my new track car project

[8ARF]

hi guys, i hope you are interested in seeing a few pics of my new track car project.
its a e46 325ti.
i have a few bits and bobs already sorted for it: porsche calipers, csl discs etc, bucket seats, stripped out cabin.

[Bounce]

Nice little project,keep us posted.:thumbs::thumbs:

[mattCSLnut]

hi guys, i hope you are interested in seeing a few pics of my new track car project.
its a e46 325ti.
i have a few bits and bobs already sorted for it: porsche calipers, csl discs etc, bucket seats, stripped out cabin.

The Pork calipers look very familiar :whistle: Keep us posted with the Compact T.S. 'Project' :thumbs:

[8ARF]

i got them from jasmine porschalink just down the road from me. they came off a very smart looking boxster s which was being stripped.
328mm m3 rear discs delivered yesterday from bowker bmw (£200) and csl (ate) discs via ebay (£250).
rally road brackets on the way and porsche calipers brake lines already here
for a cheap bbk, its still cost a few bob (about the same as i paid for the car :hahaha:)
FFS, dont tell the wife!

[8ARF]

having issues with the hand brake assembly!:banghead:
I thought that kt would be far more simple than its turning out to be to transplant the csl/m3 discs onto the compact.
the front (with a little grinding) are going to be fairly straight forward but the hand brake shoes on m3's are far bigger.
trial fitted the disc and caliper today with the rally road brackets. it all looks like its going to be ok except for the hand brake.
ordered 2 new m3 back plates today so we will see if these can be fitted.
heres a couple of pics to be Going on with.
just popped a pic of my m3 in there with bmw performance calipers for a bit of fun:wink:

cheers, ian

[alexk]

Can't see the pics Ian.

The compact looks cool btw :thumbs:

[8ARF]

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[8ARF]

up on axle stands awaiting the coilovers etc
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[8ARF]

a bit of an update for those interested,

I had some inner rings machined and inserted into the rear e46 m3 discs in order to have a working hand brake.
it only cost £80 for the pair!

I have fitted one to the hub and other than having to let the adjuster off a little it all seems to be ok.
there are 3 securing grub screws which I am hoping along with the shrink fitting of the rings will be enough to pass a MOT.
as with most track focused cars, the handbrake wont be used as it will be parked up for long(ish) periods between events, I will just leave it in gear on a flatish surface.
a forum member on e46 fanatics suggested there may be issues regards different expansion rates between the machined ring and disc hat.
I have wondered about this and I am hoping that the disc material should be configured to cope with plenty of heat and with the disc floating on pins, the heat transfer to the inner hat should be reduced. if there is any/much heat collected within the hub assembly, I would think that the machined inner ring would expand more than the hat it sits in. I reckon this is a good thing, at least it wont drop out.....

its all trial and error. if it causes problems, for the £200 it cost's for some new disc's I will just replace them for new ones and put the modded versions back on for the MOT.

hope all this makes sense:-D

heres a couple of pics
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un modified e46 m3 rear disc along with original 325 disc

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modified rear disc with inner ring inserted. its shrunk fit with 3 grub screws

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not had much time lately and still waiting for a few bits n bobs.
got a radio delete panel so looking like I will be singing to myself enroute to Silverstone etc :whistle:

[8ARF]

just a couple more bits,
I have the suspension now. I am trying to build this project on a tight budget so opted for some BC racing coilovers. I think they were worth having a go with as over the years ive spent a small fortune on coilovers be it bilstein, schnitzer or nitron.
for under a grand these front and rear coilovers are damp adj, height adj, camber adj and will also there is the facsility of height adj by altering the actual body.
as the spring rates are pretty high, theres a lot of stress on the turrets so I got some f&r turret reinforcement plates from bimmerworld.
automac did a great deal on the powerflex bushes and eibach adj rear control arms. these will be fitted by the boys at bowker bmw when we set the geo up7533

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automac also provided me with a ultra racing rear strut brace and still waiting on delivery of a front brace.

its all a little slow going but going together nice and cheap

[8ARF]

finally off its axle stands and wearing its new pro race rims7725

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ready for sending away for the cage fitting. nowt special, just a 6 point msa approved cage.

rear porsche brembo's with working handbrake is a big deal!

[alexk]

Nicely done !

[Loaded]

Nice project. Very light considering the fact that the car will be with no interior, upholstery etc.

[KlausH79]

Hey there

I have been searching for an E46 Compact track day build for months! And here it is! This past August I purchased a 2001 325ti for a build just like this, but could not for the life of me find anyone doing the same thing, coupes, sedans, touring, e36 of course but you're the only E46 Compact build I can find. Thank you! Looks awesome! Any updates over the summer? I just started a build thread on Bimmer forums (sorry about that CSL R).....

[Neil M]

Hey there

I have been searching for an E46 Compact track day build for months!

Not a build but built, specification looks good though: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/bmw/e36-3-series-91-99/bmw-316i-compact/1819771# :thumbs:

[KlausH79]

Thanks Neil, but see....E36 ;) If you know of any E46 builds I'm all ears :)

Also the one linked to is a full on race car....looking for something that's 'just' a track day car. I do think I have my spec pretty much down after a lot of research but it's nice to look at what others are doing. E46 coupe builds do however look very much the same as the Compact (if not identical sans the boot) so I might have to make due :) but thanks for the link....

[Andyk]

Loving the team dynamics wheels on her....

[8ARF]

Hey there

I have been searching for an E46 Compact track day build for months! And here it is! This past August I purchased a 2001 325ti for a build just like this, but could not for the life of me find anyone doing the same thing, coupes, sedans, touring, e36 of course but you're the only E46 Compact build I can find. Thank you! Looks awesome! Any updates over the summer? I just started a build thread on Bimmer forums (sorry about that CSL R).....

Thanks for the kind words.
I too was struggling to find any info about doing a compact and still am.
the car had its first outing at donington last September but I was having major issues with the brakes locking up. this I believe is down to me accidentally stripping out the dsc sensor and some of the wiring DOH!
it handled like a pig too with proper scary unpredictable turn in oversteer (not helped by the locking rears :whistle:) but having adjustable rear arms I decided to add a little extra camber which totally transformed the car. it was reall stable trough craner and coppice! Mustve been the STW wing :gayfight:

at the moment, its in bits again as i'm (trying) to install a e46 diff assembly. this is just the subframe, axles, diff but the prop will need to be a custom jobbie unless I come up with something from the BMW parts bin.

ive stripped out the heater etc for weight issues and will be installing a heated screen for demisting purposes.

gonna try and get some pics up

[8ARF]

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[8ARF]

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[8ARF]

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[shimmy]

Lovely car BARF :thumbs:

[SamT]

Great Work mate.....just hurry up and finish the damn thing will ya :whistle: