Facts and Info
Our 1988 BMW 325i started out stock as a car meant for new drivers who had little experience racing, and those of us who aren't yet comfortable in a manual. At some point over its long history with the club, the stock inline 6 got turbocharged, and unfortunately the original engine just wasn't able to handle the boost. Therefore, we decided that the best course of action was to swap it with a 5.7L LS1 out of an '02 Corvette. We've built it with a focus on autocross racing, but its primary purpose in the team is still to be a reliable and beginner friendly vehicle.
Modifications
To support the LS swap, many other changes have been made. We have done substantial suspension work to try and account for the heavier engine, and more is still needed. Brakes have been upgraded to EBC yellow pads. We've also added a steam port kit to help the LS stay cool in the smaller engine compartment, and rebuilt the LSD to put power down more reliably.
Safety
As our beginner car, safety is very important and substantial improvements have been made since 2022. These include race seats, a half roll cage, 5-point harnesses, a fire suppression system, and a battery kill switch.