BMW and drifting go hand in hand, so when Auto Finesse decided to build a 2JZ E36 drift car, we knew it would be one to look out for. Watch the exclusive feature now!
If anyone decided they wanted a stab at drifting, then owning a detailing company is a good way to go about it. Think about it, once they’ve transitioned from corner to corner, where do you think all that rubber ends up? OK, drift cars aren’t supposed to be show cars, but how good does a clean drift car look? Built properly, not a zip tie in sight, bliss. But what happens if the owner of the detailing company, James, also loves modified cars, with a catalogue of builds that could fill its own bookazine? Well, you get this, a 1000bhp+ 2JZ BMW E36 drift car with every part you could ever dream of. This isn’t just a drift build. It’s the complete package.
Tell me about the Auto Finesse 2JZ BMW E36 drift car
We’ve mentioned the headline 2JZ-GTE engine swap, but not acknowledging the outrageous bodykit would be plain rude. For those in the know, you’ll recognise this from a certain “The Kyza” on Instagram. And if you didn’t know, The Kyza produces wild car designs who just so happened to go on to launch his own company that produces kits, Live To Offend. The LTO bodykit not only makes the E36 far wider, it does so with almost OEM-like precision. This isn’t a rivet job, those rear panels are smooth, and look as if they should have been there from factory. It’s only really from the rear that you start to realise just how aggressive this E36 is. The Auto Finesse livery helps to accentuate the body’s clean lines while also being bold enough to make it heard.
As you would expect for a drift car, underneath is a fully custom setup in order to increase steering angle, as well as provide enough grip in order to be able to control slides. A lot of people don’t know that drift cars are actually very grippy. The more grip the cars have, the more speed and precision the driver can exploit. A car that is entirely slippy isn’t a fast car, nor is it one that is easily controllable. Drifting is controlled sliding, not out of control. And to keep the speed under check, EBC brakes help control slides and avoid sticky situations…
Interior changes
Of course, inside is a fully stripped interior, with roll cage, Recaro buckets and the all important hydraulic handbrake to sideways. It’s a slidey boi after all. Behind the steering wheel is what appears to be an iPad Mini, that displays the speedo, temperatures, boost pressure etc. James wanted to get rid of all the rubbish inside the car and replace it with carbon pieces that needed to be there. If it doesn’t serve a purpose, it was removed. This helps to create a super clean interior, that is clutter free and does exactly what you need it to do at all times.
Where can I see it drifting?
James isn’t shy of driving it either, snapping up an opportunity to join the Drift Kings sessions at Ford Fair 2024. We’re hoping James will again be treating the crowds to some sideways action at Trax this September 1st!
