Thinking about getting a 318ti for rallycross

[ojannen]

Hello forum,

I met the owner of Bimmerbum at an autocross this past weekend and he rekindled my interest in a rallycross 318ti. I use to have a 3.0 Z3 coupe (sold because I didn't fit) and currently run an e28 at rallycross events. It looks like this:

The car has a few notable problems like no suspension options, horribly slow steering, and no way for me to heel toe downshift with my giant feet. But I like the semi trailing arm rear suspension for rallycross. I was going to build up an old 2002/1602 but plans change and I won't have a tow vehicle in the near future.

At the autocross, I sat in Bimmerbum's clubsport and surprisingly had enough legroom and headroom even with a sunroof. In a non-sunroof car, I believe I would have enough room for a helmet. My new plan is to pick up a cheap 318ti, baseline the cooling system and suspension, and run in the stock rwd class. Before I start seriously looking, I have a few questions.

I want an LSD but the rules say that I can only have one in years that it was available on the car. Does that mean I am limited to 1995 model year cars? Due to the way the rules work, if there is documentation for a single 1996 model year car with a factory LSD, I can add one to a 1996 car.

The 318 oil pan sits a little low for rallycross. Are there any no-weld options for a skid plate? I found the one on rally.build that requires welding. Sheet metal attached to an x-brace would work but I am not sure if it is legal for the stock class.

Was a 15x7 wheel an option on the base model? I am attempting to save money and reuse my high offset wheels used on the E28. Wheel width in the stock class is limited to factory wheel sizes for the trim level of the car.

Looking ahead to the more modified classes, are there reasonably priced suspension options that keep the car at stock height? This has been the achilles heel of the E28. Everything drops the car an inch or more. I know I can get an expensive, custom Fox or JVAB setup. What if I just want a standard 2.5" or 2.25" OD spring and some sort of adjustments in the shocks at stock ride height?

I am looking for a car with a manual transmission, lsd/available lsd for that year, no sunroof, working AC, and cruise control (if possible). How rare is that?