Project 325 - Dual purpose 325is STX autocross and HPDE/TT

[MatthewH]

I bought a 1994 325i based on false information that that was the last year you could get an LSD.

[Crustashio]

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.

[MatthewH]

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.

[justinco]

The more I read these threads, the more I want to ditch my SM/BSP M3 and find a 325 for STX + track use. The amount of entries in STX is insane these days, even at my local events. Is yours a sunroof car?

Mine has a sun roof. STX is almost always our biggest local class, one of the draws to switch to it for me.

[justinco]

Minor ride height adjustment needed, but tomorrow is go time Hopefully nothing falls apart!

[e36ohio]

Looks great! Good luck this weekend

[justinco]

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!

[Daniils]

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.

[justinco]

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:

[MatthewH]

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.

Those points based classing systems don't work. They also aren't national in the BMWCCA--at least my region uses a different one.

The inner fender there is where my tires always rub too. Either more static camber or higher offset wheels.

[justinco]

Those points based classing systems don't work. They also aren't national in the BMWCCA--at least my region uses a different one.

The inner fender there is where my tires always rub too. Either more static camber or higher offset wheels.

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:

[Joshh]

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.

[justinco]

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.

Indeed these cars handle well, felt like I had tons of grip compared to cars I have driven in the past.

[Crustashio]

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.

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...

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.

[mrazny]

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.

Many also overfill on oil a little bit with varying results.

[justinco]

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.

-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.

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.

Many also overfill on oil a little bit with varying results.

Thanks, that is good to know.

[e36ohio]

Many also overfill on oil a little bit with varying results.

Yup, I usually just put in an even 7 quarts, with no lifter tick *knocks on wood*

[Crustashio]

-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.

.[/COLOR]

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.

[mrazny]

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.

With 20 year old cars, I don't like measuring to fenders. Too many potential pieces that can be off side to side. I'm using the jacking points.

[justinco]

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!

[justinco]

Seats! Sparco Sprint V's with mounts and drivers side slider (used in great condition):

[justint5387]

What kind of seat base did you get?

[justinco]

What kind of seat base did you get?

Everything is Sparco. Came already assembled, just need to drop them in the car and bolt up.

[Daniils]

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.

[justinco]

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.