318i's in DSP

[sikboy]

Ok I've got a 91 318i 4dr non sunroof no option car for starters. I had planned to put a m50tu w/aluminum block m54 internals etc. that I already have, but i think in SM I might be way out gunned and broke by the time I get this car ready due to the competion. I know there are alot of 325's in DSP but what about 318i's in the same class? Are you even competetive? Should I sell my swap and build this m42 or what? Suggestions please winter is here and I'm about to get started. Thanks for the input guys.

Confused???
Mr Sik

[Hick]

I ran a 318is in DSP last year against some of the best DSP E30s around. It was no contest. With a very experenced driver, it could be done. But you would need to pu 200% into every drive to win the class... unless of course your DSP class is not fast.

[DSP74]

WITHOUT A DOUBT your best bet right now is to write a letter to the SEB AGAINST moving the 318 16v to FSP.

Then swap in an M20 which would be super cheap to pull off.


Since this came up, what do you two think of using the 318 16v in FSP. Something you'd like to see? Or rather be able to swap an M20 and go to DSP?

[sikboy]

Well going down 1 class to FSP would def be better for the m42 powered cars. If not then an m20 swap should be easy as 1 2 3.

[DSP74]

My thinking is that they are the same damn chassis. And S/P typically classes cars to allow the best of breed as they call it....For instance a Mustang Cobra/Cobra R/Convertible/GT is all on the same line...

A regular GT can keep his light transmission, update/backdate to the weight reduction done to a Cobra R, and install the R engine, as well as chassis braces of the Convertible.
This is just ONE example.

A 318is on sunroof with a swapped M20 would be the best DSP car. The 16v cars are already in DSP so just list them on the same line and be done with it. The 16v guys get more HP/TQ with a M20 swap, and the M20 guys get some update/backdate freedom with the sunroof/foglight delete.

It isn't clear AT ALL if FSP would/could be won by a 318is....It's going to be considerably heavier than alot of other FSP cars. And not tons more power.

[ebelements]

After driving a nicely prepped m20 sedan for my first two autoX experiences (ever) over the course of the past two weekends, I would not want to drive anything less. The car did awesome in DSP and was stupid reliable but honestly I don't even think an M20 is enough.

[DSP74]

After driving a nicely prepped m20 sedan for my first two autoX experiences (ever) over the course of the past two weekends, I would not want to drive anything less. The car did awesome in DSP and was stupid reliable but honestly I don't even think an M20 is enough.

An M20 should do just fine. Alex S. forum member has been 2nd two or 3 years in a row at Nationals...Was 3rd this year I think...

They'll do fine. FWIW a fully built DSP E30 will be around 300lbs lighter than a similar prepped E36. That's how they can compete....That and a strong M20 puts good numbers to the wheels.

[z31maniac]

My thinking is that they are the same damn chassis. And S/P typically classes cars to allow the best of breed as they call it....For instance a Mustang Cobra/Cobra R/Convertible/GT is all on the same line...

A regular GT can keep his light transmission, update/backdate to the weight reduction done to a Cobra R, and install the R engine, as well as chassis braces of the Convertible.
This is just ONE example.

A 318is on sunroof with a swapped M20 would be the best DSP car. The 16v cars are already in DSP so just list them on the same line and be done with it. The 16v guys get more HP/TQ with a M20 swap, and the M20 guys get some update/backdate freedom with the sunroof/foglight delete.

It isn't clear AT ALL if FSP would/could be won by a 318is....It's going to be considerably heavier than alot of other FSP cars. And not tons more power.

Then what class is it that if you upgrade/backdate to another car, you have to make the swap COMPLETE. Like you couldn't put a Miata R suspension package on a car without doing everything else that was standard on one.

[DSP74]

Thats only in stock class.

In S/P you can pick and choose update/backdate allowances between models. With a few exceptions. Entire engines, transaxles, and transmissions must be swapped. No mixing parts.

For instance we can remove the trunk tar as IX and convertible models do not have it....And we don't need to convert to AWD or chop off the roof...

[gearheadE30]

I did not know about all that...To the OP, I only just finished my rookie year (sounds so serious lol) of autox in STX (moved from STS due to the LSD) on all-season bridgestones, and I am competitive with, if not consistently faster than, a lot of the regular STX guys. I'm around 2-3 seconds off the times of the national-competitive Civic hatches in STS, and I expect that to drop once I get real tires and learn to drive on them.

What I'm really trying to say is that you can get a lot of practice in with a bone-stock M42 and get your suspension more or less sorted before going to more power, which would have quite a steep learning curve. I've found it's a lot easier to find a good setup in a less powerful car.

[sikboy]

So since the 91-2 318i Conv has a 4.27 rear end it could be swapped between the 2? I guess update and backdate doesn't include M3's as well? The car's engine fell victim of a profile gasket so it will require a rebuild/swap anyway.

[DSP74]

IF 318's were on the same line as 325's yes. But as it is you could only swap between parts available on 325's
Or if you have a 16v 318 you could swap between parts available on those. So in the case above you could swap that diff into another 16v 318.

If they were on the same line in DSP, they would be able to interchange between 325's and 318's. Maybe swap a 4.27 into an M20 and shift your butt off-can't imagine that would be faster though.

[sikboy]

Well the 4.27 would def be for M42. That's pretty cool. Noticed that your an auto x guy what are you running? Got a build thread?

[z31maniac]

IF 318's were on the same line as 325's yes. But as it is you could only swap between parts available on 325's
Or if you have a 16v 318 you could swap between parts available on those. So in the case above you could swap that diff into another 16v 318.

If they were on the same line in DSP, they would be able to interchange between 325's and 318's. Maybe swap a 4.27 into an M20 and shift your butt off-can't imagine that would be faster though.

Yeah a 4.27 mated to a Getrag 260 would give you something like a 48-49 mph top speed in 2nd, which would fuck you big time in a region like mine where the run more road course like layouts then super tight ones.

[nando]

yeah, a 4.27 is not going to be helpful. 4.10s with a 7200rpm redline and I still tag the limiter too much. I'd like to move down to 3.91s and see what it does for me.