Discussion
The whole ''while I'm in there'' thing is why I'm unlikely to be having any time off for the foreseeable. Another £1k for Arrow rods may simply be a step too far so I have been looking at those offered by alternative manufacturers. Any thoughts on these?
http://zrp-rods.co.uk/connecting-rods/bmw-m3-s14-b...
http://zrp-rods.co.uk/connecting-rods/bmw-m3-s14-b...
While the timing chain and guides are on back order, I have been looking at the brakes and suspension. As a result the Tarox are going and on go the AP's. The ABS has been deleted and I am still looking at options for upgrading the rears. I might go back to Hawk pads although I was pretty happy with the DS2500 I've been running till now.
If I'm honest I always wanted AP's but this was the first time I've been able to find a used set at sensible (relatively anyway) money. Although these are used they've hardly got any miles on them and they're ideally suited to the M3.
Baffled sump arrived today and capacity has also been increased. I'm still waiting on a few parts, like the timing chain guides, but hopefully they'll be here soon.
Sandy Brown has just finished making the new loom for the DTA ECU and he's done a really nice job. He's included some auxiliary outputs along with the fan and shift light.
I've got the wheel problem solved too I hope.
Baffled sump arrived today and capacity has also been increased. I'm still waiting on a few parts, like the timing chain guides, but hopefully they'll be here soon.
Sandy Brown has just finished making the new loom for the DTA ECU and he's done a really nice job. He's included some auxiliary outputs along with the fan and shift light.
I've got the wheel problem solved too I hope.
I took a drive over to another E30 owner on the south coast (of Cornwall) yesterday afternoon. It was a lovely bright but bitterly cold day and despite not having been used in a few weeks the 318is fired straight up. It's such a nice car and is always fun to drive. It definitely needs a quicker steering rack though, so that'll have to go on the ''to do'' list for after the M3. The character of the 318is is very M3 like and it needs plenty of revs to get any performance from it. It thrives on revs though and just feels so nimble and light on its feet around the lanes. An LSD would be nice, as it can be pretty slippy at this time of year, but with the e46 or Z3 rack that'll be over £1k which I just don't have. The M3 is an expensive hobby and I can see why so many people opted to go s54 as opposed to tuning the s14! Even something basic like a timing chain and tensioner kit is over £700! Any other 16 valve 4 pot is about a quarter of that amount. Anyway, moan over. I'm lucky to have an M3 at all.
Sandy Brown (who's going to be mapping the DTA management) finished the new, bespoke wiring harness and has included an auxiliary take off. It also has shift lights and cooling fan wiring. The OE harness I picked up yesterday will be stripped and donate things like the C101 plug and wiring for the starter, alternator and some gauges.
Final change is a swap to centre lock wheels.
Sandy Brown (who's going to be mapping the DTA management) finished the new, bespoke wiring harness and has included an auxiliary take off. It also has shift lights and cooling fan wiring. The OE harness I picked up yesterday will be stripped and donate things like the C101 plug and wiring for the starter, alternator and some gauges.
Final change is a swap to centre lock wheels.
Brilliant!, I was chatting to mate yesterday about you and discussing how a refurbishment post a prang had grown legs, I jokingly said that it will be wearing centre locks next !
Have you looked into the practicality of these on a road car? I only ask as I seriously considered some way back when a chap was doing adaptors for these and there was lots of discussion into the feasibility of these day to day.
Have you looked into the practicality of these on a road car? I only ask as I seriously considered some way back when a chap was doing adaptors for these and there was lots of discussion into the feasibility of these day to day.
I did think about an s50 swap about 18 months ago but am glad I didn't bother. I think they're great engines and my old 320is went well with one fitted, but so many M3's have lost their s14's now and they really are pretty special. Mine had done over 100k miles though, so a rebuild was long overdue. As it was apart anyway, I developed a severe case of "while you're in there", so that's why we went with Schrick, DTA etc. The ports have been opened out and the ITB's are being matched now. Hopefully we should see a reliable 250 brake, which is nice jump albeit an expensive one.
Unfortunately there was some confusion / misinformation over the AP kit and rectifying it would have been quite a downgrade from my current set-up so I'm leaving well alone.
Anyway, am about to head over and see where we are at with the body and paint repairs.
Unfortunately there was some confusion / misinformation over the AP kit and rectifying it would have been quite a downgrade from my current set-up so I'm leaving well alone.
Anyway, am about to head over and see where we are at with the body and paint repairs.
Well apart from the engine, which still isn't back from the builder due to parts delays, pretty much everything is done now. There are a few aesthetic touches, such as the lettering on the newly coated cam cover, plus the wheel centres are being painted a darker silver.
I figured that as so much attention was being paid to getting fuel into the engine it might be a good idea to help get it out again?
I figured that as so much attention was being paid to getting fuel into the engine it might be a good idea to help get it out again?
Edited by e21Mark on Saturday 4th February 08:49
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff