Hi Guys,
After a 7 year itch, I finally own an M3 again I wanted to resto mod an e30 but this car came my way.
And lately reading up on the fellow fanatics restoring e36 M's to former glory has been truly inspiring yes I am talking about you Fiekie and Elton_LV!
Brilliant Red 1997 M3 with 198k kms FSH.
Mechanical bits:
Engine stock standard
Exhaust, de-cat and I also removed the middle box so it just has straight pipes going into the standard rear box. (sounds crispy metallic :rollsmile
Interior:
Grey leather, I need to repair the drivers seat it has rip on the right had side edge.
Exterior:
Stock apart from the e46 M fin on the boot.
Wheels and suspension:
Stock Suspension
18inch OEM rep wheels
To do list:
Major Service (Done) (with Bmw original parts)
Replace all 4 tyres (Done)
Clutch needs replacing (Done)
Windscreen needs replacing (will be done asap)
Thinking about doing software, chip as apposed to unichip any advice here?
Driver seat needs to be repaired (still to be done)
Woodgrain on interior to be swapped with black ( still to be done)
Missing brake air duct on right hand side (still to be sourced)
Front lip needs to be refurbished or replaced. (will get to that)
Thinking of removing the e46 M fin... not sure yet if I should remove it.
Replace some interior clips, especially on the door panels there a few ever so slight rattles here and there. (still to be done)
I will also do a full detail on the car, engine also needs a good clean.
Lastly as far as rims go I am still thinking of what rims to put on, either keep the 18 OEM reps ( I got the car with these on and owner does not have the 17's anymore) or go for a different look.
I have also been nagged by a few friends to go coil overs.... mmm still thinking about that, std suspension and shocks on this car are damn good no issues what so ever currently.
Comments:
Ok so I wasn't planning on going e36 M3 again but this car was not in the same catergory as those cheap R70k and under models nor was it the R140k plus mint models either it was somewhere in the middle, it wears its age well and its mileage is relative low for the year.
I bought it as a weekend toy just be enjoyed as an M3 should with respect of course.
The motor is nice and quiet even the Vanos is not noisy, I had the diagnostics done on the car while cold and warmed up no errors and Vanos is perfect.
It sounds pretty damn Metallic I love the sound.
My mechanic did tell me though as the previous owner hardly drove it in the last year the engine is still tight and I have sort of run it in for 500kms before I can really enjoy opening it up. (done 330kms so far)
My test drive day
Removing centre exhaust box
Me and Fiekie
Finally just went for a quick wash and polish today, excuse all the pics I still need to do a proper photo shoot and today's pics I had to rush before the rain came down again.
Please excuse the file sizes too!
Thanks for reading, will update soon.
After a 7 year itch, I finally own an M3 again I wanted to resto mod an e30 but this car came my way.
And lately reading up on the fellow fanatics restoring e36 M's to former glory has been truly inspiring yes I am talking about you Fiekie and Elton_LV!
Brilliant Red 1997 M3 with 198k kms FSH.
Mechanical bits:
Engine stock standard
Exhaust, de-cat and I also removed the middle box so it just has straight pipes going into the standard rear box. (sounds crispy metallic :rollsmile
Interior:
Grey leather, I need to repair the drivers seat it has rip on the right had side edge.
Exterior:
Stock apart from the e46 M fin on the boot.
Wheels and suspension:
Stock Suspension
18inch OEM rep wheels
To do list:
Major Service (Done) (with Bmw original parts)
Replace all 4 tyres (Done)
Clutch needs replacing (Done)
Windscreen needs replacing (will be done asap)
Thinking about doing software, chip as apposed to unichip any advice here?
Driver seat needs to be repaired (still to be done)
Woodgrain on interior to be swapped with black ( still to be done)
Missing brake air duct on right hand side (still to be sourced)
Front lip needs to be refurbished or replaced. (will get to that)
Thinking of removing the e46 M fin... not sure yet if I should remove it.
Replace some interior clips, especially on the door panels there a few ever so slight rattles here and there. (still to be done)
I will also do a full detail on the car, engine also needs a good clean.
Lastly as far as rims go I am still thinking of what rims to put on, either keep the 18 OEM reps ( I got the car with these on and owner does not have the 17's anymore) or go for a different look.
I have also been nagged by a few friends to go coil overs.... mmm still thinking about that, std suspension and shocks on this car are damn good no issues what so ever currently.
Comments:
Ok so I wasn't planning on going e36 M3 again but this car was not in the same catergory as those cheap R70k and under models nor was it the R140k plus mint models either it was somewhere in the middle, it wears its age well and its mileage is relative low for the year.
I bought it as a weekend toy just be enjoyed as an M3 should with respect of course.
The motor is nice and quiet even the Vanos is not noisy, I had the diagnostics done on the car while cold and warmed up no errors and Vanos is perfect.
It sounds pretty damn Metallic I love the sound.
My mechanic did tell me though as the previous owner hardly drove it in the last year the engine is still tight and I have sort of run it in for 500kms before I can really enjoy opening it up. (done 330kms so far)
My test drive day
Removing centre exhaust box
Me and Fiekie
Finally just went for a quick wash and polish today, excuse all the pics I still need to do a proper photo shoot and today's pics I had to rush before the rain came down again.
Please excuse the file sizes too!
Thanks for reading, will update soon.
