PILL - My E36 ///M3 journey

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After a few years of letting my E36 ///M3 stand, I got her back on the road recently and decided to make a thread to chronicle my journey with her thus far.

The journey started in 2009 when I started contemplating buying an ///M3, which at that stage was an E46. I narrowed the search down and found a great example in carbon black with genuine CSL rims and a few thousand kms of motorplan available. The buyer and I haggled for a few days and I eventually walked away on a R10k price differential out of principal in not wanting to stretch over my budget. Looking back it was a bitter sweet decision in that I let a very clean car slip through my fingers and also happy that it allowed me to achieve a few other objectives.

Anyways the dream of owning an ///M car was still very much alive although I was enjoying my E46 320 Individual at the time. Again, I spent many evenings trawling the web in search of a car. I didnt want to sell my E46 as that would remain my daily drive. I didnt have the budget to buy an E46 ///M3 without financing it and didnt want to finance another car due to other objectives. So I decided to get an E36 ///M3 which I knew very little about but liked the lines of the coupe.

My search took me to this (as per web advert)





The car had a rough life and needed work. I knew this but decided it would be a project that I could work on over time. We all have our vices and in many ways this was mine :fishwack:

I had the engine rebuilt by a well known and popular tuning shop in Durban shortly after buying the car. Sorry no pics available from this process. Nevertheless my customer service experience with that tuning shop was not good :argh:

After getting the car back from that tuning shop









..........to be continued
 

Doomsdaya

///Member
Sorry it didn't turn out the way you intended it to but you deserve massive respect for saving and restoring her :thumb: eventually with time you will get there...
 

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........continued

First changes were to ditch the fog lamps which were in really bad condition. They were the diamond look fog lamps and one had a make shift home cut glass cover. Both were rusting on the inside. I also added a set of GT splitters to the front bumper. Also gave her a good clean up.





 

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I then ordered a set of OEM look front indicators and rear / tail lights from a UK supplier as I hated what was on the car. Those budget diamond look items dont look good to start with and age even more poorly. Whilst those were in transit, my opulence got the better of me and I did a custom sound install. This was a bad idea as it should have been at the bottom of my to do list. Nevertheless the look of it was :inlove:







Then the tail lights and indicators arrived and were fitted along with some BMW Fanatics decals and carbon fibre roundels and wheel centers





 

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I was also hunting for a set of OEM headlights as the aftermarket Hella angel eyes were not to my liking. Luckily Wykid from the forum had a set for sale and I grabbed it quickly. I put a HID kit in it and changed the fog bulbs to LED. I also changed the interior bulbs to LED and changed the rear number plate lights to LED to complete the white light look.











In between all of this I changed the bonnet cowel and windscreen washer jets. The old one was perished and brittle. I changed one of the door micro switches as well. All items bought from the local dealer.

Will continue the journey tomorrow....
 

Peter@AEW

BMWFanatics Advertiser
Official Advertiser
Eish those aftermarket lights do little for the car.
I wonder why people prefer them to the original ones?

Sound install looks complex and neat
 

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......continued

The car went back for it's run in oil service and later to another local mechanic for further service where it had new brake discs and pads put on amongst other items. I also added a front strut brace and some carbon look kidneys which can be seen in the one of the above pics.

The car would be driven on Fridays and Saturdays and then cleaned on Sundays with each clean up bringing out a little more of her beauty. The Friday and Saturday drives would be typically less than 50kms each.

I then had the aircon system overhauled by fitting a replacement compressor, codensor, dryer and regas....R6500 odd but it was money well spent as it was a huge help during the Durban summer.

One of the rear rims were badly damaged by the previous owner so I had the wheel rebuilt by a top rated wheel repair shop in Durban....R1500 odd for the 1 rim. I later went on to refurb the entire set of 5 rims but that was after replacing all 5 tyres. I have a set of Continentals on the car and spare is a different brand which was bought at a different point. Nonetheless it have me more confidence in the car knowing that the tyres were sorted.

The interior also got some love and I added a set of chrome look cluster rings to the gauges. I also replaced the console panel around the gear lever with a carbon wrapped unit. The gear lever and gaiter were changed as well. Out came the 6 speed wooden gear knob. I also changed the handbrake gaiter to match the gear lever gaiter. Then I added a set of Aluminium pedal covers. I also refurbed the rest of the center console by removing it, stripping it down to plastic, prepared, primed and painted it with some vinyl spray and refitted it.

I then managed to source a torch for the cubby and a replacement rubber button pad for the key from AdiS. Made a huge difference to the look and feel of the key which was previously in a poor state.

Will rustle up some pics a little later......


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Yulz9081

Honorary ///Member
KPM_330 said:
Brilliant! :praise: Just curious as to the registration/name.. PILL?

Drug Dealer :rollsmile:

Glad the GQ is back on the road, looking good Prev :thumbs:
 

ClassicB

///Member
:bravo:

Any pics with the refurbished rims?

I would also remove the tow bar if you havent. Doesnt suit the rear
 

JodyD

///Member
Hi bud

This is really awesome that you have been restoring
This back to its original form

I'll be following this closely :thumbs:
 

Peter@AEW

BMWFanatics Advertiser
Official Advertiser
Prini said:
:bravo:



I would also remove the tow bar if you havent. Doesnt suit the rear


I had already chatted to Prev about the towbar however he says that he needs it to tow the venter trailer where he keeps the money for the cars restoration.
 

Kimeran

///Member
:thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:
Lovely stuff bru! Have to see this car when I'm down in Durban again :joy:
 

Fuzz@tinyNET

///Member
Official Advertiser
:thumbs:

Awesome going there Prev!!!

Would you mind giving my M the same once over too? :rollsmile:
 
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