skid plate pics or designs?

[nomad]

I read somewhere you can just get some good guage metal and fab up your own. Yes?

Not too keen on busted oil pans. Nobody makes a steel oil pan? I'd think it would just bend instead of shattering. Wish BMW thought of that.

[RouteZeroDesign]

Bmw made one for the e30.
Its just a few strips of metal, not a full 'plate', but then again, you want to be able to cool off the oil in the pan

[nomad]

Well that shouldn't be too bad then. Hammer and anvil on some thick steel bars? Drill holes, bolt, finished?

Mad max style?

[Cobra Jet]

here ya go nomad - pics of factory skid plate in the thread I had started a few weeks back:

http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5340


While a steel oil pan sounds good, I'm sure it would be costly to reproduce and manufacture that part in steel.  Most of the "busted oil pan" threads I have come across on this site and other BMW forums seem to be the result of:


A) a car that is lower than stock, but no driver precaution is taken when driving on or over roads w/ imperfections and/or "obstacles" such as raised man hole covers, speed bumps, etc.

B) an extremely lowered car (lower than the common 1"-1.5")
 
C) driver judgement error (ie: seeing something in the road of which the driver just keeps driving towards or thinks his/her vehicle will clear road obtrusion "X" with no issues)



I've yet to see a thread about an oil pan that was busted on a 318 which was still @ completely stock ride height, used for daily driving on regular paved highways/biways w/o running into or over roads under construction, roads w/ debris, etc...  If such a thread exists, someone post it up...

Also, from what I understand, the "optional" metal skid plate offered by BMW was only for those cars overseas that were going to be used on "rough terrain" or irregular roads were such hazards may exist (such as Africa, etc).

After I started my thread and saw the pics of the BMW skid plate, I was not overly impressed with it's design (or the price).  I'm sure the design could be improved upon, but as far as how many folks who own or still have 318's would actually spend then $$$ for said part is unknown.

[nomad]

Interesting. Looks like it could be fabbed somewhat easily if you know someone with a welder. They sell steel bars at home depot. This could be a worthwhile project.

So I saw where someone sold their Billys and H&Rs once they busted a pan. I want to get some good performance springs but am worried about this issue. Sometimes stuff happens on the road and on other cars if you bottom out it is not on a critical element. I assume the 325 don't have this bad oil pan issue, hence all the really low 325?

I saw that maybe the M3 springs will give a stiffer ride and basically stock height?

[Cobra Jet]

I was also wondering if it were possible to get L & R motor mounts (or motor mount spacers) that would lift the engine up say another .5" or 1" max, which would also lift the oil pan higher from it's normal position.  Looking at the upper intake and the current hood clearence, it seems this may be a possible alternative solution as well.  I think anything more then .5" or 1" would be critical to the rest of the driveline (driveshaft angles & rear pinion angles).

What does anyone else think of this possibility?

I have another idea in mind too, which would be a solution - however, I would need someone w/ cad capability and the ability to actually design my idea... LOL

[Flood]

I was also wondering if it were possible to get L & R motor mounts (or motor mount spacers) that would lift the engine up say another .5" or 1" max, which would also lift the oil pan higher from it's normal position.  Looking at the upper intake and the current hood clearence, it seems this may be a possible alternative solution as well.  I think anything more then .5" or 1" would be critical to the rest of the driveline (driveshaft angles & rear pinion angles).

What does anyone else think of this possibility?

I have another idea in mind too, which would be a solution - however, I would need someone w/ cad capability and the ability to actually design my idea... LOL

You would need to do something about the fan hitting the fan shroud.  You'd be bending the exhaust pretty decently too, not to mention twisting the guibo/driveshaft.  Don't forget the fuel lines and all that other stuff too, it's not that simple.

[tjts1]

Who the hell thought putting the oil pan ahead of the front tires and below the frame rails was a good idea? I mean really?

[CePa318IS]

666 Fab made a custom skid plate for e30s.  There was a thread on the forums for a Group Buy.
 
Link to Group Buy
http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1624
 
Link to Install Instructions with Pics
http://www.666fab.com/skidplateinstall.html

[peerless]

A friend of mine had a skid plate produced at a muffler shop of all places.

They used a 2" tube custom bent like so \____/ that was welded to the front frame rails and was just below the oil pan level. This then had tabs welded on to it to attach the skid plate. They then used some 2" square stock and welded that to the subframe to attach the rear part of the skid plate.

The skid plate itself was made of 1/8" steel plate and reinforced with steel 'L' running along the inside length of it. These also served as the attachment points to the above mentioned tabs.

Yes its rather heavy at about 25lbs but has proven itself twice now. Once he was run off the road into the center divider. This would have normally destroyed the oil pan in spectacular fashion, but instead he rode the center divider to the end and came down on all 4 wheels and proceeded on. In another incident he ran into a large boulder in his lane of traffic on the freeway doing about 60mph. Again instead of smashing the oil pan into pieces, he simply pushed the rock under his car until it disintegrated and slid harmlessly under his car. No damage to the skid plate except some scratches.

Niether the BMW aggregate plate or the 666 fab aluminum peices are going to do this for you. They are good for the occasional rock, dip, or speed bump, but thats about it.

You can call your local race fabricators and they can come up with something. I have a place here locally called 'Wicked Creations' and they specialize in Baja desert racers. No better place to have manufacture a skid plate.

That is all.

[nomad]

Who the hell thought putting the oil pan ahead of the front tires and below the frame rails was a good idea? I mean really?

Did you know my name is Seth? and I dated an Amy at one time. Weird.

So yeah, of all companies BMW designs an engine with a "kill me" oil pan location. If you look at the competition from other cars in 1991 it really makes you wonder what they were thinking. So many other good designs at that time, and they do this? Really?

[nomad]

Good call. I figure it should be about that simple to make. Even one a little less "hardcore" than that design would work.

So how did he change the oil? They drill a hole in it or did he drop the 25lb plate each time?

[peerless]

It has a provision for the oil drain plug. I will see if I can get him to take a picture of it.

I like and will most likely duplicate the design for myself as well.

[tjts1]

Did you know my name is Seth? and I dated an Amy at one time. Weird.

REALLY!?!

[nomad]

Really!