E30 M3 Rally Car

[Rob Mann]

Hi, I have made the decision to get into motorsport and in particular tramac rally. My chosen car is an E30 M3 as I believe that they are still one of the best built sports cars in the world. So I am on the look out for one.

the point of this post is to ask anyone if they could give me any advice,help or any stories about turning an E30 M3 into a rally car.

Cheers.

[Matra et Alpine]

http://www.e30m3performance.com/

and check out Irish rallying sites. - a google search will find them.

The M3 was always an excellent weapon of choice on the irish tarmac series and are still run ( along with the Mk1 and 2 Escorts - heaven :) )

[Rob Mann]

Thanks for the help. I'll be sure to check out those sites.
I will let all know how the build goes.

[lukeh]

i can teach you a few things about m3's what do you parcifically want to know about

[McReis]

Are going to rally at the age of 15????? And with an M3? Very probably.

[Rob Mann]

my dad will be driving and i will be navigating. and we will be using an m3, if you think that it would not make a good rally car then your crazy.

[F1_Master]

Yeah, and when the time ever comes to go off-road, then what?

Are you even sure they'll let a 15 navigate?
That takes a few years to become a perfect navigator.

Have you study the rules of the rally championship you want to enter?

[Matra et Alpine]

I've taught navigation in an hour :)
It's easy.
it depends on the type of event what a navigator needs to be abel to do.
If it's navigational tests then go over to the classroom here on UCP to learn ALL teh skills needed :)

The M3 was always a tarmac rally car, It competed on single track bu I don't remember ANY success on forest. There's no reason it couldn't though frankly.

[Rob Mann]

i already have my CAMS (confederations of australian motorsport) navigation licence and junior L2S licence wich let's me compete in hillclimb's and other speed events.

i have thoroughly studied the regulations and modifications allowed and all other concerned information concerning the 2 tarmac rally's that i will be entering.

[Mattg]

One word comes to my mind when i think about BMW performance, Turner Motorsport
Heres a link: Turner Motorsport (http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html/index.asp)

[Rob Mann]

i have checked out turner motorsport before and thay are one of the top bmw tuners. my father also agree's as he has purchased many things for his e30 m3 over the years.

[Rockefella]

Got any pics of the car ;)

[Rob Mann]

sorry, no pictures as i menchoned before me and my father are still looking. we have found one that we are now making further inquaries about, it is still left hand drive but as it will be a rally car that does not matter. i will post pics of the build as it happens. we plan to deck it out in group a colours and do a few mods to the engine such as exhaust, intake etc.

[McReis]

my dad will be driving and i will be navigating. and we will be using an m3, if you think that it would not make a good rally car then your crazy.

It would be a perfect tarmac rally car, although hard to drive really fast.
I just asked because I wasn't imagining a 15 year old driving such a car fast in a rally. But if your navigating, that's something else.

Oh, and please breath deeply and calm down before you come here calling people crazy, ok? Take it easy... ...you're still young! Theres so much you have to go through! Find a girl, settle down, if you want you can marry... Look at me! I am old, but I'm happy! :D:D:D:D:D

[Matra et Alpine]

Bertie Fisher was a master in the M3 in Irish tarmac events ( sadly a GREAT driver lost in 2001 ).
He and Austin McHale used to have gladiatorial battles on the narrow tarmac of Ireland and the Isle of Man (Manx) !!!
Some of the greates rallying footage IF you can find it:)

sadly I couldn't ( I was sure I had some too ) but in it's place here's an M3 in the forests :)

[Mustang]

I have a few vids of the M3 rallying :) bloody amazing, shame that they are in files taht are about 20+ mb or i would post them on here for you

[Rob Mann]

i have seen many videos and pics of m3 rally cars and they seem very easy to drive fast and get good times with. these cars can be very light (1000kg) and have a good, strong engine that can produce more than enough power for a rally car.

[lukeh]

most german cars are built to drive fast because in germany there are high speed highways eg autobarn. the germans would of engineered the cars to be capable of reaching high speeds.

[Rob Mann]

i agree buddy, it was designed to have racecar speed and handling in a street car.
one things for sure it is a wild peice of machinery.

[Rob Mann]

we have chosen a colour scheme for the car. it is planned to look like a group a super tourer. we are currently making inquires into getting a car from japan as you can get m3's very cheap there.

[sandwich]

two things:

1.) be careful what you buy overseas, especially from japan. It may be faked, as in a 318ti with a body kit, or whatever. Maybe not likely, but entirely possible. If it's too good to be true, it probably is, and if you can't see the car before you buy it, don't.

2.) more importantly, motorsport is expensive. very, very expensive. If you have any sense in you, buy a used rally car. You will save more money than you thought possible. If you want to rally here in the states, you need a good cage, and that can cost up to 3000 or more. That's just to be legal. You'll also need seats, belts, helmets, and racing suits. Then, if you want to be competitive, you'll need intercoms, lights, and car upgrades. That's a freaking lot of money.

If you can find someone else who has gone through this, decided that he has no more money to spend, and is trying to recoup anything he can, you'll get a good car for a good price. any money you have saved you can then spend on upgrades or sorting the car out further.

And not to be rude, but don't "settle" on an m3. They are nice cars, one of my favorites, but you might be able to get a xr4ti or sierra over there, among other things, that would suit your needs while saving you money.

check out rallyclassified.com or specialstages.com, they both have classifieds where you may be able to pick out a used car.

Remember, if you save money on your car, you can spend it on competing in more rallies! i know here in the states a race can cost 600-1000. If you can save seven g's by buying someone elses car, you can race a lot more!!!!

[McReis]

318 ti is the E36 compact model. Think you wanted to say 318is, right?

[///M Power]

The 318is and 325is are both good car that can be made to go reasonably fast. They are aslo cheaper than an M3.