Jan/Feb - GGC BMW CCA

What Ever Became of the Four-cylinder BMW?
By David “Spliv” Splivalo
It was May of 1983 when my parents bought their first
BMW, it was an Alpine White 1984 318i. A little over a
decade later I made a sweetheart of a deal on that car
and made it mine. The318i was a huge leap in cars for
me since my previous ride was “The Prince of Darkness”
himself, a 1971 MGB GT. The MGB had been a gracious
loan from my dad to me for my high school years. Now, I
don’t know about all of you, but I considered the trade
from the sporty little two-seat touring car to a sedan a
very good one. Even though both have four-cylinder
engines with similar horsepower, instead of twin SU
carburetors I now had fuel injection, and instead of
pouring in lead additive while I filled up the MG, I leafed
through my latest Roundel while gassing up the BMW.
Yes, as soon as I got that BMW back in 1994, I joined the
BMW CCA . . . and eagerly awaiting to compete in one of
Central Cal Chapter’s autocrosses. Life was good . . until
my first season of autocross.
To this day I’m not sure who caved in first, me or the
318i. Powered by four chipmunks running on stock
suspension and tires, I basically had no chance. BMWs
may be the “Ultimate Driving Machine,” but they are not
designed for the single purpose of whizzing through an
autocross circuit. As the season pounded on, I knew
something was going to give. It wasn’t the tough little 100
hp 318i, it wasn’t my driving style...it was my checkbook.
In addition to the great articles in the Roundel, there
are pages and pages of goodies. The ads are like the
concession stand at a movie theater. Yeah, the treats are
expensive, but heck, you CAN’T live without them can
you? Thank you BMP Design, thank you Bavarian
Autosport, I’m now a sport accessory addict. Soon, my
parents’ once humble but sporty 318i became a sleeper
pocket rocket meant for one thing, and one thing alone: to
conquer autocross circuits.
It might surprise you to hear me say, I think a 100 hp,
single cam 318i has plenty of power for an autocross
circuit. Although six cylinder and V-8 BMWs have the
proper horsepower and torque required for an autocross,
they lack the agility and balance of a four-cylinder. With the
correct suspension modifications and an top notch driver, a
318i can possibly dominate an autocross competition.
Remember, the 318i M14 four-cylinder engine uses the
same engine block as the Formula One did back in the
early 1980’s— the one that produced somewhere in the
vicinity of 1200 hp (at least for one lap)! Unfortunately,
BMW didn’t bless any of us car enthusiasts with 1200 hp
318i’s. What they did give us was a very capable
engine, one that put in the right hands
and equipped with the right suspension
modifications, could manage
great autocross times.
To underscore my point
about the might of four-cylinder
BMWs, last November I sought
more research at the Golden Gate’s Top Driver
Shootout autocross headed up by Andrei Fenner and
Scott Miller. (Both Andrei and Scott, as well as all
supporting staff for the Top Driver Shootout deserve a
round of kudos for a great event.) The nice thing about
the GGC autocross is that there is a good collection of
various BMWs participating.
I sought out Andrei Fenner and asked for his thoughts
on four-cylinder BMWs versus every other BMW. Knowing
he drives an E39 M5, I thought he would talk about how
four-cylinders are a thing of the past. To my surprise he
begins joyfully expounding about his four-cylinder E21
320i—a.k.a. “the bone stock” 320i. He smiles and says, “I
was eating up M3’s (at autocrosses) with my little 1.8 liter.”
See, I’m not the only one who believes in the power of
four! He continues, “Given the right suspension, compound
tires are a nice upgrade.” My point exactly! A 1.8
liter stock is a okay, but is down right potent with the
correct suspension and tire combination.
In our conversation Andrei also told me he’ll be
stepping down from the helm of GGC’s autocross team
(hopefully only temporarily) in order to prepare for his
family’s new arrival next March. No, not a BMW, a baby girl.
Speaking of the feminine aspect, I made it my mission
to get a few comments from some female autocrossers.
Knowing that E30 M3 drivers are always on the lookout
for something faster, I thought Donna Barham could shed
some light about what she plans to buy to replace her M3.
Replace? Boy was I wrong! Not only does she love her
four-cylinder pocket rocket M3, but she had some not so
pleasing words for all the high horsepower six-cylinder
boys out there. Relating her experience with her father’s
M roadster, Donna comments, “Although the M roadster
is a powerhouse, it doesn’t take that much driver talent.”
Regardless of whether you own a four or six cylinder,
a V-8 or a V-12, BMWs are all-around high performance
vehicles that are like a German sausage; they’re just
produced in different sizes. It isn’t my point to say that
BMWs with more than four-cylinders aren’t worthy
autocross competitors, my point is that they don’t give you
the thrill of competing with the very basics. Heck, I say this
even after having trading up to a Laguna Seca Blue 2002
M coupe. But in about a year, I might have my eye on
BMW new 1-series (four-cylinder) when it’s launched here
in the U.S. That model will make for a most excellent
autocross competitor.
If you ever compete in an autocross and a fourcylinder
ends up beating you, make sure to be a good
sport and compliment them. They went
through the course faster than you
with far less horsepower. Oh, and
about that Alpine White 318i,
it’s waiting to take on its next
driving assignment. No, not
an autocross—something far
more challenging, my
sixteen year-old kid brother.
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