Finding the candidate for the Ultimate DSP BMW E36 or E46...

[Fair!]

OK, let's start the bench racing officially...

Its no secret that I want to build a new autocross car for the 2010 season. After trolling around the paddock for a week at the 2009 Nationals I keep going back to the DSP cars. The class has a ton of diversity and the E36 non-M is still very strong there. Mike's win in SMOD makes me think that the bigger, concrete courses we'll likely see for years to come might put the ball back in the court of lightweight, RWD, non-boosted cars with big tires. STX and SMOD were just two examples where this simple layout and the E36 chassis ruled the roost. I love BMW E36 chassis cars for their lightness, narrowness, durable drivetrains, awesome ABS braking system and stellar handling (with the right mods). They look great and cost next to nothing to buy. I am really missing R compound grip, too.

What I want to build is a DSP classed autocross car using an E36 couple chassis that can be also used in a limited basis for BMWCCA club racing. The car is to be a 100% DSP build with the only concessions to club racing being a minimalist, weld in, 8-point cage (which is SP legal) and a big brake upgrade (also SP legal). The cage will be delayed for a while... maybe forever if the CCA constraints prove to add too much weight to the car. Being DSP it cannot have a wing so it woouldn't be the ultimate track setup, but I think it still won't quite suck...

I'm picking the brains of the fastest/smartest racers I know and of course Brian Matteucci was the first one on my speed dial. His DSP 1995 325is is the basis for most of my wish list, with some changes that he mostly suggested. Here's a picture gallery of his old car: http://vorshlag.smugmug.com/Cars/DSP.../1165599_CLEYD I've also nicked a lot of good ideas from Dave B and his low buck "Goldmember" - a super lightweight 325i racecar, also chronicled on this forum.


18x10" wheels, 285/30/18 Hoosiers, and flares


This was a sunroof car that was completely converted to a hardtop. Crazy work!


2.8L engine swap from 328 is 100% legal (update/backdate), as is the Euro M3 header

Mattreucci's car is now owned by Paul Leonard and has the 1992 no-airbag dash swapped in, 15x10" wheels (altho 275/15 Hoosiers didn't prove to be the faster tire than the 285/30/18 Hoosiers) and I think he took out the triple disc clutch (which Matteucci said "wasn't a great idea, and hurt driveability".

What I want is very close to that:

• 1992-1995 (OBD-I) BMW 325is (2-door no sunroof 5-spd car)
• 2.8L swap but keep the lighter Getrag from the 325
• 3.15 ratio LSD diff (the best ratio from all of the 323/325/328 cars. Also could use 3.90 or 2.93)
• 18x10" wheels (already have a set of D-Force's) + 285 Hoosiers, with flares added only if 100% necessary (this is a TON of work). I'm going to roll the crap out of those fenders first! (remember: Chris Mayfield managed to fit 285s on 10's under STU fenders!)
• AST 4200 or similar + Vorshlag everything
• Aftermarket EFI, custom intake manifold (see below) - maybe a 3.0L Euro M3 intake??
• Full length header + custom lightweight exhaust (with a swappable cat for street use/inspections)
• A lightweight big brake swap. It might just be an M3 setup with the 2-piece Euro rotors (that stopped at over 1.1g on the STU M3 with street tires)
• Custom splitter that is ridiculously huge + equally ridiculous rear spoiler
• Lightweight racing seats, harnesses, etc.
• Dump all dead weight that can legally be removed - light battery, etc. Target weight of 2700 lbs.

What am I missing?


After seeing how well Mike S's car ran in SMOD with this intake, I want something close to that for DSP


If 18x10s and 285s can fit under STU legal fenders, imagine what can fit after a few hours with a baseball bat...