Discussion
ManOpener said:
That shifter really does look excellent.
Thanks. I was worried it might look a little out of place but it actually suits the interior really well. I would have liked the CAE version but it's over double to price. In fact it's near 3 times once you have all the hardware and I just couldn't afford, or justify, the extra cost.I'm on the hunt for a pair of Kumho V70A in 215/40r17 for the front now. They seem pretty hard to find, although I am told MINI use them for their race series? (225 may work?)
I also need to replace the screen as there are a few small chips. I did look into repairs but they said it would be better to simply replace the whole screen. Last time I replaced an E30 M3 windscreen though, Autoglass turned up 3 times with a regular E30 screen. I'd even emailed them reminders that the M3 screen is bonded into place!
e21Mark said:
Thanks. I've had a couple of people say I've ruined it but I'm really happy with how it looks. I was aiming for a kind of Club Sport look, as opposed to full out race car.
I definitely don't think you have ruined it. I would love to own an original, unmolested E30 M3 and I am sure many others would as well.
I don't think many are still around.
However, from everything I have read on here, you have paid a particularly close amount of attention to the detail of how you are modifying it, with a specific purpose in mind and going for the best of whatever you can.
You know, like people are doing today with brand new M3s for all kinds of race series and classes... you're doing what people were doing nearly 30 years ago to these cars for the same reason.
Excellent work.
Have been putting a few more miles on the M3 lately which included a trip up to London. I got as far as the road that takes you from the M5 to the A303, when I was stopped at some lights and I noticed a God awful racket from a van stopped next to me. The lights went green, the van moved off and the noise stayed with me!
Once on the 358 I pulled over and it was obvious that my nice new PAS pump had thrown a bolt from the pulley. I imagine being so far out of balance meant the pulley itself broke up, hence the clattering! I phoned the RAC and made some calls to try and find a replacement. Luckily the PAS pump itself seems fine, as do the threads for the bolts. The pulley itself is the same as all m10 engined e28 but I doubt there are many of those in breakers yards! Luckily though, Joe at ARM BMW rescued my old pump and I just had to remove the broken pulley and belt to get on my way. Steering was certainly heavy but better than being transported home!
The Samsona shifter is even better now that I've had time to get used to it. I really like the ability to just "snick" through the gears. I still have a few smaller jobs I want to do, such as reconnect the AFR gauge, but I hope I can order the standalone and wiring harness from DTA next week.
New addition is the 318is that I bought a couple of years ago and had restored by DJ Coachworks, who also painted my M3. I'd given it to my partners son James, but sadly he passed away 3 weeks ago and now I'm going to look after it for him.
Once on the 358 I pulled over and it was obvious that my nice new PAS pump had thrown a bolt from the pulley. I imagine being so far out of balance meant the pulley itself broke up, hence the clattering! I phoned the RAC and made some calls to try and find a replacement. Luckily the PAS pump itself seems fine, as do the threads for the bolts. The pulley itself is the same as all m10 engined e28 but I doubt there are many of those in breakers yards! Luckily though, Joe at ARM BMW rescued my old pump and I just had to remove the broken pulley and belt to get on my way. Steering was certainly heavy but better than being transported home!
The Samsona shifter is even better now that I've had time to get used to it. I really like the ability to just "snick" through the gears. I still have a few smaller jobs I want to do, such as reconnect the AFR gauge, but I hope I can order the standalone and wiring harness from DTA next week.
New addition is the 318is that I bought a couple of years ago and had restored by DJ Coachworks, who also painted my M3. I'd given it to my partners son James, but sadly he passed away 3 weeks ago and now I'm going to look after it for him.
Edited by e21Mark on Thursday 21st July 05:55
Good to chat with you at the Temple traffic queue on Saturday Mark. No car i'd rather be sat in a boiling hot queue behind!
I've promised myself next year will finally be the year when I take my cab to Joe for the M52 treatment. Once sorted it would be great to have a little meet up in Cornwall.
Best wishes.
Tom
I've promised myself next year will finally be the year when I take my cab to Joe for the M52 treatment. Once sorted it would be great to have a little meet up in Cornwall.
Best wishes.
Tom
Sorry - missed your reply. I'm near Truro / Perranporth etc. I love living here, although it can be a nuisance being so far from everything.
The M3 is still running well and have enjoyed a few runs out in the sunshine lately. I have a list of jobs I want to work through, although none are urgent. Ever since I fitted the Tarox 6 pot front brakes, I have wanted to smarten them up a bit. Ideally they want blasting and repainting / coating. I'm thinking of doing them yellow as they don't show too easily through the alloys, so shouldn't be too garish. Well I hope not anyway. I also want to re paint the front spoiler to deal with the stone chips. I think I may also use some film to protect it in future.
The biggest thing I want to do though, is sort the engine and engine bay. I know there's some relatively easy power to be found in flowing the head and fitting new cams, so I am currently on the hunt to find someone I can trust to start removing metal. S14 heads are super rare and super expensive and I need to be sure it's in safe hands. I have a couple of names though. Basically, I am thinking flow work, Schrick, bigger injectors and Evo flywheel, in the hope that will get me close to 250 brake. Whilst the engine is out I can sort the engine bay and ancillaries as I'd like it to look as good as the rest of the car.
MOT is due too, so will be dropping it over to ARM on Monday.
I've also got the 318is to sort. It doesn't need much more than a thorough clean, an oil change and some new alloys. It has OE BBS fitted but they're only 14'' and just don't fill the arches properly. I'd like some 16'' Compomotive TH but they're rare and expensive. Mind you, some 15'' BBS would be a step in the right direction. I might take a look on eBay and see what's out there?
The M3 is still running well and have enjoyed a few runs out in the sunshine lately. I have a list of jobs I want to work through, although none are urgent. Ever since I fitted the Tarox 6 pot front brakes, I have wanted to smarten them up a bit. Ideally they want blasting and repainting / coating. I'm thinking of doing them yellow as they don't show too easily through the alloys, so shouldn't be too garish. Well I hope not anyway. I also want to re paint the front spoiler to deal with the stone chips. I think I may also use some film to protect it in future.
The biggest thing I want to do though, is sort the engine and engine bay. I know there's some relatively easy power to be found in flowing the head and fitting new cams, so I am currently on the hunt to find someone I can trust to start removing metal. S14 heads are super rare and super expensive and I need to be sure it's in safe hands. I have a couple of names though. Basically, I am thinking flow work, Schrick, bigger injectors and Evo flywheel, in the hope that will get me close to 250 brake. Whilst the engine is out I can sort the engine bay and ancillaries as I'd like it to look as good as the rest of the car.
MOT is due too, so will be dropping it over to ARM on Monday.
I've also got the 318is to sort. It doesn't need much more than a thorough clean, an oil change and some new alloys. It has OE BBS fitted but they're only 14'' and just don't fill the arches properly. I'd like some 16'' Compomotive TH but they're rare and expensive. Mind you, some 15'' BBS would be a step in the right direction. I might take a look on eBay and see what's out there?
Well a weep of oil from the head gasket has brought about a change in plan. I figured that if the head is coming off anyway, I may as well fit new cams and have some mild flowing done, along with new tensioner, ARP studs etc. I just need to keep a reign on things as I know how expensive it can be to rebuild an s14! I'll most likely take the engine out next month and rebuild it over the coming autumn/winter.
s m said:
e21Mark said:
Sorry - missed your reply. I'm near Truro / Perranporth etc. I love living here, although it can be a nuisance being so far from everything.
I did look out for you the other day - was at Chapel Porth!
Well I did a few runs up the hill at Shelsey Walsh last Sunday. It was a little greasy in places but great fun all the same. I'm taking the M3 to Wales in a couple of weeks and then the plan is to sort the engine. It won't be anything too wild but Schrick cams and a ported head should make a useful improvement. I'll be renewing the cam chain, tensioner etc too.
So many things are just right about the E30 M3- yes, to drive, but also to behold. It's as if it wasn't designed, just engineered. That's probably the sign of some very fantastic designers, and race engineers too. It makes most modern sports saloons look pretty ridiculous with their over styling.
A lovely period for BMWs. I still have the ad campaign where they showed the BMW for each stage of life- single= Z1, then M3, then M5, 750, 850. 1991 so it can't have been a CSI yet, but those ads grabbed me totally as a 16 year old. Very good to see it being used properly.
A lovely period for BMWs. I still have the ad campaign where they showed the BMW for each stage of life- single= Z1, then M3, then M5, 750, 850. 1991 so it can't have been a CSI yet, but those ads grabbed me totally as a 16 year old. Very good to see it being used properly.
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