trackable street car?

[jht3]

since everyone else has an opinion, i'll give you mine :)

you've stated you are just going out to have fun. you are also new to track driving. seeing as you are driving an e30, my guess is that you don't light cigars with benjamins.

with those three things in mind, here are my recommendations:

suspension: specE30 kit. it's a great place to start and you can sell it easily should you feel the need to step up to something else. fixed camber plates are all you'll need if this is mostly a weekend/track car.

brakes: good fluid and a set of autox or track pads. i run hawk hp+ pads right now and they do a good job for my ability level. stainless lines are something to look into, especially on old cars like ours. sure, the rotors are small and the calipers are single-piston, but they'll do fine for you. i'd also suggest a brake cooling kit, as the forced air really helps extend the life of your pads and rotors.

tires: important! run nice street tires at first. you will learn more about car control with these than jumping straight to r-comps. when you burn a set or two up, then go to r-comps.

that's it really. put all the money you saved NOT buying all that other stuff into keeping your car mechanically sound and driving schools. you WILL need to put money into rotors, pads, and tires! the e30 is a good car to start learning on as they are a pretty good package out of the box. i am on my 3rd year of DE's with my mostly stock m3 and the car is still faster than i am. i've ridden shotgun with my hot-shoe instructor friend and he embarrased me.

[Andreas]

I would also recommend that you don't modify your car too much before you begin. First get experience and see how you like it. Racing is not cheap and you might find the constant maintenance (your labour and spending money) will change your mind about the sport.

Whether you need big brakes or not depends on your competition I suppose. If you're just going to race other E30s with sad brakes, then there is no need to upgrade.

However if you have to race against some more modern cars it is almost compulsory that you upgrade your brakes. I have raced against some turbocharged 2.7 E30s with my M3 CSL ; I cannot catch or pass them on the straights, passing in the corner is too risky, I can however fly past them in the braking zones (even the ones that have upgraded to E36 M3 brakes). Once past, every heavy braking zone you see them disappear further in the mirror.

So please, don't let anyone convince you that brakes are a waste of money. Even if you don't need them to be competitive, they still make track racing a lot safer.

[jht3]

I would also recommend that you don't modify your car too much before you begin. First get experience and see how you like it. Racing is not cheap and you might find the constant maintenance (your labour and spending money) will change your mind about the sport.

Whether you need big brakes or not depends on your competition I suppose. If you're just going to race other E30s with sad brakes, then there is no need to upgrade.

However if you have to race against some more modern cars it is almost compulsory that you upgrade your brakes. I have raced against some turbocharged 2.7 E30s with my M3 CSL ; I cannot catch or pass them on the straights, passing in the corner is too risky, I can however fly past them in the braking zones (even the ones that have upgraded to E36 M3 brakes). Once past, every heavy braking zone you see them disappear further in the mirror.

So please, don't let anyone convince you that brakes are a waste of money. Even if you don't need them to be competitive, they still make track racing a lot safer.

he never said anything about racing. who cares if you outbrake others in a DE?

also, no one said don't spend money on brakes. actually what i said was spend money on getting the stock braking system back up to spec.

but i agree completely that the poster should hold off on huge purchases until he outgrows the stock parts. this way you also get to see the improvements with each upgrade

[speedblind]

since everyone else has an opinion, i'll give you mine :)

you've stated you are just going out to have fun. you are also new to track driving. seeing as you are driving an e30, my guess is that you don't light cigars with benjamins.

with those three things in mind, here are my recommendations:

suspension: specE30 kit. it's a great place to start and you can sell it easily should you feel the need to step up to something else. fixed camber plates are all you'll need if this is mostly a weekend/track car.

brakes: good fluid and a set of autox or track pads. i run hawk hp+ pads right now and they do a good job for my ability level. stainless lines are something to look into, especially on old cars like ours. sure, the rotors are small and the calipers are single-piston, but they'll do fine for you. i'd also suggest a brake cooling kit, as the forced air really helps extend the life of your pads and rotors.

tires: important! run nice street tires at first. you will learn more about car control with these than jumping straight to r-comps. when you burn a set or two up, then go to r-comps.

that's it really. put all the money you saved NOT buying all that other stuff into keeping your car mechanically sound and driving schools. you WILL need to put money into rotors, pads, and tires! the e30 is a good car to start learning on as they are a pretty good package out of the box. i am on my 3rd year of DE's with my mostly stock m3 and the car is still faster than i am. i've ridden shotgun with my hot-shoe instructor friend and he embarrased me.

Print this out and stick it on your refrigerator. I couldn't have said it better myself.

[cwsqbm]

For a total noob at the track, I'd suggest a bone stock car with fresh pads, fluids, and everything else in as good-as-new condition. I'd rather be a better driver than have a better car. Then mod as you uncover weakness. No matter how fast you've driven on the street, its irrelevant on the track.

[e9nine]

..... I'd rather be a better driver than have a better car......... No matter how fast you've driven on the street, its irrelevant on the track.

QFT :up:

[etxxz]

I have a question i've been dying to ask the right crowd...Springs vs swaybars

Basically one of the biggest reasons for higher spring rates is the body roll factor but it makes street driving unbearable. So will getting decent street spring rates and good set of sway bars perform just as well if not BETTER (better travel of the suspension on the surface??) than stiff rates.

i know there's shocks, tires, bushings and other variables but take the same circumstances

[ddavidv]

Try reading this:

http://corner-carvers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4328&highlight=sway

Best I could come up with.

[JRKOUPE]

I have a question i've been dying to ask the right crowd...Springs vs swaybars

Basically one of the biggest reasons for higher spring rates is the body roll factor but it makes street driving unbearable. So will getting decent street spring rates and good set of sway bars perform just as well if not BETTER (better travel of the suspension on the surface??) than stiff rates.

i know there's shocks, tires, bushings and other variables but take the same circumstances

many schools of thought on this.........

for street, use a HR sport and bars.......I run HR race w/ stock bars......and driving to a track can be tough at times.

[VAPORBLADE]

I am pretty sure I know what I am going to do. Many of you have gave me some fantastic direction to take the car.

I am going to be buying some stuff *stay tuned to see what* but I am taking the advice some have said:

I am taking the car out in it's stock (from the factory) equipment for a stroll to the track. I am going to have an instructor holding my hand (and I am cool with that...like I said, I am a n00b.) so I can learn the turns.

I just need to replace my lower control arms, tie rods, and bushings before I go out. I have one that is ready to be replaced.

Good stuff guys! I think this thread really has helped me! :) (my wife and my bank account also thank you) lol! When I go with crazy mods (and I will someday) I will be looking for MAD deals! :)

[PУCCKAЯ_e30ka]

one thing: DO NOT buy pagid pads... that's all

[fazio8118]

one thing: DO NOT buy pagid pads... that's all

Why not? I have the Pagid Blue Sports and haven't had anything bad to say about them yet. You experience something i haven't yet?

[VAPORBLADE]

Hahaha! I had those on my BMW 325e, those squeaked like a Richard Gears gerbals!

[etxxz]

i want to hear some discussion on thicker sways vs stiffer springs because i believe with the right research you can get trackworthy suspension that you can drive on the street w/o breaking your car

[Widm3r]

My mechanic explained to me, that your car is either a street car or a track car. You can not have the best of both worlds, you can build an all around car but it will do both not as well. Im sure some of the more experienced members can explain your issue well.