ILC's 1991 318 S50 track rat

m42b32

i_love_cars said:

E30 M3 5-lug and i'm running the E30 M3 Massive BBK with Wilwood SLR6 aluminum calipers in front, and E30 M3 calipers in the rear.

Thanks for the info!

i_love_cars

So the E30 had a rough day today at BHF. I went off coming out of Turn 7 and ate the tire wall on the inner side of the track at about 50 mph. I blame Stuart as bad luck because today was his first day back at the track with the E46 since he last crashed 2 years ago at BHF, and he rode along with me for the first session and this shit happened like 7 laps in LOL.

It rained all night and everyone was going slow today because the track was wet with no real sun in the sky to dry it and temps in the low 70's. I waited for 5 other sessions before I went on track because slicks + rain don't mix well. I was 90% of the way through Turn 7, nearly straightened fully for the main straightaway, and at the last second getting on throttle just shot the car sideways. The east side of turn 7 has a bunch of trees in front of it, so even if we had sun at 10:20 a.m. when this happened it was still going to be damp.

Unfortunately my tires were just a bit too cold still even on lap 7 because of track conditions. The day cleared up as time went on and in retrospect I should have waited another full round of sessions before going on track i.e. after lunchtime.

as you can see the engine bay is mint other than the radiator being slightly pushed upwards because the support for it got pushed in a bit. The car runs and drives just fine other than the passenger side front wheel is fucked but I have a spare set of Kosei wheels anyway so whatever. I dropped the car off at Big Bear to have them align it and check for bent suspension, and as long as that all checks out, I'm just gonna source some new quarter panels, a valance, and driver door and then replace the brake ducts and be on my merry way.

No leaks, no smoking, no odd noises when moving under its own power, steering wheel is straight as can be so I think the tire wall did its job today.

Even the fiberglass hood didn't crack - just has some chipped paint at the front.

Boris3

Sorry to see this. Glad you're ok, and it's just sheet metal.

i_love_cars

post updated with photo of where the car ended up. It was just a weeeeee bit wet out there

YoungCR

Glad you're ok man! Also glad it's fixable too.

Boris3

Yeow! Lucky it just climbed the tire wall and didn't barrel roll. Wet grass is slick like glass, once you're 4 wheels off at speed things can get ugly fast.

i_love_cars

The race seat and harness really did their job well. I woke up today with no soreness or pain, just the same mild tension in my shoulders that I had yesterday. I thought for sure once I slept and blood flow slowed down that I'd wake up with sore muscles and/or neck.

KaiserRolls

Good to hear man. Cars can be replaced.

Boris3

Good to hear! If you're going four wheels off, tire walls are a much better end point than concrete or trees.

As you start working on repairs be sure to take your seat out and remove the seat mounts (don't remember if you've got side or bottom) and check the seat and mounts for cracks, bends, other damage. Speaking from experience with post-crash damage this can be hard to see with the seat still in the car.

Also be sure to replace your harnesses with new ones so you can be sure they can do the job next time.

Can't have enough safety gear. You wearing a HANS or other h&n device? If not get one. Should be mandatory in any car with fixed back race seats and a roll bar or cage.

In the bad stuff happens and walking away from it category this is from a recent Trans Am race at Mid Ohio but stupid track reentry happens in DE events. Why a H&N matters:

i_love_cars

thanks Boris, I'm definitely going to check everything over, wasn't sure on harnesses but as long as the seats and mounts are not damaged, I'm guessing I can re-use the seats and just buy new harnesses then.

I don't have a hans but to be sure, after Saturday I was planning on getting one haha. If you have any recommendations I'm all ears.

The whole time we were sliding I was thinking two things:

yay we're headed for tire walls and not the guardrail 100 yards further down the track
go off straight

Jeff Fait was driving behind me in his 335i about 100 yards, unfortunately he didn't have a go-pro running because he got to see the whole thing happen and watch the car go airborne. I would've liked to see footage from outside the car because it was a hell of a ride.

suspenceful

Wow! This sucks, but like you said, it could be much worse.

Glad you're alright.

i_love_cars

just got the word from Big Bear - the E30 is fine. Nothing is bent, and the car was barely even out of alignment. All they could come up with is a cracked mount for the fuel pump, lol.

So, now I am officially on the hunt for new front fenders, a valance, and a driver side door.

Should be back on track first thing next season.

Boris3

Great news that there's no frame damage and all the suspension is intact!

Re the body parts quest: I've had some communication with this seller down in Rockford about the passenger side fender, though he's pretty slow in followup responses and I'm still waiting on promised pics and price detail. Anybody here know the seller?

https://rockford.craigslist.org/pts/5721149272.html

Might get a quicker response if you offer to buy the whole car...and we work out a deal for the passenger fender as a finder's fee.

My guess is the ad fell under the radar since a "BMW 325si" doesn't pop up in an e30 parts search.

patsbimmer1

I'm 20 minutes from Rockford if you need eyes.

KaiserRolls

Those fenders are even pre-faded. What a steal

Boris3

Indeed! But since there are no pics of the passenger side I was wondering if it was trashed. According to last from the seller all good but no pics or price info yet.

Patsbimmer thanks for the offer. We'll see if I hear back.

m42b32

its definitely worthwhile to pick up the entire shell instead of buying individual panels. I bought a whole car to repair mine as tracking down clean panels around here is difficult at best and nobody down south wants to ship.

i_love_cars

Boris3 said:

Great news that there's no frame damage and all the suspension is intact!

Re the body parts quest: I've had some communication with this seller down in Rockford about the passenger side fender, though he's pretty slow in followup responses and I'm still waiting on promised pics and price detail. Anybody here know the seller?

https://rockford.craigslist.org/pts/5721149272.html

Might get a quicker response if you offer to buy the whole car...and we work out a deal for the passenger fender as a finder's fee.

My guess is the ad fell under the radar since a "BMW 325si" doesn't pop up in an e30 parts search.

yep, Father Hundley sent that link to me this morning as well - I messaged the guy and said I am interested in a few panels or potentially the whole car depending on price. If the panels are intact and matches my color I would definitely help you out with the passenger fender.

My car is Brilliantrot though so I dunno his looks like it may be Hellrot. I also don't know if 325is parts fit a 318is.

Earl

Literally the same car besides the motor and trans situation. I would hope you plan to get the new parts painted to match the rest of the car given the paint seemed to be in great shape before your crash.

i_love_cars

Earl said:

Literally the same car besides the motor and trans situation. I would hope you plan to get the new parts painted to match the rest of the car given the paint seemed to be in great shape before your crash.

good to know.

i'm unlikely to bother with much in the way of repainting. It's a track car, and I have the 135i to look pretty. The risk of damage at the track is really too high for me to justify the ridiculous cost of painting so many body panels. To have it done right and match everything you're talking at least 2500 bucks just for the paint and labor. That doesn't include parts.

WIBIMMERS

ILC's 1991 318 S50 track rat