The sunroof cassette in a BMW E36 is an easy target for "adding lightness". It's nearly 40lbs of weight at the highest point in the car. So removing it will not only reduce overall weight in the car, it will also lower the center of gravity. Another easy addition to aid handling in autocross is …
Continue reading BMW E36 sunroof delete and larger sway bar install
As I've mentioned in a previous post, my car is feeling down on power since moving to the high altitude of Colorado. According to most reliable sites, my BMW E36 has 20% less power at my current altitude (~6000 ft) than at sea level. It left the factory with 189 hp (M50B25TU), so best case …
Continue reading More Power! Upgrading and modifying the BMW E36 engine.
It's definitely been a while since my last post, sorry! Quite a lot has happened in the last few months so racing my BMW has been put on a temporary pause. I just completed the move to Colorado from Seattle and am just now finally getting settled into a normal routine. I planned to enter …
Event 1 of 2018 had finally arrived! It was a beautiful dry day (though fairly cloudy) and my BMW E36 was running perfectly. My car has received a lot of upgrades and weight reduction over the winter, as seen in my previous posts, so this was the day to prove that it was all worth it. …
My two young sons recently informed me that in order for a car to be a "race car" it needs to have a rear wing. Apparently fast run times at events don't matter to six year olds. I guess that's not too surprising and rear wings do naturally make cars more cool, so on to …
The first chance to get my BMW E36 on track in 2018 has arrived! It's time to see how all the weight reductions, steering component changes and general winter repairs/upgrades will affect my runs. As usual, the first practice of the season will be held in the rain. That's just what Seattle in February provides... …
I determined towards the end of 2017 that I wanted to turn my BMW E36 into as close as a street legal race car as possible in order to turn up the fun factor even more! To me, no race car should have an interior or any sound deadening. That means it shouldn't have five …
Continue reading Turning my BMW E36 into more of a dedicated race car!
With Winter now here, it's time yet again to move the BMW E36 race car into the garage, put it up on jack stands, and attack a few areas that need attention. Areas of focus are converting to a manual steering rack, upgrading the bottom of the engine, control arm replacement and changing gaskets.
Lately, during my autocross runs, I've found myself sliding around in my seat during the hard cornering. I've had to brace my legs against the door and transmission tunnel. I've also been using my arms to keep in position when all they should be doing is steering (and a single shift). A snug fitting fixed …
You've heard me complain numerous times in my posts and videos about the terrible tires that I've been racing on this season. Thanks to a generous gift (let's call it a sponsorship), I was able to finally get the tires for my BMW E36 that it deserves! I ordered a new set of Bridgestone Potenza …
Continue reading New Racing Tires! Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R’s for the BMW E36.
Brent Ford Racing 