The E36 BMW, a timeless classic, demands specific attention to alignment for optimal performance and tire wear. This guide, drawing insights from the vibrant Forum E36 community, addresses common questions and provides definitive alignment specifications for street and track use. Forget the factory settings – we’re focusing on maximizing your E36’s potential.
Understanding E36 Alignment Basics
A stock E36 (excluding 318ti and Z3/M Coupe) offers adjustments for front and rear toe, and rear camber. While any shop can technically align your E36, achieving performance-oriented settings requires understanding the limitations of stock adjustability and the importance of front camber. Adding weights during alignment, while mentioned in the factory manual, has minimal impact and isn’t strictly necessary.
Ditch the Factory Specs: Why They Don’t Work
BMW’s factory alignment specs prioritize safety and minimize liability, not performance or tire longevity. Following these specs will likely result in underwhelming handling and premature tire wear. For enthusiastic E36 owners active on the forum e36, this is simply unacceptable.
Optimal Alignment Specs for Street and Track
Here are recommended alignment settings derived from experienced forum e36 members:
Street Performance (Modified April 2013 for Conservative Tire Wear):
- Front:
- Camber: -2.0 to -2.5 degrees per side
- Toe: 0.10 degrees total toe in (0.10 to 0.20 degrees for highway driving)
- Rear:
- Camber: -1.5 to -2.0 degrees per side
- Toe: 0.20 degrees total toe in (approximately 1/8″)
Track/Race (NASA GTS2 Baseline with 245+ R-Comps):
- Front:
- Camber: -3.5 to -4.0 degrees per side
- Toe: 0 degrees
- Rear:
- Camber: -1.8 to -2.2 degrees per side
- Toe: 0 to 0.10 degrees total toe in (rear toe used as a tuning tool – more toe in for looseness, 0 toe for rotation)
Track/Autocross Baseline:
- Front:
- Camber: -3.5 degrees per side
- Toe: 0 degrees (0.10-0.20 degrees total toe out for autocross)
- Rear:
- Camber: -2.0 to -2.5 degrees per side
- Toe: 0.20 degrees total toe in
Why Front Camber Adjustment is Crucial
The E36 M3’s suspension geometry causes the front tires to lose grip before the rear, limiting cornering potential. Increasing negative front camber compensates for this, ensuring both front and rear tires reach their limits simultaneously. This translates to improved turn-in, reduced understeer, and a more balanced driving experience, a frequent topic on forum e36.
Achieving Front Camber Adjustment
Several options exist, each discussed extensively on forum e36:
- Shims: Cost-effective but less precise, offering approximately -1 degree of camber gain per shim.
- Swapped 96+ M3 Upper Strut Mounts: Provides around -2 degrees of camber gain but isn’t adjustable.
- Vorshlag Camber/Caster Plates: The best solution, offering adjustable camber (-1 to -4 degrees) and caster, along with a lower stack height for improved suspension travel.
Understanding Toe and its Effects
Toe, both front and rear, significantly impacts stability and responsiveness. Toe-in enhances stability, while toe-out increases responsiveness but can make the car feel twitchy. The recommended settings provide a balance between stability and agility for both street and track driving. Excessive toe, combined with negative camber, accelerates tire wear. Worn Rear Trailing Arm Bushings (RTABs) can also contribute to uneven rear tire wear by causing dynamic toe changes.
Achieving Proper Alignment Procedure
A competent alignment technician should adjust rear toe and camber first, followed by front toe. Communicate your desired alignment specifications clearly to the technician to avoid receiving the default factory settings.
This guide equips you with the knowledge to transform your E36’s handling and unlock its full performance potential. By understanding the nuances of alignment and leveraging the collective wisdom of the forum e36 community, you can achieve a driving experience that truly lives up to the E36’s legendary reputation.
