E36 M3 doors

[dan101smith]

Now then, as we know some E36 M3s came with aluminium doors.

Do they offer much, if anything, by way of a weight saving over the "standard" doors?

[schnell]

Not so much that you'd really notice I should think. It does however make for an interesting talking point down the boozer though

[dan101smith]

They're also rubbish with my magnetic dart set.

[mat205125]

For a road car, the percentage weight saving is minimal, and you wouldn't notice a performance gain back to back with all other things being equal. Homologating the GT and GT2 cars with the ali doors does make a worthwhile difference when everything else is stripped and the car is built to race.

Waits to be corrected about the cars with the ali doors ... Did all the Evo cars feature ali too?

Having worked on a lot of race cars, including Lancer Evos with ali bonnets, the difference in the weight of the bare panel really is noticable. Where a normal bonnet (inc inner) is a two hand job to lift, the evo ali bonnet is like paper in comparison.

[andygtt]

I dont think all E36 M3's had alloy doors... pretty sure mine doesnt!

[Frik]

I'm happier with the superior NVH qualities of my steel doors tbh.

[schnell]

mat205125 said:

For a road car, the percentage weight saving is minimal, and you wouldn't notice a performance gain back to back with all other things being equal. Homologating the GT and GT2 cars with the ali doors does make a worthwhile difference when everything else is stripped and the car is built to race.

Waits to be corrected about the cars with the ali doors ... Did all the Evo cars feature ali too?

[pedant]
The GT2 was only ever a run-out special (being all but mechanically identical to the regular M3) and had steel doors like all the other later Evos. Think of it as a BMW M3 'Key West' or something.
[/pedant]

This is a point that really upsets me. Far too many people think the GT2 is something special. WELL IT AINT BUSTER! Sorry.

Some of the early Evo Coupes had aluminium doors, which by all accounts were used simply because there was a remaining stock pile of them from the puka GT series. There application therefore, seems to have been entirely random.

[mat205125]

Quick correction

"Yeah, ali doors on all evos mate! .... Look, see! Magnet don't stick or nuffink! .... " Wonder if anyones ever been given that line when buying an M3 that has been friendly with the scenery

[dan101smith]

I'll take all that to mean that no-one knows the difference in weight then

[trackm3]

Only on the first 6 months of evo production and then deleted due to creaks and rattles, and they offer a great weight saving a must for any track/race car.

mat205125 said:

Quick correction

"Yeah, ali doors on all evos mate! .... Look, see! Magnet don't stick or nuffink! .... " Wonder if anyones ever been given that line when buying an M3 that has been friendly with the scenery

[dan101smith]

trackm3 said:

Only on the first 6 months of evo production and then deleted due to creaks and rattles, and they offer a great weight saving a must for any track/race car.

Odd, mine don't creak or rattle at all...

Don't suppose you know how much the weight difference is, by any chance?

[trackm3]

Not sure on the weight difference but i will try to find out for you, yes BMW dropped them for creaking issues i was selling them at the time in my illustrius 14 years with BMW

dan101smith said:

trackm3 said:

Only on the first 6 months of evo production and then deleted due to creaks and rattles, and they offer a great weight saving a must for any track/race car.

Odd, mine don't creak or rattle at all...

Don't suppose you know how much the weight difference is, by any chance?

[stevesingo]

Steel 16.98Kg
Ali 9.4Kg

Info from here...

http://bmwfans.info/original/E36/Cou/M3%203.2-S50/...

HTH

Steve

[dan101smith]

Exactly what I was after, thanks Steve!

Are there any aftermarket suppliers?

[breezy]

stevesingo said:

Steel 16.98Kg
Ali 9.4Kg

Info from here...

http://bmwfans.info/original/E36/Cou/M3%203.2-S50/...

HTH

Steve

Good to know - thanks Steve.

Incidentally, my car has aluminium doors and I remember some years ago when comparing them to a car with steel doors parked alongside you could definitely tell the difference when opening and closing the door.

[mat205125]

stevesingo said:

Steel 16.98Kg
Ali 9.4Kg

Info from here...

http://bmwfans.info/original/E36/Cou/M3%203.2-S50/...

HTH

Steve

That's a very worthwhile saving, and for not a lot of money more than the steel (assuming you have no doors for some odd reason)

Assume that's for a plain unpainted door without any mechanisms and trim.

[schnell]

dan101smith said:

Exactly what I was after, thanks Steve!

Are there any aftermarket suppliers?

Dan, not sure about alloy doors but I know of a few comapnies who do CF of fiberglass ones.

[joesnow]

You can identify the steel and aluminium doors by looking at the area above the catch mechanism.

3 welds indicate a steel door
3 small holes (around 5mm deep) indicate an aluminium door

[dan101smith]

Thank you - I'm fully aware that I have ali doors on mine

[scz4]

schnell said:

Dan, not sure about alloy doors but I know of a few comapnies who do CF of fiberglass ones.

I would imagine those would make a huge differene if replacing along with the bonnet and boot lid. You can even replace the wings.