Ride Nickname:
Number 72
Make:
BMW
Model:
M3
Year:
1998
Introduction / Overview:
This is my BMW 323is Club Racer. I use this car primarily for NASA Club Racing, with the occasional SCCA autocross, time trial and Porsche Club track day. Its primary class is NASA Performance Touring A, but I also run the car in NASA Time Trial (TTS), Super Street Time Attack, Redline Time Attack and GT Live Time Attack.
Drivetrain:
The engine is a 3.2L BMW M3 engine with ~240hp at the wheels. Engine internals are stock but there are many bolt ons and perhaps the loudest side exhaust in the state. Not many cars sound better than a BMW I-6 uncanned at 7500rpm! Powertrain mods consist of:
- Turner Motorsport ECU
- Turner Motorsport Header
- Conforti Intake
- Side Exhaust
- M50 Intake Manifold
Chassis:
The chassis is an original '98 323is coupe BMW chassis with ~50K miles. In race trim the car weighs in at 2450lbs wet, which is only ~700lbs lighter than a stock 323. Reinforcements have been added around the rear subframe and shock towers, and the suspension has basic mods:
- Bilstein PSS9 inverted struts
- H&R 60mm springs
- Turner Motorsport sway bars
Wheels:
BMW fender clearance is pretty wimpy, so I've spent many hours with a sledgehammer trying to make average sized wheels and tires fit:
- Turner Motorsport wheels: 17x9", 16.5lbs each
- BFGoodrich R1 DOT Race Tires: P255/40ZR17
Body:
The original color was a metallic black, but it has been resprayed an extremely bright shade of yellow (not the OE Dakar Yellow). I added some aero mods as the tracks in Arizona have some fairly high speed corners. Yes, the car is fast enough to actually utilize the aero mods. This car ain't no Pavilions racer!
- Rieger front splitter
- LTW rear spoiler
- JTD belly pan
- Carbon fiber hood
- Lexan 1/4 windows
Interioir:
The inside is fully gutted, sprayed flat black and caged. The stock wiring harness has been cut apart and only a few wires for the ignition and aftermarket gauges remain. Look inside the car and you'll see:
- 6-point roll cage
- Sparco EVO seat
- Pivot 3.5" tachometer
- Autometer gauges for water temp, oil temp, oil pressure
- Fire system
- 6-point harness
- Window net
- Right-side driver's net
- Racepak G2X data acquisition
Lifestyles:
Club Racer
