E90 M3 - V8 saloon
Discussion
-Z- said:
This thread makes me miss the one I had back in 2008, was the press car. If you've seen the e90 M3 Saloon 5th Gear clip that was my car! Had it 2 yrs but 15mpg average did me in the end. Looks much better than the coupe and lovely tail happy balance
I did Vmax 2009, there was a rumour that the top speed limiter didn't kick in in 5th gear, I can confirm that's b
ks 160mph radar verified is where the limiter kicks in in either gear.
At the time Pistonheads was gripped by the mapped 335d beating everything meme so I set out to prove that wrong
Fond memories...
The engine noise is special isn't it! Loved your video, makes me want to have a go with mine on a day out like that. AFAIK they're limited to 155mph. My E46 topped out at 166 on the clocks on an autobahn, my friends E46 hit 170 on the clocks. No idea on real speed though. I've not been to Germany in my E90 yet so I don't know what the top speed is... I did Vmax 2009, there was a rumour that the top speed limiter didn't kick in in 5th gear, I can confirm that's b
ks 160mph radar verified is where the limiter kicks in in either gear. At the time Pistonheads was gripped by the mapped 335d beating everything meme so I set out to prove that wrong
Fond memories... 
marky911 said:
Lovely car GPM and some good maintenance going on.
Personally I’d get your RS Turbo out of that place as in my experience if I haven’t been happy with someone’s work first time around, I still haven’t been happy after they’ve had another go.
If that’s the level they work to, it generally doesn’t improve much.
I’ve a real soft spot for RS’s though. I hope it turns out ok.
Thanks! There's a little more to come in another update too. Might even have time to type that up in a minute Personally I’d get your RS Turbo out of that place as in my experience if I haven’t been happy with someone’s work first time around, I still haven’t been happy after they’ve had another go.
If that’s the level they work to, it generally doesn’t improve much.
I’ve a real soft spot for RS’s though. I hope it turns out ok.
Re the RS. Yep, I've the same gut feeling, but it's effectively free from my point of view for him to have another go and I've not lost anything apart from time. I wanted the car back on the road last summer, but another year isn't really going to make much difference I guess! The current progress on body work actually does look much more like what I was promised. Jury's still out on the shape of the rear aches though, but that appears to be the only sticking point now. I hope... I really need to pull my finger out and get a thread going about that car. I've had it 10 years now
Gallons Per Mile said:
AFAIK they're limited to 155mph. My E46 topped out at 166 on the clocks on an autobahn, my friends E46 hit 170 on the clocks. No idea on real speed though. I've not been to Germany in my E90 yet so I don't know what the top speed is...
I saw 165mph on the clock in my E92 M3(a personal best for me after managing 155mph in my 200SX and 160mph in my Cerbera) and I was expecting to hit the limiter before then to be fair. This morning I got up early because I bought a strip and clean disc the day before and didn't have time to wield it in anger. I decided those wheel hubs needed cleaning properly before I went for a full alignment and wheel balance.
This was the result:
Much more like it, I think you'll agree. On the journey to get my alignment sorted the wobble felt a bit better but still not brilliant. This was confirmed by the garage, who rebalanced all four wheels. I was cheeky and asked to take some pics while it was on the ramp having the alignment checked:
It's all looking pretty clean under there. I'm happy with that. Only real corrosion is some surface stuff on the rear sub frame, some slightly crusty unions on brake lines, and some very minor surface corrosion here and there on the underside of the body shell.
The alignment was a tad out:
Not surprising really, given a full suspension swap, new arms at the front, one at the rear and a camber setup by eye
All easily resolved with a Hunter machine:
The car now drives arrow-straight and the wheel wobble is 99.9% gone. I do seem to have a bit of a brake wobble now though...
This was the result:
Much more like it, I think you'll agree. On the journey to get my alignment sorted the wobble felt a bit better but still not brilliant. This was confirmed by the garage, who rebalanced all four wheels. I was cheeky and asked to take some pics while it was on the ramp having the alignment checked:
It's all looking pretty clean under there. I'm happy with that. Only real corrosion is some surface stuff on the rear sub frame, some slightly crusty unions on brake lines, and some very minor surface corrosion here and there on the underside of the body shell.
The alignment was a tad out:
Not surprising really, given a full suspension swap, new arms at the front, one at the rear and a camber setup by eye
All easily resolved with a Hunter machine:
The car now drives arrow-straight and the wheel wobble is 99.9% gone. I do seem to have a bit of a brake wobble now though...
Gallons Per Mile said:
cerb4.5lee said:
I saw 165mph on the clock in my E92 M3(a personal best for me after managing 155mph in my 200SX and 160mph in my Cerbera) and I was expecting to hit the limiter before then to be fair.
I'll be in Germany at some point later this year so I'll have a go 
helix402 said:
You’ll probably need rear brake pipes soon. A whole lot easier than the E46 and cheap even from BMW if you don’t make your own.
Yep, they're not looking box-fresh any more so they're on the longer term maintenance list E46 rear pipes are a pig to do properly, a friend who just restored his made sure to renew all the brake pipes while the rear sub frame was out. They'd been replaced on the cheap in the past but he put it back to OEM.Just a quick update - the brake wobble seems to be more or less sorted. I took the front discs off the other day to have a look and found a load of stuck on 'gunk' on the passenger side. I guess the pad had left some material there and where I've not been using it much a bit of a ridge formed. I cleaned it easily with sand paper and put everything back together and I've been using the car a bit. It's pretty much bang on now. Always nice to have a free fix.
At some point I think I'll have to change the prop centre bearing and flex disc, I still seem to have a bit of vibration in the cabin but it's really minor now. Of course, I'm being a perfectionist too, but I like my cars at 100%
At some point I think I'll have to change the prop centre bearing and flex disc, I still seem to have a bit of vibration in the cabin but it's really minor now. Of course, I'm being a perfectionist too, but I like my cars at 100%
I did a little bit of exhaust polishing the other day and was pleasantly surprised by the results:
Before:
Half way through:
Finished for now:
I didn't think they'd polish up that well as I'd not bothered since owning the car but they look pretty decent now and set the car off a treat. My shed Golf currently has a broken starter motor so I'm just having to use the M3 every day... Once the new starter comes in the post I'll be back to shedding but I'm currenty enjoying V8 noises all the way to work
Before:
Half way through:
Finished for now:
I didn't think they'd polish up that well as I'd not bothered since owning the car but they look pretty decent now and set the car off a treat. My shed Golf currently has a broken starter motor so I'm just having to use the M3 every day... Once the new starter comes in the post I'll be back to shedding but I'm currenty enjoying V8 noises all the way to work
m20b25 said:
fantastic cars, I'm straight onto ebay looking for another. I had a juddering on mine at motorway speeds; an alignment improved it and rear brakes got rid of it. I put the standard 18s on mine and loved the look of them
Cheers! You must like your BMW's going by your username My juddering at motorway speed has all but gone, I'll probably take the rear discs off and clean them up as per the fronts, they've probably just got a bit dirty on the insides from where I didn't use the car much over winter. It's a second car and I'm making an effort to use it slightly more now. I've been using it for work this week as my shed Golf's starter motor has only just turned up in the post.
I've been thinking about getting 18's for mine too. I love the look of them, they'll be easier to look after as they're not diamond cut and the car will ride slightly better on them too if they're anything like my E46 was on 18's...
I could even be persuaded to sell my car for the right price as I've still not ticked the 911 box yet. Too many cars, such little time
rainmasterb said:
Looking good. What did you use?
To answer your question properly, I dug the polish back out of the cupboard and took a picture for you!
As it was such a nice day today I thought I'd better clean the flies off the font of the car. It's just served me very well for the last 500 miles while my Golf shed was waiting for a starter motor to turn up in the post. I had time to wax it too so I thought I'd reverse off the drive and take some pictures in the sun. It's wearing its 145,000 miles well
I've saved possibly the best picture for last. My phone applied some sort of filter to this picture but I quite like it
It's a great car and I'm enjoying this thread. A couple of observations, if I may:
- I would recommend using Finish Kare 1000P Hi Temp wax on the exhaust tips now that you've gone to the effort of polishing.
- I've spotted 'phasing' on the driver door and o/s/r bumper, presumably there's more - someone's been visiting one too many car washes and the Romanians with their 'scratchy sponges' or it's been attacked by a rotary polisher with zeal in the past. Considering that you've just waxed it and wax fills in the scratches in lacquer, it may need some rectification work with a DA.
- I would recommend using Finish Kare 1000P Hi Temp wax on the exhaust tips now that you've gone to the effort of polishing.
- I've spotted 'phasing' on the driver door and o/s/r bumper, presumably there's more - someone's been visiting one too many car washes and the Romanians with their 'scratchy sponges' or it's been attacked by a rotary polisher with zeal in the past. Considering that you've just waxed it and wax fills in the scratches in lacquer, it may need some rectification work with a DA.
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