Hey guys I have been enjoying my 330ci 5spd as a fun daily for the past year, and the time has come to start turning it into more of a track car so I can get into hpde more.
For those of you that don't know my car it is a 2002 BMW 330Ci Steel Gray with a 5 speed manual. It has just over 130k miles right now and some mods. I picked up the car from Jason Towers in August 2017 and loving it ever since. A lot of maintenance work has been done to the car already including the whole cooling system, gaskets, clutch/flywheel, etc. The only 2 modifications besides upgraded parts during maintenance are the Brembo 4 piston BBK front and rear, and an Evo 3 SSK.
The plan as of now is to work on suspension and drivetrain so that it works for both street and track until I buy another daily. My main concern is wheel fitment. I am planning to run 255/40R17 Falken Azenis FT615K+ on Apex ARC-8 17x9 et42. To fit that wide of a tire I will have to run negative camber and need camber plates. The stock strut mounts are taller than most camber plates and could drop the car more than I want in the front; however, these hybrid plates from Ground Control may solve the issue.
10-09-2018, 09:57 AM (This post was last modified: 10-09-2018, 10:02 AM by rherold9.)
If you want sound advice that DJ gave me when I thought about building a 330i/ci. Build the car towards SpecE46 but can still be run in other classes like GTS2/ST5. Car will be easier to sell later
255 is going to require a small amount of rolling and -3+ degrees of camber in front and a decent amount of camber in the rear. All really depends on ride height.
Any reason you are going catless headers? I would actually suggest not doing the cat-less headers and instead just run a decent cat-back. Are you doing the SE46 Epic tune or another tune?
You have a good list right now. Get a set of race pads for the track and you will be good to run it as is with your mod list. I would save up and either get the GSR motorsports fix for the oil pump or go in there and safety wire it. Also rebuild the DISA valve while you are at it.
10-09-2018, 11:59 AM (This post was last modified: 10-09-2018, 12:17 PM by KettleKooked.)
(10-09-2018, 09:57 AM)rherold9 Wrote: If you want sound advice that DJ gave me when I thought about building a 330i/ci. Build the car towards SpecE46 but can still be run in other classes like GTS2/ST5. Car will be easier to sell later
The plan is to stay close to Spec, that's why I am going with the spec diff. I will have to change headers and take off the Brembos.
(10-09-2018, 10:44 AM)D_Eclipse9916 Wrote: 255 is going to require a small amount of rolling and -3+ degrees of camber in front and a decent amount of camber in the rear. All really depends on ride height.
Any reason you are going catless headers? I would actually suggest not doing the cat-less headers and instead just run a decent cat-back. Are you doing the SE46 Epic tune or another tune?
You have a good list right now. Get a set of race pads for the track and you will be good to run it as is with your mod list. I would save up and either get the GSR motorsports fix for the oil pump or go in there and safety wire it. Also rebuild the DISA valve while you are at it.
Who can roll fenders for me, Mach V? I will need to take the car to them anyway for alignment so if they can that would be great.
The reason I am going catless is because I got them from a guy on e46fanatics for a nice deal and figured I am not doing Spec for 5 years. Looking to make 220whp and make some nice noises, not trying to be obnoxiously loud though. "COUGH COUGH BRANDON'S COXSTER"
Was going to run Epic's E46 tune for the EGR and O2 delete. Although that is still up for debate.
Currently on vented blanks and aggressive pads. My DISA valve is working ok, is this more of a preemptive fix or is there a benefit to a rebuild.
Also the Eibachs say 1.4 inch drop F&R but don't say if that is from stock or sport suspension. If it is from stock it would drop my car about 1.1 inches F&R.
MachV can roll fenders for you. If you want to make the power fine, but its a pain to deal with Emissions/Safety Inspection and you have to decide if that is worth it.
Good call on Epic's tune. DISA valve I would do preemptively just to make sure you have the power.
(10-09-2018, 12:34 PM)D_Eclipse9916 Wrote: MachV can roll fenders for you. If you want to make the power fine, but its a pain to deal with Emissions/Safety Inspection and you have to decide if that is worth it.
Good call on Epic's tune. DISA valve I would do preemptively just to make sure you have the power.
Great, I live in SC so emissions isn't a problem, my shop is up in Hamilton VA so I will do all of this in December and have Mach V do the rolling and alignment.
Also I any of you are interested I will be at Road Atlanta Dec 1st-2nd with NASA SE so if any of you want to come down and need a place to crash driving down, or near the track, my apartment is an hour away or I am thinking about sharing a hotel.
