would like an E36 M3 saloon - any tips?

[tertius]

Apart from the fact that they seem to be rare as unicorn droppings, any tips for what to look for and/or check?

[thegreengoblet]

Same issues as the coupe.
Remember that they come with a wood interior that doesn't tend to stand the test of time. I've replaced mine with black bits from the coupe and convertible. Now looks so much better.
I don't like the standard saloon alloys either, but luckily mine had the forged alloys fitted as an option. Mine also benefitted from the winter pack, sun-roof, and a rear spoiler options.

[tertius]

Thanks for the comments. I've noticed the wood interior, seems completely out of keeping with the rest of the car. Is it easy enough to change?

What is the winter pack?

[thegreengoblet]

The wood interior is relatively easy to remove, although it does take time to work out where all the fixings are. The handbrake handle is probably the worse as you cannot simply remove it - you have to replace the whole thing. I got a second hand genuine bmw replacement with a black leather handle and gater off ebay for about a tenner. Took me and a mate about 20 minutes to replace one lunchtime. I bought a new genuine gear knob off ebay and a genuine 6 speed M insert. Probably the most expensive at £50. The glovebox cover cost £5 brand new and again off ebay and genuine. The centre console surround was about £25 and although second hand, is was like new. Top tip... you need the console from the convertible otherwise you wont have the correct switch cut-outs! I've left the door handles as these don't really notice. You're just left with the ashtrays which are plentiful on ebay. I sold most of the wood pieces for around £50 - I still have the ashtrays to sell when I get round to it.

The winter pack gives you headlamp washers and I believe heated door locks, heated power mirrors, and heated windscreen washer jets.

[ArmaghMan]

Yep just 1 tip

e39 m5

[phatgixer]

tip

get the nicer looking coupe.

[falkster]

ArmaghMan said:

Yep just 1 tip

e39 m5

how's that a tip? Lots more and errr money pit!!

[Vixpy1]

phatgixer said:

tip

get the nicer looking coupe.

Or the cheaper Saloon

[tertius]

Vixpy1 said:

phatgixer said:

tip

get the nicer looking coupe.

Or the cheaper Saloon

I do agree the coupe is better looking but its to be a "family" car, so I think the saloon makes more sense. Just looks like an amazing performance bargain, with 4 doors ...

[CRACKIE]

tertius said:

Vixpy1 said:

phatgixer said:

tip

get the nicer looking coupe.

Or the cheaper Saloon

I do agree the coupe is better looking but its to be a "family" car, so I think the saloon makes more sense. Just looks like an amazing performance bargain, with 4 doors ...

The 4 door subjectively feels a bit 'heavier' than the coupe even though it only weighs a few Kg more; the suspension feels softer and the seats don't hold you very well when cornering hard. IMHO many saloons are now in better condition than coupes; this is a generalisation but in my experience the 4 doors tend to have older owners andhave probably been treated with more care & mechanical sympathy during their lives. http://www.e36coupe.com/forum/ is probably the best resource about and this buyers guide should help too. http://www.ubermpower.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&amp...

There's no substitiute for driving a few examples to get a feel then go for it !! They're great.

Edited by CRACKIE on Sunday 26th September 16:16

[phatgixer]

Rumour has it the saloon has a stiffer shell (as the door apertures are smaller and the b post is nearer to the cetre of the roof) so makes its suspension work better.

Coupe is the same size inside, albeit ingress / egress a little more difficult to the rear.

[thegreengoblet]

CRACKIE said:

but in my experience the 4 doors tend to have older owners

Steady on!

CRACKIE said:

the suspension feels softer

I always thought the suspension was different between the coupe and saloon, but they are in fact the same.

[CRACKIE]

thegreengoblet said:

CRACKIE said:

but in my experience the 4 doors tend to have older owners

Steady on!

CRACKIE said:

the suspension feels softer

I always thought the suspension was different between the coupe and saloon, but they are in fact the same.

Agreed ~ they are the same suspension setup. Its a subjective thing but the mass always felt higher up with the EVO saloons I've driven and feels lower in a coupe. 40~50Kg less weight and Vadar seats in a coupe shouldn't make much difference ; thinking back tired shocks on the saloons were the likely reason..........

[chippy17]

CRACKIE said:

thegreengoblet said:

CRACKIE said:

but in my experience the 4 doors tend to have older owners

Steady on!

CRACKIE said:

the suspension feels softer

I always thought the suspension was different between the coupe and saloon, but they are in fact the same.

Agreed ~ they are the same suspension setup. Its a subjective thing but the mass always felt higher up with the EVO saloons I've driven and feels lower in a coupe. 40~50Kg less weight and Vadar seats in a coupe shouldn't make much difference ; thinking back tired shocks on the saloons were the likely reason..........

the suspension set up was softer in the 3.0ltr version but the same as the coupe in Evo guise

[thegreengoblet]

chippy17 said:

CRACKIE said:

thegreengoblet said:

CRACKIE said:

but in my experience the 4 doors tend to have older owners

Steady on!

CRACKIE said:

the suspension feels softer

I always thought the suspension was different between the coupe and saloon, but they are in fact the same.

Agreed ~ they are the same suspension setup. Its a subjective thing but the mass always felt higher up with the EVO saloons I've driven and feels lower in a coupe. 40~50Kg less weight and Vadar seats in a coupe shouldn't make much difference ; thinking back tired shocks on the saloons were the likely reason..........

the suspension set up was softer in the 3.0ltr version but the same as the coupe in Evo guise

I've just had my front and read trailing arm bushes replaced with powerflex ones and it has made a huge difference. The rear shocks are tired though and you sometimes get a clunking sound from the rear. These are going to be changed next.

[andye30m3]

thegreengoblet said:

The rear shocks are tired though and you sometimes get a clunking sound from the rear. These are going to be changed next.

Might be worth just checking the rear struts as they are know to crack, especially with uprated shocks

Mine started clonking occasionally just before the shock came through the strut.

[thegreengoblet]

andye30m3 said:

thegreengoblet said:

The rear shocks are tired though and you sometimes get a clunking sound from the rear. These are going to be changed next.

Might be worth just checking the rear struts as they are know to crack, especially with uprated shocks

Mine started clonking occasionally just before the shock came through the strut.

Ouch. Thanks for the info

[sniff diesel]

phatgixer said:

Coupe is the same size inside, albeit ingress / egress a little more difficult to the rear.

Coupes also have less headroom in the back.

[2tmike]

Polybushes and Bilstein B6s sort the suspension, only real problem is seats designed for 150kg Germans.....maybe why it feels like you're sitting on it rather than in it...oh and the ocean liner steering wheel, but that's the same for the coupe.

[tertius]

Thanks for all the help, I'm afraid I settled on an E46 330i. I decided that given I already have a dedicated track car, I was probably better off with a cooking model, and the (hopefully) lower running costs.