My 1st autocross day

[Boosted_N54]

yesterday was my 1st autocross and I have to say this car body rolls a lot what can I do to up grade. what is a good autocross set up? I'm running vmr wheels 255 18 rear 245 18 front PSS tires

[jafo1701]

how much do you want to spend? M3 bits, including the M3 swaybar are well worth it and very affordable. Swift springs and Koni yellows are also a huge improvement. The 135i is not the best autocross car from my experience. With my mods, those mentioned above and then some. I'm in A Street Prepared class. Im not at all competitive in that class. It's still fun though. Besides Track days are 10 times better and the car is much better on a Road course.

[Freon]

Pop your front alignment pins and push the top hats as far inward as possible. It will help a tiny bit. Camber plates are your best bet, though.

There are all sorts of spring/damper setups out there.

The car is probably most competitive in F stock after being moved from D stock, where it wasn't very impressive. But the E46 M3 was also moved and is probably a lot better in stock form (better suspension, higher hp, lower weight, etc), so good luck. Slap some slicks on it, and I think the alignment pin removal is still legal in stock as it is in the service manual as valid for an alignment job.

The car won't be competitive in SP. Never seen someone take a 135i to the limits of SP rules, but that includes a lot of stripping stuff out. They're not old/cheap enough yet for that.

I just say screw the rules, build the car, end up in SM, just run to have fun. SM in my area is the "don't care, car has lots of go-fast parts" class.

[Ginger_Extract]

Work on the driver. I'm 100% certain the car is not holding you back.

[Suds]

The other cheap mod is doing the E93 M3 front sway bar, stock classes allow one sway change and the bar significantly reduced my front tire plow and my times are much lower without killing the tires.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by Ginger_Extract

Work on the driver. I'm 100% certain the car is not holding you back.

Agreed. Throwing different tires or anything else is going to hide your mistakes.

OP - I first drove a 02 325xi with suspension that was 130k miles old. It had all-season tires, and handled like crap



However, I learned how to drive.

Don't do anything to the car. Learn your lines, as I know any new person has not mastered it. Learn the limits of your car, when you exceed it...yada yada.

It may be frustrating, but you'll thank me later. Throwing suspension, tires...etc will only make you slower, because you'll not know how to effectively adjust and drive with the modifications.


PS - You need body roll to effectively transfer weight to put power down

[Suds]

After reading kgolf31's reply, it's all about being smooth and shortening the course and letting the car run when it can, I wouldn't mod anything until the driver gets education through practice, if they offer do the solo school, it will really help.

[Boosted_N54]

Thanks guys

[Lubo]

Originally Posted by Da _Grk_Tuner

Thanks guys

Ask one of the instructors to take your car out for couple runs. Once you are able to beat their times you may start thinking about any updates. Until then only spend your money to get to more events.

[Boosted_N54]

Originally Posted by Lubo

Ask one of the instructors to take your car out for couple runs. Once you are able to beat their times you may start thinking about any updates. Until then only spend your money to get to more events.

Yea that sounds like a good idea

[Gray_Panther]

bre xamene ma8e to ama3i!!!
The car is definitely not holding you back, I just got back from a track event and this car really showed me its true potential. I was impressed.

[Boosted_N54]

Originally Posted by Gray_Panther

bre xamene ma8e to ama3i!!!
The car is definitely not holding you back, I just got back from a track event and this car really showed me its true potential. I was impressed.

lol se pia pista pas?