Group 2 details

[Thayat]

Hi all,

I am grappling with options to turn my old E21 into a race car. While initially the plan was to simply strip and cage it, but leave it looking fairly stock standard, my mind has been swayed to investigate turning it into a Group 2 replica. Before committing to the full project, I am trying to look at availability of certain parts and of course, costs. But equally I'm trying to track down certain key bits of information.

Specifically at this point I am trying to ascertain the wheel sizes used for track biased Group 2 cars. Something tells me my 15 inch BBS won't cut it!! I'm looking at a few options for custom 3 piece wheels to try to get the proper offsets and styles but the sizes are a mystery. I note that the Rawecki car uses 15x8s with a zero offset. I would be running DOT rated tyres so would also need to consider what rubber is available here In NZ.

Can anyone assist?

Many thanks in advance.

Daniel

[e21-Mark]

Toyo do a 888r in 235/50x15 which you could run on a 9 or 10J x 15 rim.

[Thayat]

Cheers Mark. I've read an awful lot of conflicting 'information' recently online about tyre vs rim widths. The spec sheet says that the 235 should run on rims up to 8.5 inches. I guess I'm happy to have some fabricated to try to fill out the arches, but really wanting to find out what rims genuine cars run (besides slicks!).

There really isnt a great deal of info on the more mundance Group 2 E21s.

Good luck with your ongoing projects by the way. I follow with great interest from this side of the world.

Daniel

[Jeroen]

Not much to be found on the interweb, but perhaps the FIA approval can help you out. Did you contact Rawecki yet?

[Thayat]

Hi Jeroen,

not much at all regrettably. Mind you, if it were easy, everyone would do it

No, I haven't contacted Rawecki yet. Am just starting to sit down with the list and try to figure out the questions I have to find answers to. This one popped up as its pretty fundamental to determining whether I throw money at the body kit.

Cheers

[Jason_323i]

The orginal wheels where not that wide I do have the spec sheet and photo's at home, they ran wide track supension at least in the front to fill the arches.

The trouble with big offsets is that the bearing wear goes up on the rear and you increase the scrub radius on the front.

A bit of info here

http://www.bmwe21fansclub.it/public/upl ... ecnica.pdf

[TopCat]

If you do go as wide as 9x15 and 10x15 per the Eggenberger Group 2 car then I suspect that like us you will find the Toyo 888Rs undertyred (for my race Camaro running 8x15s Revolutions)

We are going to go back to Hoosier as Euro tyres are just simply not big enough in 15 inch sizes Specifiaclly Hoosier R6 or A6
DOT radial
http://www.hoosiertire.com/rrtire.htm
you can find a 245/50/15 and even a 275/50/15
You will need to get the supplier to add the 2 additional longtitudenal grooves to keep them happy

If you go 16s you can find Khumo Ecsta, Toyos and Yokos in much larger sizes!

[Thayat]

Hi guys,

thank you very much for your guidance. The wheel bearing issue is certainly a consideration. I shall have to have a chat to my suspension guru to see what he has to say. He has built a lovely 2002 Group 2 replica.

So many ideas floating around my head.

Thanks again. If you get any other info pop in to your minds, or Jason, if you track any photos down I'd love to hear from you.

Once I've made decisions and progress I'll be sure to post up.

Daniel

[Jason_323i]

I used an e28 rear axle to widen the rear track and remounted the front control arms further outboard on the subframe.