E36 M3 Evo convertible
Discussion
Well, my car is freshly back from the bodyshop and looking marvellous so I thought I'd put up a thread dealing with the trials and tribulations of my last year-and-a-bit of M3 ownership.
Back in late 2011 I started seriously thinking about an M3 convertible. I'd had an RX8 for a while and fancied a change to a car which actually would start when it was hot. I ended up buying a stopgap Audi A4 for use over the winter, which I unexpectedly sold very quickly for a good profit.
Did completely the wrong thing and bought the first M3 I saw. Techno Violet with a great, strong engine but utterly butchered suspension, chicken wire in the front bumper... A nail, in short. I sold it on very quickly, for a modest loss.
Thankfully, this meant that I found my second M3 in Feb 2012. Initial signs were very promising, the car had been well used but maintained very well by a wealthy owner who used it to do a massive commute from Surrey to Telford.
Amusingly, when I arrived, the car looked like this- I'd arranged a viewing the previous evening through not wanting to miss out, and he said he wouldn't have time to wash it:
There were a few issues clearly pointed out when I bought the car, so I knew I'd have to be replacing the rear window and sorting out the paint on the bootlid. I also knew it was due for a service. But we came to a very sensible price, and I managed to get 6 months tax and a wind deflector chucked in. With 109,000 miles and a full history I picked it up for £4000.
Drove home, thoroughly pleased with my new purchase. A real pleasure to drive, very taut feeling and a million miles away from the previous abused example. All the original books, first aid kit, everything present. Only 2 owners before me.
Then I set about getting the car how I wanted it. A good valet brought her up a treat:
And then the real spending started. I had expected to do an oil service, but a closer analysis of the service records revealed that an Inspection 2 was required.
I'd also noticed that the car wasn't pulling quite as it should, a quick scan of the codes showed a VANOS fault, so a call to Mr. Vanos was made, and 2 weeks later I ended up giving him £850. But after the Insp.2 and new VANOS, the car became an absolutely different beast, and I was truly happy.
I've spent a LOT on her since then... currently standing at £4500 on top of the purchase price
( Garage). I'm not very good at settling for "alright" when it comes to cars, and a good, unabused M3 deserves to have the best, in my book. So I've ended up doing all sorts of work that I didn't really expect, like a new alarm system/immobiliser, lots of vacuum pipes on the engine (Including a couple of hundred quid spent due to my mechanical inability and biting off more than I could chew with manifold removal!!).
There's not much left on my immediate "to-do" list. I've just spent some money refreshing the paintwork and it's transformed the car for very little outlay. (Thank goodness for a fairly idle body shop run by a BMW nut!)
The car now drives as BMW intended. Good Continental tyres all round, a hint of polybushing to the rear, and a well-fettled engine. The handling is utterly spot on, and the howl from the engine above 5000rpm is an absolute joy.
Plans for the future? Well, I'd love to put a whole new set of Bilstein shocks on, but cannot see myself justifying the £1000 outlay any time soon. I've pre-emptively declared an induction kit on this year's insurance since I definitely do want to pop a Simota on at some stage soon. Other than that, it's just servicing and dealing with whatever problems crop up.
It's not been a cheap year. But it's been a great year. Nothing can beat some of the memories I've made of epic hoons up the Wye Valley and down to North Devon. Not raining? Roof down.
She scrubs up well for an old'un
...
Back in late 2011 I started seriously thinking about an M3 convertible. I'd had an RX8 for a while and fancied a change to a car which actually would start when it was hot. I ended up buying a stopgap Audi A4 for use over the winter, which I unexpectedly sold very quickly for a good profit.
Did completely the wrong thing and bought the first M3 I saw. Techno Violet with a great, strong engine but utterly butchered suspension, chicken wire in the front bumper... A nail, in short. I sold it on very quickly, for a modest loss.
Thankfully, this meant that I found my second M3 in Feb 2012. Initial signs were very promising, the car had been well used but maintained very well by a wealthy owner who used it to do a massive commute from Surrey to Telford.
Amusingly, when I arrived, the car looked like this- I'd arranged a viewing the previous evening through not wanting to miss out, and he said he wouldn't have time to wash it:
There were a few issues clearly pointed out when I bought the car, so I knew I'd have to be replacing the rear window and sorting out the paint on the bootlid. I also knew it was due for a service. But we came to a very sensible price, and I managed to get 6 months tax and a wind deflector chucked in. With 109,000 miles and a full history I picked it up for £4000.
Drove home, thoroughly pleased with my new purchase. A real pleasure to drive, very taut feeling and a million miles away from the previous abused example. All the original books, first aid kit, everything present. Only 2 owners before me.
Then I set about getting the car how I wanted it. A good valet brought her up a treat:
And then the real spending started. I had expected to do an oil service, but a closer analysis of the service records revealed that an Inspection 2 was required.
I'd also noticed that the car wasn't pulling quite as it should, a quick scan of the codes showed a VANOS fault, so a call to Mr. Vanos was made, and 2 weeks later I ended up giving him £850. But after the Insp.2 and new VANOS, the car became an absolutely different beast, and I was truly happy.I've spent a LOT on her since then... currently standing at £4500 on top of the purchase price
( Garage). I'm not very good at settling for "alright" when it comes to cars, and a good, unabused M3 deserves to have the best, in my book. So I've ended up doing all sorts of work that I didn't really expect, like a new alarm system/immobiliser, lots of vacuum pipes on the engine (Including a couple of hundred quid spent due to my mechanical inability and biting off more than I could chew with manifold removal!!).There's not much left on my immediate "to-do" list. I've just spent some money refreshing the paintwork and it's transformed the car for very little outlay. (Thank goodness for a fairly idle body shop run by a BMW nut!)
The car now drives as BMW intended. Good Continental tyres all round, a hint of polybushing to the rear, and a well-fettled engine. The handling is utterly spot on, and the howl from the engine above 5000rpm is an absolute joy.
Plans for the future? Well, I'd love to put a whole new set of Bilstein shocks on, but cannot see myself justifying the £1000 outlay any time soon. I've pre-emptively declared an induction kit on this year's insurance since I definitely do want to pop a Simota on at some stage soon. Other than that, it's just servicing and dealing with whatever problems crop up.
It's not been a cheap year. But it's been a great year. Nothing can beat some of the memories I've made of epic hoons up the Wye Valley and down to North Devon. Not raining? Roof down.
She scrubs up well for an old'un
...
Edited by carreauchompeur on Thursday 16th May 20:08
rallycross said:
Looks really nice
How do you find the gear change and clutch? Our one had a heavy clutch pedal even after fitting a braided hose and good gear oil spoiled how it felt to drive as was hard work in traffic but great on the open road.
Thanks How do you find the gear change and clutch? Our one had a heavy clutch pedal even after fitting a braided hose and good gear oil spoiled how it felt to drive as was hard work in traffic but great on the open road.
The Evos are renowned for not having the nicest feeling box going, and for the clutch problems. I find the box has character- It's a little bit grumpy when cold, but when warmed up is lovely.
When I bought mine the clutch was virtually inoperable when hot, braided hose soon sorted it out a treat but the clutch switch removal that comes with it meant, I found at least, that you have to be a bit more precise with gear changes.
Clutch now works perfectly in all conditions but is still a bit heavy, wouldn't fancy daily stop-start traffic in mine!
tzer bits on it either. VinceFox said:
What difference did you notice from the mr vanos job?
Utterly massive. Basically the old one wasn't working full stop, I should have noticed it on the test drive really. Gave it a pronounced "kick" at 2500 and 5000rpm as it should have. Also, as a good side effect the new unit has uprated gears, so it was much less growly too. Well worth it, a bargain considering the solenoids are £600 alone from BMW!carreauchompeur said:
VinceFox said:
What difference did you notice from the mr vanos job?
Utterly massive. Basically the old one wasn't working full stop, I should have noticed it on the test drive really. Gave it a pronounced "kick" at 2500 and 5000rpm as it should have. Also, as a good side effect the new unit has uprated gears, so it was much less growly too. Well worth it, a bargain considering the solenoids are £600 alone from BMW!TheLordJohn said:
Nice car - I've got the same!
I've got parking sensors, so is mine well speeded?
How do I go about finding out what was a cost option?
Thanks, Stuart.
I've got an original brochure, really nice touch, which indicates that PDC was indeed a cost option. Mine has most things but not that and, importantly, heated seats!I've got parking sensors, so is mine well speeded?
How do I go about finding out what was a cost option?
Thanks, Stuart.
Amusingly, almost everything seems to be option in the list, including "speakers"... The one thing I don't have but would love is the Harman Kardon system, although previous owner fitted good Pioneer nav/iPod system and a bluetooth Bury car kit, all of which are brilliant. Subtle sub in the rear my only concession to Barrydom!
Thud_Mcguffin said:
God that is nice. I always thought those alloys suited the E36 very well. I'm sure now you have got it well sorted it will be a keeper?
Thanks It is indeed a keeper for the time being, I can't think of much which would significantly top it for the outlay. I'm hoping for the second year of ownership to be slightly less expensive than the first Looks great that chap! I agree E36 M3s in fine fettle are great to drive, my dad has a coupe with 30k miles on the clock, gets excercised occasionally. Surprising how quick they are above 100, I even managed to show a TT RS a clean pair of heels which I was quite impressed with. Enjoy her fella 
Thanks, I had a lovely drive down to Taunton today which really showed the two sides of the car... Nice civilised bimble down on the motorway, cruise on, 27mpg.
Then a blast back up the A38, considerably less than 27mpg, lots of Sunday drivers around= Lots of overtaking opportunities! The in-gear acceleration is just ferocious when you're pressing on, and it makes overtakes much safer since you're out and back quicker
Then a blast back up the A38, considerably less than 27mpg, lots of Sunday drivers around= Lots of overtaking opportunities! The in-gear acceleration is just ferocious when you're pressing on, and it makes overtakes much safer since you're out and back quicker
carreauchompeur said:
Thanks, I had a lovely drive down to Taunton today which really showed the two sides of the car... Nice civilised bimble down on the motorway, cruise on, 27mpg.
Then a blast back up the A38, considerably less than 27mpg, lots of Sunday drivers around= Lots of overtaking opportunities! The in-gear acceleration is just ferocious when you're pressing on, and it makes overtakes much safer since you're out and back quicker
Exactly this, they really are two cars in one.Then a blast back up the A38, considerably less than 27mpg, lots of Sunday drivers around= Lots of overtaking opportunities! The in-gear acceleration is just ferocious when you're pressing on, and it makes overtakes much safer since you're out and back quicker
This is probably now one of the nicest M3's in the country! I've often dreamed of having one myself but I've always found something else to spend the cash on when I've been looking! I know the convertible M3's sometimes raise a snobby petrolhead nose, especially from those after a saloon or coupe, but I think they make marvellous sense. So you might lose a little handling grace, but the joy of having the roof down as you kite past miserable diesel drivers must be magnificent!
TheLordJohn said:
90% of M3 Convertible owners won't be anywhere near good enough to notice any difference or suffer because of it (me included!).
Which is exactly my point, and why I find the argument against the convertible a little redundant (unless you're Ari Vatanen and you live at the Nurburgring).Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff