92 325is m3 conversion

[kamikazi117]

Long story short, I picked up a rust free 92 325is out of Michigan. It doesn't need anything, hasn't been in any accidents. I put about 500 miles on it before getting bored of pretty much everything except the fact that I have a rust free e36 in the Chicagoland area. So I was able to locate a rusted out spray painted and poorly bondoed 98 m3 4 door that runs and drives for cheap. Brought it home and now the plan is to strip, refresh, powder coat, and install new bushings on everything from the m3 then start swapping out the standard 325is parts for the m3. Both are 5 speeds btw.

i used to be big into e34's (I've owned 6) and this is my first e36, and I have to say "WOW" these cars are way more fun.

325is:

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh186/derekm117/e36%20m3/47828833-D820-4DE4-B995-50F8FA2CCB58_zpsp2hhirq8.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh186/derekm117/e36%20m3/B47D0DC8-9678-4CBF-A79F-5CB30CB21286_zpscpem5xfk.jpg

this is the awful m3:

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh186/derekm117/e36%20m3/BF05BDB5-DE9C-4585-8A1A-E35CEE57A1EB_zpsmeavajga.jpg

[Smoky540i]

Awesome! I was actually interested in the m3 until the seller sent me some pics...if you don't mind, how much did you end up giving for it?

[Smoky540i]

Oh, and "rust free" and "Michigan" are rarely found in the same sentence so nice find on the 325is

[kamikazi117]

$2640 and the scariest drive home of my life. It was a week or so ago and right as I got their it started snowing like crazy. Of course the tires were slicks and the power steering pump is shot..... It took me an hour to get there and 4.5hrs to get home.

sadly the body just doesn't seem worth saving. It has bondo all over it that's not even been sanded smooth. Plus there's a pretty big rust hole on one of the front jacking points.

[Smoky540i]

$2640 and the scariest drive home of my life. It was a week or so ago and right as I got their it started snowing like crazy. Of course the tires were slicks and the power steering pump is shot..... It took me an hour to get there and 4.5hrs to get home.

sadly the body just doesn't seem worth saving. It has bondo all over it that's not even been sanded smooth. Plus there's a pretty big rust hole on one of the front jacking points.
Sounds scary! Glad you made it. Can't wait to see you mash these cars together...

[hotdish]

Long story short, I picked up a rust free 92 325is out of Michigan.

Wow, is it an original MI car? The rust free older BMW's I've seen up north are almost always convertibles, garaged during the winter.

I've been looking into this same swap, are you going to weld in the m3 chassis reinforcements to the '92?

[kamikazi117]

From what I know, I'm the third owner, the original owner was an elderly man that could no longer drive a manual. The second owner bought it because he had plans to turn it into a drift car, but he already had another project (1jz e30) that he needed cash for. I couldn't pass it up either since I got it for a steal at only $2000.

yea I plan on putting in the reinforcements, reinforcing the shock towers, and putting in a thick steel plate for where the jacking points are. I've been watching lots of how-to videos on making custom strut tower braces too.

[kamikazi117]

So currently I'm torn between what engine to use. A: I can sell the s52 and make a good return on my $2700 investment. Use the m50nv and buy another m50nv for $200. (Picknpulls are cheap around me) then rebuild the extra m50 to take 5-600whp boosted e85 daily. Swap that into the car then take the original m50 and build that block to mimic the other one incase of a disaster.

B: use the s52 and boost it later on down the road. And sell the m50nv

C: go crazy and swap the m60b30/5 that I have from my e34

[Smoky540i]

When you get ready to build your turbo system let me know and maybe I can shoot down to IN and help out with some dumb grease monkey skills

[kamikazi117]

So here's whats been done to this car so far


pulled the motor and everything else:

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh186/derekm117/e36%20m3/image_zpsuruh21fz.jpeg

Built this wooden roller to fix the 2 torn out subframe mounts:

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh186/derekm117/e36%20m3/image_zpsi8qpqb67.jpeg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh186/derekm117/e36%20m3/image_zpsm3xrlttu.jpeg

Rolled it over:

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh186/derekm117/e36%20m3/image_zpse81dkjcw.jpeg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh186/derekm117/e36%20m3/image_zpsttxwt4hh.jpeg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh186/derekm117/e36%20m3/image_zpsnfibko3b.jpeg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh186/derekm117/e36%20m3/image_zpsxo2fpl1x.jpeg


Fixed the subframe mounts and welded in reinforcments:

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh186/derekm117/e36%20m3/image_zpsrlxsdxmk.jpeg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh186/derekm117/e36%20m3/image_zps4fcsjtwo.jpeg

the engines been getting lots of work done also. I'm doing a m50nv stroker conversion with m54 internals.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh186/derekm117/e36%20m3/image_zpsqh6mmv3c.jpeg

also I've redone the front end with e46 meyle hd control arms, e90 inner tie rods, e36 outter tie rods, condor speed e46 conversion lollipop bushings, and brass caliper guide bushings.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh186/derekm117/e36%20m3/image_zpsmdj0s9sn.jpeg

[atlantisvip]

Damn. Last update was in Jan.. I have to give you props on that wood roller man. That is crazy. Good work man.