328i Sport track project - Cadwell June 09

Mr Fletcher · Post by **Mr Fletcher** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:50 pm

tommy this link might be of interest for loom diagrams . the only slight issue is it is in russian

just click on bmw then the 3rd one down on the drop menu then the second one down on the next menu

then your year and then it is in english

http://www.autolib.diakom.ru/CARS2/index.html

cheers

jason

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:04 pm

Cheers Jason although I must admit, I don't know what those diagrams are telling me! I think I'll have to stick with only cutting back those wires that used to go to things that I don't need any more e.g. courtesy lights, OBC, gong, stereo etc.

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:59 pm

The suspension system has arrived! I'm so happy!!! (however you should see the look of disdain in my wife's eyes).

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 3:53 pm

Just got back from the garage to check on progress. It's just about done but needs new rear brake lines after finding out they were a bit too corroded for Adil's liking (the owner of the garage).

So here's the interior all sorted with the new steering wheel and all wires and switches tidied:

Front brakes:

Rear brakes:

Front coilovers:

Rear suspension - not coilovers since that would require tower strengthening:

Induction kit:

New poly bush for the trailing arms:

And now sitting rather low!

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:13 am

I finally got the car back yesterday and took it for a 30 mile drive in the evening. It was wet so I can't really report back on its handling. What I can say is that it's going to be one hell of a tiring journey to Nurburgring not to mention Cadwell next Friday!

The car is super stiff - it's been up-specced to 650lb front and 500lb rear springs and it just bounces everywhere! After some research I found out a standard coilover kit for an E36 runs around 375 lb front and 250 lb rear. E36 race cars run upwards of 850 lb front and 450 lb rear. It seems my rears were over-specced and it shows in that I can

Post by **Stuart** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:50 am

Cadwell, in the main, is a lovely smooth surface. Your suspension should be fine there......I would be a bit more concerned about the Nurburgring though. The circuit is known for its severe undulations and surface changes, all hugely unforgiving if your car is really stiffly set up.

The trick with any unfamiliar track is just to take it steady. Forgive me if that is patronising but I see so many people agonising over set up. Go and learn your car and the track and remember to have fun :thumb:

Hope to see you there.

Andy916 · Post by **Andy916** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:59 am

Does sound like you might be oversprung, especially at the rear, Tommy.

What is a 'standard coilover kit'? A standard kit from Gaz do you mean?

What tyres will you be running? May be stating the obvious but the reduced weight transfer of those stronger the springs requires stickier tyres to find grip. I expect you might struggle in the wet. With any luck you'll experience both dry and wet at Cadwell which will give you some idea for subsequent trip to the 'ring. Cadwell varies so much between the open and woodland sections that, at this time of year, you often get wet and dry in the same session!

Changing spring rate at rear relative to front will affect under/oversteer balance, of course. Adjustable ARB can give useful fine-tuning in that respect.

You say 'bounces everywhere'. Even on a smooth A-road?

Your old STi is running very nicely on 280/225 lb (front/rear) inverted coilovers btw :-D Will be used in anger for first time at this Sunday's sprint all being well. Might go softer at the rear and use the rear bar adjustment (Whiteline 22mm) to get the balance right. My previous scoob used the same rear bar on max (with the same spring rates front/rear) to be very neutral in the dry but could be a handful in the wet...

Andy

Post by **Stuart** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:03 pm

Stock seats won't help either. They are designed to give compliant support with standard suspension. They will be bloody hopeless unless you're on a silky smooth surface as the soft foam and springs will compress at different rates, almost like they're out of time with the car.

Andy916 · Post by **Andy916** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:39 pm

tommySTI wrote:I just didn't expect it to become so raw. I'm not complaining, just not looking forward to the road miles to get it to the tracks.

Teehee, helmet on all the way to Cadwell then :-D

Good earplugs are available here:
http://members.aol.com/lucydellearplugs

Andy

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 7:01 pm

Andy916 wrote:Does sound like you might be oversprung, especially at the rear, Tommy.

What is a 'standard coilover kit'? A standard kit from Gaz do you mean?

What tyres will you be running? May be stating the obvious but the reduced weight transfer of those stronger the springs requires stickier tyres to find grip. I expect you might struggle in the wet. With any luck you'll experience both dry and wet at Cadwell which will give you some idea for subsequent trip to the 'ring. Cadwell varies so much between the open and woodland sections that, at this time of year, you often get wet and dry in the same session!

Changing spring rate at rear relative to front will affect under/oversteer balance, of course. Adjustable ARB can give useful fine-tuning in that respect.

You say 'bounces everywhere'. Even on a smooth A-road?

Your old STi is running very nicely on 280/225 lb (front/rear) inverted coilovers btw :-D Will be used in anger for first time at this Sunday's sprint all being well. Might go softer at the rear and use the rear bar adjustment (Whiteline 22mm) to get the balance right. My previous scoob used the same rear bar on max (with the same spring rates front/rear) to be very neutral in the dry but could be a handful in the wet...

Andy

Hi Andy
When I state 'standard coilover kit' those rates I mention are what GAZ provide as standard and pretty much all the other brands are in the same ballpark.

Re tyres I am going to try some of those cheap Hankook trackday tyres when my 8 part worn road tyres are all used up. If the Hankooks don't cut it I'll try Kumhos next.

The bouncing is really only on bad roads or undualtions/joints on A roads. However after driving the car again today I am either getting used to it or it's settling down a bit. Currently the dampers are set to about medium. I will turn them to full soft (for the road) when I get the chance.

Will look forward to your sprint report.