Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Vorshlag 1991 BMW 318is

Collapse
X
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • #61
    Re: Vorshlag 1991 BMW 318is

    I took a lot of pictures of the suspension this weekend. AST coilover kit is almost too pretty for the car. The front inserts are "like buttah". The threaded collar that slips over the body doubles as the gland nut for the insert. Really slick design.

    Bad news....I didn't ask AST what size springs to run, naturally assuming 60mm. The threaded collar is actually bigger than that to clear the 52mm strut body so I had to order 2.5" springs for it.

    One thing is for sure. Once you put stiff springs on you feel every single 200k mile bushing on the car. Time for some subframe and diff bushings at a minimum.
    Brian Hanchey
    AST Suspension - USA

    Comment


    • #62
      Re: Vorshlag 1991 BMW 318is

      Why, I have to ask, did you install 750 lb/in springs? Is the motion ratio extreme, are you following the "even a crappy suspension can work if you don't let it" mantra, or are you just a glutton for punishment?

      Brian

      Comment


      • #63
        Re: Vorshlag 1991 BMW 318is

        Originally posted by bfitz
        Why, I have to ask, did you install 750 lb/in springs? Is the motion ratio extreme, are you following the "even a crappy suspension can work if you don't let it" mantra, or are you just a glutton for punishment?

        Brian
        All of the above. Plus we had a set laying around and at this point everything is a guess. So far it rides better than a E36 with 750s. I take it the M3 had much softer springs?
        Brian Hanchey
        AST Suspension - USA

        Comment


        • #64
          Re: Vorshlag 1991 BMW 318is

          I don't remember... That just seemed high for a lightweight car with no LSD.

          Brian

          Comment


          • #65
            Re: Vorshlag 1991 BMW 318is

            Hanchey got the AST 4100s installed last night...

            http://vorshlag.smugmug.com/gallery/3739545#214866299 - installation pictures

            Terry Fair - www.vorshlag.com
            2018 GT / S550 Dev + 2013 FR-S / 86 Dev + 2011 GT / S197 Dev + C4 Corvette Dev
            EVO X Dev + 2007 Z06 / C6 Dev + BMW E46 Dev + C5 Corvette Dev

            Comment


            • #66
              Re: Vorshlag 1991 BMW 318is

              New suspension is wonderful, BUT it showed how horrible the rear suspension bushings are. I've deemed it "undriveable" until we fix it. The driveshaft is hitting the body because the bushings are THAT bad. Bushings ordered, ready to install.

              On another note, I put a new thermostat in it last night. The old one was stamped "10/97" and stuck open. Now that it is getting colder, it was time to keep it warm.

              Hoping we can get it ready for the next LSC autocross. Might happen, might not....
              Brian Hanchey
              AST Suspension - USA

              Comment


              • #67
                Re: Vorshlag 1991 BMW 318is

                Pics since the lowering?
                2001 Jeep Wrangler
                2001 Dodge 2500 Cummins

                BMW E36 DIY's:
                Front LCA Bushing Swap
                E36 Custom Cat Back
                M3 Limited Slip Diff Repair
                Diff Swap

                Comment


                • #68
                  Re: Vorshlag 1991 BMW 318is

                  Originally posted by Tommy R
                  Pics since the lowering?
                  Been doing all this late, LATE nights so I have nothing of substance for pictures. Soon, very soon.
                  Brian Hanchey
                  AST Suspension - USA

                  Comment


                  • #69
                    Re: Vorshlag 1991 BMW 318is

                    11/14/07 Update:

                    We ordered several lightweight Deka batteries last week and put one of them (Deka ETX18L AGM battery) into the E30 late last night, as part of the STS prep. I also pulled the dead Odyssey PC680 out of my M3 and weighed it, then the Deka, and lastly an OEM replacement E30 battery (which itself was substantially smaller than original; most OEM BMW batteries are larger and 48-50+ pounds). The scale is 0-150 pound, .1 pound accurate.


                    Left: The E30's 37.7 pound Diehard (now in my M3)
                    Right: The 17.5 pound Deka AGM replacement (an easy 20 pound drop)


                    Left: PC680 vs. ETX18L
                    Right: PC680 @ 14.4 pounds


                    Left: quickie aluminum brace (very secure)
                    Right: battery box bolted in the OEM location (then the cover was installed)

                    Crudely fabbed the mount in the wee hours of the night, but its a "race car" and its still very secure. I don't think it will move .001" under racing use.


                    A "race car"? I know, it does seem like a stretch...

                    Other updates: We have 13 pound 15x7 wheels due tomorrow, and 225/50/15 Hankook Z212 (200 treadwear) tires due Friday. Mason strut braces sitting on the shelf. We have a full set of poly diff mount and rear LCA bushings ready to be installed tomorrow. If we get very... very lucky we'll have it somewhat prepped for STS and Brian will race it on Saturday at a BMWCCA event at Mineral Wells Saturday, then Amy will run it at a SCCA event at LaGrave Sunday. Lots of things have to arrive and fall onto the car in a very short time period for this to happen... otherwise we'll run it at the next local event.
                    Last edited by Fair!; 11-14-2007, 11:21 AM.
                    Terry Fair - www.vorshlag.com
                    2018 GT / S550 Dev + 2013 FR-S / 86 Dev + 2011 GT / S197 Dev + C4 Corvette Dev
                    EVO X Dev + 2007 Z06 / C6 Dev + BMW E46 Dev + C5 Corvette Dev

                    Comment


                    • #70
                      Re: Vorshlag 1991 BMW 318is

                      Some E30 updates from work done during the Turkey Day break.


                      Camber plates sure look pretty...


                      Got the 225/50/15 Hankook Z212 tires (200 TreadWaer, $87!) mounted onto new 15x7" Kazara KZ/M wheels (13.9 lbs)


                      Section width 9.2", tread width is closer to 8.7"


                      Rear subframe removed for polyurethane bushing replacements
                      Last edited by Fair!; 11-25-2007, 05:30 PM.
                      Terry Fair - www.vorshlag.com
                      2018 GT / S550 Dev + 2013 FR-S / 86 Dev + 2011 GT / S197 Dev + C4 Corvette Dev
                      EVO X Dev + 2007 Z06 / C6 Dev + BMW E46 Dev + C5 Corvette Dev

                      Comment


                      • #71
                        Re: Vorshlag 1991 BMW 318is

                        Long time no update, wow. First off, the pics from last weekend after I washed the thick layer of dust off of this poor, somewhat neglected car...



                        This latest round of repair work blossomed into more problems uncovered. We're slowly rebuilding the whole car from the ground up! As soon as we fix one problem (and by "we" I mean "hanchey"), that repair uncovers another issue previously masked by a racket or clank.



                        The rear subframe repair work turned into much more than we had wanted. The upper mounting ears had snapped off, new metal was welded on for the repair, new poly bushings everywhere, etc. What a huge pain in the ass that work turned into! No wonder 2 shops each quoted 10+ hours of labor. And of course my obsessive compulsive cleaning disorder (OCCD) produced a cleaned then repainted subframe, diff housing, semi-polished diff cover, etc. Brian had to forcibly stop me before I finished detailing the lower control arms and halfshafts... :devillook

                        After that work was wrapped up then the left rear caliper wouldn't bleed (it was junk), which drove me nuts until an E36 spare caliper went on to prove what was wrong. A new E30 specific caliper and lots of bleeding (the rear channel had run dry back to the ABS, ugh) fixed that.

                        Next the the old exhaust was found to be nearly plugged (old Midasized muffler, no wonder it felt weak!) so its now in the scrap bin. The car now needs new after-cat exhaust (and I'm looking in this thread about "legal aftermarket cats" we can use, if any) and some seats (some Sparcos and a slider are on order), as the driver's seat won't move and its too far forward for me to drive safely. I look like I'm driving a clown car, knees going everywhere...


                        LEFT: new caliper / RIGHT: Everything repaired and cleaned up back here, except lack of exhaust?!

                        So its semi-drive-able now (just VERY LOUD!) and we'll get it over to DP for a new exhaust maybe next week + do a few dyno pulls (before/after the new exhaust). Still have some time left before our first event with it (NASA HPDE at MSR-Houston in February?) or the first autocross (1-2 weeks later), but if the seats take too long to get here it might be rushed, as usual.
                        Terry Fair - www.vorshlag.com
                        2018 GT / S550 Dev + 2013 FR-S / 86 Dev + 2011 GT / S197 Dev + C4 Corvette Dev
                        EVO X Dev + 2007 Z06 / C6 Dev + BMW E46 Dev + C5 Corvette Dev

                        Comment


                        • #72
                          Re: Vorshlag 1991 BMW 318is

                          Lots of new ST tires to look at....

                          http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda...-Packages.html

                          Toyo T1R and the upcoming Kuho entry (not yet shown).
                          Terry Fair - www.vorshlag.com
                          2018 GT / S550 Dev + 2013 FR-S / 86 Dev + 2011 GT / S197 Dev + C4 Corvette Dev
                          EVO X Dev + 2007 Z06 / C6 Dev + BMW E46 Dev + C5 Corvette Dev

                          Comment


                          • #73
                            Re: Vorshlag 1991 BMW 318is

                            Have any links to info on the Kumho that's coming out?
                            -Sean Martin
                            2009 Pontiac G8 GT

                            Comment


                            • #74
                              Re: Vorshlag 1991 BMW 318is

                              Originally posted by Redwood
                              Have any links to info on the Kumho that's coming out?
                              Nothing yet but speculation, from what I have found.

                              But here's pricing/availability on the Toyo R1R: http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda...-Packages.html
                              Terry Fair - www.vorshlag.com
                              2018 GT / S550 Dev + 2013 FR-S / 86 Dev + 2011 GT / S197 Dev + C4 Corvette Dev
                              EVO X Dev + 2007 Z06 / C6 Dev + BMW E46 Dev + C5 Corvette Dev

                              Comment


                              • #75
                                Re: Vorshlag 1991 BMW 318is

                                Originally posted by Fair!
                                Hanchey got the AST 4100s installed last night...

                                http://vorshlag.smugmug.com/gallery/3739545#214866299 - installation pictures


                                When will you be offering AST 4100's kits for E30's publicly?

                                I ask as I recently acquired a '87 325is that I'm freshing and will be prepping for DE, TT, etc. and would like to run AST's on it since I didn't get the chance to on my M3. It's a shared project with a friend which is making it more affordable for both of us.

                                Thanks - Jon
                                Last edited by GotCone?; 01-28-2008, 03:59 PM.
                                Jon D. Simmons
                                1988 E30 M3 - STX #88
                                AST-USA | Bimmerworld | Butler's C&D | D-Force | Russ' Garage | Import Specialists

                                Comment

                                Working...
                                X