Eurotrash Motorsports

[sb_600]

This was a great idea for a new thread!

I just wanted to introduce myself - I bought my first car 5 years ago and it was a 1992 BMW 325i.  I drove it for 3 years until it was costing me too much to keep on the road, and since I was in university I didn't have as much time as I would have liked to do my own maintenance (other than oil changes, etc which I did do).  I had it up for sale for about 6 months with no luck and then I discovered the MCO's solo II.  So my friend and I decided to turn it into a Solo II project, and we went from there.

We started by gutting the interior, and upgrading to Hawk HP+ brake pads.  After a few races, the tires were finished so we went with Kumho Ecsta XS, followed by used Bilstein touring shocks with Eibach pro-kit springs.

I also did a few track days at Calabogie & at Shannonville (where i seized the transmission).  Since the end of the season, I've done an A/C delete and a sunroof delete.

Right now, I'm in the process of installing a UUC Stage II aluminum flywheel with an M5 performance organic clutch, UUC engine and tranny mounts (red), and the UUC short shifter kit with the DSSR.  We would have finished last weekend but when removing the transmission we saw that the rear main crankshaft seal was leaking so we're waiting for parts for that - we should be done by next weekend.

Plans for next year include replacing rusty brake lines, a swaybar kit, lower temp thermostat, replacing the main fan with a SPAL electric fan, and then, depending on the budget, camber plates and adjustable rear control arms.

I've been documenting everything on our team's website - www.eurotrashmotorsports.com

Take a look, and let me know what you think!

Shawn

[Paul Brun]

it is good that you kept the car and was able to turn it into something you enjoy. Not sure I will go all the way towards racing my E36, but do enjoy the advanced driver days and the lapping day I was able to take part of last year. It was a lot of fun.....

I guess I will just see how far I go....right now, I simply enjoy driving the E36 in the summer and enjoy playing with the car...can't wait for the snow to melt and for me to put the M3 parts on it to dress it up a little....

Paul

[msix]

Nice website for the Eurotrash team Shawn! It's good to keep track of all the development of the car and the driver(s). I wish I would have done so right from the early stages.

I am happy to see you guys out at the Auto-X and Snow-X events, that is the propper way to learn how to handle the car. The best time of learning what weight transfer means and how to counter over - or - under steering is in the winter, not by tip-toeing around on slippery roads, but to push and find the limits at slow and safe skill events such as Snow-X.

You should come on the road with me this year and experience the competition at other venues... it's another step up.

Klaus

[sb_600]

Thanks Klaus!

That's what we focused on this year - having fun and learning the limits of the car at a slower, safer pace before venturing out at higher speeds.  This season my plan is to do the MCO AutoX season again, and some more lapping days.

I may take you up on that offer though - it sounds tempting!  Money is always a big issue, but I'll see what I can do.

Shawn

[sb_600]

Finished the transmission swap this weekend - Everything went really well except for the stripped exhaust pins which required drilling and retapping.

I also tried to install the X-brace but i screwed up two of the nutserts and didnt' have any extra.  Hopefully I will get that done next week.

There's tons of pictures posted on our website if anyone is interested!

Shawn

[sb_600]

Over the winter, I've been extremely busy:

(1) sunroof delete - I took out the OEM panel and screwed in a piece of sheetmetal
(2) A/C system delete
(3) New (used) tranny + Stage II 8.5lb single-mass flywheel and an M5 performance organic clutch.
(4) Poly engine and tranny mounts
(5) Shortshifter
(6) X-brace
(7) Catalytic converter delete
( Front control arm bushings - rotational bearings with high-durometer bushing
(9) Stainless steel brake & clutch lines + all new hardlines (while deleting ABS and adding a rear proportioning valve)
(10) reinforced rear subframe & trailing arm pockets, solid diff bushings, poly rear control arm bushings
(11) heater core delete & rerouting cooling lines (just finished last night )
(12) mechanical fan delete, lower temp thermostat
(13) maintenance items - spark plugs, valve cover gasket, tranny & diff fluid flush

I've still got a bunch of work to do before the season starts - currently the rear end of the car is still in parts in the garage waiting for my backordered poly bushings to come in. I also have a SPAL electric fan to wire up, swaybar kit to install, and then bleeding the brake and cooling systems.

This is my first build and the first time I've ever worked on a car other than basic oil changes, etc. I've been learning as I go by checking forums, the bentley manual, DIYs, and asking as many questions as I can.  It's been a ton of fun!

I've posted all the pictures along the way on our website, and have been blogging about all our work done and our events completed. Feel free to check it out!

Shawn

[sb_600]

So this is what happens when you ignore that squeaking noise from your accessory belt (see picture).

I was at Calabogie a few weeks ago, and i heard a bang then the battery light came on, I lost my power steering, and the engine temps started creeping up.  Luckily I was able to get off track before the temps went into the red, but when it was just sitting there turned off, the engine was at 250+ degrees Faranheit.  I thought my belt had snapped, but it turned out the idler pulley bearing on the belt tensioner failed.

So i purchased two new idler pulleys and a new tensionner, and all has been replaced.  The engine sounds good, and there's no white smoke coming out the exhaust, so i think the engine is ok.

Should be good to go for the autoX this weekend!

[everlast]

Is Auto-X Saturday or Sunday this weekend? I'd like to come out and watch!

[sb_600]

saturday.  it's going to feel like an extra long weekend!

[bmwconnect]

saturday.  it's going to feel like an extra long weekend!

I will probably come out and watch too... I have seen your car there many time's and have seen you run a few times...how do you find the humps  & bumps in the parking lot?

[sb_600]

Cool - Feel free to come introduce yourself next time!  I'm relatively new to this forum so it would be nice to put some faces to names!

I don't find it too bad - they try to design the courses as best as possible around that.  What makes it really interesting is the camber changes in certain corners - .  I dont' have any complaints, although I don't really have much to compare it to as I've only ever AutoXed at SBP (apart from once at PMG in the rain).

My suspension setup is pretty soft, but i've got thick bars.  It seems to work out pretty well!  I missed the last event because of an appendectomy, so i'm itchin' to get back in the driver's seat!

[everlast]

I will be there saturday, likely in my silver E30. Bear, you want to meet up? What time do the cars get rolling at?

[bmwconnect]

I will be there saturday, likely in my silver E30. Bear, you want to meet up? What time do the cars get rolling at?

Ya sure... let me know what time your going

[everlast]

I'll text you about it.

[sb_600]

first car is usually around 9:30

see you then!