Best E30?

#1

I’m looking to purchase and build an E30. What is the lightest, tightest and stongest? I like the looks of the small bumpers, but are they ok for bump drafting?

Thanks

Spaggs

#2

Spaggs wrote:

[quote]I’m looking to purchase and build an E30. What is the lightest, tightest and stongest? I like the looks of the small bumpers, but are they ok for bump drafting?

Thanks

Spaggs[/quote]

Just my two cents, but…

If your planning on "bump drafting" already, do us all a favor and head to www.specmiata.com!

We seem to have enough issues without new drivers "planning" to be that aggresive!

#3

So, I’m assuming there is no contact allowed in this series. Is that right?

Spaggs

#4

So, I’m assuming there is no contact allowed in this series. Is that right?

Spaggs

#5

I’m not an E30 guru, but I believe the 325is has the 25% LSD standard, where the 325i (and maybe 325e?) had open diffs. If I’m correct with this, then starting with a 325is means one less thing to purchase and install.
:whistle:

#6

Spaggs wrote:

Doing 100+ on the back straight of Mid-Ohio while someone is "nudging" me along would not be much fun.

#7

Spaggs wrote:

[quote]So, I’m assuming there is no contact allowed in this series. Is that right?

Spaggs[/quote]

Good assumption! Club racing is for pleasure and should be just that, "bump dafting" is NASCAR.

There is no prize money in SpecE30 and no reason anyone should need to see the body shop on Monday morning!

Things will and do happen, but to enter the Race group trying to figure out which car is best for avoidable on track contact (bump drafting)is just not the way you should be thinking.

BTW, you may want to review the NASA CCR’s, especially the last pages regarding "contact" and the ensuing "penalties". Punting (bump drafting?) leads to Disqual. and 27.11 Issuing Penalties states "Any contact resulting in damage and punt: Disqualification and one race suspension". I think punting is bump drafting.

#8

cozog wrote:

[quote]Spaggs wrote:

Doing 100+ on the back straight of Mid-Ohio while someone is "nudging" me along would not be much fun.[/quote]

If you are only doing 100+ and not closer to 120+, then you’d best assume that someone will be nudging you along. :wink:

#9

Spaggs wrote:

[quote]I’m looking to purchase and build an E30. What is the lightest, tightest and stongest? I like the looks of the small bumpers, but are they ok for bump drafting?

Thanks

Spaggs[/quote]

To answer the original question, I think some people definitely prefer the diving board bumpers specifically because they can take a tap and not be damaged. They just don’t look as good.

#10

Elephant4 wrote:

That is a matter of opinion! :angry: :wink:

Bump drafting is a far cry from a punt though.

#11

if you’re building it for spec e30, they’re all the same weight (allowable), "tightest" probably depends on how much you refresh the various bushings and mounts, and "strongest" depends on whether you want to go to the expense of rebuilding the engine. Only the 325i M20 and 318iS M42 engines are allowed. M20 based car has more torque, an M42 based car is apparently more nimble.
bruce

Spaggs wrote:

[quote]I’m looking to purchase and build an E30. What is the lightest, tightest and stongest? I like the looks of the small bumpers, but are they ok for bump drafting?

Thanks

Spaggs[/quote]

#12

Thanks to all who have given me helpful information. As for jhall1957, bump drafting is helpful in making you go faster. The car behind pushes the car in front, thus making the car in front go faster (hense the word "bump"). Since the car in front is now going faster, it actually pulls the car behind with it, (hense the word "draft"). Do this a couple of times down the strait and both cars pick up significant speed. In the past, SCCA IT racing, I’ve shaved as much as three seconds off of my time. If this is allowable in Spec E30 racing, I suggest you try it, that is if you want to go faster.B)

Spaggs

#13

Spaggs, Yes we understand bump drafting would make you faster. Jeff correctly points out that body contact of any kind is not allowed in NASA series racing. If you have body contact, it had better be consensual or you will be shown the door. The bumper cover for an 89-91 e30 is plastic and will not take much of a tap before cracking.

Just for the record, if you build one and race in the SE, leave my bumper alone please. :wink:

#14

jhall1957 wrote:

[quote]Spaggs wrote:

[quote]I’m looking to purchase and build an E30. What is the lightest, tightest and stongest? I like the looks of the small bumpers, but are they ok for bump drafting?

Thanks

Spaggs[/quote]

Just my two cents, but…

If your planning on "bump drafting" already, do us all a favor and head to www.specmiata.com!

We seem to have enough issues without new drivers "planning" to be that aggresive![/quote]

IMO, it’s a matter of preference. The plastic bumper parts are sometimes difficult to find. They are very tough though. Just ask VicB)

Spaggs is right on the money. If the opportunity arises, try bump drafting, you might like it… How do you think Carlton got the SpecE30 track record at Road Atlanta? With that said, I wouldn’t encourage the rookies to bump draft ever and I wouldn’t put them in that position… in a race :wink:

Steve, that is a nice new shiny bumper:whistle:

My 2 cents

#15

Gasman wrote:

[quote]Spaggs, Yes we understand bump drafting would make you faster. Jeff correctly points out that body contact of any kind is not allowed in NASA series racing. If you have body contact, it had better be consensual or you will be shown the door. The bumper cover for an 89-91 e30 is plastic and will not take much of a tap before cracking.

Just for the record, if you build one and race in the SE, leave my bumper alone please. ;)[/quote]

Thanks Gasman, I agree, I’m here for fun and I don’t need or want any bumps on the track. As for track records and such, contact may lead to track records OR track wreckers and I can do without either, thanks!

F-U-N! Fun, remember that is the goal. I want to go home with everything in one piece and if you caught the guy in front of you and your faster, why in the world would you want to help him get any faster???

#16

jhall1957 wrote:

[quote]Gasman wrote:

[quote]Spaggs, Yes we understand bump drafting would make you faster. Jeff correctly points out that body contact of any kind is not allowed in NASA series racing. If you have body contact, it had better be consensual or you will be shown the door. The bumper cover for an 89-91 e30 is plastic and will not take much of a tap before cracking.

Just for the record, if you build one and race in the SE, leave my bumper alone please. ;)[/quote]

Thanks Gasman, I agree, I’m here for fun and I don’t need or want any bumps on the track. As for track records and such, contact may lead to track records OR track wreckers and I can do without either, thanks!

F-U-N! Fun, remember that is the goal. I want to go home with everything in one piece and if you caught the guy in front of you and your faster, why in the world would you want to help him get any faster???[/quote]

You’re missing my point. If your are slower, I will go around you. If we are equal in speed and lap times then it may make sense to work together to get away from the rest of the field. Perhaps this is why Vic and I don’t ever post our videos… nuff said!

#17

This is how I understnad it.

'87 and earlier have big aluminum bumpers and a big expensive spoiler.

'88 is a unique beast in that it has the aluminum bumpers but the new lower valance that is easier to work with. Also has the larger fuel tank and most of everything else of the newer cars.

'89 and newer have plastic bumpers and all the newest stuff. Sometime they got airbags.

"is" models do have the LSD but so do a lot of non "is" cars. No need to pay for all the extra stuff you will be removing on an "is" model.

All that said, I have an '88 "is" model that is my SE30 and a '89 "i" model as an ITS car.

Michael O.

#18

I’ll chime in since we have 2 '87 cars. The spoilers are as expensive as you make them. One of our cars has a homemade poly spoiler which is cheap, the other a euro spec M-tech, which is hard to find. The bumpers are durable. I like the radiator overflow set-up and the dual fuel pumps on the '87, even though the fuel tanks are a little smaller. One of our cars came with limited slip, the other one we had to add, but they are relatively inexpensive. I also like the 4 door cars for ease of access/storage, etc. Find what you can at a good price, build it and race it. You won’t be disappointed once you get on track!

#19

ilateapex wrote:

What "is" stuff has to be removed for SE30? I thought I could run as long as I have the minimum safety and req’d equipment.

#20

The IS cars came with different interior ammenities, all of which is removed when building the car.