E36 M3 Saloon Jornal 2005 to Present Day
Discussion
At the age of 21 I decided I wanted a new car, so set off on confused.com going through random cars seeing what I could afford on insurance. The norm cars popping up at that age, ST170, Cosworths, Evo's etc. Having a bit of luck with most including a skyline I decided to try my luck on a //M powered car!
My expression on my face when I got the price for the insurance :jaw-dropping
I could afford to insure one of these beasts! So then I started to look at the cars them selfs. Pistonheads, Autotrader and the local papers was my choice, and lucky for me I found one on Pistonheads in my local town!
After speaking with the owner I discovered it was a lad who I went to school with (1 year above me) I knew he loved his cars and cared for them so knew in his possesion this one had been looked after.
After the obvious questions I went to see the car, pulling up in my Mrs car at the time (Mint 1987 XR2), knock knock and off we go!
He pulls the car out of the garge and I just couldnt beleive it! Stunning! The sound, the noise the door made when it closed, it was so class, much better than all the Fords I have had, and this being the only none Ford car I had even considered!
Me and the Mrs got straight onto the car, checking everything, paintwork was near perfect, leather seats still smelt new, engine bay gleaming! I remember the first time I opened the bonnet and seen just how big that engine was, I still say now that half of it is in the dash lol.
Anyway, onto the test drive!
Me in the front, Mrs in the back, Adam Driving.
First signs are good, not going over 2000rpm until the temp gauge was fully up, and not above 3000rpm until the oil was fully warmed.
Once it was warmed we pootled around a bit on some sharp twisties, all was well with the handling, no noises, engine sounds sweet as a nut. Then onto a nice long straight where you can give it the beans! Wow! quicker than anything I had been in before! Sounded so easy for the car to do three digit speeds! Full on push back into the seat right upto 7000rpm then into the next gear, same again, pined back into the seat! A big smile is now firmley on my face! and the Mrs looks like someone has slapped her in the face, the shock on her face was quality!
We pulled over and he asked if I wanted to drive, now My parents have owned BMW's for as long as I can remember and while driving a few of them over the years I never really liked the seating position, and how you was sat to the gearbox, so I decided to let my Mrs drive her as she recently owned a 3 series (Non M3)
We then got the chat from Adam about how this car will bite your head off if prevoked and to take it easy as it was his pride and joy!
So off we set, as I predicted the Mrs didnt boot it at all, we drove around for a bit on some twisties testing the norm stuff and set back home.
I had a chat with the Mrs who come back saying the car drove great, no issues. So we asked for the history, went through everything, it had a fully stamped book and loads of letters to the previous owner saying about MOT times and number plates changes etc, loads of stuff really but no recipts for the services which I questioned. Due to the car being a "Company car" the recipts had to go in his 7 years of books which I understand as parents owned there own company. So called BMW and checked, after getting the thumbs up from BMW I decided to make a offer. £5500 was the amount he was after, I offered £5000! Feeling lucky at the time, sadly I wasnt! After I drove the car he had someone come down and test drive it wanting to buy her! Lucky for me, I got first refusal, so off I went to get the money! £5500 lighter and I drive this home!
Pics taken from the Pistonheads add
When I got her home after a few hours of being very cab happy! and deciding the snow and a RWD M3 is not the best thing to do. I went through the car with a fine tooth comb and was surprised to still find nothing really wrong, only thing not working was the air con, I hate air con so not a problem for me. No rust at all, spoke to everyone who had worked on the car and they all said it was a "goodun".
So happy as larry I used her as a daily for a few years, when I bought her I had my Escort RS Turbo sat in a garage waiting for me to get her back on the road, was a lovely car and somewhere I have some photos of both these cars together, will try and scan them in.
Well after noticing how good the M3 was over the year and having more than enough dodgy people asking too many questions about my RS I decided to let her go leaving me with just the M3 and the Mrs XR2.
Pretty much had the next four years of motoring bliss with only maintain needed like tyres, service, mot, brake pipes and pads etc.
a few photos of the first few years I had her, really poo pics as most taken on mobile phones etc
After a clean
I always said I would keep her standard and after posting some pics on a BMW forum which I never joined and used until recently I was told the front clear indys was not standard! So off they came and on went some nice new ambers!
Well after this, I got a little bored and side tracked and purchased a Escort RS Cosworth, always wanted one, so had to have it!
Sadly I never had these two cars side by side on a test, and hardly any photos of them both together
this is the odd one I have around when it snowed
Well after a years ownership of the Cosworth and the Mrs driving the M3 as a daily I decided I had enough of paying through the nose for cars! Keeping two group twenty insurance cars running and maintained is hard work!
So I sold the Cosworth and made a nice bit of money on it! Enough to pay the car off, all my debt and the rest of the loan for the M3! I now fully own a M3! All mine!
Before the Cosworth had enough gone I started on the big clean with the M3!
Sadly I lost my job soon after these photos (So glad I sold the Cosworth!) so I had plenty of time on my hands to get dirty.
I started by cleaning out all the archs, rear of the tyres and scrubbed the surface rust off anything metal in the wheel archs and painted with black wax oil!
This is when I noticed the small amount of surface rust on my arch! so prices and so on started with that, still not got this sorted yet but that will explain itself in a bit.
Anyway, now I have been looking at pics of others cars and seeing the wider evo rear wheels in the contour style! I got to have! make the ass end look so big!
Lucky for me I noticed I already had one? dont ask how! So purchased a straight but tierd looking evo rear of ebay. It took me months and months to finally get them fitted! Due to the state of them, I had to get them refurbed before they went on the car, so a quick chat with a friend and they was sent off through his company to be reconditioned to "new" condition
Pics of them fitted to the car, I was OK with the condition they came back in, but not 100%
Well times was hard when it came to fitting them and anyone who owns a M3 will know how quick these cars go through tyres, so I decided to go for something cheaper than the Goodyear F1's I always opted for and got some Firestone's. I left the car with my indy and told him the two alloys I had given him where the wider evo 8.5 j wheels, sadly he put 235 tyres on the evo wheels, I didnt like the look straight away and the handling was all over the place! After taking it back, putting the rears on the front to test the car again, decided I didnt like the tyres on the back, had them moved to the front and got 245 Goodyear F1's again! Must better!
Time for some new number plates, main reason being as they was FORD ones! Not me, was the first owner got some plates made up when he took his personal plate off! So off I went to Tice in Dorchester where the car was purchased from new, I am that anal I had to have the dealer stamps on there. Whilst there I was speaking with a sales man about my car and if he had a spec list for her when she was new.
He asked for the reg, and found nothing! I told him it was on a personal plate but didnt know what it was, we had pretty much given up until he looked out the window and asked if it belonged to a Mr Coombs (Builders) Which it was, the chap was as shocked as me, he sold the car from brand new to Mr Coombs, he knew him as a friend and recently sold him his M5! I pulled the service book out to show him and he confirmed he knew everyone that worked on the car and confirmed the history was spot on, showed me everything on the computer and said it was a well looked after car that wanted for nothing
Sadly he was not allowed to print off the information (service history recipts) as the data protection act comes into play.
I went away a happy man knowing I had found a strong key to its past.
Plates fitted, no pics.
Before I really got a good chance to drive the M3 again since the Cosworth went, I stuck my head out the upstairs window one day when she in doors was pulling away and noticed a small whipe of blue smoke! Straight on the phone to her, she pulled over and called our indy (We are on first name terms by now lol)
He confirmed that due to my Mrs driving style (Slow) its getting coked up in a petrol kind of way, he insisted a good hard drive would solve this, and thats what it got
come back and she was perfect again.
Well after 4 years of no problems, we got our first problem. I was driving (typical) and it just died, felt like fuel, after getting her recovered it was discovered that the fuel pump had given up. So a reconditioned fuel pump went in and she was back, sevral hundred pounds later.
Started having problems with the brake light error wanring, changed everything and its still there! Think its the bulb holders, seen a few with the same problem and got a cure for it when she is back.
Anyway, then came the day I bought my Mrs a Mk2 Oak Bay Green Golf GTi 16v for her birthday! Secretly freeing my M3 up to go back to a dry weather car just for me On my maiden voyage lol (first trip out in her being my car and my car only again) I was throwing crap air fresheners out the window, changing all my CD's, seat position, radio etc etc and giving her a good blast on some A roads. Well sadly it was too much and she started tapping. Long story short, it was recovered to my indy and it was confirmed that the engine had spun a shell! Gutted was a understatement! Nearly had a tear in my eye.
I arranged to see my indy that evening and sat down to go through my options.
1: and his idea, change the engine!
I didnt want to change the engine as all my history is for this original engine etc
2: My idea, change the crank and shells, rebuild!
I was very keen on the rebuild until I was told the price! That went out the window and I was not sure she was going to make it back on the road!
Well after a few days thinking about it, and being offered another Escort RS Cosworth! I was up for keeping the M3 on the drive, getting the Cosworth and getting the M3 sorted at some point in the future.
That was until I applied for a loan for the cosworth and then I decided I didnt like banks! The interest was silly, and it made me notice how much I loved my M3. So after a few phone calls and emails, some serious questions and negotiation! I find a E36 M3 3.0 Saloon engine on its own and saloon black leather sports seats in the same car being broken! I snapped these up! Paid the deposit yesterday night and collecting saturday! Finally its on route to be back on the road! And I have my black leather I always wanted.
Thats where I am at now, the indy will be getting the go a head in a month or twos time to fit the engine when I have some more money and I will arm him with a digi cam so I can see all the ongoings with the engine/car
I know now it will be getting a new clutch and ARP head bolt kit to stop my shells spinning again! a must have for any M3 owners!
On the list of things I want
1: Sort the rust on the archs and boot
2: Buy and fit 850i Brembo front 4 pot calipers (I want these for the looks only)
3: Front black leather vadar seats!
4: Machine polish!
Eventually I will be storing the car for a period of time to keep the miles down and the condition up.
All comments welcome! I will update when the engine is going in and any problems I have, pretty sure there will be some!
OK a few things I forgot yesterday that I have done to the car.
The rear springs looked a mess when I cleaned all the archs out so was looking for a reason to change them, and in a weird way, the rears snapped So I went and got some! No real pics of the shiney news ones fitted but they are there.
also I replaced the rear screen rubber as it was perished etc.
This was not a hard job, had to be careful of the paintwork, but something all can do. I paid £28 for the rear screen set, looks much better.
I went out and bought a clay bar and loads of polish/wax products and had a good two days cleaning, not too many pics as was busy but you get the idea
It looked really good until the first downpour
So after spending all this time cleaning her and trying not to use carparks, I got hit
I was parked in a carpark (grass field!!) right next to the coast, family day out and all that, I parked in the middle of know where thinking nothing would park near me, but they did. I got back to the car and didnt notice anything, until I seen a note on the window, as I was reading it a chap come over and told me what happen, total accident etc etc but still left a good size ding in the door.
Pics
I had a mobile number and the chaps reg number so tried calling him the following day Monday, no answer, texted, no reply, left a AM, no reply! So Now I am getting worried, I spoke with my mum who had a uninsured driver hit her, so she went through accident exchange. I called them and straight away they took all the preasure off me and delt with everything. A phone call the next day and I was informed he admited it was his fault and his insurance company was paying for it.
I was told to wait for a call from another person at accident exchange the next day.
Phone call came just as she said, and it was someone on the phone telling me what car I would be getting while mine was in the bodyshop of my choice... Couldnt believe it when she told me.. Basicly they game me this for a week while mine was in
All I can say is, stunning. It was last summer and it was the hottest weeks weather we had for years! Perfect. Stunning to drive, comfy, loads of toys, electric hard top roof, 330ci M sport with onboard computer etc.
At one point I didnt want the M3 back, but after a week of racking up the miles, I decided it just was not quick enough.
And once I got the M3 back I noticed straight away just how raw and powerful my car was compared.
Well I wasnt happy with what the spray shop did and I was surprised as it was the main BMW spray shop used in Yeovil. After a quick chat, the car was booked back in and come back perfect just how I liked it and how it was before it got hit.
Picking up the engine tomorrow, bloody van hire companys making life hard work, but the van is now on the drive ready to go Money in my bank. Sorted.
More updates soon, tomorrow with pics of the engine etc and seats
OK so last Saturday I went to collect the engine and seats I bought.
Tom tom out, mate in the passanger seat, and off we went.
Got to basingstoke and met John the lad selling, he had a slight front ender in his M3 and was braking.
Got to where the engine was, and after a while got it on board, all looked OK to me, seats looked better in the flesh than on the pics as well so a bonus.
A few pics
Seats
Engine
The seats did come with the rear headrests just not in the photo.
Currently sat on the front seats in my front room lol using them as my laptop chair until the car is ready to go.
Dropped the engine off at the indys and he was happy with it, got the service book as well showing all the services the engine had etc, had 5 services in Dick Lovett near Reading which I hear alot of people saying is a good place to go.
Anyway, thats where the engine is so far, sadly I told my boss to stick it yesterday as I was fedup with constantly being put infront of asbestos etc.
The door cards above will be sold as I already have mine in the car, also my grey sports saloon seats will be sold when I get these in so if anyone is interested let me know.
Next purchase is my ARP bolts, full hose kit and a clutch. Then I will spend money on getting it all in the car.
I went and seen the car yesterday and sent the Mrs down to clean some bird poo of the wing lol, she gets all the good jobs
Just told the indy to go a head with fitting the engine.
I am going to hold fire on the new clutch, hose kit and ARP bolts as money is tight at the moment.
Car wont be driven in anger again I dont think anyway, more of a beauty queen from now on.
Going to be £550 lighter by the time it gets back
well after a few trips down to see what progress has been made on the //M and not seeing anything I was getting a little fidgety.
Went down again today with the intention of telling them to hurry the fook up!! and the car had moved... bloody hell! I walk into his garage and there she is, jacked up, bonnet wide open, and two mechanics stripping the old engine down!! THANK YOU!
They had only started today so not much off, well there was if it was me doing it lol.. but I should imagine the old engine is nearly out now, lucky as when I got there Dave said the batterys in the camera had run out! So went and got some new ones straight away, so hopefully have lots of photos of the engine being replace, along with a bill for a nice wedge of cash and the service book, cant really do anymore than that, other than buy a new engine out of a crate, and at 12k, thats not happening!
I asked when it would be ready, and he said by the end of the week if all goes well so happy, the car is filthy, worst its ever been due to that volcano and a dusty carpark, but still looks sweet sat on the ramps with all 4 wheels dangling lol.
There is a Meet in Exeter this weekend so might, and its a big might and I am confident enough in her, take her down for a run
Lamper: Sorry not got back to you about them door cards, been really busy.
If your going to this exeter meet at the weekend and I got her back and confident in taking her, I will bring them down, not sure what there worth tho... offers welcome I guess, I will have a little look around now...
Well today was the day the engine fitted, all plumbed in and the truth behind the engine! Guess what! It sounded worse than my one that came out!!!!!!!!!!
GUTTED!
HAHAHAHA JUST PLAYING
She is back! Does quiet sound as sweet as my engine, sounds like a very slight rattle, could be where its been sat for a while or the running in oil its currently using.
Either way, she starts, drives and works! Not put my toe down, and dont think I will until its had the 1000 mile running in service we are giving her So happy.
Pics of the engine being fitted, my mechanic is no camera expert but knows his stuff.
Please please please, the car looks a complete mess as it has been sat out in a dusty carpark and covered in the volcanic dust that we had, plus it was being used hard when I broke it So its filthy!
Engine being fitting
Tips and hints, the old engine has the standard oil cap and the new one has the tacky silver thing which is coming straight off monday when he is open!
Well thats the engine being fitted and as you can see my mechanic has a sense of humour.
Pics of the car after its first journy with this engine! Back to the drive way
And my engine pics
My expression on my face when I got the price for the insurance :jaw-dropping
I could afford to insure one of these beasts! So then I started to look at the cars them selfs. Pistonheads, Autotrader and the local papers was my choice, and lucky for me I found one on Pistonheads in my local town!
After speaking with the owner I discovered it was a lad who I went to school with (1 year above me) I knew he loved his cars and cared for them so knew in his possesion this one had been looked after.
After the obvious questions I went to see the car, pulling up in my Mrs car at the time (Mint 1987 XR2), knock knock and off we go!
He pulls the car out of the garge and I just couldnt beleive it! Stunning! The sound, the noise the door made when it closed, it was so class, much better than all the Fords I have had, and this being the only none Ford car I had even considered!
Me and the Mrs got straight onto the car, checking everything, paintwork was near perfect, leather seats still smelt new, engine bay gleaming! I remember the first time I opened the bonnet and seen just how big that engine was, I still say now that half of it is in the dash lol.
Anyway, onto the test drive!
Me in the front, Mrs in the back, Adam Driving.
First signs are good, not going over 2000rpm until the temp gauge was fully up, and not above 3000rpm until the oil was fully warmed.
Once it was warmed we pootled around a bit on some sharp twisties, all was well with the handling, no noises, engine sounds sweet as a nut. Then onto a nice long straight where you can give it the beans! Wow! quicker than anything I had been in before! Sounded so easy for the car to do three digit speeds! Full on push back into the seat right upto 7000rpm then into the next gear, same again, pined back into the seat! A big smile is now firmley on my face! and the Mrs looks like someone has slapped her in the face, the shock on her face was quality!
We pulled over and he asked if I wanted to drive, now My parents have owned BMW's for as long as I can remember and while driving a few of them over the years I never really liked the seating position, and how you was sat to the gearbox, so I decided to let my Mrs drive her as she recently owned a 3 series (Non M3)
We then got the chat from Adam about how this car will bite your head off if prevoked and to take it easy as it was his pride and joy!
So off we set, as I predicted the Mrs didnt boot it at all, we drove around for a bit on some twisties testing the norm stuff and set back home.
I had a chat with the Mrs who come back saying the car drove great, no issues. So we asked for the history, went through everything, it had a fully stamped book and loads of letters to the previous owner saying about MOT times and number plates changes etc, loads of stuff really but no recipts for the services which I questioned. Due to the car being a "Company car" the recipts had to go in his 7 years of books which I understand as parents owned there own company. So called BMW and checked, after getting the thumbs up from BMW I decided to make a offer. £5500 was the amount he was after, I offered £5000! Feeling lucky at the time, sadly I wasnt! After I drove the car he had someone come down and test drive it wanting to buy her! Lucky for me, I got first refusal, so off I went to get the money! £5500 lighter and I drive this home!
Pics taken from the Pistonheads add
When I got her home after a few hours of being very cab happy! and deciding the snow and a RWD M3 is not the best thing to do. I went through the car with a fine tooth comb and was surprised to still find nothing really wrong, only thing not working was the air con, I hate air con so not a problem for me. No rust at all, spoke to everyone who had worked on the car and they all said it was a "goodun".
So happy as larry I used her as a daily for a few years, when I bought her I had my Escort RS Turbo sat in a garage waiting for me to get her back on the road, was a lovely car and somewhere I have some photos of both these cars together, will try and scan them in.
Well after noticing how good the M3 was over the year and having more than enough dodgy people asking too many questions about my RS I decided to let her go leaving me with just the M3 and the Mrs XR2.
Pretty much had the next four years of motoring bliss with only maintain needed like tyres, service, mot, brake pipes and pads etc.
a few photos of the first few years I had her, really poo pics as most taken on mobile phones etc
After a clean
I always said I would keep her standard and after posting some pics on a BMW forum which I never joined and used until recently I was told the front clear indys was not standard! So off they came and on went some nice new ambers!
Well after this, I got a little bored and side tracked and purchased a Escort RS Cosworth, always wanted one, so had to have it!
Sadly I never had these two cars side by side on a test, and hardly any photos of them both together
this is the odd one I have around when it snowed
Well after a years ownership of the Cosworth and the Mrs driving the M3 as a daily I decided I had enough of paying through the nose for cars! Keeping two group twenty insurance cars running and maintained is hard work!
So I sold the Cosworth and made a nice bit of money on it! Enough to pay the car off, all my debt and the rest of the loan for the M3! I now fully own a M3! All mine!
Before the Cosworth had enough gone I started on the big clean with the M3!
Sadly I lost my job soon after these photos (So glad I sold the Cosworth!) so I had plenty of time on my hands to get dirty.
I started by cleaning out all the archs, rear of the tyres and scrubbed the surface rust off anything metal in the wheel archs and painted with black wax oil!
This is when I noticed the small amount of surface rust on my arch! so prices and so on started with that, still not got this sorted yet but that will explain itself in a bit.
Anyway, now I have been looking at pics of others cars and seeing the wider evo rear wheels in the contour style! I got to have! make the ass end look so big!
Lucky for me I noticed I already had one? dont ask how! So purchased a straight but tierd looking evo rear of ebay. It took me months and months to finally get them fitted! Due to the state of them, I had to get them refurbed before they went on the car, so a quick chat with a friend and they was sent off through his company to be reconditioned to "new" condition
Pics of them fitted to the car, I was OK with the condition they came back in, but not 100%
Well times was hard when it came to fitting them and anyone who owns a M3 will know how quick these cars go through tyres, so I decided to go for something cheaper than the Goodyear F1's I always opted for and got some Firestone's. I left the car with my indy and told him the two alloys I had given him where the wider evo 8.5 j wheels, sadly he put 235 tyres on the evo wheels, I didnt like the look straight away and the handling was all over the place! After taking it back, putting the rears on the front to test the car again, decided I didnt like the tyres on the back, had them moved to the front and got 245 Goodyear F1's again! Must better!
Time for some new number plates, main reason being as they was FORD ones! Not me, was the first owner got some plates made up when he took his personal plate off! So off I went to Tice in Dorchester where the car was purchased from new, I am that anal I had to have the dealer stamps on there. Whilst there I was speaking with a sales man about my car and if he had a spec list for her when she was new.
He asked for the reg, and found nothing! I told him it was on a personal plate but didnt know what it was, we had pretty much given up until he looked out the window and asked if it belonged to a Mr Coombs (Builders) Which it was, the chap was as shocked as me, he sold the car from brand new to Mr Coombs, he knew him as a friend and recently sold him his M5! I pulled the service book out to show him and he confirmed he knew everyone that worked on the car and confirmed the history was spot on, showed me everything on the computer and said it was a well looked after car that wanted for nothing
Sadly he was not allowed to print off the information (service history recipts) as the data protection act comes into play.
I went away a happy man knowing I had found a strong key to its past.
Plates fitted, no pics.
Before I really got a good chance to drive the M3 again since the Cosworth went, I stuck my head out the upstairs window one day when she in doors was pulling away and noticed a small whipe of blue smoke! Straight on the phone to her, she pulled over and called our indy (We are on first name terms by now lol)
He confirmed that due to my Mrs driving style (Slow) its getting coked up in a petrol kind of way, he insisted a good hard drive would solve this, and thats what it got
come back and she was perfect again.Well after 4 years of no problems, we got our first problem. I was driving (typical) and it just died, felt like fuel, after getting her recovered it was discovered that the fuel pump had given up. So a reconditioned fuel pump went in and she was back, sevral hundred pounds later.
Started having problems with the brake light error wanring, changed everything and its still there! Think its the bulb holders, seen a few with the same problem and got a cure for it when she is back.
Anyway, then came the day I bought my Mrs a Mk2 Oak Bay Green Golf GTi 16v for her birthday! Secretly freeing my M3 up to go back to a dry weather car just for me
On my maiden voyage lol (first trip out in her being my car and my car only again) I was throwing crap air fresheners out the window, changing all my CD's, seat position, radio etc etc and giving her a good blast on some A roads. Well sadly it was too much and she started tapping. Long story short, it was recovered to my indy and it was confirmed that the engine had spun a shell! Gutted was a understatement! Nearly had a tear in my eye.I arranged to see my indy that evening and sat down to go through my options.
1: and his idea, change the engine!
I didnt want to change the engine as all my history is for this original engine etc
2: My idea, change the crank and shells, rebuild!
I was very keen on the rebuild until I was told the price! That went out the window and I was not sure she was going to make it back on the road!
Well after a few days thinking about it, and being offered another Escort RS Cosworth! I was up for keeping the M3 on the drive, getting the Cosworth and getting the M3 sorted at some point in the future.
That was until I applied for a loan for the cosworth and then I decided I didnt like banks! The interest was silly, and it made me notice how much I loved my M3. So after a few phone calls and emails, some serious questions and negotiation! I find a E36 M3 3.0 Saloon engine on its own and saloon black leather sports seats in the same car being broken! I snapped these up! Paid the deposit yesterday night and collecting saturday! Finally its on route to be back on the road! And I have my black leather I always wanted.
Thats where I am at now, the indy will be getting the go a head in a month or twos time to fit the engine when I have some more money and I will arm him with a digi cam so I can see all the ongoings with the engine/car
I know now it will be getting a new clutch and ARP head bolt kit to stop my shells spinning again! a must have for any M3 owners!
On the list of things I want
1: Sort the rust on the archs and boot
2: Buy and fit 850i Brembo front 4 pot calipers (I want these for the looks only)
3: Front black leather vadar seats!
4: Machine polish!
Eventually I will be storing the car for a period of time to keep the miles down and the condition up.
All comments welcome! I will update when the engine is going in and any problems I have, pretty sure there will be some!
OK a few things I forgot yesterday that I have done to the car.
The rear springs looked a mess when I cleaned all the archs out so was looking for a reason to change them, and in a weird way, the rears snapped
So I went and got some! No real pics of the shiney news ones fitted but they are there.also I replaced the rear screen rubber as it was perished etc.
This was not a hard job, had to be careful of the paintwork, but something all can do. I paid £28 for the rear screen set, looks much better.
I went out and bought a clay bar and loads of polish/wax products and had a good two days cleaning, not too many pics as was busy but you get the idea
It looked really good until the first downpour
So after spending all this time cleaning her and trying not to use carparks, I got hit
I was parked in a carpark (grass field!!) right next to the coast, family day out and all that, I parked in the middle of know where thinking nothing would park near me, but they did. I got back to the car and didnt notice anything, until I seen a note on the window, as I was reading it a chap come over and told me what happen, total accident etc etc but still left a good size ding in the door.
Pics
I had a mobile number and the chaps reg number so tried calling him the following day Monday, no answer, texted, no reply, left a AM, no reply! So Now I am getting worried, I spoke with my mum who had a uninsured driver hit her, so she went through accident exchange. I called them and straight away they took all the preasure off me and delt with everything. A phone call the next day and I was informed he admited it was his fault and his insurance company was paying for it.
I was told to wait for a call from another person at accident exchange the next day.
Phone call came just as she said, and it was someone on the phone telling me what car I would be getting while mine was in the bodyshop of my choice... Couldnt believe it when she told me.. Basicly they game me this for a week while mine was in
All I can say is, stunning. It was last summer and it was the hottest weeks weather we had for years! Perfect. Stunning to drive, comfy, loads of toys, electric hard top roof, 330ci M sport with onboard computer etc.
At one point I didnt want the M3 back, but after a week of racking up the miles, I decided it just was not quick enough.
And once I got the M3 back I noticed straight away just how raw and powerful my car was compared.
Well I wasnt happy with what the spray shop did and I was surprised as it was the main BMW spray shop used in Yeovil. After a quick chat, the car was booked back in and come back perfect just how I liked it and how it was before it got hit.
Picking up the engine tomorrow, bloody van hire companys making life hard work, but the van is now on the drive ready to go
Money in my bank. Sorted.More updates soon, tomorrow with pics of the engine etc and seats
OK so last Saturday I went to collect the engine and seats I bought.
Tom tom out, mate in the passanger seat, and off we went.
Got to basingstoke and met John the lad selling, he had a slight front ender in his M3 and was braking.
Got to where the engine was, and after a while got it on board, all looked OK to me, seats looked better in the flesh than on the pics as well so a bonus.
A few pics
Seats
Engine
The seats did come with the rear headrests just not in the photo.
Currently sat on the front seats in my front room lol using them as my laptop chair until the car is ready to go.
Dropped the engine off at the indys and he was happy with it, got the service book as well showing all the services the engine had etc, had 5 services in Dick Lovett near Reading which I hear alot of people saying is a good place to go.
Anyway, thats where the engine is so far, sadly I told my boss to stick it yesterday as I was fedup with constantly being put infront of asbestos etc.
The door cards above will be sold as I already have mine in the car, also my grey sports saloon seats will be sold when I get these in so if anyone is interested let me know.
Next purchase is my ARP bolts, full hose kit and a clutch. Then I will spend money on getting it all in the car.
I went and seen the car yesterday and sent the Mrs down to clean some bird poo of the wing lol, she gets all the good jobs
Just told the indy to go a head with fitting the engine.
I am going to hold fire on the new clutch, hose kit and ARP bolts as money is tight at the moment.
Car wont be driven in anger again I dont think anyway, more of a beauty queen from now on.
Going to be £550 lighter by the time it gets back
well after a few trips down to see what progress has been made on the //M and not seeing anything I was getting a little fidgety.
Went down again today with the intention of telling them to hurry the fook up!! and the car had moved... bloody hell! I walk into his garage and there she is, jacked up, bonnet wide open, and two mechanics stripping the old engine down!! THANK YOU!
They had only started today so not much off, well there was if it was me doing it lol.. but I should imagine the old engine is nearly out now, lucky as when I got there Dave said the batterys in the camera had run out! So went and got some new ones straight away, so hopefully have lots of photos of the engine being replace, along with a bill for a nice wedge of cash and the service book, cant really do anymore than that, other than buy a new engine out of a crate, and at 12k, thats not happening!
I asked when it would be ready, and he said by the end of the week if all goes well
so happy, the car is filthy, worst its ever been due to that volcano and a dusty carpark, but still looks sweet sat on the ramps with all 4 wheels dangling lol.There is a Meet in Exeter this weekend so might, and its a big might and I am confident enough in her, take her down for a run
Lamper: Sorry not got back to you about them door cards, been really busy.
If your going to this exeter meet at the weekend and I got her back and confident in taking her, I will bring them down, not sure what there worth tho... offers welcome I guess, I will have a little look around now...
Well today was the day the engine fitted, all plumbed in and the truth behind the engine! Guess what! It sounded worse than my one that came out!!!!!!!!!!
GUTTED!
HAHAHAHA JUST PLAYING
She is back! Does quiet sound as sweet as my engine, sounds like a very slight rattle, could be where its been sat for a while or the running in oil its currently using.
Either way, she starts, drives and works! Not put my toe down, and dont think I will until its had the 1000 mile running in service we are giving her
So happy.Pics of the engine being fitted, my mechanic is no camera expert but knows his stuff.
Please please please, the car looks a complete mess as it has been sat out in a dusty carpark and covered in the volcanic dust that we had, plus it was being used hard when I broke it
So its filthy!Engine being fitting
Tips and hints, the old engine has the standard oil cap and the new one has the tacky silver thing which is coming straight off monday when he is open!
Well thats the engine being fitted and as you can see my mechanic has a sense of humour.
Pics of the car after its first journy with this engine! Back to the drive way
And my engine pics
OK well I couldnt stop myself lol Started to put the leather in, well the rear bench.
Nearly made a big mistake and unplugged the air bag sensor with the battery connected. I unbolted the passanger side but not removed and put the bench in the back
Rear bench is a bit dirty, but under there its nice and clean and lovely
Front bolts undone
Yesterday I fitted the front seats, unfortunelt the seats I bought didnt have the Airbag sensor so the light now comes on for a bit, never stays on tho. I will get that sorted next time it goes in.
Fitted the seats and cleaned her today, no wax/polish or clay, just some shampoo and tyre dressing. Think she came up ok
All comments welcome good and bad.
Thanks for looking
well just over 200 miles completed and the vanos has got a little less noisey which is nice, not rattling on startup so must of just needed the oil to get up around it.
Not done anything to her at the moment, its due another clean as a bird poo'ed on her!!
Taking it to Bournemouth Sunday to watch Example, so should be a good little run out for the car
Still really pleased with her, my Mrs drove it for the first time since she has had her golf, and she has decided she wants another BMW, so the golf will either be sold or put to one side.
Anyone want a tidy GTi let me know
I am starting to hate my car!!!
After cleaning, polishing, waxing, many times in the last couple weeks, conditioning the leather and keeping her looking as nice as possible, the car lets me down.
OK not stoped on the side of the road, but still let me down.
I went to the E36Coupe/Bimmer Forums meet in Exeter, around 100 mile round trip, when I started the car in the morning she didnt feel right, checked all the fluids and found it had burnt oil, half on the dipstick was showing, so put some in, and set off, drove fine all the way down there, and back. Didnt give her any at all and just plodded on down the motorway.
Get home, have some food, then drive the last 1 mile home, on this mile it started screeching from the engine, shut it down as soon as home, checked everything and started again, after posting up a video and me thinking it was the vanos, turns out its just a pully bearing thats had its day, so took it down to my indy today and he condirmed this, lucky my old engine was there and it had mine on there, which he said was in good nick and not worth putting a new one on so left it like that until he could fit me in, next week.
Went up the road to get a battery for my parents car and noticed oil blotchs on the wet floor... yes it was from mine in a way, its not burning any oil just throwing it out the bottom, bad news, where from So its parked up again now and left until it can go back in.
I put her up for sale and had no interest, yes its at the high end of the price for a E36 Loon but to me, and most who see the car, think its in good shape, so i think its worth more than some of the scrap currently for sale.
Any how, was looking at a E36 M3 Vert, but after the amount of bad luck I have had with this at the moment thinking a brake away from the BMW fold for a bit, had my eye on a cosworth but he wanted to give me £2000 to £2500 for my car in PX, no thank you.. They will only double the price and sell it.
Bad times.
______________
Some photos of when I had the front seats out and after a hoover, could of done with a carpet cleaner really
Also had to replace yet another fog light! I looked on my ebay and the last thing I replaced was the same fog light under 9 months ago
Anyway, had a good look around on ebay for used items, and found a brand new DEPO one from a trader on ebay.
These guys
http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/energizedcustoms/
Cannot fault them, I got the full bracket which I didnt think I got, totaly new with the plastic cover to prevent scratchs and a sealed box!
Pics of the item
All fitted now and works and looks lovely, just need to replace the other side.
I think it was a bargain at £18 delivered!!!
Nearly made a big mistake and unplugged the air bag sensor with the battery connected. I unbolted the passanger side but not removed and put the bench in the back
Rear bench is a bit dirty, but under there its nice and clean and lovely
Front bolts undone
Yesterday I fitted the front seats, unfortunelt the seats I bought didnt have the Airbag sensor so the light now comes on for a bit, never stays on tho. I will get that sorted next time it goes in.
Fitted the seats and cleaned her today, no wax/polish or clay, just some shampoo and tyre dressing. Think she came up ok
All comments welcome good and bad.
Thanks for looking
well just over 200 miles completed and the vanos has got a little less noisey which is nice, not rattling on startup so must of just needed the oil to get up around it.
Not done anything to her at the moment, its due another clean as a bird poo'ed on her!!
Taking it to Bournemouth Sunday to watch Example, so should be a good little run out for the car
Still really pleased with her, my Mrs drove it for the first time since she has had her golf, and she has decided she wants another BMW, so the golf will either be sold or put to one side.
Anyone want a tidy GTi let me know
I am starting to hate my car!!!
After cleaning, polishing, waxing, many times in the last couple weeks, conditioning the leather and keeping her looking as nice as possible, the car lets me down.
OK not stoped on the side of the road, but still let me down.
I went to the E36Coupe/Bimmer Forums meet in Exeter, around 100 mile round trip, when I started the car in the morning she didnt feel right, checked all the fluids and found it had burnt oil, half on the dipstick was showing, so put some in, and set off, drove fine all the way down there, and back. Didnt give her any at all and just plodded on down the motorway.
Get home, have some food, then drive the last 1 mile home, on this mile it started screeching from the engine, shut it down as soon as home, checked everything and started again, after posting up a video and me thinking it was the vanos, turns out its just a pully bearing thats had its day, so took it down to my indy today and he condirmed this, lucky my old engine was there and it had mine on there, which he said was in good nick and not worth putting a new one on so left it like that until he could fit me in, next week.
Went up the road to get a battery for my parents car and noticed oil blotchs on the wet floor... yes it was from mine
in a way, its not burning any oil just throwing it out the bottom, bad news, where from So its parked up again now and left until it can go back in.I put her up for sale and had no interest, yes its at the high end of the price for a E36 Loon but to me, and most who see the car, think its in good shape, so i think its worth more than some of the scrap currently for sale.
Any how, was looking at a E36 M3 Vert, but after the amount of bad luck I have had with this at the moment thinking a brake away from the BMW fold for a bit, had my eye on a cosworth but he wanted to give me £2000 to £2500 for my car in PX, no thank you.. They will only double the price and sell it.
Bad times.
______________
Some photos of when I had the front seats out and after a hoover, could of done with a carpet cleaner really
Also had to replace yet another fog light! I looked on my ebay and the last thing I replaced was the same fog light under 9 months ago
Anyway, had a good look around on ebay for used items, and found a brand new DEPO one from a trader on ebay.
These guys
http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/energizedcustoms/
Cannot fault them, I got the full bracket which I didnt think I got, totaly new with the plastic cover to prevent scratchs and a sealed box!
Pics of the item
All fitted now and works and looks lovely, just need to replace the other side.
I think it was a bargain at £18 delivered!!!
That's a really lovely motor.
It's really nice to see that you want to keep it standard, even down to the orange indicators. I've always liked the E36 M3 Saloon, I remember going into the BMW dealers just after I passed my driving test and sitting in a brand new one in the showroom.
I think I even have the brochure for it somewhere.
I take you don't plan on selling it any time soon!
It's really nice to see that you want to keep it standard, even down to the orange indicators. I've always liked the E36 M3 Saloon, I remember going into the BMW dealers just after I passed my driving test and sitting in a brand new one in the showroom.
I think I even have the brochure for it somewhere.
I take you don't plan on selling it any time soon!
Blimey, that was pic heavy.
I had an M3 in the exact same spec as yours. It all ended when it got rear ended by a bus. Result! I thought, but it got rebuilt. I disliked it on Eagle F1s and it was much better on Conti's (can't remember which ones though) but I never gelled with that car. I'd go as far to say I hated it. Great engine but everything else was mediocre at best. Hope you enjoy more than I did.
I had an M3 in the exact same spec as yours. It all ended when it got rear ended by a bus. Result! I thought, but it got rebuilt. I disliked it on Eagle F1s and it was much better on Conti's (can't remember which ones though) but I never gelled with that car. I'd go as far to say I hated it. Great engine but everything else was mediocre at best. Hope you enjoy more than I did.
t load of pics. You must love it, and why not!
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff