BMW E36 "M3 LTW"

[Track_M3]

Bit of a slow process at the minute as stilllll waiting on the powder coater with the subframe and few other bits.

Pressed in some new rear wheel bearings and drill the hubs to get disc retaining screws in for E46 M3 rear rotors

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Cleaned up and refitted rear Intrax suspension, drilled up through all the subframe holes to mark inside the car if ever tie some internal cage bracing down to them, then cleaned the thread and would in new studs/bolts.
Finished cleaning the tank and fitting all the straps.
Changed the prop centre bearing then painted the pro to tidy that up

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Hopefully powder coating comes through this week as it dragging on now.

[Track_M3]

Am43 said:

Did you do the arb’s on the M2 ? Is it worth while or not ?

Yes... used H&R bars - Front one was worth it, but the rear hit the Intrax so I had to remove it and go back to a stock rear ARB.
If you're happy with the balance now stick with factory bars as anything aftermarket is so much heavier.

Nice! You have gone to town

[Track_M3]

Thank you guys

Bit of a spanner in the works… popped into see the powder coater as 6 weeks had passed and every week kept on getting the “it will be done next week” walked in and all my bits hadn’t even been touched - fuming.

Took them to a guy local to my work and hopefully be done within the week.

So in a bit of limbo waiting for bits at the minute, fitting solo bits that can bolt up

New flex disc, have also fitted a new prop centre bearing and painted the prop

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr


Millway Motorsport Trailing arm bushes are super nice
Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Trailing arms painted and mounted

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Fingers crossed for a big fit up this weekend.

[Track_M3]

Thanks guys

Col 666 said:

That is absolutely stunning, love it. If it was mine I dont think I could resist some BMW Motorsport checkers livery on it!

Know what you mean, as much as a nod to being a UK clubsport LTW I'm just not keen on slickers in general.

[Track_M3]

Finally getting somewhere, after 6 weeks wasted at the first useless powdercoater, a week later the second powercoater delivered on time and has done a excellent job

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

New Millway Motorsport bushes in the inner of the control arms - making the back end now completely rose jointed

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Powerflex black subframe bushes - the rear frame bushes have a bigger hole to allow for tolerances/movement so had a tight M12 insert machined up to avoid any unwanted movement.
Went for Powerflex Heritage for the front diff bush mount as don't want the NVH to be crazy and didn't want a purple bush to bug my OCD, have new E46 M3 bushes in the back of the diff case.

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Still a couple more things to prep them every last bit can be bolted back up.

[Track_M3]

I’m done - well on the back end anyway… actually kinda nearly, just a couple more bolts and clip I’d like to replace

Before :

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

After :

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr


A job I wanted to do since buying this car but everything had to be done and done right

Differential talk - as this is the main party piece :

Old was a tired factory 4 plated 3.0 LSD with a 3.15 final drive (173mph vmax, probably unachievable)

New is a box fresh 12 plated Drexler LSD with a shorter 3.64 final drive built by Heasman Differentials (150mph vmax, possibly achievable on a bigger Europe tracks) shorter ratio and spicy LSD should really wake it up on track, hopefully a game changer.

So basically everything you can see and more is either new, painted or cleaned

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Rear subframe had some bracing added around the rear ARB mounts

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

New ST trackparts slim seat mounts - these were actually designed for the Recaro SPA seats I have and are the first mounts I’ve had that don’t need chopping up or spacing

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Back on the ground and driven a total of about 5 miles

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

To another friends garage to carry on tinkering and dry winter storage

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr


All-in-all took 7 weeks to complete over the odd evening and weekend with friends, could’ve been little quicker with powder coating delays but gave me time to do a proper job on everything

Next up is to finishing covering everything with ACF-50 (why it all looks very glossy underneath)
Then I’ve made a start on chopping out all the rear seat brackets to then carpet the back and fit a cargo net.

[Track_M3]

First proper drive out to put some miles on things

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Joined with friends S54 E36.

Diff felt great and shorter ratio has really woken it up, need an alignment as its only been eyed up, then can put some more run in miles on it.

[Track_M3]

When all the puzzle pieces come together

Bedford GT for some bed in miles on the new diff and to test if a new custom Walton Motorsport exhaust passes the lowest UK track noise limits

PR_240210_MSVT_BA_0060 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

PR_240210_MSVT_BA_0427 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

PR_240210_MSVT_BA_0458 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

PR_240210_MSVT_BA_1137 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Car was best its ever been (would hope so with all the work) went for a revised geo too which seemed to help.

Annoyingly forgot my GoPro bracket so no footage.

Have Anglesey booked in April, not sure if will get out before then.

[Track_M3]

First time at Anglesey - amazing track! Had tried to do a bit of YouTube revision before my visit, but as always it’s so much better in person.

Had been warned about tyre wear and glad I went there with a new set and swapped front to back & left to right at lunch otherwise wouldn’t have had rubber to get home.

Home built Clubsport E36 3.0 M3
Stock B30 engine, Walton Motorsport exhaust, 5-speed ZF, Drexler LSD 3.64 ratio, Intrax coilovers, AP racing front brakes, 225/45/17 Bridgestone Potenza Race

First session once got an eye in and some clear laps punched out some 1:20’s. Then whittled down to many low 1:18’s but just couldn’t beat that with tyres had left.
Questionable believable virtual best of 1:15.88

Edited by Track_M3 on Wednesday 1st May 13:40