Weight Reduction

Summary

Increase acceleration by reducing vehicle weight.

Start Date: July 22, 2012

Odometer: 309,500 km

Total cost: $0

While at the track recently, my nephew pointed out that weight reduction is a great cheap way to increase horse power at the wheels. Curious to see for myself, I removed my car's trunk liner, seats, carpets, speakers, antenna motor, windshield wiper reservoir, and floor tar liner. I estimated that the total weight removed was over 90 kg (200lbs). As a rule of thumb, a reduction of 10lbs gives an average M50 E30 approximately one horsepower. So the reduction totalled somewhere near 20 horsepower.

The Result

Even with only 200lbs removed, you can really feel the increased acceleration. Weight reduction is extremely effective, and in an E30, very easy. The rear seats are held in by only two bolts. The front passenger seat is held in by four bolts. Together the seats weight 75-100 lbs.

For a list of weights for removable items, and a long discussion on E30 weight reduction, see this e30tech thread.

Journal

Tar removal:

Back seats out:

Front passenger seat and carpet out: