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So…after 4 months of owning a GTI-6 (incorporating a couple of track days) I decided that, whilst as fun as it was, I missed the M3…
Viewed a couple of E36 Evo's initially and wasn’t exactly blown away - the first looked pretty good but the owner had only had it for a couple of months and the air-con "just needs a re-gas". The second was potentially in good mechanical order with some good mod's / history etc but wasn't what I considered to be "excellent condition inside and out" - you know what im talking about im sure.
Fast forward a bit and I was fortunate enough to pick up an excellent example (in the best colour as well!) - Have owned this now for a couple of months and all credit to the previous owners - fellow pher's Bill and GP, it's in great nick at almost 12 years old and has only 51k on the clock. Sounds fantastic with the Dave F kit etc and goes really well - speed bumps are a bit of a chore though!
Not really a fan of the 'sunflowers' which it came with, so whisked them off for a set of massive 20" badboy 'Wolfrace' alloys, oh hang on, actually I picked up a quality set of original polished motorsport wheels, freshly re-furbed, and switched the Eagle F1's onto them.
IMO considerably better value-for-money than my E46 and just as quick, not as flash or comfortable admittedly, but really pleased with it and does everything I need it to do - cant see me parting with this for quite some time. I suspect the only car that could tempt me away would be a really good E39 M5.
As with pretty much any car of this age it's not all great news - the front end has quite a number of stone chips and could do with some KDS magic to restore it to its very best. Also 3rd and 4th gear 'vibrate' - had it checked by Bexley and apparently the syncro's in 3rd and 5th are shot. Not the end of the world though and after some investigation it can be sorted (without a new gearbox), which will also be getting done early next year.
Here are a couple of pictures (post a clean-up at the weekend):
Viewed a couple of E36 Evo's initially and wasn’t exactly blown away - the first looked pretty good but the owner had only had it for a couple of months and the air-con "just needs a re-gas". The second was potentially in good mechanical order with some good mod's / history etc but wasn't what I considered to be "excellent condition inside and out" - you know what im talking about im sure.
Fast forward a bit and I was fortunate enough to pick up an excellent example (in the best colour as well!) - Have owned this now for a couple of months and all credit to the previous owners - fellow pher's Bill and GP, it's in great nick at almost 12 years old and has only 51k on the clock. Sounds fantastic with the Dave F kit etc and goes really well - speed bumps are a bit of a chore though!
Not really a fan of the 'sunflowers' which it came with, so whisked them off for a set of massive 20" badboy 'Wolfrace' alloys, oh hang on, actually I picked up a quality set of original polished motorsport wheels, freshly re-furbed, and switched the Eagle F1's onto them.
IMO considerably better value-for-money than my E46 and just as quick, not as flash or comfortable admittedly, but really pleased with it and does everything I need it to do - cant see me parting with this for quite some time. I suspect the only car that could tempt me away would be a really good E39 M5.
As with pretty much any car of this age it's not all great news - the front end has quite a number of stone chips and could do with some KDS magic to restore it to its very best. Also 3rd and 4th gear 'vibrate' - had it checked by Bexley and apparently the syncro's in 3rd and 5th are shot. Not the end of the world though and after some investigation it can be sorted (without a new gearbox), which will also be getting done early next year.
Here are a couple of pictures (post a clean-up at the weekend):
Edited by AlxM3 on Wednesday 13th January 11:15
Cheers. Mark - looks good...
Yes, the spoiler and front splitter are genuine.
The interior was a re-trim. Looks pretty good - it doesnt have the /// stripes as per normal but has 'Evo' embossed into the leather which is a neat touch. I may be wrong on this but I think it was a base model from factory so has just had the centre sections of the seats (obviously both front and rear) re-trimmed in leather. It has worn really well.
Yes, the spoiler and front splitter are genuine.
The interior was a re-trim. Looks pretty good - it doesnt have the /// stripes as per normal but has 'Evo' embossed into the leather which is a neat touch. I may be wrong on this but I think it was a base model from factory so has just had the centre sections of the seats (obviously both front and rear) re-trimmed in leather. It has worn really well.
AlxM3 said:
Not really a fan of the 'sunflowers' which it came with, so whisked them off for a set of massive 20" badboy 'Wolfrace' alloys, oh hang on, actually I picked up a quality set of original polished motorsport wheels, freshly re-furbed, and switched the Eagle F1's onto them.
You had me worried for a bit 
Lovely looking car
AlxM3 said:
Cheers. Mark - looks good...
Yes, the spoiler and front splitter are genuine.
The interior was a re-trim. Looks pretty good - it doesnt have the /// stripes as per normal but has 'Evo' embossed into the leather which is a neat touch. I may be wrong on this but I think it was a base model from factory so has just had the centre sections of the seats (obviously both front and rear) re-trimmed in leather. It has worn really well.
Yes, the spoiler and front splitter are genuine.
The interior was a re-trim. Looks pretty good - it doesnt have the /// stripes as per normal but has 'Evo' embossed into the leather which is a neat touch. I may be wrong on this but I think it was a base model from factory so has just had the centre sections of the seats (obviously both front and rear) re-trimmed in leather. It has worn really well.
Car looks fab
AlxM3 said:
Cheers - Im glad you chaps approve.
Bill, how's the 'Jaaaaaggg'?
It's great at what it does, although I'm not sure it'll be a long-termer.Bill, how's the 'Jaaaaaggg'?
I was thinking of going back to something a little more sporting come the spring, but driving's off the menu for a good while anyway as I've knackered my shoulder
M3ALX - drive past your house on the way to my parents quite often :-) You may have seen the M6 before it went off to mauritania against its will. In fact depending on how long you've been there you may have seen a few of the other P&J's I've had over the years as I'm always around that way (live 2 miles in the opposite direction!)
Saw the GTi6 parked there as thought to myself (after owning a nile blue one a few years ago) might grab one of those as a shopping trolley for a bit. Thinking a cheap 172 might be fun to destroy instead right now.
Went past the other day and saw the M3 and did think it looked absolutely lovely sitting there
ENJOY!!!! I'm moving to Bromley shortly (hence cheap trolley searching) so won't be able to continue the drive-by stalking
Saw the GTi6 parked there as thought to myself (after owning a nile blue one a few years ago) might grab one of those as a shopping trolley for a bit. Thinking a cheap 172 might be fun to destroy instead right now.
Went past the other day and saw the M3 and did think it looked absolutely lovely sitting there
ENJOY!!!! I'm moving to Bromley shortly (hence cheap trolley searching) so won't be able to continue the drive-by stalking
Hey Dubbs,
Thanks - yeah I definitely heard you go past!
Was sorry to read your posts on the M6, I know you live nearby to me – I had the E46 M3 at the time and it made me think about getting rid of it – sad as that is. (A friend who lives fairly close had his S3 stolen while he was asleep upstairs not so long ago as well). What can you say...
Hope the move etc goes well.
Thanks - yeah I definitely heard you go past!
Was sorry to read your posts on the M6, I know you live nearby to me – I had the E46 M3 at the time and it made me think about getting rid of it – sad as that is. (A friend who lives fairly close had his S3 stolen while he was asleep upstairs not so long ago as well). What can you say...
Hope the move etc goes well.
Hi Alex ,
Nice car matey and you do love colour dont you
Hope i can help with anything in the future
If you pop down in the next month or so you will see a lovely supercharger kit from VF engineering (USA) either sitting on display or hopefully installed in my car , you are more than welcome to have a ride , as long as its sunny and dry
Kelly
Nice car matey and you do love colour dont you
Hope i can help with anything in the future
If you pop down in the next month or so you will see a lovely supercharger kit from VF engineering (USA) either sitting on display or hopefully installed in my car , you are more than welcome to have a ride , as long as its sunny and dry
Kelly
Forgot to say on a side note as said a bit in this thread , one of my customers rang a few weeks back from around your area and said his E46 M3 has been stolen from his drive , found out that the thiefs had got a key cut at the dealerships using false ID .
What do we have to do to keep our pride and joy
Kelly
What do we have to do to keep our pride and joy
Kelly
kds keltec said:
If you pop down in the next month or so you will see a lovely supercharger kit from VF engineering (USA) either sitting on display or hopefully installed in my car , you are more than welcome to have a ride , as long as its sunny and dry
Kelly
Hi Kelly - Err, yes please!!! Kelly
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