E92 M3 - Panzer II

[custardkid]

After 8 years my E36 M3 Track Car has gone to a new home...


https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

so what next? You've guessed it an E92 M3

I really wanted an other saloon, but coupes are easier to find when on a budget and they have the benefit of the carbon roof and folding seats for wheels and kit

Looking at auto trader and ebay, you'd think it would be easy to buy one... Not so
I saw 8 cars from Portsmouth to edinburgh and most had issues
- Mayo in filled cap
- Crashed and badly repaired - wonky and harleqin paint job
- Missing service history but running ok
- Missing service history and running like a bag of spanners
- Grumbling engines
- Super notchy gear boxes
- 2 owners < a year

So I bought a 96k five owner car
more owners and miles than I wanted, but was the cheapest in the UK in the last 6 months by some margin, and had solid BMW & specialist history, and looked honest

Only one problem.. It was on some super low intrax springs
and some dodgy front tyres

But that half fits with my plans...

Edited by custardkid on Monday 27th May 21:07

[custardkid]

Super low springs - now fixed

[custardkid]

Got interrupted.. Will post more soon

[custardkid]

First impressions

Every thing works except the seat belt butler, which doesn't move (was it standard of has it been deactivated?)

The gear change is typical BMW, but it is so nice to be in a manual again. The engine is a master piece, much more character than the jag lump which is much more ferocious but lacks the changes in sound, building momentum and hardening intake noise (although this may be due to the jag ripping through the revs so quickly)
For the road the power is just the right amount, and you enjoy the interaction afforded by changing gear to keep it in song even on a mundane road

Handling wise, I've not had a decent trip in it yet, but from some short stretches of fun, it doesn't feel too heavy and appears to have the same balanced neutrality of the e36, which would let you Chuck it into any corner and dictate the balance on the throttle. So let hope this is like the e36.. But with a bit more go!

There was an odd, "are the dampers shot" characteristic in higher speed compressions which was unsettling... But replacing the springs has fixed this

For the record its getting c20 mpg in town and c30 on a run



The plan:

Too keep it as a road / track car, gt3 style, I've done the stripped out thing before, although fun, I wish I hadn't

- Replace the intrax springs with eibach springs, c20mm higher but still c 20mm lower than stock - done and fixed the dodgy damping

- Add 1.5 deg camber on front stock setup. Will see how this goes on track before investigation adjustable top mounts or coil overs

- Booked in to Redish for rod bearings and a check over

- Booked in to BMW to get the recall items addressed

- Fit some grp buckets, this and brakes are the most important track mod, so you arent supporting your self on the wheel. plan is to use some stock runners modified to fit the seat mounts to and fit seat heaters and occupancy sensors into the bucket seat cushion - any pointers welcome!

- Bushes, there is a slight looseness at the rear consistent with a tired Bush or two, so over the winter I'll drop the subframe , have a tidy up and go through the much swearing involved in Polly bushing everything!

-Brakes - see if my e36 Brembo calipers with RS29s fit (which I don't think they do) plan B is to try the stock calipers with economical ds3000 or EBC RP1 pads, but I guess ultimately move to wallet unfriendly APs when funds allow

- shocks - keep stock assuming the EDC makes a difference on track, and when they fail change to bilstein B6 edc dampers

- Tyres change the front accelera and aging Goodyear F1 for something else for the road
- For track trying to see if a 19 10j et20 will fit on the front with stock suspension, giving a square setup on some BBS CH rims matched to Nankang Ar1s or more expensive cup 2s
A bit like below:

- Oh and stick on some eBay carbon tat on the front and rear to complete the tracks hero look

Any advice helpfully received

[custardkid]

xjay1337 said:

Plenty of reasonably priced K-sport or AP set ups for E9X M3's being sold on various track time groups -

Have fun, I was looking at one of these, but with DCT - settled on a m135i in the end as I didn't fancy the reliability issues.
That being said I would just get actuators and rod bearings done and enjoy

Thanks will keep a lookout
had a M135 they are great just don't read the thread about the one that got oil starvation on the ring

[custardkid]

toasty said:

If it doesn't come out on either side, the fuse has probably either gone or been removed.
.

Thanks
Replaced all the obvious ones, but still nothing happening. Will have to have a further dig around

[custardkid]

HM-2 said:

Have a look here: https://support.apexraceparts.com/hc/en-us/article...

Price wise they should both be around £1200 a set.

Edited by HM-2 on Tuesday 28th May 13:52

Thanks
That fitment page is very usful, I've been studying it + tyre availability + offset calculators for a few days ago

I like the EC7s but CHs are coming out at £1300 and EC7 at £1600 from Tegiwa

Is there a better supplier?

Thanks

[custardkid]

The Redish team doing their stuff
James and James were brilliant

Car was given a clean bill of health
Bearings after 97k miles were fine, but as you can see were worth doing

[custardkid]

A couple of other bits done too

[custardkid]

Parts are starting to mount up!

[custardkid]

After a weekend at the nurburgring 24 hr race .. And walking round the pits 9 out of 10 of the race cars were on BBS wheels.. Even some on the old CHs

[custardkid]

For the price these grp murcos are awesome
Picked up some e90 seats for £4, which have donated the rails, heated seat pads, occupancy sensor and airbags
Not got the heated seats to work tho, as the original full electric seats have a different control system

[custardkid]

[custardkid]

yonex said:

E9X M3, things to sort out.

1. Big end bearings - check
2. Brakes
3. Brakes

I know that's technically two items that are the same but the brakes aren't up to stopping an i3 with your granny at the wheel.

RST3s and motul 660 are going to have do for a bit

[custardkid]

In other news...

Went mountainbiking in Llandegla in north wales
Requiring a run through the middle of wales

I can confirm on the eibach springs the car handles really well, and the engine and gear box is lovely on the road

Very happy with it

Just hope all the mods dont ruin it on the road

[custardkid]

Car was great at Bedford today

It felt heavier than the stripped E36... It probably is 400kg beefier... But the same handling balance was evident and compared to the c63 it was much lighter on its feet

Great front end turn in
Didn't chew its front tyres
And brakes were fine, although did tink tink quite alot!

Only problem was the exhaust was close to the limit, so had to ease off past the microphones, guess its been modded by pcw

[custardkid]

[custardkid]

Rob_R said:

Nice car, and very similar spec to mine. (albeit mine being a saloon)

The Eibachs are a nice spring and feel very well judged. Have you had the comp pack EDC settings loaded in? Worth doing if you have EDC fitted.

I believe my car was in Redish the week before yours getting the rod bearings done. Small world, eh?

I think you can go to around 1.6 neg camber at the front with stock top mounts. Which has served me well on the Ring. I think if you were going to the GP tracks and running Direzzas, Trofeo-Rs or AR-1s you'll probably want more.

I wanted a saloon ....
But it was easier to find a decent coupe

Will look into the EDC

Ring booked for 8th April!

[custardkid]

Tommie38 said:

Are those R888s?

I’d have thought that the E92 would be a bit heavy for them.

Possibly, at £150 a corner worth a try...

Ran some knackered triceps on the front at bedford, front R888 haven't had an outing yet
Rears were ok

Will probably go cup2 next time

[custardkid]

Andrew-b90y3 said:

Really nice looking car OP!

Would love to have one of these one day!

If this in the cotswold BMW show room today is anything to go by.... Get one now!

The engine is amazing!

Same colour Jerez black
But mine doesn't look half as blue !