99 Z3 Coupe track /Street car

[aussiebj]

G`Day all I picked up a nice silver Z3 coupe a while ago I have always wanted one and they don't come up for sale very often.
This one showed up here and I made a deal with my 01 E46 m3 as trade.....Now shes mine..

The Coupe as acquired

99 Z3 silver Coupe Slick top with black interior, Manual gear box, Motor 2.8 all stock...
Has BC coil overs, some polly bushings , no rear sway bar, wide OZ Fitapalli wheels with the streached look and slammed to the ground,other than that all stock,

[aussiebj]

First mod was to install a stock sway bar as I wanted to do a track day that was fast approaching, while up in the air I noticed the rear coil overs had no adjusters , I guess that's how you get it way low....
So I called Bimmerworld and got some recommendations for the track day based on what I already had
Let the spending begine....
New 5 inch 550 lbs rear springs and adjusters
Cryo slotted front rotors , brass guides and PFC 08 pads
Brembo blanks for rear with Brass guide and PFC 08 pads
Brake duct cooling kit
ATE 200 racing brake fluid
SS brake lines all round

As for wheel I sold the OZ wheels and picked up a new set of Apec EC-7 in 18 x 9 up front and 18 x 10.5 out back
Tires are Hankook Ventus RS-4`s
reset ride heights, camber and checked toe and now she was ready for the first track day...

[aussiebj]

First track day with the coupe was at NJMP the thunderbolt track with MOE.. Motorsports Enthusiast's Club..
The coupe performed well for the first 2 sessions progressively driving harder and harder.... on the 3rd session coming down the main straight on the entrance of turn one the rear let go and I corrected and then the next 2 right handers the same happened , it felt like I had a flst tire.. I came into the pits and checked the car out and could not find anything wrong visually .. I was happy and we packed up and headed home

The car handled well with the BCs , brakes were fantastic all day , only manages 111 mph down the main straight , I feel this is due to the 3:15 rear gear ratio. Other than that was very happy....

[aussiebj]

Hers a couple of links to the day hope they work

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlS5_DPdrL0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8qoRXIWhwQ&t=183s

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Yes my E46M3 was set up as a track car but I have always liked the Coupes and you don't see them at the track .. or just driving around...

[aussiebj]

When I got the coupe home I put her up on my mini lift and found one sbframe bolt missing and the other hand tight ...could this have caused the rear end to become loose ?? I do not know , since addressing it the car has not done it again..

[aussiebj]

Got the Coupe ready for the next event at NJMP the Lighting track with Hooked On driving 8-12-17

The Coupe performed fantastic again and was managing 115 down the main straight ...
here is another video shot from the from valance with a Sony handy cam , almost looks like a video came I run in the C groupe but here they combined the C & D group it was awesome but just shows how slow the coupe or driver is.. remember I have a whopping 190 HP
and a couple of pics of the Coupe and my son relaxing in the trailer.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpiY-Ys6RCE

[aussiebj]

So what happens when your track car has not enough power ....you have to make it lighter right... next event is at Palmer 9-14-17
So weight reduction began and then it goes to far....
Seats out 53 lbs each wow
Carpet out ..who needs carpet..

[aussiebj]

Ok now that's out what about a cage well who needs glass .. its heavy and if you don't need glass why do you need a locking door system .. yes its a slippery slop floks..She is becoming more of a track car now ..
Gutted the doors and made aluminum panels to clean them up
Cleaned up the mess some rodent made under the carpet and painted the floors and mocked up some floor plates to cover the wiring...
Wiring holly crap BMW loves that .. removed just the stereo wiring in the pic of my hand .. and stereo equipment.. but you will be happy to know I took my time and unplugged everything so it could go back in maybe one day...

[aussiebj]

Of course if you go this far why not remove the sound deadening to check the rear sub frame ... and yes I found the dreaded pulled spot welds.. now to fix that..

[328 Power 04]

Interesting, you put the sway bar back on?

[Tim95M3]

Very nice. Good to see this car being used properly. Saw this one pop up for sale, looked like a pretty good deal.

[aussiebj]

yes I wanted a base line to start from

[jrkoupe]

very cool to see

nice false floor, great seat choice. get a tighter shifter in there if it still has a stock 2.8 lever


we spoke yrs ago.


your car is a twin to mine


pm me.....I can give you a heads up to some great track day clubs/dates here in the NE......I track/instruct on east coast like 10-15 days yr///e30/s50

btw,

that seems like alotta wheel/tire for 193 hp

any oil seepage by vcg or oil filter housing area?

[jrkoupe]

when she was tracked in 99-01

[jrkoupe]

so besides the power diff,.........how does the track day compare in the z vs the e46?????

[daven]

Very very nice. I agree with jrkoupe, you're running way too much rubber & wheel. You've gone to all of this trouble getting weight out of your car but you've left 40 lbs on the car. Not to mention those 4 incredibly efficient momentum dampers. You want to be able to spin-up your wheels with minimum force - best way to achieve that is to reduce the weight and contact patch. Go get yourself a set of 4 17x8.5-9.0 wheels and leave your bone breakers for the strip. It will make a difference. Cheaper in the long run too.

I swapped out my 3.15 for the 3.23 out of an M roaster. It gives me a much more satisfying performance off the line, but dropped top speed down.

Remember you're driving a momentum car now. You get ahead through finesse not brute strength. Keeping posting your progress, I'm jealous.

[JoshS]

Glad to be seeing someone taking a 2.8 Coupe seriously again. Mine still holds track records for SCCA ITR at our 3 NorCal tracks.

I used 245/40-17 on 17x8.5. Any more than that is a waste. And dump the rear sway bar. It doesn't help anything and it's easier to keep the inside rear on the ground that way. You will likely lift the inside front sometimes but it doesn't matter.


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[BimmerBreaker]

I've never tracked a car but always been told and read that the M3's had superior suspension designs over our cars. Would a stripped E36 or E46 M3 not have been a better platform to start from?

[jrkoupe]

yes..both are better platforms inherently

but I believe OP wanted a coupe to play with..

[aussiebj]

Yes I have had both.... the e36 and e46.... I just like the quirky looks of the Coupe........ all good advice..... ill try the next track day with out the rear sway bar.. they Z is way more fun ..yes I know they are big tires but that's all I could spring for now I will get a better set up shortly..
Only leak was a power steering hose leak and yes my VCG is weeping..dont they all..
I'm in the process of fixing the rear subframe right now...will post pics shortly when I'm finished..
Thanks Barry

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when she was tracked in 99-01

Nice

[328 Power 04]

Yea, the rear sway bar only helps lift the rear wheel off the ground, and moments later, the classic Z3 snap oversteer, it's happened to me at autocross, even with street tires. That's why I asked above.
I eventually disconnected one end off my Z3M and immediately it was better at the limit. Even more improved with better F/R matched spring choices.

[aussiebj]

so removing the sway bar all together is better?

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Question ,

I have a set of E36 shorty headers from EMUSA Automotive , they are brand new .. will they fit in the engine bay and mount up to the 2.8 motor?

[jrkoupe]

for upper end fast track driving, yes , remove rear bar.

emusa?.....who is that?....any pics...thay may help us

[trkshoe]

FWIW... I like having the rear bar for off throttle rotation... necessary in tighter turns, and great when trail breaking. :-)

[CMM3]

Congratulations, your journey of turning a Z3 coupe into a track car is very familiar. I did the same and ended up with a dedicated track car.

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...-to-full-Track


Don't hesitate to PM me with any questions that I might be able to answer to help you along

BTW I run a rear bar and GC e36M slide adjustable front. I tired multiple variations including no rear and this is working out best for me.