Bought my 95 M3, picking up tons of maintenance/replacement stuff...add your 2 cents!

[TC535i]

Well, I've started ordering everything. I expect the call any minute from my credit card company asking if these charges are authorized :rofl I'm going to be rebuilding the cooling system, and swapping the suspension over off my 318 (GC coilovers, swapped 96+ M3 hats/reinforcements, GC RSM's, eibach sway bars).

I just ordered...

Radiator/expansion tank
Water pump
Thermostat (79C)/aluminum housing
Belts/hoses
UUC red transmission mounts
stock motor mounts

Still need to order:

Treehouse LCAB
stock RTABs with urethane shims (limiters)



What else can you guys think of that might be a wear item, especially with regards to the cooling system or suspension? Obviously I want to do all the cooling stuff at once, and all the suspension together so I only pay for one alignment.

Anything else you guys would do to prep a car you just bought for track duty?

[ChosenGSR]

RSMs?

[TC535i]

RSMs?

rear shock mounts, common failure on E36, ignoring them could lead to torn rear shock tower sheetmetal

[mpwr enthuz]

I'm pretty sure he knows what RSMs are, he was referring to why they weren't on the list. The reason for which I'm assuming is that your swapping the ones off the 318 as you stated/

[Sadiq]

rear shock mounts, common failure on E36, ignoring them could lead to torn rear shock tower sheetmetal



i think he knows what those are, and was noting that you omitted them in your list.

[TC535i]

read the part about what I'm swapping over from the 318 ;)

[Sadiq]

oh wait, they're up in the first sentence

[nickdrivesm3]

Plugs (if they're 20$ each they're the right ones)
O2 sensor
Valve cover gasket (they suck, leak all the time).
Might as well do new tie rods, new control arms?
Shifter bushing (totally eliminates the sloppy feel)
Diff nose bushing (its kinda a lot of work but keeps that diff from lifting on hard accel)
Stainless Steel Brake lines?
Clutch slave cylinder ( mine just went out =/ )

Might as well just pull the head, replace the gasket and shave the head a little to bump compression. hehe

[TC535i]

Plugs (if they're 20$ each they're the right ones)
O2 sensor
Valve cover gasket (they suck, leak all the time).
Might as well do new tie rods, new control arms?
Shifter bushing (totally eliminates the sloppy feel)
Diff nose bushing (its kinda a lot of work but keeps that diff from lifting on hard accel)
Stainless Steel Brake lines?
Clutch slave cylinder ( mine just went out =/ )

Might as well just pull the head, replace the gasket and shave the head a little to bump compression. hehe
most of those things will come eventually, the only stuff I would do now would be the tie rods/control arms. I don't get a clunk so I don't think the arms are bad or anything, and I don't really want to spend another $400 I don't have to. :dunno If I put the car up and they're shot tho, that'll happen before the alignment.

O2 I should do at some point, forgot about that. I'll get plugs eventually, probably Iridiums or something. I've got a Z4 lever and all new bushings/clips and I'm going to get the UUC carrier bushing, so that should take care of that stuff.

replacing a slave will kill a used main usually, and vice versa... I'll probably do those when I do the clutch (I have a Fidanza and Carolina Clutches organic lying around).

valve cover isn't leaking, I'll hold out on that till I need to change it, or I'll do it with the headgasket if that happens first.

brakes are going to get a full assessment once I get the suspension sorted out and the cooling system swapped, and a couple new tires put on... Haven't been driving it hard enough to really figure out the brakes condition in the shape the car's in.

[NeonStatus]

Just wondering how much its going to cost and how much time you estimate to do all that maintenance on your car.

[Volf]

power steering hoses

[TC535i]

Just wondering how much its going to cost and how much time you estimate to do all that maintenance on your car.

between the stuff I just bought and the stuff I need to buy shortly (lcab/rtab/shims), I'm looking at ~$1,000. I figure I can get the cooling system done in a day, suspension will hopefully be a weekend (2 or 3 days) because I need to take stuff off one car and install it on the other.

[TC535i]

power steering hoses

rack is new, I didn't look at the hoses closely tho. I think my pump might be damaged, get a slight vibration at ~1,000 rpm... nothing serious tho, and it goes away at RPM's above that, so I only notice it (barely, at that) coming off stops.

[nickdrivesm3]

most of those things will come eventually, the only stuff I would do now would be the tie rods/control arms. I don't get a clunk so I don't think the arms are bad or anything, and I don't really want to spend another $400 I don't have to. :dunno If I put the car up and they're shot tho, that'll happen before the alignment.

O2 I should do at some point, forgot about that. I'll get plugs eventually, probably Iridiums or something. I've got a Z4 lever and all new bushings/clips and I'm going to get the UUC carrier bushing, so that should take care of that stuff.

replacing a slave will kill a used main usually, and vice versa... I'll probably do those when I do the clutch (I have a Fidanza and Carolina Clutches organic lying around).

valve cover isn't leaking, I'll hold out on that till I need to change it, or I'll do it with the headgasket if that happens first.

brakes are going to get a full assessment once I get the suspension sorted out and the cooling system swapped, and a couple new tires put on... Haven't been driving it hard enough to really figure out the brakes condition in the shape the car's in.

I dont have a clunk either and I have 195k on stock arms and rods. However, my co-worker installed new arms and rods on his E36 M3and he said it was amazing. Maybe with those treehouse bushings, it'll feel even better.

Sounds like the car is in good shape, can't wait to see it in action.

[ChosenGSR]

read the part about what I'm swapping over from the 318 ;)

my bad, was looking at the list alone.

[martz]

power steering hoses

and reservoir- has a internal filter , a clogged filter will cause hoses to leak again

[camshaft]

Does your build date have the weak valve retainers? If you decide to pull the head for any reason I'd get those changed. Makes you feel more confident in the upper rpm's.

Austin

[Richy Gonzalez]

I've also recently replace the belt pulleys (qty 3) and the guibo. ...Oh, and put a SSK from understeer.com too while doing the guibo :)

[TC535i]

Does your build date have the weak valve retainers? If you decide to pull the head for any reason I'd get those changed. Makes you feel more confident in the upper rpm's.

Austin

It's a VERY late '95, I'm not sure. I'll be doing them at the headgasket, we'll see if that gets done this winter as preventative maintenance. :dunno

[TC535i]

I've also recently replace the belt pulleys (qty 3) and the guibo. ...Oh, and put a SSK from understeer.com too while doing the guibo :)

Stock pullies or aftermarket? Haven't looked into machined bits much, gonna run a fidanza fly if that matters (no lightweight crank pulley, right?)

[94is]

Does your build date have the weak valve retainers? If you decide to pull the head for any reason I'd get those changed. Makes you feel more confident in the upper rpm's.

Austin
I discovered two slightly broken '96+ retainers when I had my head off again this summer. I have never over-reved my car. I wasn't too impressed.

[94is]

Here ya go. :( Luckily they didn't completely fail.

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/1876/brokenretainersku6.jpg

[Richy Gonzalez]

Stock pullies or aftermarket? Haven't looked into machined bits much, gonna run a fidanza fly if that matters (no lightweight crank pulley, right?)


Not crank pulley but the 3 pulleys that holds the both the belts in place. The there's is on pulley on the AC belt and 2 on the main belt, one of which is by the alternator. On mine, the plastic wheel had broken off and the mount was the only thing left. The AC pulley had a small piece missing from it. All which being 12 year old plastic that finally had to be removed. FYI, it was very simple!

[JETninja]

Those are Keepers, not the pancake looking Retainers.

I hope you got the 3-Row M-Coupe radiator, its a cheap upgrade that drops in and gives you nice boost in cooling reserve. FDM too since you doing it all, might as well. I've done two SoCal bumper to bumper 405fwy summers with mine, love it.

[TC535i]

Those are Keepers, not the pancake looking Retainers.

I hope you got the 3-Row M-Coupe radiator, its a cheap upgrade that drops in and gives you nice boost in cooling reserve. FDM too since you doing it all, might as well. I've done two SoCal bumper to bumper 405fwy summers with mine, love it.

Didn't know about it, bought stock to tide me over a couple years, maybe I'll do all-aluminum at that point, maybe M-coupe. FDM is coming off the 318, got a puller fan, wiring harness, and the low temp rad sensor.

[L3000C]

Here ya go. :( Luckily they didn't completely fail.

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/1876/brokenretainersku6.jpg

those aren't retainers.....those are keepers...i don't see how those could break......doesn't seem like its possible. The spring doesn't touch them, and the whole purpose of those is to push against the valve, and the retainer......weird.

these are retainers:
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9513/steelvalveseatxt2.jpg


honestly if your car was a 10/95 or higher, i wouldnt worry about it....

and even if it was before then, i still wouldnt worry that much over it....


but if for some reason you decide that IT MUST GET DONE!, then maybe some side cash could be saved up, and maybe some cams while your there to make it worth while lol.

[Volf]

Wow. I just read through the thread and I'm quite surprised to find this tid bit missing. I know a lot of us just don't do it because of the work involved (I know I've neglected it) but....


Oil pump nut fix

[Makr]

Carbon fibre strut brace.

[TC535i]

Carbon fibre strut brace.

sparco bar is coming over from the 318




but I can put lots of cf weave stickers on stuff ok

[94is]

Carbon fibre strut brace.
For me to poop on.

[Patrón]

sounds like you're building a nice car my friend.

[TC535i]

Here ya go. :( Luckily they didn't completely fail.

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/1876/brokenretainersku6.jpgWould this be a good alternative to stock?

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/image/engine/engine_e36_ferrea_seats_lg.jpg

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=SL1021

[TC535i]

sounds like you're building a nice car my friend.

95s are for lamers ok

[Volf]

95s are for lamers ok

:werd: