The BMW E36 is an incredible chassis for drifting—balanced, responsive, and highly tunable. But once you start pushing steering angle and track grip, you’ll hit a wall with your front-end alignment. That’s when camber plates become a key upgrade.
But do you really need camber plates for drifting? And how much of a difference do they make on an E36 setup? Let’s break it down.
What Do Camber Plates Do?
Camber plates replace your OEM top hat and allow you to adjust the angle of the strut mount. This lets you fine-tune camber (the inward or outward tilt of the front wheels) without relying on lower control arm hacks or uneven spring tension.
How Camber Affects Drifting
Front camber is crucial for controlling grip and tire wear during hard angle. Here’s what proper camber does for your drift car:
- Improves front tire grip mid-drift by maximizing contact patch under steering load
- Reduces outer edge tire wear from max angle and extended lock
- Increases steering feel during transitions and initiations
- Prevents camber gain loss caused by lowered static geometry
Without camber adjustment, you're stuck with whatever angle the car settles into after lowering—and that often results in excessive understeer or premature tire burnout.
Recommended E36 Camber Settings for Drift
A great baseline setup for drift use on an E36 with coilovers:
- Front camber: -3.5° to -4.5° (adjust based on tire wear and track grip)
- Rear camber: -1.5° to -2° (for stability and traction)
- Toe settings: Slight toe-out front, slight toe-in rear
With adjustable camber plates, you can dial this in perfectly—at home or trackside.
When Do You Absolutely Need Camber Plates?
If any of these are true, camber plates are more than worth it:
- You’re running an angle kit or extended lower control arms
- You want to rotate tires without destroying shoulders
- You drive events with different track surfaces or tire compounds
- You want to correct camber after slamming your car
In drifting, front-end consistency is everything. Camber plates give you the precision you need to keep the car predictable—no matter how aggressive your entry or angle is.
SLR + Camber = Pro-Level Geometry
We design our E36 drift kits to work hand-in-hand with adjustable top mounts. From tie rods and lower arms to angle kits, every part is optimized for high-angle use. Camber plates make sure that geometry works in your favor, not against it.
Extra Bonus: Quick Adjustments Between Runs
Running grippy tires on Saturday and budget burners on Sunday? Camber plates let you adjust alignment with just two bolts—no alignment shop required. It’s a game-changer for trackside tuning.
Conclusion: Are Camber Plates Worth It on an E36 Drift Car?
Absolutely. If you care about tire grip, steering response, and front-end tuning, camber plates are one of the smartest suspension upgrades you can make. You don’t have to guess or settle for static geometry. You can dial it in. Explore our full E36 drift kits here and take your front-end setup to the next level.
SLRspeed — Front-End Control Starts at the Top.
