I have a 95 M3 that I want to autoX. I want to do some work with it, but am scared of getting bumped up to a class where I have no chance. What can I do as far a wheels, tires, suspension, and spacers go to compete. I don't necessarily need to be the fastest in the class, but don't want to be competing against beasts either. TIA

What all is done to it now? If its stock, your best bet is to stay in stock for the time being. If you choose, you can use the stock wheels with a set of good street tires (or R compounds after awhile), a catback exhaust, front swaybar, and shocks (but not springs).

You'll hear this mantra repeated over and over, mostly because its true. Focus on driving first, then learn to tune and mod the car later. Between a total novice and a very good regional driver there's usually 7-20 seconds time difference, depending on how quickly the novice will get it. Modifications, and R compounds, tend to exacerbate any beginning driving issues by hiding them, or letting the car compensate for poor habits.

Later, if you feel like modding, STU is your class.. exhaust, intake, chip, seats, coilovers/bars, and good street tires and you ought to be real competitive.

Experience.

if you stay in BSTOCK

getting the right race tires are about 49% of it
driver is about 49% of it

the rest of the % you can play with:

lightweight catback
stiffer front swaybar
koni shocks
lightweight, stock sized wheels
5mm spacers



I have a 95 M3 that I want to autoX. I want to do some work with it, but am scared of getting bumped up to a class where I have no chance. What can I do as far a wheels, tires, suspension, and spacers go to compete. I don't necessarily need to be the fastest in the class, but don't want to be competing against beasts either. TIA

you may actually be able to spend less and play in stu versus playing in b-stock. you won't need race tires (just some good street rubber) and additional wheels. also, you can get camber so your tires will last longer.

i think I'm going to go ahead and race bstock for now, but eventually will upgrade to STU, because I don't want to buy a second set of wheels. $$$ From what I understand, in STU, I can upgrade to wider wheels, run spacers if i need, do suspension work, and do basic engine upgrades, like intake, chip, exhaust. right?

I am really considering going with the TCKline coilovers, but am worried about the spring rates. This is my daily driver, and although I will not mind a stiff ride, I don't want it to be unbearable. Most of the kits are 500/550. I think that is too stiff. What springs should I run to stay competitive and still be able to drive to work, school, girl's houses (hehe), and back? Also what are good and reasonably priced street tires for autocross?

Thanks

kumho MX or falken azenis are good street tires

you will get trounced more badly by the BSTOCK cars than the STU cars though.

so even if you are bstock legal, STU might be a better place to run.

tires mean that much


i think I'm going to go ahead and race bstock for now, but eventually will upgrade to STU, because I don't want to buy a second set of wheels. $$$ From what I understand, in STU, I can upgrade to wider wheels, run spacers if i need, do suspension work, and do basic engine upgrades, like intake, chip, exhaust. right?

I am really considering going with the TCKline coilovers, but am worried about the spring rates. This is my daily driver, and although I will not mind a stiff ride, I don't want it to be unbearable. Most of the kits are 500/550. I think that is too stiff. What springs should I run to stay competitive and still be able to drive to work, school, girl's houses (hehe), and back? Also what are good and reasonably priced street tires for autocross?

Thanks

Has anyone tried these: BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW-2

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=g-Force+T%2FA+KDW+2&vehicleSearch=false&partnum=34YR7GFTAKDW2XL&fromCompare1=yes

Tirerack gave them an incredible dry and wet traction review.

kumho mx, falken azenis

=)

the kdw2 is a good tire, but not as sticky as the above,short of some new offerings that work really well when shaved, nothing is as sticky as the above.



Has anyone tried these: BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW-2

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=g-Force+T%2FA+KDW+2&vehicleSearch=false&partnum=34YR7GFTAKDW2XL&fromCompare1=yes

Tirerack gave them an incredible dry and wet traction review.

Those coilovers are illegal in B Stock. No spring changes -- just shocks.

I have the TCK co setup at 450f500r right now. If you back the shocks down to softer levels it is fine in my book for daily driving. I drive mine all the time and it has poly bushings everywhere, stiff swaybars, no interior, and I find it much more streetable with the co setup vs. the Bav Auto sport spring and Bilstein sport shock setup I had before. But I did win the NC Autocross championship in 2000 in DSP on that older setup. As a gratuitous plug I have some 17x8 OE BMW wheels that would be fine for a second set that I would sell for $500. If you go with R-comps then you are in stock or DSP. If you stick to street tires STS is the place to be. But as a suggestion even if you go STS, if you want to be competitive you still need a second set of wheels. The nice sticky Azenis or comparable makes a fun street tire to drive every day but you will spend the cost of that second set of wheels in a year or so having to replace the tires that much more often. They will physically last longer but if it rains at all where you are you will want normal full tread depth tires for the wet. The sticky tires will have worn down quickly to the point that they would be dangerous in the rain on the street. Plus the girls don't like it when the rear of the car comes around every time you step on the gas :)
The TCK coil overs put you in BSP anyway. Once you are there it is a highly competitive class. And you won't have fun getting spanked while you learn. I would run STS and work on learning how to do it to start. One thing to remember is that E36s push like a pig from the start. Instead of worrying about lack of camber just run some toe out at the front end and minimize the camber in the rear. Also make sure the rear is toed in to the max of factory spec.

TCk stuff comes with double adjust konis, right?

If so, playing with the compression and rebound will allow you to dial the suspension back considerably for the street. Even with the koni SA's on big springs, just cranking down the rebound makes a world of difference in terms of driver comfort around town. On full stiff, however--yowzers.

Good luck!

Steve

I'm running the TCK Koni SA coilovers with springs rates 450F/500R on my daily driven autoxer...with the rebound at softer settings this makes for a much more comfortable street ride than my previous Bilstein/H&R Sport setup...

If you are really serious about being successful in autocrossing, do Phase I and II at an Evolution school. The training and seat time will do more for you than all of the mods and tires you could ever do. Moreover, training will help you in any car in any class.

cheers,

Joe