-
Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
2 x 1994 E36 M3 resto/mod thread and 2001 E39 M5
- Thread starter Elton_LV
- Start date
Elton_LV
Active member
Many thanks to you fanatics for all the praise, compliments to cars, work and for Bruce and I. It's so nice to share a passion with people that enjoy it as much as we do.
It's surely good for Bruce and the pride he must feel, as all the hard work he has put into these cars is amazing.
Enough soppy stuff though.....
So we only have a short to do list left on the M3
Windscreen
OEM BMW business CD player
Spring Mats to balance the drivers side (thanks Peter for the heads up)
Bonnet and fender respray (coming this Monday)
Protective wrap covering for bonnet etc.
Tyres, choosing tyres that won't touch fender, but go with the cosmetics of the car
Passenger electric seat, motors are fine, but gear for tilting is stripped
Got one and a half of the above complete today. Had to rush home for an hour. Windscreen had arrived for fitting
The glass fit guy must have thought I'm smoking my socks taking photos of them removing and fitting a windscreen
Took the opportunity while the old windscreen was out. To get a pic of the interior at a different angle glare free
New windscreen and rubber in place.
3 hours to cure and I can take her for a spin.
World of difference driving now, when the sun hits the windscreen, I no longer have to see the stars in daylight. The previous windscreen was very badly sand/dirt/stone blasted (also the reason I need to redo the bonnet etc)
This arrived a day or so ago. I have the old BMW Tape deck in that came from factory at the moment.
Thankfully I found a brand new one online, came complete with manuals and new wiring looms. Even came with wiring diagram and other paperwork
Excited that I will have a period correct and new CD player in soon. Guess it's weekend fun fitting the Business Radio, as I tested it in the car, and although the rear connectors are the same, the pins are wired differently.
It's surely good for Bruce and the pride he must feel, as all the hard work he has put into these cars is amazing.
Enough soppy stuff though.....
So we only have a short to do list left on the M3
Windscreen
OEM BMW business CD player
Spring Mats to balance the drivers side (thanks Peter for the heads up)
Bonnet and fender respray (coming this Monday)
Protective wrap covering for bonnet etc.
Tyres, choosing tyres that won't touch fender, but go with the cosmetics of the car
Passenger electric seat, motors are fine, but gear for tilting is stripped
Got one and a half of the above complete today. Had to rush home for an hour. Windscreen had arrived for fitting
The glass fit guy must have thought I'm smoking my socks taking photos of them removing and fitting a windscreen
Took the opportunity while the old windscreen was out. To get a pic of the interior at a different angle glare free
New windscreen and rubber in place.
3 hours to cure and I can take her for a spin.
World of difference driving now, when the sun hits the windscreen, I no longer have to see the stars in daylight. The previous windscreen was very badly sand/dirt/stone blasted (also the reason I need to redo the bonnet etc)
This arrived a day or so ago. I have the old BMW Tape deck in that came from factory at the moment.
Thankfully I found a brand new one online, came complete with manuals and new wiring looms. Even came with wiring diagram and other paperwork
Excited that I will have a period correct and new CD player in soon. Guess it's weekend fun fitting the Business Radio, as I tested it in the car, and although the rear connectors are the same, the pins are wired differently.
Thanks Guys,
I'm starting a new project tonight M Coupe.:joy:
I've chatted to my friend (Greg) and he said I can post photo's of the BESPOKE work we are going to do here,
Elton is going to show me how to start a new "THREAD" ---Red M Coupe,
Just giving you FANATICS the heads up!!!!!
Chat soon
:idea:
Thanks Guys,
I'm starting a new project tonight M Coupe.:joy:
I've chatted to my friend (Greg) and he said I can post photo's of the BESPOKE work we are going to do here,
Elton is going to show me how to start a new "THREAD" ---Red M Coupe,
Just giving you FANATICS the heads up!!!!!
Chat soon
:idea:
:sorry:
Can you guys ( FANATICS ) see whats wrong on the rear of this M coupe?:thinker::thinker::thinker:
I'm starting a new project tonight M Coupe.:joy:
I've chatted to my friend (Greg) and he said I can post photo's of the BESPOKE work we are going to do here,
Elton is going to show me how to start a new "THREAD" ---Red M Coupe,
Just giving you FANATICS the heads up!!!!!
Chat soon
:idea:
Thanks Guys,
I'm starting a new project tonight M Coupe.:joy:
I've chatted to my friend (Greg) and he said I can post photo's of the BESPOKE work we are going to do here,
Elton is going to show me how to start a new "THREAD" ---Red M Coupe,
Just giving you FANATICS the heads up!!!!!
Chat soon
:idea:
:sorry:
Can you guys ( FANATICS ) see whats wrong on the rear of this M coupe?:thinker::thinker::thinker:
raise:
Wes
///Member
Elton, I saw the first thread developing on Stanceworks and my initial thoughts regarding the first few posts were "ay, another south african WITH PLANS starting a thread on an international site, and we'll probably never see the car completed."
I have never been so wrong in my entire life.
The work that you and Bruce have carried out on not one BUT three cars has been absolutely exceptional.
This thread easily rates as one of the best this year, the work is amazing and the cars, well, it goes without saying really.
Enjoy the cars buddy:thumbs:
I have never been so wrong in my entire life.
The work that you and Bruce have carried out on not one BUT three cars has been absolutely exceptional.
This thread easily rates as one of the best this year, the work is amazing and the cars, well, it goes without saying really.
Enjoy the cars buddy:thumbs:
Elton_LV
Active member
Wes said:
Thanks For the props, compliments and vote of confidence Wes.
When we first started, I started on a foreign site because I wasn't sure about posting on a local site. Took a month of reading BMWFanatics forums for me to feel comfortable posting.
When I saw how open, nice, quality of work, pride, passionate and a host of other good things people on the site are, I knew I found a place I could share what we were planning to achieve, enjoy and share.
I am actually very glad that I found the BMWFanatics site. Somehow, the passion I already have for cars, it's has sparked it even further. It has also showen me that there are people in SA that are as passionate about their cars as Bruce, myself and a few friends are.
Looking forward to weeks, months and years of being a part of this family.
Fordkoppie
///Member
Elton - Are you going to show off at least one of your beauties at the BMWCCG Concourse event later this month?
Hello Guys ,
I'm starting the new thread now on Z3 Z4 pages,
Title :Bespoke Z3 M coupe,
It's going to be full of pics and reports,
Please check it out,
And I will post the finishing pics and all the extra work here on the M3 and M5,
I started the Diagnostic and code clearing last night and today it's head light fixing and inside cleaning day and final checks on the M5,
The code reading and clearing was major this car was last on a full scan in motorplan it had so many codes +/- 40 ,I've worked through 20 or so and did Vanos and throttle body and idle set up it's idling so smooth now....WOW..:inlove:
I'm starting the new thread now on Z3 Z4 pages,
Title :Bespoke Z3 M coupe,
It's going to be full of pics and reports,
Please check it out,
And I will post the finishing pics and all the extra work here on the M3 and M5,
I started the Diagnostic and code clearing last night and today it's head light fixing and inside cleaning day and final checks on the M5,
The code reading and clearing was major this car was last on a full scan in motorplan it had so many codes +/- 40 ,I've worked through 20 or so and did Vanos and throttle body and idle set up it's idling so smooth now....WOW..:inlove:
Elton_LV
Active member
Shew Bruce we double teaming cars.
You finalizing the M5 and I'm sorting out the M3 tyres.
Unfortunately the 255 rears are still to wide post rolling fenders.
So final choice is Toyo's as they the only ones that have a matching set 245/35/18 rear and 215/40/18 fronts. Good thing is they cheaper than the Pirelli's I have on now. Which means I probably pocket 3k to 4k and have money for extra goodies or other projects.
You finalizing the M5 and I'm sorting out the M3 tyres.
Unfortunately the 255 rears are still to wide post rolling fenders.
So final choice is Toyo's as they the only ones that have a matching set 245/35/18 rear and 215/40/18 fronts. Good thing is they cheaper than the Pirelli's I have on now. Which means I probably pocket 3k to 4k and have money for extra goodies or other projects.
Elton_LV
Active member
While wheel alignment was being done, I could already picture myself enjoying the car on the drive home.... Been looking forward to her being properly stanced, Tyres, Springs, shocks etc so that I could post a pic of how well the M3 looks at my perfect ride height.
Makes me think of that song. "They see me rolling"
Took the opportunity while the car was up on the lift to take an undercarriage photo
Tyres on, wheel balanced, alignment done and car stanced as I wanted. I climbed behind the steering wheel with a massive grin on my face.
Today would be the first day post all the work we have done that I push her a little harder and maybe a lot harder. It's been +- 500k's of soft driving bedding in the brakes and 60k's of allowing the spring and shocks to settle in.
Edenvale I'm thinking to myself, (as it's where I have gotten the tyres sorted).... I remember primrose hill, the long straight leading up to a gentle left hander, medium right and into a hard left before reaching the top and coming all the way back down.
Fire up the car. Reverse out and onto the road. Warm up, warm up, warm up. I'm constantly looking to see if she is warm enough.... Traffic light by Renault Route 24 I notice quite a few admirers of the car, I even get a hoot from another E36 driver.
By the time I reach the main road, the car is warm.... Left towards Primrose Hill I go. Looking to try get to the front of every robot not to have a slower car in front of me, to enjoy the legs the car has. 1st, 2nd, the car is so clean through the gears as I hit 3rd, motor breathing, engine revving and the exhaust giving out an amazing tone. Car feels balanced weaving through traffic, the grind of the brake pads against slotted brakes sends chills down my spine.
Finally the road ahead leads to Primrose Hill. Into 2nd my foot hits the accelerator, foot flat on an open straight, sprinting down the straight she's revving to 7000rpm before I change into 3rd then into 4th, change past a car before the slight left hander comes up, lightly on the brakes, back into 2nd as I ease her into the corner, floor her as I get half way though the positive camber corner. (What a beautiful piece of road) squatting and with only the slightest hint of body roll she slings out the corner. My word, the scream of this M3 coming out the corner at 7000rpm is just something else. No point int changing up as the right hand quickly comes up. Pushing her to 7500rpm before climbing hard onto the brakes to put her into the right hander whilst gripping down on the wheel. Ease onto the gas as I exit the corner until my foot is flat against the floor, sprinting up the hill I realize that Bruce has built and setup one hell of a car, everything feels just right, so balanced, very responsive, knowing every bolt is torqued correctly and that not many E36 M3's would perform and handle like this, all this gives me so much confidence behind the wheel.
Up over the hill I make a u-turn at the first traffic light. Grinning and smiling (I must have looked like a right chop for those driving past as I u-turned), looking forward to rocketing back down.... ( I didn't rocket her down as quickly as I would have like too as I remembered, that although I think I drive pretty well, it's been a long long time since I've driven a car without traction control and with the power under the hood I could easily land up coming down the hill sideways or seeing, road, bush, road, bush, road, bush. I drove home pushing her though every gear and enjoying every braking moment as I knew it lead to the accelerator, that was until I got home. Into the garage she goes, left her idling for a cool down and some circulation as I walked around such an amazing car, (only some people will understand my next sentence) enjoying the smell of oil, brakes and rubber, something modern cars seem to have lost. Leaning in to turn her off, I quietly thank Bruce for taking the time and having patience with meticulous me, to build a car that I totally cherish and appreciate.
Here she sits for me to smile at every time I walk into the garage.
For now the M3 has taken my favourite parking spot in the garage.... It's so amazing to me that it has replaced what is below for now
I'm now so looking forward to seeing Greg's new project..... http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=59154
Makes me think of that song. "They see me rolling"
Took the opportunity while the car was up on the lift to take an undercarriage photo
Tyres on, wheel balanced, alignment done and car stanced as I wanted. I climbed behind the steering wheel with a massive grin on my face.
Today would be the first day post all the work we have done that I push her a little harder and maybe a lot harder. It's been +- 500k's of soft driving bedding in the brakes and 60k's of allowing the spring and shocks to settle in.
Edenvale I'm thinking to myself, (as it's where I have gotten the tyres sorted).... I remember primrose hill, the long straight leading up to a gentle left hander, medium right and into a hard left before reaching the top and coming all the way back down.
Fire up the car. Reverse out and onto the road. Warm up, warm up, warm up. I'm constantly looking to see if she is warm enough.... Traffic light by Renault Route 24 I notice quite a few admirers of the car, I even get a hoot from another E36 driver.
By the time I reach the main road, the car is warm.... Left towards Primrose Hill I go. Looking to try get to the front of every robot not to have a slower car in front of me, to enjoy the legs the car has. 1st, 2nd, the car is so clean through the gears as I hit 3rd, motor breathing, engine revving and the exhaust giving out an amazing tone. Car feels balanced weaving through traffic, the grind of the brake pads against slotted brakes sends chills down my spine.
Finally the road ahead leads to Primrose Hill. Into 2nd my foot hits the accelerator, foot flat on an open straight, sprinting down the straight she's revving to 7000rpm before I change into 3rd then into 4th, change past a car before the slight left hander comes up, lightly on the brakes, back into 2nd as I ease her into the corner, floor her as I get half way though the positive camber corner. (What a beautiful piece of road) squatting and with only the slightest hint of body roll she slings out the corner. My word, the scream of this M3 coming out the corner at 7000rpm is just something else. No point int changing up as the right hand quickly comes up. Pushing her to 7500rpm before climbing hard onto the brakes to put her into the right hander whilst gripping down on the wheel. Ease onto the gas as I exit the corner until my foot is flat against the floor, sprinting up the hill I realize that Bruce has built and setup one hell of a car, everything feels just right, so balanced, very responsive, knowing every bolt is torqued correctly and that not many E36 M3's would perform and handle like this, all this gives me so much confidence behind the wheel.
Up over the hill I make a u-turn at the first traffic light. Grinning and smiling (I must have looked like a right chop for those driving past as I u-turned), looking forward to rocketing back down.... ( I didn't rocket her down as quickly as I would have like too as I remembered, that although I think I drive pretty well, it's been a long long time since I've driven a car without traction control and with the power under the hood I could easily land up coming down the hill sideways or seeing, road, bush, road, bush, road, bush. I drove home pushing her though every gear and enjoying every braking moment as I knew it lead to the accelerator, that was until I got home. Into the garage she goes, left her idling for a cool down and some circulation as I walked around such an amazing car, (only some people will understand my next sentence) enjoying the smell of oil, brakes and rubber, something modern cars seem to have lost. Leaning in to turn her off, I quietly thank Bruce for taking the time and having patience with meticulous me, to build a car that I totally cherish and appreciate.
Here she sits for me to smile at every time I walk into the garage.
For now the M3 has taken my favourite parking spot in the garage.... It's so amazing to me that it has replaced what is below for now
I'm now so looking forward to seeing Greg's new project..... http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=59154
