My BMW M3 Evolution Imola Individual GT2 Journal

[MarkwG]

mboon said:

Has anyone reconditioned these wheels? If you could post some photos of the finished wheels with polished lips, how much it cost and who did them would be great? I am looking to as close as possible to standard finish

Cheers

Sure: I've had mine done twice, both times I used The Wheel Specialist, the Fareham then the Ferndown branch: very pleased with the result, & they're still good maybe 4 years on. One needed redoing as a result of my carelessness, the work was fine. I wanted factory & they're as near as makes no difference. Price I think was around £120 per wheel, all in.

[mboon]

Upgraded my daily driver to this.

















It belonged to a Premier League football player so the spec is pretty impressive.


Freeview/Digital TV

Bluetooth

Xenons

Electric memory Leather seats

Professional Sat Nav

Tyre pressure warning system. 

Auto lights

Auto wipers

Folding mirrors

Folding rear seats

Isofix

And so on...


I still have the M3 but not spent much time with it recently.

[Sf_Manta]

Both cars are awesome, though a suggestion with the 330i.

Would recommend getting the PCV (breather system) changed as these can cause the engine to suck it's own oil and change the oil for 5w30, Mine used to suck it's oil but since it's not done a drop

Check the condition of the RTA bushes and the lolipop bushes as these tend to go soft and make the car wander. some OEM ones or powerflex purple ones (fast road) will restore the handling to something more direct.

[Paul S4]

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p137/mark_boon1...

I have just done a similar job on my E36 318iS. I ordered a full set of the door card clips from BMW main dealer, but when I tried to fit them I had the same problem as you ; ie they were too big and needed cutting which is not ideal.

However, they did come with rubber washers which helps reduce rattles etc when it is all put back.

I left the top plastic piece attached to the top of the door to ensure it went on correctly, and used 2 pack epoxy ( Araldite by any other name !)

The door cards on E36s must be the poorest quality parts on the whole car !

Impressive M3 by the way !

[mark.c]

That looks lovely and great for a daily...its a slippery slope though....especially with your obsession with cleaning and detailing etc.....before you know the 330 with be too nice to use everyday and you will need to find something else to use but cant quite bring yourself to sell it so keep it...and so on and so on! ask me how I know

[mboon]

Sf_Manta said:

Both cars are awesome, though a suggestion with the 330i.

Would recommend getting the PCV (breather system) changed as these can cause the engine to suck it's own oil and change the oil for 5w30, Mine used to suck it's oil but since it's not done a drop

Check the condition of the RTA bushes and the lolipop bushes as these tend to go soft and make the car wander. some OEM ones or powerflex purple ones (fast road) will restore the handling to something more direct.

Hi,

We own a 330i Sport already (we use it to kart the kids about in) lovely car and familiar with most of the issues. This one drives tight as a drum and pulls really well. I am currently monitoring the oil consumption. At the moment it's looking like she is not burning much at all

[mboon]

Paul S4 said:

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p137/mark_boon1...

I have just done a similar job on my E36 318iS. I ordered a full set of the door card clips from BMW main dealer, but when I tried to fit them I had the same problem as you ; ie they were too big and needed cutting which is not ideal.

However, they did come with rubber washers which helps reduce rattles etc when it is all put back.

I left the top plastic piece attached to the top of the door to ensure it went on correctly, and used 2 pack epoxy ( Araldite by any other name !)

The door cards on E36s must be the poorest quality parts on the whole car !

Impressive M3 by the way !

Thanks.

The door cards are ok once fitted right. BMW wanted to charge me nearly £900 per door card to replace

[mboon]

mark.c said:

That looks lovely and great for a daily...its a slippery slope though....especially with your obsession with cleaning and detailing etc.....before you know the 330 with be too nice to use everyday and you will need to find something else to use but cant quite bring yourself to sell it so keep it...and so on and so on! ask me how I know

Haha yes been there. Ended up selling the car and regretted it badly. I like any car I drive to be tidy but will have to control myself on this one ha

[shalmaneser]

Paul S4 said:

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p137/mark_boon1...

I have just done a similar job on my E36 318iS. I ordered a full set of the door card clips from BMW main dealer, but when I tried to fit them I had the same problem as you ; ie they were too big and needed cutting which is not ideal.

However, they did come with rubber washers which helps reduce rattles etc when it is all put back.

I left the top plastic piece attached to the top of the door to ensure it went on correctly, and used 2 pack epoxy ( Araldite by any other name !)

The door cards on E36s must be the poorest quality parts on the whole car !

Impressive M3 by the way !

I've been attempting this same job but just can't get the clips to 'catch' properly. They're OK but not perfect. It's very annoying.

However, I've got the aluminium doors and I think some variations in manufacturing between them and the steel doors is causing the issues.

Hmmmm.

[mboon]

My agreed valuation has finally been sorted. I can breath a sigh of relieve and not worry so much.

Very easy to setup as well with these guys

[mboon]

Today I wanted to give the M3 a clean down. The 330ci was also covered in dust so that got a clean too. First time I managed to get some photos of them all together.


After cleaning them, I appreciate just how clean the M3 is now

[mboon]

I need to get back on this car. Not seen it for a while now 😕

[mboon]

Been sat now for around 2 months. Battery needed a bit of help but she started fine. Love the old school smell this car gives off (running rich on cold start)

Think I will clean her ☺ might even tax her

[anonymous-user]

Lovely car but what a waste. Do you ever drive it anywhere other than your garage to your driveway? Take it to the Alps or something and really enjoy it!

[mboon]

Yes I do, when I have time. Last weekend it went on a coastal run for 100 miles then on to a Pistonheads Breakfast club meet after. When I can, it does get used. Would I take it abroad, no I wouldn't. I get enough enjoyment from her on the country and coastal roads we have in this area. I don't need the autobahn to know she goes like the clappers 😉

[mboon]

Tonight I sat down with a beer and sorted through the history folder for my 330ci. I had a few bits I needed to put into the M3s folder so did them both at the same time. It's a workout moving this lot about











☺

[anonymous-user]

mboon said:

Yes I do, when I have time. Last weekend it went on a coastal run for 100 miles then on to a Pistonheads Breakfast club meet after. When I can, it does get used. Would I take it abroad, no I wouldn't. I get enough enjoyment from her on the country and coastal roads we have in this area. I don't need the autobahn to know she goes like the clappers ??

Forget the Autobahn. I'm talking about roads like this....

[Chunkychucky]

St John Smythe said:

Lovely car but what a waste.

My dad has a 1998 Evolution with 31k miles on the clock - he scoffed at the lack of use the previous owner had given it, subsequently he's done 3k miles in the past 8 years...

Glad to see yours is still being cared for OP, too many slipped through the cracks and have been scrapped/turned in to track slags

[anonymous-user]

Chunkychucky said:

St John Smythe said:

Lovely car but what a waste.

My dad has a 1998 Evolution with 31k miles on the clock - he scoffed at the lack of use the previous owner had given it, subsequently he's done 3k miles in the past 8 years...

Glad to see yours is still being cared for OP, too many slipped through the cracks and have been scrapped/turned in to track slags

It's a pity. Took my old Chimaera, Alpina B3 and Z4 on trips round Europe. Good memories.

[mboon]

Its been a while as it seems you cannot talk about the GTs in certain areas of the internet

Any how, the car has done pretty much nothing in the last 4 months or so. It passed the MOT in September with flying colours which I expected, since then she has covered around 40 miles.

The battery keeps going flat which is annoying, I have taken it off and back to the Bosch service center but as it just passed the test they sent me back with it. I will be taking this back soon as its getting worse and still has 2 years warranty remaining.

I have not had much time for the car and to be honest, with the poor driving on the roads these days, I am happy for it to sit out of harms way (Someone hit my daily driver and then claimed it was not their fault! Which it was

A couple photos to prove it is still alive and kicking (and looking good)











Thanks

Mark