Preparing An E36 M3 for Stock Category Autocross Competition

There are seven things I'd do to a stock 1995 M3 to prep it for competition in SCCA BS class. And I've listed them pretty much in the order I'd do them.

1. Tires... R-compound tires are a must.

2. Shocks... Koni single-adjustables will get you most of the way there. Get Koni doubles if your budget will allow.

3. Sway bar... Racing Dynamics 27mm front sway bar set to full soft.

4. Exhaust... a light weight cat-back exhaust system can drop more than 30 pounds.

5. Wheels... light weight wheels can save 16 or more pounds of *rotating* mass, which some people estimate is worth 10:1 over static mass.

6. Bushings... make sure all the suspension bushings are in good condition.

7. Alignment... a good competition alignment can make a world of difference.... maximize negative camber front and rear, set front toe to zero and rear toe to about 1/4" toe-in (less for tight courses).

After that I'd replace the air filter, spark plugs, and synthetic lubricants.

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