BLACK MACHINE
New member
Awesome build and awesome car...Love the E36 M3 in silver..:inlove::thumbs:
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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
PILL - My E36 ///M3 journey
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:biglol: the tow bar will be removed in the future once I have a replacement diffuser as the one on the car was cut to accommodate the tow bar.
The registration plates does attract lots of attention from cops and even the public. I went through a road block once and was stopped and the car searched in detail with panels in the boot being removed :bangdesk:
I was also once stopped at a traffic light by a civilian looking for a fix :biglol:
I will post pics of the refurbed rims soon but not now as it will ruin the build up to how the car is now......patience please
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The registration plates does attract lots of attention from cops and even the public. I went through a road block once and was stopped and the car searched in detail with panels in the boot being removed :bangdesk:
I was also once stopped at a traffic light by a civilian looking for a fix :biglol:
I will post pics of the refurbed rims soon but not now as it will ruin the build up to how the car is now......patience please
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///M3 - ZN
Active member
:biglol:
bru u making me regret selling my E36 .:fencelook:
bru u making me regret selling my E36 .:fencelook:
Pozessed TS
Member
Nice work, well done :thumbs:
So I was starting to enjoy this car a lot more and would drive her more often the originally planned. I had the door cards recovered and replaced the plastic surround covers for the inner door handles. I also replaced the outer door handle rubber gaskets. I even imported a purpose fit set of mats for the interior.
pics as promised
pics as promised
All was seemingly well and happy days lay ahead........not to be
One morning I was scheduled to fly from Durban to JHB and the M3 was out in front of the E46. So instead of moving the cars around I jumped in the M3 and headed to the airport. Had the lights on as it was still dark at the time. Half way to the airport the car started to act up. Revs would drop and then pick up. Battery light flashed once or twice and then went off. Carried on my journey as I needed to catch the flight. I parked the car at the airport, switched her off and then started her again. All seemed good.
I flew back that afternoon but before leaving JHB I called for backup as I still had an uneasy feeling. Colleague met me at the airport and low and behold the car would not start. Jump started her and started to drive off with him following me. Well we didnt get far before the car cut out again. Battery swopped and drove again for a few km's before she cut out again. Eventually got her towed home.
I was in the midst of moving homes and just let the M3 stand at my old place for a while. A week or so later, I went across to the old place expecting to tow her to the new place but she started and I drove her to the new place. Then she refused to start again......just swing :argh::bangdesk:
Lots of tinkering, fiddling, months go by and a fuel pump swop and she starts up in the garage. I noticed the battery light staying on so I realised the alternator was not charging properly. So I decide to pull the alternator for reconditioning and decide to do the starter as well. Good intentions on my part but poor planning because I was deep into major renovations on the new property. A few more months go by and I eventually decide to drop off the alternator and starter for reconditioning. However, I decided to swop out the E36 alternator which was a Valeo 90A unit that came off for an E46 120A Valeo unit. Got the parts back after a week but didnt fit it immediately, big mistake.
The kitchen was being refitted and the old cupboards needed to be stored in the garage so PILL got evicted from her shelter and had to be parked outside. A few more months go by and one day I decide that its time to fit the starter and alternator with Kish2604. He gets there on a Sunday and we go pop the bonnet only to find dog food on the valve cover and around the engine bay :argh::bangdesk:
Rats were stealing food from the dogs bowel near by and had housed themselves in the engine bay. Some wiring on the RHS was also chewed up. We fitted the starter and alternator but feared the worst in terms of the wiring.
I moved the rats food source so that it wasnt near the car and proceded to try and nuke the rats out of the car with a few cans of Doom fogger. Not sure if it worked but they eventually migrated. I moved the car back into the garage not to long after that
I decided to try and figure this out with some help but without sending the car to a mechanic. In some ways I was wrong but at the same time I learnt a great deal :fencelook:
One morning I was scheduled to fly from Durban to JHB and the M3 was out in front of the E46. So instead of moving the cars around I jumped in the M3 and headed to the airport. Had the lights on as it was still dark at the time. Half way to the airport the car started to act up. Revs would drop and then pick up. Battery light flashed once or twice and then went off. Carried on my journey as I needed to catch the flight. I parked the car at the airport, switched her off and then started her again. All seemed good.
I flew back that afternoon but before leaving JHB I called for backup as I still had an uneasy feeling. Colleague met me at the airport and low and behold the car would not start. Jump started her and started to drive off with him following me. Well we didnt get far before the car cut out again. Battery swopped and drove again for a few km's before she cut out again. Eventually got her towed home.
I was in the midst of moving homes and just let the M3 stand at my old place for a while. A week or so later, I went across to the old place expecting to tow her to the new place but she started and I drove her to the new place. Then she refused to start again......just swing :argh::bangdesk:
Lots of tinkering, fiddling, months go by and a fuel pump swop and she starts up in the garage. I noticed the battery light staying on so I realised the alternator was not charging properly. So I decide to pull the alternator for reconditioning and decide to do the starter as well. Good intentions on my part but poor planning because I was deep into major renovations on the new property. A few more months go by and I eventually decide to drop off the alternator and starter for reconditioning. However, I decided to swop out the E36 alternator which was a Valeo 90A unit that came off for an E46 120A Valeo unit. Got the parts back after a week but didnt fit it immediately, big mistake.
The kitchen was being refitted and the old cupboards needed to be stored in the garage so PILL got evicted from her shelter and had to be parked outside. A few more months go by and one day I decide that its time to fit the starter and alternator with Kish2604. He gets there on a Sunday and we go pop the bonnet only to find dog food on the valve cover and around the engine bay :argh::bangdesk:
Rats were stealing food from the dogs bowel near by and had housed themselves in the engine bay. Some wiring on the RHS was also chewed up. We fitted the starter and alternator but feared the worst in terms of the wiring.I moved the rats food source so that it wasnt near the car and proceded to try and nuke the rats out of the car with a few cans of Doom fogger. Not sure if it worked but they eventually migrated. I moved the car back into the garage not to long after that
I decided to try and figure this out with some help but without sending the car to a mechanic. In some ways I was wrong but at the same time I learnt a great deal :fencelook:
The battle to get the car running again spanned almost 3 years :fencelook: from that airport run. The car would swing but not fire up
Amongst the parts replaced:
1) DME - 2 different DME's sourced and tried
2) crank sensor
3) cam / TDC sensor
I stripped the entire front end and almost the entire interior in search for the problem and a solution.
With the advice and help of Fanatics like A1exander, Kish2604, Alistair///M etc I tried various things. Initially the fuel pump would not prime. When bridged at the relay it primed but would not start. DME swop to a silver label unit and she would prime but still not start. Checked for fuel line blockage but that was a negative. Fuel was going from the tank to the fuel rail. Checked for continuity of the crank and cam sensors and all was good. There was power at the coils but the injectors were not firing and neither were the spark plugs. many people told me to sell the car but I am a stubborn bastard and refused to do so.
Lots of head scratching, reading, discussions, questions etc and I stumbled upon a net article that made me realise what the problem was. My car was fitted with the Drive Away Protection system which was pre EWS. Basically the door locks are hard wired to the Body Control Module which sits under neath the cubby and that in turn is wired to the 18 button BC display unit below the aircon control. The BC sends ground signal to the DME to activate the ignition (spark) and injection system. This was not happening. Although I knew what the problem was, I didnt know how to fix it.
I eventually succumbed to Kishs insistence on sending the car to a trusted mechanic in Durban. So I hired a trailer and with the help of Kish and a few other buddies, we got the M3 unto the trailer and off to the mechanic. When we got to the mechanic he was on a call with another client but took the key from me. He proceeded to get into the car and continue his conversation which lasted a few minutes. He then tried to start the car and she just swung but did not fire up. He got out played with the key in the driver side door lock got in and started her up.............well suck me sideways......I was bewildered, pissed off and excited all at the same time :argh::bangdesk::joy:
Amongst the parts replaced:
1) DME - 2 different DME's sourced and tried
2) crank sensor
3) cam / TDC sensor
I stripped the entire front end and almost the entire interior in search for the problem and a solution.
With the advice and help of Fanatics like A1exander, Kish2604, Alistair///M etc I tried various things. Initially the fuel pump would not prime. When bridged at the relay it primed but would not start. DME swop to a silver label unit and she would prime but still not start. Checked for fuel line blockage but that was a negative. Fuel was going from the tank to the fuel rail. Checked for continuity of the crank and cam sensors and all was good. There was power at the coils but the injectors were not firing and neither were the spark plugs. many people told me to sell the car but I am a stubborn bastard and refused to do so.
Lots of head scratching, reading, discussions, questions etc and I stumbled upon a net article that made me realise what the problem was. My car was fitted with the Drive Away Protection system which was pre EWS. Basically the door locks are hard wired to the Body Control Module which sits under neath the cubby and that in turn is wired to the 18 button BC display unit below the aircon control. The BC sends ground signal to the DME to activate the ignition (spark) and injection system. This was not happening. Although I knew what the problem was, I didnt know how to fix it.
I eventually succumbed to Kishs insistence on sending the car to a trusted mechanic in Durban. So I hired a trailer and with the help of Kish and a few other buddies, we got the M3 unto the trailer and off to the mechanic. When we got to the mechanic he was on a call with another client but took the key from me. He proceeded to get into the car and continue his conversation which lasted a few minutes. He then tried to start the car and she just swung but did not fire up. He got out played with the key in the driver side door lock got in and started her up.............well suck me sideways......I was bewildered, pissed off and excited all at the same time :argh::bangdesk::joy:
so he coded the key and this was the problem?
So after the mechanic started the car he told me there was nothing wrong with her and I should drive her back home :bangdesk: :biglol:
I decided not to and told him to pull the engine and gearbox for the engine bay to get a make over as I was not happy with the condition it was in and there were signs of shoddy repairs to previous accident damage.
So the motor and gearbox were pulled by the mechanic and the car taken on rollback to a panel shop
Will post more pics a bit later
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I decided not to and told him to pull the engine and gearbox for the engine bay to get a make over as I was not happy with the condition it was in and there were signs of shoddy repairs to previous accident damage.
So the motor and gearbox were pulled by the mechanic and the car taken on rollback to a panel shop
Will post more pics a bit later
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
