BMW Z3 as a track car?

Am M Coupe is a different story. Those are straight up awesome and I covet them. Especially a buttercup yellow one.

If you haven't driven one or competed in one in an auto-x or a track day, then do that first. I like the Z3 rear suspension better than the NA and NB Miata's. So if I had more money to pay for extra maintenance, I would get the Z3 over the Miata. I also have an E36 328i I have autocrossed, and for me, the Z3 feels like a lighter, smaller 328i. Luckily, I drove a stock Z3 and a stock NB Miata.

They are FUN. Don't let the Subframe issue steer you away. Yes, it can be reinforced as a prevention, but I'm driving mine until I hear it go "POP". A little jaunt at AMP a few months ago.. Profile... Had to give up during the ATLANTA snow storm. Didn't want to risk it.

These cars require a just about the same as any other E36, and they are just as rewarding. I'm on year 3 with mine. Haven't looked back!

How much are the coupes going for these days?

God I miss my Estoril Blue Z3M coupe. It's the only car I've sold that I wish I hadn't. Bone stock, it was a brute to autocross. Given some suspension work, it could have been a lot of fun.

Swank Force One wrote: How much are the coupes going for these days?

Before I bought mine, I was looking at mcoupebuyersguide dot com and looked at all the ranges. It's a great resource. You can get a decent example for about 16-17K with about 120K miles and all the required cooling system repairs done. Those that have the sub-frame reinforced, are commanding a few grand more. There are some (like mine) that don't show any sub-frame issues.

Good Luck!

Another M Coupe owner here. Before I purchased mine, I had it put on a lift to personally inspect for subframe issues. It wasn't until I had it home and was up underneath and looked closer did I notice a hairline crack in the mounting tab for the differential ear and a few popped spot welds inside under the carpet. I purchased a Forbes reinforcement kit and installed it myself. No more worries. These are great cars. A couple pictures, ECTA meet in Wilmington, Ohio and an HPDE at VIR.

Gosh those cars are striking.

People keep saying the Sedans are more competitive, but Woody said track car. He didn't say autocross or race car. To me a track car is a car to do track days in. No stop watch at track days, it's all about having fun in what floats your boat. I think a Z3 could be a fun answer to that.

M3Loco wrote:

Not only is Estoril a gorgeous color, but, damn(!), those wheels look stunning too! Love it!!!

dyintorace wrote:

M3Loco wrote:

Not only is Estoril a gorgeous color, but, damn(!), those wheels look stunning too! Love it!!!

Glad you enjoy them, I do too!

APEX ARC-8 Concave in 17/9.5 Square all around! BFG Rivals. 5MM Spacer front, 20MM in the rear. Minor plastic rub in the front that I will dremel out soon. Ground Control Camber Plates, and Koni/HR Suspension from TCK.

Thanks!

Look... bottom line here is that an Z3/M Coupe is a 2 seat, modern E30 that is better in every way than it's predecessor except maybe the look of the front clip. Better motor, better brakes, more tire, better chassis, easier to work on. It's a very sexy clown shoe. With the M optioned S52 its a fast car. If you find one with an S54 (~800 existed once) it's a damn rocket ship - with a short wheelbase you can use to initiate grins in any scenario.

They don't have the same competencies as their 4 seat brethren due to the rear suspension but they are a hoot to drive, no slouch compared to anything else with that power/weight, and if you want to stiffen it - you put a cage in and viola... rock solid.

If you want to know how to hook one up - TC Kline raced one in Grand Am for years. He has the formula. Give him a call.

If you like the way an E30 slides around but want it to be a lot faster... why not?

S52. Add supercharger, fix the subframe, a 3.73, TCKline suspension, Vorschlag camber plates and away you go. Short wheelbase means you kinda have to pay attention. A friend of mine has a Z3 1.9l and love the way it handles. I've driven it, and although missing the grunt, the DNA is there. It's flickable with factory narrow tires. more fun at low speed. Jay

Love the look of these things! Feel free to post more pictures, we won't mind.

MudHut wrote: A friend of mine has a Z3 1.9l and love the way it handles. I've driven it, and although missing the grunt, the DNA is there. It's flickable with factory narrow tires. more fun at low speed.

the 318ti is very much the same way. And as stated above, it is a newer better version of the E30 318is

I'm not over the top about the mini shooting brake styling of the coupe, but neither does it repel me (I much prefer the Z4 coupe shape). The S54 engine is an outstanding one and if you could find one with of those it would make a nice sleeper - remove the M stickers and you'd have a real good time with those that thought you were driving a base model.

wspohn wrote: I'm not over the top about the mini shooting brake styling of the coupe, but neither does it repel me (I much prefer the Z4 coupe shape). The S54 engine is an outstanding one and if you could find one with of those it would make a nice sleeper - remove the M stickers and you'd have a real good time with those that thought you were driving a base model.

The Zed 4 in the M version is a beast. Too bad they started to go cheap in the interior. There's a difference there.

I just happened across this track car. Pretty cool looking.

http://www.racingjunk.com/NASA-GTS-Challenge/182052864/BMW-98-M-Roadster-Hardtop-.html

dyintorace wrote: I just happened across this track car. Pretty cool looking. http://www.racingjunk.com/NASA-GTS-Challenge/182052864/BMW-98-M-Roadster-Hardtop-.html

Someone should take pity on that one and buy it just to remove that ugly 'Fast and Furious' wannabe tail wing from it!

wspohn wrote:

dyintorace wrote: I just happened across this track car. Pretty cool looking. http://www.racingjunk.com/NASA-GTS-Challenge/182052864/BMW-98-M-Roadster-Hardtop-.html

Someone should take pity on that one and buy it just to remove that ugly 'Fast and Furious' wannabe tail wing from it!

I can give the wing, and just possibly the black wheels a pass 'Because race car' I allow function over form.

Since that's a track car, that wing better be functional.