RIP engine

What is it about paying entrance fees that makes engines more likely to explode?

The car ran well thru practice, qualifying and the first sprint race without a hitch. In the 2nd sprint this AM, it started off great. Picked up a couple positions right off the start... then... huh,... seems a little down on power... hey WTF am I on fire? There is smoke everywhere... KABOOM! I just barely had time to put it off in the grass so it didn't ruin everyone else's race too.

Not the way I hoped the first race weekend in the new E36 would go.

Well, at least now you don't have to wrestle with the repair vs replace decision

it's not the entry fee, it's the 'new' part

sorry about your loss. that does suck.

Aw, crap. BTDT and man I'm sorry.

Aw man, that sucks.

Dude, that sucks. Any idea what popped? something terminal?

I've managed to build a nice points lead in my class season championship. So every time I take the checkers I'm thinking "It didn't blow up!". I've got 5 qualifying sessions and a 20, and 4-14 laps races left at Summit.

If it makes it through the season I'm getting it a nice freshening.

If I win the season championship I'm buying it a steak, and a nice freshening.

was that the s54? Sorry for your loss.

oldtin wrote: was that the s54? Sorry for your loss.

No (that would have been a thread called so I'm out on this ledge...), it was the "new" I-Sport E36 I made out of a broken e36 and an S52 I had in my garage. I built it with a plan race it for the rest of this season, then sell it as a good solid deal for someone else to go racing in.

motomoron wrote: Dude, that sucks. Any idea what popped? something terminal? I've managed to build a nice points lead in my class season championship. So every time I take the checkers I'm thinking "It didn't blow up!". I've got 5 qualifying sessions and a 20, and 4-14 laps races left at Summit. If it makes it through the season I'm getting it a nice freshening. If I win the season championship I'm buying it a steak, and a nice freshening.

I didn't roll it out of the trailer yet to do any forensics but - from the amount of oil and coolant (and smoke) that came out of it there has to be a hole in it somewhere. I expect the worst and hope for the best. The head only had 6hrs on it. The bottom end had 110k when I got it, then 3 racing seasons on it in my other car, and a bunch of other open track days, etc. so it isn't any sort of real tragedy except the timing of it's demise. It just ends my season for lack of funds and leaves me with a losing proposition instead of a nice, clean car I was supposed to sell to pay for next season. That's racing though... only one in a thousand tears are for joy. The rest are self pity.

Wow that sucks. Pretty unusual for a BMW engine to blow up like that, if my new 4AGE blew up I'd be ruined.

A BMW engine blows up ? Unthinkable.

iceracer wrote: A BMW engine blows up ? Unthinkable.

Forensic Update #1: No hole in the block but no oil and no water either. Turns over by hand. Dipstick does not smell burnt.

That sucks, but it sounds like it might not be as bad as you thought at first.

The last engine I broke was in qualifying Saturday morning...15 minutes of practice, head out for quali, and kablammo. Broke the crank at the #4 main.

Towed 6 hours for nothing. That's why I always prefer to wreck my E36 M3 late in the weekend. Makes the tow worthwhile.

Just tell yourself it looked like this on track and you're a hero for making it out alive.

but yeah... condolences.

Whee! I get to be the first!

Sorry for your loss Hopefully things aren't as bad as they seem and you can get it back together for some races this season!

That sucks man, I'm sorry to hear it.

I know how it feels to be on a tight budget only to have the stinking break.

Throw a junkyard M52 in it and keep racing.

2002maniac wrote: Throw a junkyard M52 in it and keep racing.

S... a junkyard S52. Not the same price point unfortunately.

Swap the cams and run the 2.8? I bet the displacement loss will account for less than 25hp.

ansonivan wrote: Swap the cams and run the 2.8? I bet the displacement loss will account for less than 25hp.

Can't. I-Sport rules dictate that you cannot change anything between the intake and exhaust for the engine you choose so choosing anything less than the 3.2 is asking to be beaten by a few hp and foot lbs all the time.

The beauty of the class is that you can't mess with it... of all the IS cars this weekend you could cover the field with a quarter second in qualifying. The racing was very good. The same parity and intensity as spec miata or spec E30 only not painfully slow ... and not GTS-pensive either (unless I blow a motor every weekend). I loved it up to the part where I needed the tow truck.