1999 E36 328i convertible drifting?

[nick93]

Hello forum!
I've been searching for a nice e36 for a while now, but sadly there arent any at all.The only good one is a 1999 328IC with 140k miles on.I checked it out and it really was a very well maintained e36.I'm sure convertibles are cool and fun to drive, but what about drifting?Does it handle like the coupe?Can you mod it like a coupe?

[E36MOB]

I used to slide a 325 5 spd vert. Had a lot of rear grip but it could still slide nicely. A 328 vert should be easier and more fun to slide. I've had e36 verts and sedans and I've been able to compare the handling. I've never owned a coupe but the handling is not much different. In my experience, the vert feels heavier in the rear end and it's harder to get the rear tires to break loose, but once they do it slides easily. My 328 sedan is much more tail happy than the vert was, and it feels alot lighter in the rear. So for me if I was building a drift car, I'd start with a sedan or maybe a coupe since it should be lighter over the rear axle. A vert will slide, but it's a bit harder to initiate and control with the extra weight over the rear. That's just my two cents, I'm sure others will have different experience.

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[Auto Parts Guy]

The chassis isn't near as stiff as a coupe/sedan and the verts are typically a tad heavier but they can be modded like any other e36.

[Team Neverlift]

It will be heavier, and the chassis will be less rigid. You will need to have a fabricator weld up subframe reinforcements, as well as a roll bar & harness bar in order to drift it.

One of the other driving instructors with the organization I instruct for drives a vert. He also uses it for drift... my near stock coupe puts down similar lap times.

[nick93]

My father used to own a 3.2 evo 321hp hardtop.Says it slided with no problems whatsoever, but he has almost twice the power, an lsd and an m3 chasis.Will a evo lsd fit a 328?

[MisterM52]

well it will have the xbrace from the factory to compensate for the rigidness due to some of the lacking on the top end. Now I'd say you definitely would need the Rear Subframe Reinforcement mounts welded if you want to put it in a heavy armature drift/track only scenario, you know a lot of that. But apart from that it will drift alright, specially if you get a short LSD diff, a 3.64 is a nice addon for track/street, if track only go higher I'd say.

[nick93]

It'll be a daily with occasional drifting.Wouldnt a 3.64 be too much for a daily?I was thinking 3.23 or 3.38.

[Team Neverlift]

If 4000 rpm @ 80mph (normal cruising speeds in my state on the highway) is too much for you, then yes. 3.38 from the auto would probably be the best compromise for everything.

[ChuckDizzle]

It'll be a daily with occasional drifting.Wouldnt a 3.64 be too much for a daily?I was thinking 3.23 or 3.38.

3.64 ratio will not be fun for highway driving if you plan on using this car as a daily. If you want a drift project, I'd probably start with a coupe or sedan.

[spyderg0d]

I think verts are more fun. I've drove both drift modded versions that are the typical e36. It does cost a but more time and money for the vert but c'mon, drifting with the top down is pretty fricken cool. I feel like the bit of extra weight in the rear of the vert gives it a slight more control until you get higher torque car.

[hotdish]

If 4000 rpm @ 80mph (normal cruising speeds in my state on the highway) is too much for you, then yes. 3.38 from the auto would probably be the best compromise for everything.

My m30b35 swapped e30 with a 4.10 revved about this high on the highway and I thought it was great cruising at the torque peak. No downshifts necessary, rolling on the throttle felt great. I got 23mpg highway AKA as exactly the epa rating for the stock engine.

I think verts are more fun. I've drove both drift modded versions that are the typical e36. It does cost a but more time and money for the vert but c'mon, drifting with the top down is pretty fricken cool. I feel like the bit of extra weight in the rear of the vert gives it a slight more control until you get higher torque car.

Once I DD'd a convertible e30, the drop top lost it's appeal. Coupes are worth the higher price IMO.

[Team Neverlift]

My m30b35 swapped e30 with a 4.10 revved about this high on the highway and I thought it was great cruising at the torque peak.

I apologize, are the Getrag & ZF final drives the same?

[hotdish]

I apologize, are the Getrag & ZF final drives the same?

E30s getrags have lower final drives, i was just commenting on cruising at relatively high rpm.

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