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      01-17-2012, 07:57 PM   #23
von_zoom
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You most likely can locate a E36 in good condition, particularly if it is a "track" car and not a daily driver. Age of the car means nothing if it is a built for track machine. If it is to be used also for a daily driver, then that is something else.

Now, a GTR, can get a sand paper face quicker than a E90, so I would not recommend one of these. You have to be a wild thing to drive it for one, and two, have only one eye and half sense to pay that kind of money to put it on the track..... However, one H of a car but who would want to podium at a BMW event driving one of these......(me)
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      01-17-2012, 08:22 PM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by von_zoom View Post
You most likely can locate a E36 in good condition, particularly if it is a "track" car and not a daily driver. Age of the car means nothing if it is a built for track machine. If it is to be used also for a daily driver, then that is something else.

Now, a GTR, can get a sand paper face quicker than a E90, so I would not recommend one of these. You have to be a wild thing to drive it for one, and two, have only one eye and half sense to pay that kind of money to put it on the track..... However, one H of a car but who would want to podium at a BMW event driving one of these......(me)
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      01-17-2012, 08:24 PM   #25
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you make me laugh
I can't wait to see Doc's face!!!
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      01-17-2012, 10:33 PM   #26
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R32 Baby!!!


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      01-18-2012, 08:13 AM   #27
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A C5 Corvette is a very affordable, and very capable track car platform. Decent standard C5s can be had for approx $12-17k, and C5 Z06 models can be had for $17-24k. All it needs are brakepads, Rcompound tires, and sometimes a beefier radiator/oil cooler and you have yourself a very fast and dependable track car.
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      01-18-2012, 08:41 AM   #28
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[QUOTE=Radiation Joe;11170611]R32 Baby!!!


Holy Crap! I want THAT R32, sounds like it's supercharged. Do you have any more info on the car? I was leaning towards the Boxster until I saw this video, now I want a Blue R32.

snowmants: I was never into corvettes, mustangs, etc.. I'd rather stick with German cars preferably.
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      01-18-2012, 06:45 PM   #29
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[quote=SeeYaLater;11172447]
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Originally Posted by Radiation Joe View Post
R32 Baby!!!


Holy Crap! I want THAT R32, sounds like it's supercharged. Do you have any more info on the car? I was leaning towards the Boxster until I saw this video, now I want a Blue R32.

snowmants: I was never into corvettes, mustangs, etc.. I'd rather stick with German cars preferably.
Yup. Supercharged. Great guy owns it. He calls it his track slut. Look up Team Janica Racing.

However, I think the best advice for a track car is a Z-06. Great right out of the box.
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      01-19-2012, 12:14 PM   #30
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I've tracked both an E36 M3 and an S2000.

The S2000 is cheaper and more fun. When I had the e36 I wasn't "in to" S2000s either, but the more research I did the more I came to appreciate them.

It's tough to find a better combination of more fun/easy to work on/reliable/cheap-ish parts track car.

I agree with whomever said non-M e36 if you choose that chassis.
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      01-24-2012, 07:10 PM   #31
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I've tracked both an E36 M3 and an S2000.

The S2000 is cheaper and more fun. When I had the e36 I wasn't "in to" S2000s either, but the more research I did the more I came to appreciate them.

It's tough to find a better combination of more fun/easy to work on/reliable/cheap-ish parts track car.

I agree with whomever said non-M e36 if you choose that chassis.
The S2000 is amazing. I have one along with my E46 and E90 M3's. I have no desire for an E36 M3 because the S2K does everything better as a track car. More reliable and faster out of the box, not to mention lighter. Only downside is you will need to augment the factory roll protection if you are a tall driver. I stick out at 6'2 with a helmet on.

I have 8K miles on my S2k and a couple easy days at Infineon, but another instructor has the same car with 115K on it and 100+ track days. It has not had anything except routine maintenance.

I could easily see why this would be a fantastic track car. Fortunately I have a Spec Miata already but if there were a class like SM for S2k's, I would definitely build one.
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      01-24-2012, 08:30 PM   #32
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If you go convertible, verify with the club you plan on driving with on their convertible policy. Some clubs dont allow convertibles or only specific models.
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      01-24-2012, 10:48 PM   #33
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dizzyj View Post
Buy an already built track car. Way cheaper than upgrading.
+1

Of the three choices you mention, I think the E36M3 is the hands down winner. But I admit to being biased as I've been tracking one for years after tracking an e30M3 and dealing with nagging maintenance issues like you mentioned.

You can get a modded up e36m3 all day long for an affordable price, it will keep up with the best of the "DE competition", maintenance is pretty easy, they don't require a ton of ongoing work, you can ball it up and walk away with parts for the next one, and most importantly, its a ton of fun to drive.

I wouldn't track the R32 b/c the awd would just make for more maintenance issues then is needed. While one can appreciate the low center of gravity advantages of a convertible, I've seen a couple of nasty incidents, so I like the idea of a roof.

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      01-25-2012, 12:14 AM   #34
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or a Radical for $25k?
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      01-25-2012, 04:44 AM   #35
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How does everyone feel about a first gen R53 Mini Cooper S as a track car? I know they are FWD, but are still one of the funnest cars around. And the higher mileage ones can be had for about E36 M3 money.
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      01-25-2012, 09:40 AM   #36
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Originally Posted by bmwSC8 View Post
How does everyone feel about a first gen R53 Mini Cooper S as a track car? I know they are FWD, but are still one of the funnest cars around. And the higher mileage ones can be had for about E36 M3 money.
I have R56 (which is better since you have the low end power due to turbo), and it is a great car at the track, especially when you pass M3s and Porsches

With an aggressive rear sway bar, you can do things like lift-off oversteer, and have massive fun with it. It doesn't have torque steer although this depends on model and year (mine is 2011). It is relatively cheap to mod. You can sort the suspension for $1-1.5k, you can use as small as 15" wheels/tires, or if you do BBK (which is $1.2k) you will need 17". You will be running 205-215 size tires, so dirt cheap. And since the car is light, they last a long time.

I think everyone should start this hobby with momentum cars (whether it is a miata, or mini or s2k etc). You learn to appreciate being smooth and driving on correct line.
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      01-25-2012, 09:53 AM   #37
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Thanks everyone for all your feedback. I ended up purchasing a 1998 E36 M3 that the owner started to build as a track car, but ended up purchasing a ready built track car instead and wanted to sell this project. The car looks very clean and has a bunch of brand new track stuff already on it. The car is out of state so it's being shipped and should be here next week. Maybe I'll make it to the Feb 4th PBIR event...

This is what is on the car already and all this is brand new:

-Suspension
Bilstein PSS9 coilovers/H&R Springs
Stainless steel brake lines
Wheel studs all around
12mm spacers up front
Delrin front control arm bushings
Peformance Friction 2 piece floating rotors front
New M3 Calipers front
PF pads all around
Power Slot rear rotors
rebuilt rear calipers
Sway Barbarian front sway bar
Adjustable sway bar linkages front

-Interior
Sparco Sprint 5 seats, adjustable (2)
Sparco harnesses
Kirk Racing 4 point bolt in roll bar
Momo steering wheel

-Exterior
Fenders have been rolled
Aluminum tow hooks

-Engine
Approximately 3,100 miles on rebuilt cylinder head
Aluminum water pump/thermostat
Otherwise stock


-Wheels
Set of Kosei K1's - 17x8.5 with Dunlop Direzza 245/45/17
Set of stock wheels/tires (5) including spare


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      01-25-2012, 10:17 AM   #38
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Good find. Are you planning to use as is, or do some more modifications?
Also, how did you find it?
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      01-25-2012, 11:20 AM   #39
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Good find. Are you planning to use as is, or do some more modifications?
Also, how did you find it?
My plan is to take it to my local BMW race shop and have them go over it to make sure everything is fine on it. Then take it to one track event to see how it does and go from there.

Seems like the suspension, brakes, safety stuff is already done. So I'll probably get some headers, exhaust (single 3" custom?), intake and a AIM SOLO.

I found it online on a classified website.
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      01-25-2012, 09:20 PM   #40
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Good find! Looks like you are ready to go for the most part. Have the shop change the fluids. What shop are you going to use? Braman/Hooked on Driving has an event at PBIR on 2/4.
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      02-02-2012, 09:02 PM   #41
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I love the extra car idea, but if you don't want sand paper face, just get a clear bra. it costs like $1k-1500. I got it day 1 and i love it. 20k miles later and no sand paper face.
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      02-03-2012, 10:36 AM   #42
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Wow, can't believe I missed this thread until after you already made your decision. I think you probably made a good choice, though the R32 does make a pretty good track car. With just light mods, I'm easily as fast or faster than the majority of E36M3s (I usually run with BMW car clubs), and when running well (i.e. not tired, brakes not overheated), can keep up with E46M3s. I don't have anything for the E9Xs, though. From a track perspective, AWD is great, though it can teach some bad habits, since you can get away with more than you should. Historically, the AWD hasn't been high maintenance, assuming it's serviced regularly.

The biggest issues from a track perspective are you can't really do anything with harnesses without replacing the seats, since the top of the headrest is solid in the stock seats. Secondly, due partially to the lack of brake venting, the stock brakes tend to overheat and get soft, even with good pads/fluid. After multiple years of trying to deal with this with different combinations of pads/fluid, I finally gave up, and my new Stoptech kit is arriving Monday. I still haven't decided what I'm going to do about seats/harnesses yet.

Oh, and as far as I know, if that is the Team Janica R32, it is HPA turbo'd, not s/c'd. The shop I get a lot of my work done built his R32, and in fact, I have an oil cooler in mine that came out of that car after they put a bigger turbo in it.
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