I bought a 1994 325i based on false information that that was the last year you could get an LSD.
Last edited by MatthewH; 07-16-2014 at 10:34 PM.
Interesting, I thought there was an option for a vanos 325 without a sunroof but maybe I was just making it up. That would make finding the "right" 325 a hell of a lot easier.
Last edited by Crustashio; 07-17-2014 at 07:11 AM.
For STX I'd want an early 1997 non-sunroof, no option 328 without side air bags. I don't think it is definitely the best option. A good argument could be made for a 1993 325.
1994 BMW 325is - Project 325 HPDE/TT | 2013 Scion FRS - Project FRS STX | 2017 Subaru BRZ - Project BRZ STX
Minor ride height adjustment needed, but tomorrow is go time Hopefully nothing falls apart!
1994 BMW 325is - Project 325 HPDE/TT | 2013 Scion FRS - Project FRS STX | 2017 Subaru BRZ - Project BRZ STX
Looks great! Good luck this weekend
Thanks Kale, and thanks for all the help.
After tomorrow I am going to get under the fenders and work on getting the undercoating off (assuming it's still there). Talked to the shop and they are checking w/ the tech on the fender rolling process.
Then I'll get the ride height set more accurately and have the alignment re-checked.
Test 'n tune is happening on Aug. 3rd, so I will have lots of time to play with the suspension then!
1994 BMW 325is - Project 325 HPDE/TT | 2013 Scion FRS - Project FRS STX | 2017 Subaru BRZ - Project BRZ STX
Can you post a pic of your fenders from inside&out when you finish them please?
PS Lovin this build thread, helped me out a lot with my build.
Well, yesterday was a success in more ways than one. The car drove great and nothing fell apart or broke Engine seemed to do fine, but I did notice a clicking/ticking sound from the engine at idle. I seem to remember that always being there though...
I went in to the day not caring much about being competitive...so what did I do? I won the 17 car DS class and was 6th overall in PAX (~70+ drivers). I was a little surprised, and even questioned at awards if my car was legal for the DS class (this is BMWCCA fyi). So, that has me all paranoid that I did something wrong with our RMC BMWCCA car classification (http://autocross.rmcbmwcca.org/Class.php) and accidentally ran in the wrong class. However, every time I plugin my upgrades (suspension parts, wheel/tires, LSD basically) I always end up with 94 pts, which is max for the DS class...sigh.
I did have some tire rubbing in the drivers rear wheel well on the drive to the event. I ended up raising the rear end another 1/4" at the event in the morning just to be safe. Had no rubbing during the event and also not once on the drive home. I did stiffen the rear bump from 6 clicks to 9 clicks after raising the rear too, so maybe I just need to run the bump at my "racing" stiffness all the time to avoid rubbing...
Where the wheels are rubbing in the rear:
1994 BMW 325is - Project 325 HPDE/TT | 2013 Scion FRS - Project FRS STX | 2017 Subaru BRZ - Project BRZ STX
Last edited by MatthewH; 07-20-2014 at 02:46 PM.
Yea the point system is...different. Anyways, I got my class clarified and I am good.
I also found out, after getting the tires off yesterday, I was actually rubbing on the rear part of the fender on the drivers side, not in the wheel well (well was being hit when bottoming out). This was due to the fender roll not being tight enough, so the tire was hitting the edge where the lip stuck out.
I had the shop do my fender rolling (it was cheap) but they did not clean the crap off the inside of the fender lip before rolling, so it was like a half fender roll I ended up cleaning out all the rubbery gunk in the fender lip yesterday, and the shop is going to re-roll it for me to get a tighter roll.
Here is a pic of where it was hitting the fender lip, toward the back of the car:
1994 BMW 325is - Project 325 HPDE/TT | 2013 Scion FRS - Project FRS STX | 2017 Subaru BRZ - Project BRZ STX
Glad you had fun with the car. It seems there's always someone questioning how you did when you did very well. Nature of the beast. Great handling from these things considering the strut suspensions.
I think I'd rather have a point system. But I'm thinking of the SCCA. I'm not sure how BMWCCA does it exactly however.
Last edited by Joshh; 07-21-2014 at 04:10 PM.
1994 BMW 325is - Project 325 HPDE/TT | 2013 Scion FRS - Project FRS STX | 2017 Subaru BRZ - Project BRZ STX
What are you running for rear camber? My rear RH is at 12.5" and I've never hit the inside of the fenderwell like that.
99% of M5x/S5x (excluding S54) motors have valve tick at autocross, some much more than others. Nothing to worry about as long as it goes back to normal after the event.
-2* camber in the rear. Where are you measuring your ride height to?
Just to be clear, I only rubbed on the inside of the fender well when the shocks were set to full soft and half soft. Once I stiffened them for autox I did not rub anymore.
Originally Posted by mrazny
Thanks, that is good to know.
1994 BMW 325is - Project 325 HPDE/TT | 2013 Scion FRS - Project FRS STX | 2017 Subaru BRZ - Project BRZ STX
Center of the wheel to fender. At full shock compression (tested with the spring removed) I wasn't touching anything after a roll.
The front for me is a different story. I'm rubbing all over the place, moreso on the passenger side when turning right. I've got a decent section of undercoating worn away. I'm thinking a spacer would fix it but I don't have studs long enough to test it.
I rub a bit on the front inside as well, but only at full lock. No spacer at all on the front (a small spacer would probably help me too, but then maybe cause outside fender issues).
Video is up of the maiden voyage of Project 325!
1994 BMW 325is - Project 325 HPDE/TT | 2013 Scion FRS - Project FRS STX | 2017 Subaru BRZ - Project BRZ STX
Seats! Sparco Sprint V's with mounts and drivers side slider (used in great condition):
1994 BMW 325is - Project 325 HPDE/TT | 2013 Scion FRS - Project FRS STX | 2017 Subaru BRZ - Project BRZ STX
What kind of seat base did you get?
1994 BMW 325is - Project 325 HPDE/TT | 2013 Scion FRS - Project FRS STX | 2017 Subaru BRZ - Project BRZ STX
So whats your final alignment and ride height, if you don't mind sharing.
I'm currently doing suspension on my stx 328 and not having much fun, everything rubs all over.
Front camber: -3.5*
Front toe: Neutral
Front ride height: ~5.5" measured at jack point to ground
Rear camber: -2*
Rear toe: ~.10* (I think)
Rear ride height: ~6.25" measured at jack point to ground
I'll try to snap a pic of the alignment printout soon and post it.
The front tires will rub the inner fender well at full lock (no spacers) and I have seen small tire marks on the shock bodies. I guess from when the tire is flexing it is hitting the shock body. I need to get some small spacers to resolve those issues.
The back clearance is good after getting the fenders rolled tighter (after cleaning all the rubbery crap out from the inside lip). The tires will hit the top of the wheel well if I bottom out fully. But, that only happened when I had the rear shocks set to full soft.
1994 BMW 325is - Project 325 HPDE/TT | 2013 Scion FRS - Project FRS STX | 2017 Subaru BRZ - Project BRZ STX
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