Yet another rescued E36 328i M Sport project...

[g3org3y]

Good thread, thanks for all the pics/updates.

Agree with yourself and previous posters re the M3 rep alloys. Original equipment would have been Type 29 cross spokes in a staggered set up.

I do disagree about making your money back unfortunately. Projects such as these rarely see a return unless the car is particularly rare/desirable.

It would be a shame to do all the work and not use/enjoy the car.

Keep up the good work. I will be interested to hear your opinion of the M50/BTBB kit as it's something I've considered in the past.

[RickBristol]

OK, now onto the mani' conversion work...

This is what we started with:



Starting to strip the parts to remove the old manifold:



Old manifold gone:



This pic shows the 40% difference in the 'breathing' capacity, between the M52 and M50 manifolds - imagine breathing through your nose and then breathing through your mouth:



This pic also shows the difference in the various conections to the different manifold types... The M50, above, is much simpler:



My God! at this point, I thought 'I hope that this guy knows what he's doing'...



Starting to re-fit the M50 conversion plumbing:



And this is what we ended-up with:





Also managed to pick up a strut brace for the front suspension:

Edited by RickBristol on Thursday 9th October 06:51

[RickBristol]

Now let's move onto another issue...

The car has been running rather cool and the heating system in the car would not get warm. Sam instantly told me that there was an issue with the thermostat - also informed me that the car was probably using way too much fuel as a consequence! Also, if the car still had its original factory-fitted water pump, that the impellor would be made of plastic, and should be replaced with a metal impellor type at the same time, as could cause lots of problems if the original failed and shed bits of the plastic impellor into the engine's coolant system. So, we decided to order and re-fit a new thermostat and pump...

New pump:



New pump fitted:



The car still had its original BMW thermostat:



Had to show you a pic of the radiator, as we were amazed that it is in near-new/perfect condition:



Cost: £58 with fitting

Edited by RickBristol on Saturday 11th October 17:31

[RickBristol]

The road test...

g3org3y said:

I will be interested to hear your opinion of the M50/BTBB kit as it's something I've considered in the past.

My God! This car's performance has been completely transformed! It now goes like stink.

The handling has been tightened-up with the rear suspension up-grade too. Can't wait to get the front done - in a few weeks time.

Note to self... 'take it easy with that right peddle...

Edited by RickBristol on Tuesday 7th October 17:14

[RickBristol]

Seems like you lot out there have gone to sleep on me and my thread...

Still, I wanted to do this for purely 'selfish' - if that's the right word - reasons, as I intended this thread to be a record of the car and what I have done to it, since its been in my hands...

Come on peeps!!!!

[Robb F]

I like it. I've kinda gone the opposite way with mine and made it worse, so it's nice seeing a clean one.

Looked nicer without the rear spoiler but it's all good

[Joe Sp]

Keep it going OP. I am enjoying see an E36 being saved.

[g3org3y]

RickBristol said:

The road test...

g3org3y said:

I will be interested to hear your opinion of the M50/BTBB kit as it's something I've considered in the past.

My God! This car's performance has been completely transformed! It now goes like stink.

It's often mentioned that the low down torque suffers a little with this mod. What do you think?

How long did it take to do the conversion?

[RickBristol]

g3org3y said:

It's often mentioned that the low down torque suffers a little with this mod. What do you think?

How long did it take to do the conversion?

Well, the low down torque has definately suffered - that's the point 'mostly' of fitting the re-mapped chip as part of the job.

I now have to give it a little more revs, when pulling away, or else it has a tendancy to stall.

I have one comming in the next few weeks. It should/will sort out both the low-down torque and the lean fuel issues at both low and high end of the rev range...

Can't even begin to tell you about the mid-range fun that I can now have...

Another thing is the 'new' sound that the car now has... A VERY satisfying deep burble at low revs AND an even more satisfying loud growl when you give it some beans...

As-far-as the 'time-taken' goes; took us about three and a half hours - start to firing the car up again. Not recommended on your own, as you need two pairs of hands; one to hold things out of the way, while the other actually does 'things'... Lots of various nuts & bolts for you both to remove and replace, which kept us both VERY busy...

Spose I could furnish a list of chores, in process/time order...

Edited by RickBristol on Tuesday 7th October 21:13

[2013BRM]

Love this thread, my partner has a 2.8 Z3 that is going to be given the manifold mod including remap, I can't wait

[bennyboysvuk]

RickBristol said:

In Two and a half weeks, the next phase of the project begins...

Have managed to sort a genuine M50 manifold, decent conversion kit, large throttle body and cold air induction kit - with heat shield. Will think about 'chipping' the car as I'm not convinced, when looking at the 'cost-benefit' analysis...

Have also sourced a complete set of one and-a-half year-old, second-hand Bilsten shocks for £220!!! Apparently only done a few thousand miles to boot

Happy days... :-)

Edited by RickBristol on Monday 15th September 23:44

Edited by RickBristol on Thursday 18th September 20:19

Mine had the M50 manifold and a remap done and made 225bhp with 146,000 miles on the clock. I was very impressed.

[RickBristol]

I'm also looking at a limited slip diff and a decent exhaust too!

Anyone know the where-abouts of an LSD? Happy to pay the money for it...

[RickBristol]

Well, whether you lot are interested or not, I have managed to secure a 3:15 ratio limited slip diff, from an E36 325i, for £128 including VAT and delivery!!! Has also been looked-at, by someone in-the-know, to evaluate that it should work without exploding...

BTW, why are people trying to sell these things on e-bay for £300 - £400??? The guy I'm buying mine from has plenty of them; they aren't even that rare!?!?!??? I can, however, understand that a refurbed race-ready M3 diff could cost you a hefty £1,000 +

I have also bought a set of brand new BMW diff mounting bushes, direct from BMW, for £45 including VAT. So, job's a good un...

My mechanic mate will fit them, next weekend, and do a spot of welding for the rear passenger side jacking-point, as was found to have a little hole...

Edited by RickBristol on Thursday 9th October 20:07

[RickBristol]

2013BRM said:

Love this thread, my partner has a 2.8 Z3 that is going to be given the manifold mod including remap, I can't wait

Hmmm...

My mate bought an original Z3 M a few years ago - after selling his Audi S3 in order to buy it - and was really pd-off as he complianed that the Z3 M had far too much power for the car and didn't handle that well, as a consequence...

Worth thinking about before you up-grade?

Edited by RickBristol on Thursday 9th October 20:05

[JordanTurbo]

RickBristol said:

2013BRM said:

Love this thread, my partner has a 2.8 Z3 that is going to be given the manifold mod including remap, I can't wait

Hmmm...

My mate bought an original Z3 M a few years ago - after selling his Audi S3 in order to buy it - and was really pd-off as he complianed that the Z3 M had far too much power for the car and didn't handle that well, as a consequence...

Worth thinking about before you up-grade?

I'd be willing to bet his opinion had more to do with him no longer being able to plant his right foot when ever he wanted, like he could in the 4wd S3, than the Z3M handling badly.

Either way the Z3M has a lot more power than an M50ed 2.8 is going to make so I wouldn't worry about the chassis being overwhelmed.

[JordanTurbo]

Also you mentioned the shocks you fitted were Bilstein B12s? Aren't B12 shocks yellow and come with matched Eibach springs?

I thought the silver shocks with Bilstein's own springs is the B10 kit.

[carpetsoiler]

JordanTurbo said:

Also you mentioned the shocks you fitted were Bilstein B12s? Aren't B12 shocks yellow and come with matched Eibach springs?

I thought the silver shocks with Bilstein's own springs is the B10 kit.

They are B10s. It's my old suspension kit.

[JordanTurbo]

Thanks.

I only mentioned it because I'm currently looking at what shocks to match with my new H&R 40/10mm springs.

[carpetsoiler]

JordanTurbo said:

Thanks.

I only mentioned it because I'm currently looking at what shocks to match with my new H&R 40/10mm springs.

The B10s are excellent for a compromise between handling and comfort. I loved them when they were on mine, somewhat worried that coilovers will ruin the ability to cruise somewhat.

[VinceFox]

Relocate that air filter down behind the front bumper on the end of a hard pipe and route some air at it, you'll gain a little bottom end feel back.