E36 M3 evo cab, loss/lack of power !!
Discussion
i have had my m3 cab about a month now,its my first fast car but im not really impressed with its perfomance. it drives well and i have had the vanos seals and bolts replaced but it dousnt feel like a 300 hp car !!
what improvements / upgrades do you recommend for an e36 m3 performance and handling wise ??
also any tips on the interior / hardtop etc creeking ?? its driving me nutts.
thanks...
what improvements / upgrades do you recommend for an e36 m3 performance and handling wise ??
also any tips on the interior / hardtop etc creeking ?? its driving me nutts.
thanks...
Don't take this the wrong way but with all your previous posts and problems I honestly think you should give some thought onto moving the car on and getting a replacement - it's sounds as if you have bought a right dog.
Whilst a M3 cab is not in the supercar league for pace - as your first fast car as you put it you really should be on the verge of creaming your pants over the performance - if not then it sounds as if something else is wrong with it.
You could easily pour the price of the car into it again and still not getting it to run right so personally I would cut my loses, sell and then buy a decent one.
Good luck
Whilst a M3 cab is not in the supercar league for pace - as your first fast car as you put it you really should be on the verge of creaming your pants over the performance - if not then it sounds as if something else is wrong with it.
You could easily pour the price of the car into it again and still not getting it to run right so personally I would cut my loses, sell and then buy a decent one.
Good luck
Not a massive amount you can do to the engine performance-wise that isn't pricey, to be honest. You can get remaps from people like Evolve, but that'd be pointless without making sure the Vanos and fuelling are spot-on first. Get the error codes read at a specialist, and if they're clear, get it on a rolling road.
You should feel a power kick at 2500rpm and again at 5000rpm, after which it should pull like a train to the redline. You do need to rev them to feel the full power - they'll never be a low/mid range thumper; they feel muscular rather than brutal.
Suspension-wise make sure bushes, top mounts, droplinks etc are in good nick, as these are fairly old cars now. I wouldn't put a convertible on coilovers, but you could refresh the standard dampers if they haven't already been replaced.
You should feel a power kick at 2500rpm and again at 5000rpm, after which it should pull like a train to the redline. You do need to rev them to feel the full power - they'll never be a low/mid range thumper; they feel muscular rather than brutal.
Suspension-wise make sure bushes, top mounts, droplinks etc are in good nick, as these are fairly old cars now. I wouldn't put a convertible on coilovers, but you could refresh the standard dampers if they haven't already been replaced.
I'd try to have a ride in another fit Evo to see if yours is puling properly. Where in Derbyshire are you? I'm on the west side of Derby, and have just had a reconditioned vanos fitted by Mr. Vanos, or Steve as he's also known 
The car is running very well, and should be even better after its looming insp.2 service.
The car is running very well, and should be even better after its looming insp.2 service. Think your prob right i have spent over a grand already on random bits and having vanos seals done, hardtop (whats leaking) etc and still want a proper manual box, new back window/hood and the performace sorting out. could end up spending thousands !!
hopefully its running ok and i just expected more !
joe im at chesterfield not that far to the a38 and derby, let me know if you fancy showing me how an m3 is supposed to run !!
cheers ,AL
hopefully its running ok and i just expected more !
joe im at chesterfield not that far to the a38 and derby, let me know if you fancy showing me how an m3 is supposed to run !!
cheers ,AL
i've had my 97 evo cab for 2 weeks now, quite impressed for the perfomance from a N/A engine and i think the cabs weigh alot more than the coupe's, got rid of my classic impreza that was running 318bhp and although the impreza felt faster and more lairy the m3 pulls in every gear and alot smoother and easier to get the power down and gear ratio are alot better managing 125mph in 4th with 2 gears to go and only 112mph in 4th in the impreza
ALS M3 said:
Think your prob right i have spent over a grand already on random bits and having vanos seals done, hardtop (whats leaking) etc and still want a proper manual box, new back window/hood and the performace sorting out. could end up spending thousands !!
hopefully its running ok and i just expected more !
joe im at chesterfield not that far to the a38 and derby, let me know if you fancy showing me how an m3 is supposed to run !!
cheers ,AL
I'm around over the weekend and would be happy to give you a short blast. I could meet you at some services or something if you like. hopefully its running ok and i just expected more !
joe im at chesterfield not that far to the a38 and derby, let me know if you fancy showing me how an m3 is supposed to run !!
cheers ,AL
On gauging the swiftness of your steed, I also run an S2000, and my brother has an Impreza RB5 PPP which I drive from time to time. Although linear in delivery, the M3 is far more muscluar and will spin up the rears in 3rd gear in the wet if you hit a smoothed bit of road.
Yes could do mate i dont have that much planned for the weekend just let me know when is best for you.
to be fair the car is fast and when you open it up on the motorway it just keeps going. i just expected a bit more from an m3, thought it wld give me buzz and scare me a bit with the performance!
like i said it does pull but i dont really feel an extra kick at 2 and 5000 revs, it just seems to pull the same through the revs. can the vanos not be working right but car still drive ok ?? because i have been told if the vanos isnt working it will tick over lumpy and you wld definately know its not right!!
to be fair the car is fast and when you open it up on the motorway it just keeps going. i just expected a bit more from an m3, thought it wld give me buzz and scare me a bit with the performance!
like i said it does pull but i dont really feel an extra kick at 2 and 5000 revs, it just seems to pull the same through the revs. can the vanos not be working right but car still drive ok ?? because i have been told if the vanos isnt working it will tick over lumpy and you wld definately know its not right!!
Herbs said:
Don't take this the wrong way but with all your previous posts and problems I honestly think you should give some thought onto moving the car on and getting a replacement - it's sounds as if you have bought a right dog.
Whilst a M3 cab is not in the supercar league for pace - as your first fast car as you put it you really should be on the verge of creaming your pants over the performance - if not then it sounds as if something else is wrong with it.
You could easily pour the price of the car into it again and still not getting it to run right so personally I would cut my loses, sell and then buy a decent one.
Good luck
this, it certainly sounds like you have bought a pup, we have all done it (shudders thinking of Fiat I once bought on a whim) get rid and start againWhilst a M3 cab is not in the supercar league for pace - as your first fast car as you put it you really should be on the verge of creaming your pants over the performance - if not then it sounds as if something else is wrong with it.
You could easily pour the price of the car into it again and still not getting it to run right so personally I would cut my loses, sell and then buy a decent one.
Good luck
Edited by chippy17 on Wednesday 10th November 13:34
The vanos solenoid did stick after a bought it and it was ticking over lumpy but it just unstuck and started ticking over and driving sweet again, i presumed it was because it had been stood for a while !!
could the vanos or solenoids still not be right but ticking over fine ?
i think i would struggle to sell it as there is loads of convertables for sale and only been registered owning it for a month. i dont mind spending on it aslong as its being spent in the right place, dont mind paying steve (mr vanos) for a new vanos if i know it will make a difference in performance.
think im going to pay him a visit and see what he thinks!!
could the vanos or solenoids still not be right but ticking over fine ?
i think i would struggle to sell it as there is loads of convertables for sale and only been registered owning it for a month. i dont mind spending on it aslong as its being spent in the right place, dont mind paying steve (mr vanos) for a new vanos if i know it will make a difference in performance.
think im going to pay him a visit and see what he thinks!!
Not sure about the 3.0 but i have a 3.2 in decent fettle and I dont think that anyone would say that the car is slow when revved out. Its obviously not Bugatti Veyron style G force but on A and B roads it puts a smile on most peoples faces - even friends with much faster cars.
As above - on a 3.2, if the Vanos is working, you should get a noticeable kick in power as the car pulls through 2 / 2.5k. If not, you may have a vanos issue. There is a lot of rubbish and myth spouted about Vanos so you should distrust what people in the pub / on forums say unless you know they know their stuff. Most issues are now fixable. Seals / bolts / solenoids / wires seem to be the main issue. Check in with Mr Vanos (has a page on e36coupe.com) or Sean at Iridium Engineering in Southampton (very knowledgeable and helpful - a longer way for you but I am prepared to drive from London to visit him - google for the number) as to what they think. It is possible to get a specific vanos diagnostic - Sean ran one on my car last time it was there.
I am not an expert, but my general understanding is that depending on the issue, vanos not working as it should will not necessarily stop the car running - however, it will mean that the valve timing is not optimised and all of the performance is not there. Unless you have a more significant issue that results in an oil leak etc - obviously. Best to check with a specialist asap tho.
Its another urban myth that noisy vanos means the vanos is not working - the units can generate some rattle, but it does not mean they do not work. The rattle can be fixed by rebuilding the vanos (again spk to Mr Vanos or Sean).
That said - again I am not a 3.0 expert - but I thought that the 3.0 does not have the dual vanos of the 3.2 and requires less maintenance?
Other issues to check:
Valve clearance and shims are often not done to service intervals - either by BMW dealers or less caring independents. These can impact the running of the car. Again - these can be checked by a specialist.
Other things include weathering / decay of rubber hoses around the engine which could give you an issue (stock answer - check with a specialist).
I also notice the difference between different fuel qualities in the car. I always run Shell optimax (or whatever its called now).
Understand that you've spent some money on the car, but maybe you should take it somewhere v reputable for a diagnostic / check over to get you happy with if it youre going to hold onto it for a while.
I wouldnt necessarily say you've bought a dog at this point - it may just be that the car has a few issues that need ironing out if the previous owner has been a bit less fastidious about maintenance.
Best of luck!
As above - on a 3.2, if the Vanos is working, you should get a noticeable kick in power as the car pulls through 2 / 2.5k. If not, you may have a vanos issue. There is a lot of rubbish and myth spouted about Vanos so you should distrust what people in the pub / on forums say unless you know they know their stuff. Most issues are now fixable. Seals / bolts / solenoids / wires seem to be the main issue. Check in with Mr Vanos (has a page on e36coupe.com) or Sean at Iridium Engineering in Southampton (very knowledgeable and helpful - a longer way for you but I am prepared to drive from London to visit him - google for the number) as to what they think. It is possible to get a specific vanos diagnostic - Sean ran one on my car last time it was there.
I am not an expert, but my general understanding is that depending on the issue, vanos not working as it should will not necessarily stop the car running - however, it will mean that the valve timing is not optimised and all of the performance is not there. Unless you have a more significant issue that results in an oil leak etc - obviously. Best to check with a specialist asap tho.
Its another urban myth that noisy vanos means the vanos is not working - the units can generate some rattle, but it does not mean they do not work. The rattle can be fixed by rebuilding the vanos (again spk to Mr Vanos or Sean).
That said - again I am not a 3.0 expert - but I thought that the 3.0 does not have the dual vanos of the 3.2 and requires less maintenance?
Other issues to check:
Valve clearance and shims are often not done to service intervals - either by BMW dealers or less caring independents. These can impact the running of the car. Again - these can be checked by a specialist.
Other things include weathering / decay of rubber hoses around the engine which could give you an issue (stock answer - check with a specialist).
I also notice the difference between different fuel qualities in the car. I always run Shell optimax (or whatever its called now).
Understand that you've spent some money on the car, but maybe you should take it somewhere v reputable for a diagnostic / check over to get you happy with if it youre going to hold onto it for a while.
I wouldnt necessarily say you've bought a dog at this point - it may just be that the car has a few issues that need ironing out if the previous owner has been a bit less fastidious about maintenance.
Best of luck!
cheers guys , yes its the 3.2 evo on 69k
i have had the vanos seals / bolts changed and the vanos isnt noisy and dousnt rattle!
its terrible on petrol aswell im getting 45 miles from £20 ! is that about right or could it be because something isnt right ??
will be taking it to mr vanos as soon as i get the chance
i have had the vanos seals / bolts changed and the vanos isnt noisy and dousnt rattle!
its terrible on petrol aswell im getting 45 miles from £20 ! is that about right or could it be because something isnt right ??
will be taking it to mr vanos as soon as i get the chance
45 miles from £20 
You really need to think methodically about tracing the issues and then weighing up whether it's better to fix or sell. First stop would be to a specialist with a proper ECU scanner. There are plenty of garages out there that tell you they have an all singing all dancing fault reader but aren't worth sh*t. I'm sure Sean will have the right equipment.
You really need to think methodically about tracing the issues and then weighing up whether it's better to fix or sell. First stop would be to a specialist with a proper ECU scanner. There are plenty of garages out there that tell you they have an all singing all dancing fault reader but aren't worth sh*t. I'm sure Sean will have the right equipment.Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff