I recently bought my first BMW a 92 325i.

I have been autocrossing an other car for years (ES Fieros), but I am new to BMWs.

What class will best suit this particular model. I know what classes it can be in DS, STS, STX, DSP. But wich one will it work best?

It is stock except for some Eibach springs, so if I want to run stock I'll have to track down some stock (preferably sport) springs. It does have the factory LSD, original 15x7 inch wheels, and the original worn out shocks to.

This car is an early production 92 (4/92 build date) which I have noticed does make a difference when ordering struts for it. Does it matter for the springs to?

Which one will work best depends on how much time and money you want to spend on the car. A good compromise if you want to do some suspension work is STX ;you can't do STS since you have the LSD.

Money? I don't have lots of. Time working on car = fun. So there should be plenty of that. I thought first order of buisness is to figure out what class I should use as a goal.

I always did enjoy running in ES with my Fiero (untill I totaled it last fall). I have another one but it won't work well for stock (wrong year, 14x6 inch rims on 3k lb car = bad) and a Fiero doesn't even stand a chance in CSP, so that is out. There is always prepaired but I am not sure if I'm quite ready for that.

Since I am probably at the point where it is going to cost almost as much to go forward to STX as it would to go back to stock?

Here's what I already know (think) I would need.

DS - Stock springs, good shocks (Koni?), 2nd set of wheels & race rubber, refresh of suspention (bushins, ect)

STX - good shocks (Koni?), swaybars, bushings everywhere, wheels & raceable rubber, misc reinforcements (xbrace), maybe (probably) better/different springs.

The car already sits very low (it scrapes bottom backing out of my garage.)
I'm kind of leaning twards stock, but if the car is as much or more of an underdog as the Fiero was in ES (it'll be worse now the 1.8l Miata is in ES) I'll move up to ST or SP.

On the national leve: The car is by far most competitive in DSP, but it will cost ya lots. It's probably second most competitive in STX, and least in DS.

On a regional level it can be a winner in any of the classes if driven and setup properly.

Well, then it sounds like its STX for me. I was just shy of straying from the familiar (been working with stock rules for so long).

So what are the must haves for the class?

Are Konis the best?

What size wheel seems work best?

What else do I need to put on my wish list?

I may not even decide to make this car my main autocrosser. Just use it while I prep the Fiero for prepaired.

Thanks

Well, then it sounds like its STX for me. I was just shy of straying from the familiar (been working with stock rules for so long).

So what are the must haves for the class?

Are Konis the best?

What size wheel seems work best?

What else do I need to put on my wish list?

I may not even decide to make this car my main autocrosser. Just use it while I prep the Fiero for prepaired.

Thanks

I would say you would probably want to use a 17x8 rim with a 245/40r17 tire (kumho mx or bfg kd) or a 225/45r17 tire (azenis, new style or old style).

Koni SAs along with your eibach springs will be a good starting point. A big ol' front bar would also be nice.

I would also replace the bushings that wear out on the e36s: RTABs and LCABs.

Wish list:

HP:
chip
CAI
lightweight, free flow exhaust
underdrive pulleys

Susp:
Ground Control or TCK coilovers
Adjustable sways

LSD:
freshly rebuilt LSD from diffsonline or such

Kent

Also, X-brace is illegal in STX. No update/backdate in STX.

X-brace would be legal in DSP.

Kent