Carbon Fibre/LTW parts?

[gooten1]

Anyone use carbon fiber on their car? More than just trim or something. I read something about a cf sunroof or door panels...fenders, etc. CF strut tower brace? Trunk hatch? :devil: LTW parts? What other options would I have when it comes to reducing weight?

[aceyx]

go to the gym.

[GDB]

lightweight wheels are a biggie, removing carpet/insulation, removing backseat, lightweight seat, remove AC (all of it), remove ABS (again, the entire system), remove cat, lightweight exhaust (aluminum is best), remove dash, aluminum radiator. That's about all I can think of for now, but I know there's a whole lot more to the list than just those.

[maurolin]

spare tire, apeakers, lighter battery, stock seats weight a TON, brake rotors changed to aluminum rotors, remove the winshield fluid reservoir and plastic lining of the hatch.
replace the rear window and side windows with plexi glass, I mean, are you building a true race car??
bumper supports can be replaced for fiberglass ones ($30 a piece) roof liner removed, all carpeting, stock seatmelts and latches, ...

[AlaskaBlue]

MA Shaw has 7lb doors, carbon fiber, andfiberglass hoods for the ti. I am not sure about fitment. I really would like to get fiberglass or carbon fiber quarter panels.

[J!m]

Last I knew M A Shaw's parts were for the coupe only, not the sedan (what we ti owners need). I have not spoken to Mike in a while, so he may have added some parts to his list of offerings.

As far as fitment goes, his stuff is about the best you can get.

[clex2]

I have a CF hood, which at 13 lbs, helps get weight off the front. I think the stock metal hood is about 50 lbs. I also have a 13.5 lb Dyna Batt battery in the trunk. All of this helps my car in particular since the S50USB30 motor swap added a few pounds over the fron axels. See pics:

http://www.318ti.org/gallery/showgal...500&ppuser=554

In response to J!m comments on MA shaws parts, correct me if I'm wrong, but the front half of the ti doors are like the 4 door e-36, but the back half is not the same. Hence, the 4 door M3 mirrors fit, but the actual door is slightly different. You can see this if you look at where the upper rear window frame on the ti, it has a curve in it, while the 4 door is straight.

[gooten1]

If not making a ti racer, then I'm going to get an e30 325 and make it a racer/track car.

[gooten1]

Either one...cant afford to do both.

[J!m]

Originally Posted by clex2

In response to J!m comments on MA shaws parts, correct me if I'm wrong, but the front half of the ti doors are like the 4 door e-36, but the back half is not the same.

As far as I know, the door of the ti is an E36 sedan (4-door) door, without modification. Wheelbase is the same across the E36 range (except Z3, naturally), which is why the M3 sill covers fit; but, the ti door could be a bit longer than the sedan door for that exceptional rear seat access the ti is world famous for...

Last I knew, Mike was doing E36 Coupe doors, but not sedan doors.

[aceyx]

the door on the sedans is much shorter. the ti door is as long as the coupe (my 97 measured against a 96 m3) but there are variations (such as frame for the window, moulding, sill, etc).

annoying? yes, but BMW released this car in the hopes that it would spark people to buy their other autos.

with the release of the 1/2er, that philosophy changed, so there may be more congruency between the next generation ti. if we get it, and it's not bangle-hideous.