[JClark]

Looking for outsider opinions on this. Hear me out before you decide. Read carefully, I try to make it as clear as possible but apparently it isnt.

My car is headed towards BMWCCA Club Racing next year in I-Prepared or J-Prepared. I'll explain the difference in a minute. Prepared class is a more developed race car but still keeps the spirit of the original car (as in no semi-tube frame chassis, custom suspension geometry, etc). For what we're talking about here, the motor, no major internal changes are allowed except for valvetrain work (cams, most notably). Manifolds are free, etc.

Reasons for going prepared are:
1) Car is already prepared legal and competitive with the exception of a full cage, [more] interior stripping, and more motor.
2) Modified is the next class up and is stupid expensive to make competitive. We're talking $10,000 cages and $6,000+ motors rebuilt every off-season. Stand alone ecu, widebodies, and ridiculous suspension geometry where the spherical bearings alone cost more than my data acquisition stuff. Like the raw bearing, not even a custom made part yet. Steve J could tell you numbers, you'll poop yourself.
3) There are more prepared cars out there in general than mod, meaning more competition, which is what this whole IP vs JP thing is about.

Ok, here's the breakdown:

--IP is generally for prepared level E36 M3s. To get the most out of the class, you need the 3.2 liter motor (S52) out of the 96-99 M3s, mine is the 3.0. The 3.2L would net me around 265-275whp. IP is usually the second biggest (number of competitors) prepared class at any BMWCCA club racing event.

--JP is generally for prepared level 3 series cars. I can enter as JP if I put in a 3 series motor, either 2.5L or 2.8L @ around 225-235whp or so.


Also of note, to swap any of these motors into another E36 BMW is strictly mechanical. The motor drops in and you plug the original harness/sensors back in. NO electrical work. Simple.

The ONLY difference between the two classes would be the motor. At any time I could drop in a 2.8L and be JP or drop in a 3.2L and be IP.

Why the hell would I want less power (and go JP)?
1) JP is the BIGGEST PREPARED CLASS in the country (number of competitors). Meaning anytime the green flag drops, I have tons of competition which is the reason to go racing.
2) The motors are STUPID cheap. 3 series motors are $300-700 and M3 motors are $2500-4500. Those are stock, no mods included. I could run the balls off of it and pop them all day. I'd have at least one spare motor in the truck at all times.

Those are the main reasons. Competition and money, but IP is no slouch for competition either; it's still the second biggest class.

The horsepower difference is small and is frankly the last part of the car I care about.

Opinions welcome.

Car will be a full blooded race car, not a fancy pants pretty street car that can run 9s all day with yo girl in the back. Yo girl can still get in the back, but she's going to be sitting on a lot of sick ass cage work.