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Thread: Developing an E34 "CS"

  1. #1
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    Developing an E34 "CS"

    Sharing some highlights from my build thread. S52, 6-speed, M3 brakes, genuine BMW solid bearings, etc, I wanted to build the ultimate "factory special" E34 like BMW has been doing with their CS cars. This thing is a riot! Full interior, A/C and radio, but the character of a touring car.

    DSC01611-Edit by Brian Ma, on Flickr

    DSC01621-HDR-Edit by Brian Ma, on Flickr

    DSC01672 by Brian Ma, on Flickr

    DSC01676 by Brian Ma, on Flickr

    DSC01643 by Brian Ma, on Flickr

    Track ready? Check


  2. #2
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    Love it

  3. #3
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    Very cool.
    CBlock


  4. #4
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    Absolutely badass!! I hope to click off ~2:05s this weekend!

    One of the last remaining members of the E36 M3 original owners club...a dying breed indeed.

  5. #5
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    Very cool build concept! Your’s looks awesome. Looking to do something similar, except a full DTM-style racecar (rollcage, removed interior, fiberglass body parts, etc). I thought about calling mine a E34 LTW, plan on sharing the journey once I’m farther along as well.

  6. #6
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    that is awesome, I have a soft spot for E34. Was my first BMW, it had a very special feel. What BMW solid bearings are you using?
    TRM Coilovers 670F/895R | BBS LM | Corsa RSC36

  7. #7
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    Are those BRZ/86 front seats?

    they look really damn good in that interior!

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by SIIDEWAYS View Post
    Absolutely badass!! I hope to click off ~2:05s this weekend!
    I saw your other thread, I think you'll get there, just keep riding along with fast folks and see what they're doing, apply it to your own laps and see what works

    Quote Originally Posted by propcar View Post
    that is awesome, I have a soft spot for E34. Was my first BMW, it had a very special feel. What BMW solid bearings are you using?
    E34 M5's had solid slide bearings for the RTABs, and E31's in general had spherical bearings in the front lower (control) arms, so I'm using those. The front upper (thrust) arms had no such luxury so I have Turner sphericals there. The top hats are all spherical bearings as well so I have some NVH, but it's worth the ability to surprise sports cars on any road or track.

    Quote Originally Posted by SVD115 View Post
    Are those BRZ/86 front seats? they look really damn good in that interior!
    Good eye, they are - with Toyota Camry headrests. Leather was re-dyed to match the E34 black and it looks pretty much like it belongs.

  9. #9
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  10. #10
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    What are the widths (at the base, and at the widest point in the shoulder) of those seats? They look great in there!
    1998 M3 Sedan - LS3 M12T56 - A bad addiction.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by OKsweetrides View Post
    What are the widths (at the base, and at the widest point in the shoulder) of those seats? They look great in there!
    Good question, I never measured. They're narrower than comfort seats everywhere though, makes sense considering the car they come out of.

  12. #12
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    well this is cool. Looks like fun!

  13. #13
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    nice setup. i loved my e28 with a similar setup. e34 m5 rtabs where spherical? i though some random e32 had them and i didnt think those parts fit an e28 for some reason... but i swear you could swap the trailing arms.. also what steering box? i ran a e28/e24 m5/m6 box with 3 turn to lock, didnt e34's have a servotronic steering box that stiffened up at speed? how is your on center feel? buick like?

    in the 90's i didnt want a e34 because it was a "big car" lol now the new m3 is bigger then a e32.
    Last edited by scoobiedoo2029; 01-07-2022 at 08:14 PM.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by scoobiedoo2029 View Post
    nice setup. i loved my e28 with a similar setup. e34 m5 rtabs where spherical? i though some random e32 had them and i didnt think those parts fit an e28 for some reason... but i swear you could swap the trailing arms.. also what steering box? i ran a e28/e24 m5/m6 box with 3 turn to lock, didnt e34's have a servotronic steering box that stiffened up at speed? how is your on center feel? buick like?

    in the 90's i didnt want a e34 because it was a "big car" lol now the new m3 is bigger then a e32.
    E34 M5 and E32 750iL I think got slide bearing RTABs yeah. The high trim level cars got servotronic (bleh), base model cars have a standard PS pump and I think a 15.4:1 (effective) ratio steering setup. Servotronic just boosts assist at low speeds to my understanding. My PS pump is underdriven so it doesn't really kick in till the car's moving. It takes some getting used to, the steering is heavier, numb, and "springy" almost (think S2000) at low rpms. But it gets direct, light and sharp the closer you are to redline, extreme personality switch.

    On-center response is of course softer than a rack (you can see the need to "throw" the steering for turn-in in the video) but it's not imprecise like an American car - it's literally just a gentle response to steering input until you've got about 5deg in the wheel. The overall ratio feels good. Most corners are hit at 60-90deg of steering wheel, intuitive to snap adjust without overcorrecting.

    I actually started this project as a response to the F80 M3's release. Around the same size and 400lbs heavier and people were praising it for being a driver's car? Pah. This parts-bin E34 can match its track performance with a little more tweaking, and offer a million times more feedback doing so.

  15. #15
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    Nice drivin Man! Car looks dialed in!


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    beautiful!
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  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by prash View Post
    Nice drivin Man! Car looks dialed in!
    Far from it Tire readings and corner speed data tell me I'm quite a bit off from optimal. Once I've got my other BMW on the road (and hopefully sold) I'll be tweaking the E34 bit by bit to get the tires happy and cut some 5 seconds off that 2:04 lap.

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