1997 BMW M3 (E36) Techno Violet
Discussion
Bit of a belated thread, given I've had this car for 5 months now!
I bought it a couple of months after selling my E39 M5 which I sold due to the high running costs (which I regretted very much shortly after). I sold my M5 and thought I'd see how I enjoyed something a bit cheaper, so ran a mk2 Clio 16v for a month before getting bored and deciding I wanted something nicer. I'd always quite liked the E36 - very good value for money and a clean, un-fussy design. Granted I prefer the E46, but they were out of my budget, and the E36 has more reasonable running costs.
I went to see three M3s - a black 3.0 coupe, a green 3.0 saloon and a techno violet 3.2 coupe, and ended up buying the latter based on overall condition and price.
I've owned it for 5 months now, and I love it! It's not really needed much.. I've put a new ignition barrel in it as the old one was spinning (common E36 issue) and serviced it. It has rusty rear arches which will be repaired very soon, but is otherwise fairly tidy. I did a track day in it on Wednesday (6th feb) which was good fun, but unfortunately it came home with some battle scars from a light encounter with a barrier. I've already partly fixed it however, with a new bumper I got from eBay, in colour, for £50 (bargain!).
Anyway, pics:
Showing my professionally repaired tail light following my track day fun (waiting for new ones to be delivered)
A few pictures showing my old bumper after the track day and swapping it for my new bumper
I bought it a couple of months after selling my E39 M5 which I sold due to the high running costs (which I regretted very much shortly after). I sold my M5 and thought I'd see how I enjoyed something a bit cheaper, so ran a mk2 Clio 16v for a month before getting bored and deciding I wanted something nicer. I'd always quite liked the E36 - very good value for money and a clean, un-fussy design. Granted I prefer the E46, but they were out of my budget, and the E36 has more reasonable running costs.
I went to see three M3s - a black 3.0 coupe, a green 3.0 saloon and a techno violet 3.2 coupe, and ended up buying the latter based on overall condition and price.
I've owned it for 5 months now, and I love it! It's not really needed much.. I've put a new ignition barrel in it as the old one was spinning (common E36 issue) and serviced it. It has rusty rear arches which will be repaired very soon, but is otherwise fairly tidy. I did a track day in it on Wednesday (6th feb) which was good fun, but unfortunately it came home with some battle scars from a light encounter with a barrier. I've already partly fixed it however, with a new bumper I got from eBay, in colour, for £50 (bargain!).
Anyway, pics:
Showing my professionally repaired tail light following my track day fun (waiting for new ones to be delivered)
A few pictures showing my old bumper after the track day and swapping it for my new bumper
BorkFactor said:
That is lovely, always liked a well sorted E36 - especially an M3!
Any photos of the interior?
Great colour too.
Not at the moment.. it's been a while since it's had a vac and clean on the interior. It's standard black leather vaders and is in so-so condition. Could do with some leather conditioner, as it's all a bit shiny at the moment! Any photos of the interior?
Great colour too.
Lovely car OP. Having been an E36 M3 owner in the past, I resist daily temptation to buy another, a well sorted one is a special car.
After a planned house move this year I'll be buying something of interest and, despite the fact I'd like something different, M3s are hard to look past...
After a planned house move this year I'll be buying something of interest and, despite the fact I'd like something different, M3s are hard to look past...
Fine looking car, the colour suits it well. My old man had a p reg 3 series (although only a 318i) in Boston green when I was a kid, he bought that after having a ford fiesta as the family car! Funnily enough I started to show an interest in cars after he got it. So an e36 M3 is on my list of cars to own at some point.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff