Price for a stripped E36?

[Windymiller]

I've been offered a stripped E36 M3. It's a Coupe in Estoril, and I've not seen it yet, but I remember speaking to the guy who was buying it after a lot of hunting so think it's a pretty tidy motor.

It's on an S, so an Evo, with full history, and 120k. Non-sunroof shell, engine running.

It's had the interior and sound deadening stripped, dash removed and the heater matrix removed (AC still present) and all these removed bits are included - the seats are alcantara (or whatever it's called).

I want to fling a cage in, put the carpets back, and build a road legal (for going to & from) track car. I've already got Recaro Pole Positions and Sabelt harnesses.

It's a tough one, but what sort of price is good?

[dan101smith]

Worth slightly less than a standard car IMO. Doesn't sound like it has any track bits on it (coilovers, big brakes etc) yet doesn't come with any of the valuable bits you can sell to recoup cost, so somewhere around £3-4k seems reasonable to me.

[Windymiller]

Yeah, I'm thinking that. Been offered it for £3500, but there's a '96 Estoril Evo with 140k locally with white Vadars up for £4,000, or a '95 3.0 with some decent suspension and 124k up for £4,000 too.

I'm kinda thinking it should be a fair bit less in its current state, especially as I'm not going to get much for the non-leather Vaders.

Hmmm....

[dan101smith]

£3500 doesn't sound unreasonable, as long as it is in sound mechanical condition.

[dan101smith]

Oh, and stick a 5 speed box in to cure the problem with a sticky 2nd gear.

[Windymiller]

Yeah, he suggested the 5-speed box. I'm guessing that all adds up though... 'box, prop, (diff?) plus worth throwing a clutch in too... £1-1500?

So options are...

Part-stripped Evo - £3500
+ partially stripped
+ 3.2 engine (though Vanos always worries me)
- can't be used till interior sorted
- needs track suspension
- needs 'box

Fast-road 3.0 - £4000
+ leather Vadars (to sell)
+ has track suspension
+ can be used straight away
- not as quick as Evo?

Thinking the 3.0 may be better...

[dan101smith]

What is "track suspension"?

Changing the box is nothing like £1500. I got a box for £65, need the front half of the prop from a 3.0 and a selector rod, and that's it.

[Windymiller]

Ah right. Not too bad then. 3.0 comes with:

-Spax fully adjustable full coilovers (not sure about these?)
-rear strut brace.
-front crossbrace
-3.46 ratio recently rebuilt LSD
-front and rear trailing arm polybushes
-camber adjustable rear arms.
-YAT's adjustable front top plates.
-E30 Arms

[Mroad]

dan101smith said:

What is "track suspension"?

Changing the box is nothing like £1500. I got a box for £65, need the front half of the prop from a 3.0 and a selector rod, and that's it.

Likewise, I picked up a good 328 box for £30 (just don't mention it's for an M3 or the price will triple). As well as the selector you also need the 5 speed mounting cross member (6 speed won't fit), I got it all for the £30. Prop cost a bit more as it has be the M3 3.0 one (unless you want to fiddle with the diff flanges).
Including new seals, prop bearing, new clutch kit (standard Evo kit) etc. etc. probably about £400.

[BillyB]

Windymiller said:

Fast-road 3.0 - £4000

That will be this one then... http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1276125.htm

[Windymiller]

Bang on target!

[dan101smith]

Looks alright, does that.

I don't know Spax coilovers very well, but I'd be inclined to think that they'd run out of talent on track long before the driver does...

[Windymiller]

Yeah, I thought that, though they can't be as bad as Gaz... and lots of track-M's seem to be running Gaz lately...

Worst case, could flog 'em to some kid who want his ride low innit.

[dan101smith]

Did I mention I'm selling my Intrax coilovers?

[Windymiller]

They the ones for £500?

[dan101smith]

They can be - I was only going to ask for £400...

Not advertised yet, but will be in the next couple of weeks.

[chris7676]

A 328 box? Are the ratios not far from optimal?
And then some of you assume it's all cheap and everyone has got a garage with ramps and lots of talent. Buy a sorted car if you can.

[dan101smith]

Ratios are fine for a track car, rubbish for a road car.

And even if you can't do the swap yourself, it shouldn't cost much to get it done at an indy.

[Windymiller]

Luckily I have a few mates with garages, plus I have a lot of kit myself... though sliding under a car with a gearbox balanced on my cest ain't that much fun!

Dan, can you PM me some details of the suspenders you have? Are they track only, and what sort of miles have they covered, etc. The usual stuff.

Ta!

[Great Pretender]

Speaking from experience, I'd avoid the 3.0.

It's still a good car, but I bought one and immediately wished I'd bought the more powerful 3.2.

Ignore the VANOS idiots. If looked after and checked properly, the 3.2 is bombproof and far more pokey than the 3.0 (again ignore the 'OMG my 3.0 is faster than the Evo' crowd).

The Evo is a better car.