Behind the Build

Rhys Conklin BMW E36

Most people are learning how to ride a bike before they're 11. Rhys Conklin was learning how to drift a BMW E36. And not just any E36 — this was the same car he grew up riding in as a kid before his family bought it back so he could begin his drifting journey in it.

What started as a family car quickly became the foundation for his progression, evolving over the years into the LS-powered demo car he throws down in today.

A Drift Car Built Alongside the Driver

Rhys' story is one of the coolest examples of growing with a car. After getting hooked on motorsports at a young age, he spent years on simulators and around race cars before convincing his family — at just 11 years old — to buy this E36 back so he could start learning in it.

The car started life simple:

Stock power
Stock suspension
Welded diff
Basic seat and harness setup

His dad intentionally kept it that way, forcing Rhys to learn real car control before adding more power or grip. That patience paid off. By the time the car started evolving mechanically, Rhys had already built a proper driving foundation behind the wheel of this exact chassis.

LS3 Power: Simple, Reliable, Proven

Once Rhys outgrew the stock BMW powertrain, the E36 received the upgrade many grassroots drift cars eventually find themselves getting — an LS swap. Now sitting under the hood is a naturally aspirated LS3 making roughly 450 wheel horsepower. Nothing over-the-top. Nothing unnecessarily complicated. Just a proven setup that delivers exactly what a demo car needs: reliable, repeatable power.

Key drivetrain and engine management components:

Holley Terminator X ECU — modern standalone engine management with easy tunability and excellent reliability
Holley 7" Digital Dash — clean, race-ready display for monitoring engine vitals at a glance
Canton 2 Qt Accusump Oil Accumulator — keeps oil pressure stable during sustained high-angle drifting and aggressive transitions

Front End Built for Aggression

As Rhys' driving progressed, the car needed a front suspension setup that could keep up. That's where the SLR BMW Angle Kit comes in. SLR has long been known for producing some of the most proven steering angle kits in drifting, and on this E36 it gives Rhys the steering angle, geometry, and consistency needed to drive the car aggressively while keeping front-end feel predictable.

Paired with BC Racing Coilovers, the chassis has the adjustability and damping control needed to keep the car responsive without becoming overly harsh or difficult to drive. The combination gives the E36 exactly what a modern drift car needs — massive steering angle, predictable geometry, and a suspension setup capable of handling repeated abuse.

Rear End Ready for Real Abuse

The rear of the car has been heavily upgraded as well, ditching the limitations of the factory BMW differential setup in favor of a proper quick change rear end built for repeated abuse. Rhys' car runs an MA Performance quick change and subframe setup, giving him the durability and gearing flexibility needed for serious drifting and competition use.

While his exact setup differs slightly from what we carry, the closest equivalent available through Drift HQ would be our Drift HQ 1,000HP+ Winter's Quick Change Rear Differential paired with the Rise Fab Shop E36 Quick Change Rear Subframe — a comparable package for anyone looking to build a similar rear-end setup on their own E36. To support the added grip and shock load, the car also runs WiseFab E36 Rear Axles / Halfshafts, helping ensure the rear driveline can handle repeated clutch kicks and aggressive driving without becoming a weak point.

A Car That Reflects Its Driver

What makes this E36 stand out isn't just the parts list. It's the fact that every modification mirrors Rhys' own progression as a driver. The car didn't become overbuilt overnight. It evolved in stages — power added when he was ready for it, suspension upgraded when his driving demanded it, driveline reinforced as the abuse increased.

That gradual development is what makes the whole build feel so cohesive. Nothing on the car feels unnecessary. Nothing feels thrown together for clout. Every part serves a purpose.

RHYS BUILD EXPOSED

SLR Speed - BMW SLR Angle Kit (Drifting)

$1,967.00

Drift HQ 1,000HP+ Winter's Quick Change Rear Differential

$6,888.00

WiseFab - BMW E36 Rear Axles / Halfshaft Kit (WF3619)

$2,798.00

Canton - Accusump 2 Qt Oil Accumulator

$441.00

RISE FAB SHOP - E36 Quick Change Rear Subframe

$2,344.00

BC Racing Coilovers - 92-99 BMW 3-Series E36 Coupe / Sedan / Convertible / M3 True Rear (RWD)

$1,697.00

Holley - TERMINATOR X 58X/4X EV6 LS MPFI KIT - WITHOUT 3.5" HANDHELD

$1,989.00

Holley - HOLLEY EFI 7" DIGITAL DASH

$1,310.00

DRIVETRAIN

Drift HQ 1,500HP+ Winter’s Quick Change Rear Differential
Rise Fab Shop E82/E92 Quick Change Subframe
GForce GSR Dogbox Transmission – 4 Speed
Clutch Masters Flow Control Valve

This drivetrain setup is built for durability, quick gear ratio changes, and fast shifting — perfect for competitive drifting.

PEDALS & SAFETY

Wilwood Floor Mount Pedal Assembly
OMP FIA Fire Suppression System
BridgeMoto FIA Six Point Harness

These components bring the car up to proper competition safety standards and driver control.

More Than Just Another LS-Swapped E36

At a glance, you might look at this and see another well-built LS-swapped drift car. But once you know the story, it becomes a lot more than that. This is the same E36 Rhys rode in as a kid. The same chassis he learned stick in. The same car he began drifting at 11 years old in. And the same platform he's continued developing as his driving level has risen year after year.

That history is what gives this build its personality. It's not just a drift car. It's a timeline of his entire drifting career — built into one chassis. And that's what Behind the Build is all about.