RE: BMW M3 Evolution (E36): PH Carpool

RE: BMW M3 Evolution (E36): PH Carpool

Monday 6th January 2014

BMW M3 Evolution (E36): PH Carpool

The M3 lives on as a four-door only in 2014; here's a blast from the past in the same mould



Name: Neil Magill
Car: 1996 E36 M3 Evolution Saloon
Owned since: July 2013
Previously owned: "2009 Audi A5 2.0T Quattro, 2008 Fiesta ST, 2004 Fiesta Zetec 1.4"

'Sleeper' looks attracted Neil; drive likewise
'Sleeper' looks attracted Neil; drive likewise
Why I bought it:
"I 'needed' a driver's car and a project car. Ultimately the A5 while a fantastic car lacks driver appeal. Being a bit of a techie I had been hankering after a project car for some time. I'm keen to learn how to fix, repair and service things as well as find out how they work.

"I'd looked at classic Impreza turbos and DC2 Integra Type Rs. Any examples were well worn and not half the car the M3 is. This low mileage example popped up, I made the initial 'feeler' phone call, then had a think about it. I organised a suitable time to view the car, bartered with the owner over the following week, the man maths calculator was brought out and the car was mine that Saturday morning.

"Going through the history I have since discovered that the car was owned from new (for quite a few years), by my brother's ex-girlfriend's father. What a small world!"

What I wish I'd known:
"If I knew the community was so good, I probably would have made the jump earlier. I don't think there is anything I regret about buying the M3."

'No garage queen' says proud owner
'No garage queen' says proud owner
Things I love:
"The engine, it's so tractable, responsive and revs out beautifully. A work of art.

"The subtlety of the package. The saloon body with no spoiler is a bit of a sleeper. Actually the package in its entirety. A superb engine, great brakes, a good chassis with a mechanical set of controls. A very organic car in an ever growing digital age!

"The community that supports the car. PistonHeads [See Neil's project thread here for more - Ed.] and the M3 Cutters forums have been a great help.

"Learning about the car, its history and how it works. Spot the car geek! Switching off from the daily job, faffing about with the car in the garage is very therapeutic."

Things I hate:
"Greedy dealership parts guys and being addicted to buying parts on eBay."

2014 M3 will be saloon only - here's the template
2014 M3 will be saloon only - here's the template
Costs:
"Exhaust mounts, OEM head unit, service items (oil, filters, plugs, etc), subframe x-brace, Vanos upgraded seal and high tensile bolt kit. Pending costs are fuel filter, suspension, brake and wheel overhaul.

"The costs have been minimal so far. Dealerships can be expensive for parts at times, but bartering with the price or looking online can save quite a few quid."

Where I've been:
"I haven't actually driven the car much. Short trips after a fettle or on a nice day are always welcome. The best journey had to be a roadtrip with two mates, me in the 'loon, another in a 348 and another in a Boxster, epic cars and great roads, unbeatable.

"I'm usually too busying working or tinkering on the car to drive it. She is no garage queen, just being anal, I'm just keen to get her looking better than new, then I can relax and enjoy driving it."

What next?
"Continue improving the car... Drive her more, which I definitely will be doing next summer. Another toy to add to the fleet perhaps?"


Want to share your car with PHers on Carpool? Email us at carpool@pistonheads.com!

 

 

Author
Discussion

Neil_M

Original Poster:

694 posts

183 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for selecting my car for the Car Pool Dan!

Plenty more jobs to do over the winter to keep improving her...

Kawasicki

13,041 posts

234 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
Looks great. Even the coupe looks much better without the rear spoiler.

I own an old E30. The knowledge on the internet about keeping old BMWs in great shape is just immense.

rossi1

773 posts

201 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
Really cant beat an e36 M3 in terms of bang for your buck now days.
In fact the E36 in general is a great motor and still going strong with a big following.

Love the fact that the loon is such a sleeper. smile

crostonian

2,427 posts

171 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
One of my favourite BMWs. The saloon never seems to have had the 'wrong' following like so many of the Coupes and especially Cabrios seem to have suffered, most seem to have been well looked after with long term owners. Nice to see Estoril Blue return to the current 3 Series, one of the best colours, just need Avus Blue back on the 5 series!

matt_knowles

739 posts

212 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
Kawasicki said:
Looks great. Even the coupe looks much better without the rear spoiler.

I own an old E30. The knowledge on the internet about keeping old BMWs in great shape is just immense.
Was just thinking this morning about the rear spoiler and if I should fit one.

Think I'm going to leave it without one........might even refit the retro lights!








AC43

11,433 posts

207 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
Love that.

For some reason the press were a bit sniffy about the four door at the time.

I could never figure out why - I love the idea of a more practical M3/M3 sleeper.

Neil_M

Original Poster:

694 posts

183 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
matt_knowles said:
Was just thinking this morning about the rear spoiler and if I should fit one.

Think I'm going to leave it without one........might even refit the retro lights!
Looking very tidy smile

Neil_M

Original Poster:

694 posts

183 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
AC43 said:
Love that.

For some reason the press were a bit sniffy about the four door at the time.

I could never figure out why - I love the idea of a more practical M3/M3 sleeper.
Very true, though I think alot of the non Evo M3 reviews blend in to the Evo reviews... I believe Car Magazine wrote two great reviews of the evo saloon and they praised it... Eitherway, it was a big "adjustment" from the E30.

matt_knowles

739 posts

212 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
Neil_M said:
Looking very tidy smile
Thanks smile, same with yours.

The awful tints have gone now and its completely standard and currently on 69000km.

Need to replace my window seals next, that are looking a bit untidy now.

rtz62

3,340 posts

154 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
Great car, well done Neil

The only thing I never liked about the saloon was the seats, they should have had something like the coupés Vaders or even recaros; those fitted as standard were neither visually pleading nor as good at holding you in place.

Buy a good one, with full history, the vanos done (3.2) and non-rotten wheel arches, and it will be a great ride.

SWMBO still coverts an M3 coupe in Imola blue....

Neil_M

Original Poster:

694 posts

183 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
matt_knowles said:
Thanks smile, same with yours.

The awful tints have gone now and its completely standard and currently on 69000km.

Need to replace my window seals next, that are looking a bit untidy now.
Mileage is pretty low!

The window seals are a common item I believe.

Neil_M

Original Poster:

694 posts

183 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
rtz62 said:
Great car, well done Neil

The only thing I never liked about the saloon was the seats, they should have had something like the coupés Vaders or even recaros; those fitted as standard were neither visually pleading nor as good at holding you in place.

Buy a good one, with full history, the vanos done (3.2) and non-rotten wheel arches, and it will be a great ride.

SWMBO still coverts an M3 coupe in Imola blue....
All cars need Recaros wink.

Don't worry I'm not going on the defensive... But I don't mind the sport seats at all and found them supportive enough.

I do agree re buying a good one. The vanos is over hyped really, catch it early if it is "going" and maintain it and you shouldn't a have a problem.

Wheel arches are a genuine issue, same as the E46. Thats one of my next jobs, properly treat the metal and seal it, so that the rust never decides to appear.

loudlashadjuster

5,082 posts

183 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
In these days when humdrum family saloons comes with 18" alloys and every shopping trip hatch has a fake 'diffuser', silly exhaust tip/s and enough scoops to embarrass a WRC car, the E36 M3, particularly the saloon as has been said, is looking ever more subtle by the year.

Nice smile

rtz62

3,340 posts

154 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
Agree with you Neil.

I'm sure there will be posts about the vanos, I'm not sure but I thought it affected the 3.2 not the 3.0, and that often updated bolts cure it (I'm sure there's a guy called Mr Vanos who repairs them with new bolts, updated seals etc)

It's nice to see you haven't gone for the later wheels, or out a boot spoiler on it, as I really like the stealth look of the standard car.

exgtt

2,067 posts

211 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous car. beer

Searider

979 posts

254 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
AC43 said:
Love that.

For some reason the press were a bit sniffy about the four door at the time.

I could never figure out why - I love the idea of a more practical M3/M3 sleeper.
Just a shame they never made an estate :-(

Neil_M

Original Poster:

694 posts

183 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
rtz62 said:
Agree with you Neil.

I'm sure there will be posts about the vanos, I'm not sure but I thought it affected the 3.2 not the 3.0, and that often updated bolts cure it (I'm sure there's a guy called Mr Vanos who repairs them with new bolts, updated seals etc)

It's nice to see you haven't gone for the later wheels, or out a boot spoiler on it, as I really like the stealth look of the standard car.
It's more common on the 3.2 I believe. I've fitted the seal/bolt kit to mine, uprated seals and bolts, £50 from memory. Peace of mind and a cheap/diy fix. Not quite the end of the world that it can be built up to be.

I'd had a few people ask if I'll be fitting the front splitter, spoiler etc... I agree the stealth look suits the car. The wheels, well I quite like them, so no wish to change them smile.

matt_knowles

739 posts

212 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
Neil_M said:
Mileage is pretty low!

The window seals are a common item I believe.
Yeah it is! I was skeptical at first but after seeing it on a ramp and getting a second opinion, I am happy it is correct.

They'll be different on the coupe, but basically need to replace all seals on either side. Anyone want to ship me some to Dubai??

Neil_M

Original Poster:

694 posts

183 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
exgtt said:
Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous car. beer
Thank you smile

Searider said:
Just a shame they never made an estate :-(
Thats where someone pulls out a closely guarded press photo of one... Would it have the appeal of the RS4 Avant though?

The Jolly Todger

2,742 posts

179 months

Monday 6th January 2014
quotequote all
Lovely car, need to get it out on the road more though driving

ETA: I'm surprised that no-one has pointed out the difference between bartering and haggling yet.