everyone knows how "race car" my car is... Some of it may be silly, but this is just pointless imo. I know you "drift", but are you professional or even go very often? I would rip out the interior, tar, sound deadening and switch to fiberglass or carbon body panels before I messed with the windows. The only way they'll even be somewhat operable, is to build a sliding door type thing into the windows. But really, as everyone else has said, is it worth it?

OH SHIT! stuarts car is the epitone of "because racecar", so if its even a stretch for him to do it...then thats just plain redonkulous!

so much lol in the thread
hahahaha /thread

[priapism]

What does your car weigh now?

[FunfGan]

OH SHIT! stuarts car is the epitone of "because racecar", so if its even a stretch for him to do it...then thats just plain redonkulous!

so much lol in the thread
hahahaha /thread

My car is so racecar it makes peoples head's hurt. Literally.