My '96 E36 M3 Evo Saloon
Discussion
Saturday the 14th October was the NI BMW Coast Road Run. A cracking charity event thats not to be missed.
It was a very wet day, however they are usually brilliant fun, the M3 also needed the cobwebs blow out.
Idling away here on the drive way.
One of the stop off points. BMWs everywhere!!
I luckily followed this E46 M3 for the first few legs. Stunning car and a perfect stance.
The end of the coast run and time for a feed!
The M5 and I broke off for the last leg of the run. Blasting down the coast roads after him was brilliant fun.
I was buzzing when we stopped off, I'd forgotten the real world pace of the M3, it just doesn't shout about it.
Back home, safe and sound. The car was absolutely boggin (well for me it was).
It was a very wet day, however they are usually brilliant fun, the M3 also needed the cobwebs blow out.
Idling away here on the drive way.
One of the stop off points. BMWs everywhere!!
I luckily followed this E46 M3 for the first few legs. Stunning car and a perfect stance.
The end of the coast run and time for a feed!
The M5 and I broke off for the last leg of the run. Blasting down the coast roads after him was brilliant fun.
I was buzzing when we stopped off, I'd forgotten the real world pace of the M3, it just doesn't shout about it.
Back home, safe and sound. The car was absolutely boggin (well for me it was).
Well after around four years the 21 year old M3 finally let me down a little...
I jumped into the car to take it out of the garage and give her a wash.
Foot on the clutch and boom it falls and stays on the floor. Toe under the clutch to lift it up and as soon as I press on the clutch it does the same.
Luckily I had a clutch slave cylinder in the garage ready to fit.
Clearance is tight enough without a lift, pretty uncomfortable doing this on your back...
The new slave is fitted (this fits on the left hand side of the gearbox).
However there was no joy after replacing the slave. Possibly due to air being left in the system (they are notoriously difficult to bleed).
I replaced the master cylinder too. This is another job made difficult due to its location (at the clutch pedal). It was just about to be removed here...
Old v new. The old item on the left is a cheaper plastic FAG unit, the right hand metal one is a Brembo item. The Brembo item is a much sturdier item as you can imagine, however the low pressure feed doesn't use a retaining clip. A slight difference, so hopefully that doesn't cause a problem...
The new master cylinder installed.
The clutch pedal being assembled... Cleaned and lubricated too
.
I reverse bled the entire system twice and all is working as it should. I believe the bleed nipple on the slave cylinder was causing problems as it wasn't drilled and tapped straight into the body, its pretty tight but now seals well.
Interestingly the clutch now is significantly lighter than ever before. Supposedly they get quite heavy with age. Especially as the master cylinder is commonly missed.
It's now quite a different car to drive, the lighter clutch pressure and sharp clutch action takes a little getting used to again.
She was taken for a good test run to make sure everything was ok before hibernation. Tuesday night was a mild and dry evening, so off to the Petrol Station for some fuel. I bumped into two fellow enthusiasts who were full of compliments on the car so good meeting you guys...
A good run out in the car down my favourite back roads has me loving the car again. Especially going through thoughts of fixing the car with fire :P. Working on the car on the driveway on a very cold winter evening is not fun.
I jumped into the car to take it out of the garage and give her a wash.
Foot on the clutch and boom it falls and stays on the floor. Toe under the clutch to lift it up and as soon as I press on the clutch it does the same.
Luckily I had a clutch slave cylinder in the garage ready to fit.
Clearance is tight enough without a lift, pretty uncomfortable doing this on your back...
The new slave is fitted (this fits on the left hand side of the gearbox).
However there was no joy after replacing the slave. Possibly due to air being left in the system (they are notoriously difficult to bleed).
I replaced the master cylinder too. This is another job made difficult due to its location (at the clutch pedal). It was just about to be removed here...
Old v new. The old item on the left is a cheaper plastic FAG unit, the right hand metal one is a Brembo item. The Brembo item is a much sturdier item as you can imagine, however the low pressure feed doesn't use a retaining clip. A slight difference, so hopefully that doesn't cause a problem...
The new master cylinder installed.
The clutch pedal being assembled... Cleaned and lubricated too
.I reverse bled the entire system twice and all is working as it should. I believe the bleed nipple on the slave cylinder was causing problems as it wasn't drilled and tapped straight into the body, its pretty tight but now seals well.
Interestingly the clutch now is significantly lighter than ever before. Supposedly they get quite heavy with age. Especially as the master cylinder is commonly missed.
It's now quite a different car to drive, the lighter clutch pressure and sharp clutch action takes a little getting used to again.
She was taken for a good test run to make sure everything was ok before hibernation. Tuesday night was a mild and dry evening, so off to the Petrol Station for some fuel. I bumped into two fellow enthusiasts who were full of compliments on the car so good meeting you guys...
A good run out in the car down my favourite back roads has me loving the car again. Especially going through thoughts of fixing the car with fire :P. Working on the car on the driveway on a very cold winter evening is not fun.
Time to wake the M3 up from her hibernation slumber. She started on the first turn of the key with no problems.
The main aim was to do a quick health check on the car and get everything up to temperature again.
However, I haven't ran any diagnostics on the M3 myself, so I was also keen to try that...
All connected up fine and no errors were reported. I will have to try some more detailed tests when I have more time.
I also wanted to tidy the garage a little, so some shelves were put up behind the M3.
The main aim was to do a quick health check on the car and get everything up to temperature again.
However, I haven't ran any diagnostics on the M3 myself, so I was also keen to try that...
All connected up fine and no errors were reported. I will have to try some more detailed tests when I have more time.
I also wanted to tidy the garage a little, so some shelves were put up behind the M3.
m3 pat said:
Hi Neil your car is amazing a real credit to you. just started restoring my e36 m3 saloon was just wondering were you source your parts as I can't seem to find a lot of parts for saloon m3s thanks
Cheers Pat, she's a really lovely car 
.Most parts are genuine. There are plenty of part diagrams to help get a hold of part numbers, then befriend your local dealership parts department.
Most parts are available and I've came up with some very random parts!
helix402 said:
Software is INPA, BMW factory/development software.
100% m3 pat said:
That's great Neil thanks will hope to get her till a few bmw shows in the summer if I get her finished and would love to get a look around your car if you are attending ????
Good man, I'd recommend Country Garage (for parts) if they are near you?The NI BMW shows are worth going to. Their coast run at the end of the season is worth going to too.
Their FaceBook page is worth signing up to, too.
m3 pat said:
helix402 said:
Software is INPA, BMW factory/development software.
100% This kind of thing?
Edited by g3org3y on Wednesday 28th February 18:01
Hi Neil got a lot of parts of country garages they are very helpful thanks. I see you have bilstien b12s what do you think of them and were did you deal for them if you don't mind me asking. I've searched the Internet and a lot of places say they don't fit a saloon? Am I looking in the wrong place just worried about getting them then having bother
m3 pat said:
Hi Neil got a lot of parts of country garages they are very helpful thanks. I see you have bilstien b12s what do you think of them and were did you deal for them if you don't mind me asking. I've searched the Internet and a lot of places say they don't fit a saloon? Am I looking in the wrong place just worried about getting them then having bother
No worries Pat. They are all a good bunch of guys and happy to help if you are stuck.They are an excellent quality suspension set up. They ride like OE during normal driving and are that bit sharper when pressing on. They don't massively lower the car either.
I bought them on German eBay.
The problem being (I'm scratching my head here to remember exactly), the 3.0 Saloon had softer suspension than the Coupe. The 3.2 Evo Saloon and Coupe shared suspension.
They are one in the same for the 3.2 IMO.
I bought mine from https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/aze_hammelburg
If you message them, I'm sure they can help and confirm things for you.
Edited by Neil_M on Monday 19th March 23:12
Time for a long over due update...
I've been building a track car (not the M3) so thats taken up most of my spare time... But back to the E36.
I met up with a local chape thats just picked up a very cool '95 Coupe! So a mini E36 meet was organised!
That was my own M3's first start since winter, which went without a hitch. She was due a clean up, hence I didn't mind getting caught in the rain too much!
The show season was starting, with the JPCCNI Loughgall Motorsport Festival starting it off... Time for some cleaning.
The underbody was getting a good wash and wax...
The undertray was removed for a proper job!
Interior looking pretty clean after a quick hoover.
Undertray going back on.
Rear wheel removed for cleaning along with the wheel well.
The calipers all got a good scrub!
As did the front wheel wells.
Everyone loves snow foam pics, so I'll let these do the talking.
I've been building a track car (not the M3) so thats taken up most of my spare time... But back to the E36.
I met up with a local chape thats just picked up a very cool '95 Coupe! So a mini E36 meet was organised!
That was my own M3's first start since winter, which went without a hitch. She was due a clean up, hence I didn't mind getting caught in the rain too much!
The show season was starting, with the JPCCNI Loughgall Motorsport Festival starting it off... Time for some cleaning.
The underbody was getting a good wash and wax...
The undertray was removed for a proper job!
Interior looking pretty clean after a quick hoover.
Undertray going back on.
Rear wheel removed for cleaning along with the wheel well.
The calipers all got a good scrub!
As did the front wheel wells.
Everyone loves snow foam pics, so I'll let these do the talking.
Starting into the engine bay here, it was still pretty clean though.
Sealant being applied and curing on the paint.
Thats the paint work waxed up and finished.
I love how well these wheels come up...
Not the best photo, but thats the interior after the leather has been treated. I was checking the tyre pressures too.
That should be her good to go for the show the following morning.
The following morning in sharper light!
I caught up with three other members of NI BMW on the way to the show. The 335i is just out of the shot.
Back home after a nice sunny blast back from the show. It was roughly an hour away for me. The M3 really does make mile muching an easy task. Very easy on fuel and a very potent motorway companion.
A few drinks later that day!
All cleaned up ready for more shows.
I'm nearing the end of building the track car, so it should just be a case of racing and maintaining it. That means the M3 should start getting the attention it deserves.
It's nice just driving the car, certainly after spending so much time working on the car.
I'll end with a photo of the M3 at the show. Thanks to Renegades for the photo!
Sealant being applied and curing on the paint.
Thats the paint work waxed up and finished.
I love how well these wheels come up...
Not the best photo, but thats the interior after the leather has been treated. I was checking the tyre pressures too.
That should be her good to go for the show the following morning.
The following morning in sharper light!
I caught up with three other members of NI BMW on the way to the show. The 335i is just out of the shot.
Back home after a nice sunny blast back from the show. It was roughly an hour away for me. The M3 really does make mile muching an easy task. Very easy on fuel and a very potent motorway companion.
A few drinks later that day!
All cleaned up ready for more shows.
I'm nearing the end of building the track car, so it should just be a case of racing and maintaining it. That means the M3 should start getting the attention it deserves.
It's nice just driving the car, certainly after spending so much time working on the car.
I'll end with a photo of the M3 at the show. Thanks to Renegades for the photo!
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