by WebSupport AAF | Jun 18, 2025 | Racing
Track days are a blast — and BMWs, especially platforms like the E36, E46, and E9X, are well-suited for performance driving. But choosing the right upgrades can be overwhelming if you’re just getting started. Whether you’re chasing lap times or just looking to...
by WebSupport AAF | Jun 18, 2025 | Racing
Brakes don’t win races—but they can absolutely lose them. If you’ve ever pushed deep into a braking zone only to feel the pedal go soft or the car fail to slow as expected, you’ve experienced brake fade—and it’s a performance killer. At Advanced Auto...
by WebSupport AAF | Jun 18, 2025 | Racing
If you’ve spent time at any road course in the U.S., chances are you’ve seen or heard the name Spec E46. It’s one of the most popular and fastest-growing grassroots racing classes—and for good reason. Let’s dive into how Spec E46 started, why it...
by WebSupport AAF | Jun 18, 2025 | Ecommerce, Racing
It’s easy to get caught up chasing horsepower numbers and flashy bolt-ons, but in real racing, the upgrades that make the biggest difference aren’t always the most obvious. Here are five overlooked race car upgrades that we at Advanced Auto Fabrication (AAF)...
by WebSupport AAF | Jun 18, 2025 | Racing, Shop Project
When it comes to building race cars, every part matters—and every second counts. At Advanced Auto Fabrication, we don’t cut corners, outsource blindly, or settle for “good enough.” We specialize in in-house fabrication for one reason: it gives our...
by WebSupport AAF | Jun 2, 2025 | CAR FOR SALE
Looking for a proven racecar with history, pedigree, and performance? This is your chance to own a unique piece of Spec E46 history. This 2001 BMW 330i is not just another race-prepped E46 — it’s the very first car to ever compete in the Spec E46 racing series,...
by WebSupport AAF | May 29, 2025 | Racing, Shop Project
When it comes to building a reliable and competitive racecar, one of the most overlooked upgrades is also one of the most important: solid subframe mounts. Whether you’re chasing lap times or building a dependable track day weapon, upgrading to a solid-mount...
by WebSupport AAF | May 21, 2025 | Racing, Shop Project
🚨 Why Rear Subframe Failure Matters The BMW E46 chassis is beloved for its handling balance, but one of its biggest structural flaws is the Rear Axle Carrier Panel (RACP). Over time—or more quickly under track use—this area can develop cracks that lead to catastrophic...
by WebSupport AAF | May 21, 2025 | Racing, Shop Project
Whether you’re just starting in motorsports or upgrading to a more capable build, the platform you choose for your track car matters—a lot. From weight distribution to parts availability, a great track car platform is more than just horsepower. In this article,...
by WebSupport AAF | May 21, 2025 | Racing, Shop Project
Brake performance is crucial for any track enthusiast. Whether you’re piloting a BMW, Corvette, Ford Focus RS, Mini Cooper, Porsche, or Scion FR-S, maintaining optimal brake temperatures is essential to prevent fade and ensure safety. Advanced Auto Fabrication...
by WebSupport AAF | May 19, 2025 | Race Days, Racing
The PRO3 Series returned to Pacific Raceways in Kent, Washington, over the weekend of May 17–18, 2025, for the highly anticipated Spring Sprints — a key round in the 2025 ICSCC schedule. Set against the backdrop of one of the Northwest’s most iconic road courses, the...
by WebSupport AAF | May 19, 2025 | Racing
When it comes to keeping your track car reliable and on the podium, few upgrades are as crucial and overlooked as the oil pan baffle. If you’re pushing hard through corners, hitting high G-forces, and relying on your car to perform lap after lap, you need to prevent...
by WebSupport AAF | May 14, 2025 | CAR FOR SALE
FOR SALE: Spec E46 BMW Racecar – $55,000Loaded with AAF Performance Upgrades This Spec E46 is a fully sorted, race-ready machine — built for competition and dialed in for serious track use. While this car was not originally built by Advanced Auto Fabrication, it’s...
by WebSupport AAF | May 14, 2025 | CAR FOR SALE
Turnkey track weapon. Purpose-built. Battle-proven. This 1997 BMW E36 M3 is a fully-prepped race car with years of meticulous maintenance and setup support from AAF Racing. Currently wearing competition #144, it’s outfitted with the best in safety, reliability, and...
by WebSupport AAF | May 8, 2025 | Shop Project, Storage
Advanced Auto Fabrication has a new home—and it’s bigger, better, and built for racers. After years of serving the Inland Northwest from Spokane Valley, we’re proud to announce that AAF has officially moved into our brand-new facility in Deer Park, Washington. This...
by WebSupport AAF | May 8, 2025 | Racing, Storage
When you live for the track but not the hassle, AAF’s Race Car Storage Services are here to make your racing life easier. Whether you’re competing in a series like Spec E46, PRO3, or NASA, or just want to enjoy local track days without the headache of transport,...
by WebSupport AAF | May 8, 2025 | Shop Project, water jet
💧 What Is Water Jet Cutting? Water jet cutting is a cold-cutting fabrication method that uses a high-pressure stream of water (often mixed with abrasive material) to slice through metal, carbon fiber, plastics, and more with extreme precision—without adding heat or...
by WebSupport AAF | May 7, 2025 | Racing
The BMW E36 and E46 platforms are celebrated for their balance, handling, and affordability—but once you take them to the track, their age and design weaknesses start to show. Hard braking, sticky tires, and track abuse reveal stress points in the chassis that must be...
by WebSupport AAF | May 6, 2025 | Racing
🏁 What is PRO3 Racing? PRO3 is the Pacific Northwest’s premier spec racing series for BMW E30s—the beloved 1984–1991 3-Series chassis. Sanctioned by ICSCC (International Conference of Sports Car Clubs) and SCCA, PRO3 offers a level playing field, low operating costs,...
by WebSupport AAF | May 6, 2025 | Data Aquisition, Racing
In modern motorsports, speed alone doesn’t win races—information does. Whether you’re a weekend warrior at HPDE events or chasing podiums in competitive wheel-to-wheel racing, data acquisition is one of the most powerful tools to improve your on-track performance....
by WebSupport AAF | May 6, 2025 | Racing
The BMW E36 continues to be one of the most rewarding and capable platforms for track enthusiasts, club racers, and Spec E36 competitors. With the right modifications, this chassis transforms from a 90s classic into a legitimate contender on any road course. Whether...
by WebSupport AAF | May 6, 2025 | Ecommerce
When it comes to track or race-prepped BMWs, shift precision matters. Sloppy gear changes not only cost you lap time—they can cost you a podium. That’s why so many racers turn to the AAF Adjustable BMW Shifter, designed for the E30, E36, and E46 platforms. Whether...
by WebSupport AAF | May 6, 2025 | Racing, Shop Project
When it comes to grassroots racing, few platforms strike the balance between performance, affordability, and availability like the BMW E46. As the foundation of the growing Spec E46 racing series, this chassis offers an ideal blend of handling dynamics, power...
by Hank Moore | Sep 4, 2019 | Racing
#68 Spec E46 Race Car for Sale Donor Vehicle: 2001 BMW 330i silver sedan Initial build performed by Lowe Group Racing – January 2015 thru April 2015 for Mike Adams. This was one of the first cars built in the NW for Spec E46 I bought the car 4/5/16. Pete Bristow has...
by Hank Moore | Feb 5, 2019 | Photography, Racing, Uncategorized
No expense spared in this build. This was the first Spec E46 ever raced. Bimmerworld and AAF worked hard on getting this car together and working before all the rules were even completed. Bimmerworld stripped it all down and installed the cage and after...
by Hank Moore | Nov 5, 2018 | Racing
Although, The AAF crew sat out Targa NZ this year, our shifter helped capture the win! Mark Kirk-Burnnand won the classic class in Targa, NZ(2018) (this is on the South Island). He did it in his BMW M3, running an AAF shifter. “We fitted it for this years event,...
by Hank | Jan 25, 2018 | Racing, Street Life, Trendings
Here is a short video showing you how the AAF shifter works in real time. This is an E36 M3 with a stock engine and transmission. The car still has stock rubber engine mounts. It was a bit damp and we did get some wheel spin in first gear. Let us know if...
by Hank | Jan 12, 2018 | Racing
The #125 PRO3 car is SOLD. This car is a rocket it has all the right parts and is ready to go racing! Built by AAF over the last 5 years. Equipped with an AAF engine JRZ suspension AAF Cage Much more Drop us a line if you would like more info....
by Hank | Nov 15, 2017 | Photography, Racing
Advanced Auto Fabrication had the opportunity to run our car in Targa NZ again and as always it was some of the wildest roads that exist in this world. We installed an AAF Shifter in our Targa car and it was a hole new feeling using it with my left hand (as our Targa...
by Hank | Nov 6, 2017 | Creative, Ecommerce, Photography, Racing, Street Life, Trendings, Uncategorized
We have been working hard to get this first production run of shifters done and now we need your help with more testing. We have run a whole season with the AAF shifter in Shawn Northrup’s PRO3 car and it helped him win the highly contested PRO3 Championship....
by Hank | Sep 27, 2017 | Racing, Uncategorized
One of our customers is going to sell his very clean and well equipped E46. Fresh rebuild AAF engine Light weight for a 4 door ……lbs w/o driver 4 sets of wheels & tires LED light bar for enduro night driving Trunk fill kit for very easy fueling...
by Hank | Aug 8, 2017 | Racing
AAF had a great weekend at ORP. We took home First place both days in PRO3 as well as second and third in SE46. Great driving guys! It was a fun weekend at a great track if you have not been to ORP you are missing out. Great sunsets every...
by Hank | Jul 4, 2017 | Racing, Uncategorized
It’s always fun when we can race close to home and in June we got to race with ICSCC at our home track Spokane County Raceway. Thanks to all of our customers and friends that came out to see us at the track! Here are some pics form the weekend.
by Hank | May 24, 2017 | Racing
JAMES COLBORN RACING WEBSITE FOR RACER & BLOGGER JAMES COLBORN HOME DIARY OF A GENTLEMAN DRIVER UPDATES PHOTOS VIDEOS AIM DATA SPEC E46 RACE SCHEDULE Navigation Home Diary...
by Hank | Apr 5, 2017 | Racing
This last weekend we went down to Thunderhill Raceway to run the SCCA Majors. We took James Colborn and his Spec E46 down and ran on Hoosiers for the first time. Even though we had a bit of a learning curve being at 2950 instead of 2850 and running on 225...
by Hank | Mar 20, 2017 | Racing
This winter we added a fuel cell to the Track Attack car and moved the cool shirt box to the back. This makes it so you can have up to 51% rear weight in the car. We leave the stock tank and add a low pressure pump to move fuel forward to change the balance of the...
by Hank | Mar 17, 2017 | Racing
Going to solid engine and transmission mounts in your race car is the best choice for chassis rigidity as well as keeping the mass of the engine in place under the large G loads found on a race track. But when you go to solid mounts there are other parts on your car...
by Hank | Mar 10, 2017 | Racing
When it comes to fighting fire Advanced Auto Fabrication is here to help with all of the latest fire suppression systems from Lifeline. AAF is now the North West hub for all your Lifeline needs. We are fully outfitted with all the tools and equipment to fill and...
by Hank | Mar 8, 2017 | Racing
We are looking for ways to make race cars better every day. Now that the new Spec E46 tune has the EWS function deleted, we are finally building a push button start kit that gets rid of the key all together! The AAF Push to Start mounts with factory holes and...
by Hank | Mar 8, 2017 | Racing
Advanced Auto Fabrication is proud to announce that we will be offering Spec E46 ECU’s with EWS delete. We plan to keep one on hand all the time just in case its needed at the track. So if you need your Spec E46 ECU tuned there is now a place out...
