Soon to be '97 M3 owner... coupla questions

[khaos]

Hey guys, new here but I've been poking around for a bit. My dad found me a 97 M3 in pretty good shape and the price is right so I'm buying it. I'll be picking it up next week. I had a mechanic look it over and everything seems to be in working order mechanically so that's priority one checked off.

I am already considering upgrades though (and so it begins). I want to stay conservative in looks, but still be BA.

Two things I have thought about is changing the lights and stereo.

Lights:
I want to put in Xenon's and Angel Eyes... is this (http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/catalog/shopcart/BE36/POR_BE36_ELlite_pg1.htm#item0) what I am looking for as far as the main light fixture goes? And it says euro only.. but is there a way to jerry-rig it into the US models?

Stereo:
I want to stay stock as possible, or at least conservative. At first the CD43 seemed good but its a lot of $$$ for basic functionality. Are there any more modern head units that fit the look well?

Thanks! And I can't wait!

[raider408]

Angel eyes? no, dont. As for the radio, I'd stick with the cd43 radio because i have one and i love it. No aftermarket head units fit the m3's interior. Trust me, they all look out of place.

[brinkmann0]

Angel eyes? no, dont.

Angel eyes look great. Don't listen to this guy. :lol

[tejawxyz]

CD43 is definitely worth the upgrade, I dont have one yet but everyone I know that has it loves it.

[Moron95M3]

AE's are nice, I must admit I love them for a daytime running light basically.

for cheaper one, go through ddmtuning.com (some ppl say their service is iffy though. Idk - I put my AE's in myself on stock lights)

as for headunits, I'm not sure. I kept the stock unit, but put in a line output converter from wallyworld ($20) to run an amp/sub in the back. I have the factory HiFi system though, so I just wanted to add some bass that is easy removable (for autoX etc.)


I would suggest looking into more maintenance first though. Even though a mechanic said it's good...some tihngs like the cooling system have a pretty finite life. also M's are tough on bushing/ball joints - I'd double check those too.

GL with the new car! They're a blast!

[trfarchitect]

i would also say no to angle eyes. I have seen some nice ones, but the vast majority i've come across look cheap and many people run into trouble with the On Board Computer (OBC) not liking the ballasts. That said, upgraded headlights are a must considering the US spec M3's came with plastic headlights which yellow due to UV degradation. This leads to inadequate throw from the headlights at night. My suggestion would be drop the coin on some legit ZKW glass headlights from a Euro M3. The OBC likes these lights and they provide great illumination.

As for the stereo, the CD43 is a good setup, and looks nice in the dash... another, better, option... though more expensive, would be a Traffic Pro headunit (made by Becker).

[das borgen]

although a CD43 is an upgrade indeed, it's still inferior to any cheap aftermarket headunit from whomever

but if you don t want to deviate from a stock look inside, then you can stick with mediocrity

[MasterKwan]

I would suggest looking into more maintenance first though. Even though a mechanic said it's good...some tihngs like the cooling system have a pretty finite life. also M's are tough on bushing/ball joints - I'd double check those too.


This. Assume it's going to cost a couple grand to get it back into top notch shape.

[Volf]

Angel eyes? no, dont. As for the radio, I'd stick with the cd43 radio because i have one and i love it. No aftermarket head units fit the m3's interior. Trust me, they all look out of place.


OP your first lesson here would not to be to listen to anything this tard says. EVER.

[Xiphos]

OP your first lesson here would not to be to listen to anything this tard says. EVER.

A little harsh Matt. There has been far worse advice on this forum before.

Angel eyes are overplayed in my opinion but can look good if subtle (i.e. thin lines) coupled with HID's.

Regarding headunits, it really all depends. Yes, the best look that flows with everything is the cd43 but it also looks a tad boring in my opinion.

I have an Alpine CDA-9833 that looks great, all lights on it match interior and it looks great at night. During the day not so much but I still love it. Far better sound than stock.

Sorry for the crappy cell phone pics.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b179/Wakeboardb/Mobile%20Uploads/0416101226a.jpghttp://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b179/Wakeboardb/0420101938a.jpg

[Moron95M3]

ooohh I do like that at night! ^^

[Volf]

A little harsh Matt.




Not really. Have you read many of his posts?

[Xiphos]

Not really. Have you read many of his posts?

Ah, he's one of those Rides and Styling guys. :shifty

[hokie36]

ooohh I do like that at night! ^^

+1 for the stereo in dark, :D gorgeous combination of illumination

[AngryWhopper]

I have a cd43. It was a great upgrade 5 years ago, but there is so much features in new aftermarket headunits for a relatively cheap price. Things like USB input, sat radio, pandora link are all things I wish I had many times.

Can't beat the looks of the cd43 though.

[Grey Phox]

Not really. Have you read many of his posts?

Shits Bugly.

Bugly

Its bugly brah.


Those are usually the variations of his posts.

I'd get something better than the CD43. I guess it was alright for stock but Id get something much better for the money.

[Hankdoll]

The BMW version of the traffic pro looks stock. They're getting harder to source, but are still out there. Like the cd43, it has an in dash cd and will control the BMW changer. Also has built-in nav (but it's older and prob not even as good as a $99 portable).


http://members.cox.net/carstuff/M3_12.jpg

[rickadootrd]

^^^^Where can you buy a Becker Traffic Pro?

[desynch]

A few pop up every now and then on ebay. You can try classifieds SOMETIMES, but no guarantee.

[Volf]

I know you said stock looking, but if you ever wanted to move up there are other options that match very well.

Here's my car:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/the_volfinator/IMG_0701.jpg

[qm3]

i have a 3.15 diff out of my 95 m3 100,000 miles changed the fluid with the tranny every 30k

[Volf]

i have a 3.15 diff out of my 95 m3 100,000 miles changed the fluid with the tranny every 30k

:confused:confused:confused

[khaos]

Thanks for all the help guys! Sorry I didn't check in earlier I got lost in the site! (and finals)

[Poppa Boner]

Hey, welcome.
I am also new here and you have to learn to zone out the "Grumpy Veterans" AS WELL AS the New guys. Angel eyes are preferential as are head units.

I had Angel eyes and ditched them. Not My taste. I would, however, recommend the Euro (Glass) ellipsoid head lights with HIDs in them. This is much better than stock.

My stereo was the stock unit, with an Alpine 7 disk changer in the back, and now I have an Alpine Unit Similar to the one pictured above (not the home entertainment system, but the logical, practical, not obnoxious one directly above.) and it is great.
Can't say much about a head unit's cosmetics, but the sound is crisper and nicer.

Do what YOU do, and learn to validate posts on here by reading some of the posters previous comments. You'll find the experienced vs. the Newbs vs. the oblivious this way. :)

Pics once you take ownership?

[Cosmos Kramer]

you really don't like Volfinator do you? :lol

OP, I have an Alpine 9855 that I'm looking to sell if you are interested. It looks like the 1st Alpine posted.

[khaos]

haha sorry started this awhile ago and didn't realise posting to thank people would revive it... I ended up buying grey (don't know the colour system yet) '97 with a bunch of cosmetic issues. There are a few problems here and there but they are all "used car issues". Standard slow oil leak, etc.

[ArktikSilvrM3]

I'd say any head unit is going to look all right as long as it has red back lighting to match the dash.

[MR E30]

Welcome to your newest headache.

Angel Eyes look great. CD43 is nice, but there are so many options out there.

Maintenance is a bitch.

[Jim Bassett]

Maintenance is a bitch.
It's no more difficult that on any other car.

[Volf]

you really don't like Volfinator do you? :lol



I hurt his feelings somewhere along the lines. He won't last very long, his type generally doesn't.

:dunno

[Xiphos]

I hurt his feelings somewhere along the lines. He won't last very long, his type generally doesn't.

:dunno


Not sure why you wouldn't take someone seriously who has a forum name of poppa boner.

Thats legit yo.

fyi i have nothing against him. :shifty

[Volf]

Not sure why you wouldn't take someone seriously who has a forum name of poppa boner.

Thats legit yo.

fyi i have nothing against him. :shifty

I don't have anything against him either. He's just uber zealous about trying to make others think I have no idea what I'm talking about. Hard to do though when his daddy does all the work on his car.

I've had 3 e36's over 8 years. I think I have a pretty good feel as to what's going on with the chassis.

Whatever... I get a chuckle out of it. :)

[adm95m3]

OP your first lesson here would not to be to listen to anything this tard says. EVER.

+1. this is the same guy who told me to do an s50 swap on my 95 m3 as a mod. everyone knows that the 95 was the only year that came with an s50. TARD!

[Poppa Boner]

I've only had mine since '00.

Seat time on a forum is not equivalent to real seat time.

[reccakun08]

I know you said stock looking, but if you ever wanted to move up there are other options that match very well.

Here's my car:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/the_volfinator/IMG_0701.jpg


wtf hes got 2 helicopter bodies in his garage. BALLER!

[Volf]

wtf hes got 2 helicopter bodies in his garage. BALLER!

Those aren't shells dude. That's my old man's hanger. I fly for him during the summers.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/the_volfinator/Aviation/IMG_0622.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/the_volfinator/Aviation/IMG_0083.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/the_volfinator/Aviation/IMG_0627.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/the_volfinator/Aviation/2010-07-21163826.jpg


And of course, proper maintenance :D
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/the_volfinator/Aviation/IMG_0648.jpg


I've only had mine since '00.

Seat time on a forum is not equivalent to real seat time.

:rofl

Forgot how awesome you were, sorry.