For $500...

[flametail]

If you had $500 to spend on your car, what would you buy? I am taking a cruise in June and my mom pulled me and my bro aside yesterday and said that she was gonna give us each $500 to spend on our cars...and only our cars...so what would you buy. I have a 95 318Ti, BTW.

[CrazyCoder]

If you had $500 to spend on your car, what would you buy? I am taking a cruise in June and my mom pulled me and my bro aside yesterday and said that she was gonna give us each $500 to spend on our cars...and only our cars...so what would you buy. I have a 95 318Ti, BTW.

M50 swap. :D

Honestly, if my parent's gave me $500 to spend on my car... then I'd get suspension stuff.

[Bluebimma]

The rest of the back end of the car.....:shifty

But yea, m50. LOL.

Id do all the little things that big differences. Tint, SS clutch line, UUC tranny mounts, lowering springs, shadow kidneys, ddmtuning headlights+hids, and a detailing kit to clay bar the car, good wash, wax and full interior detail.

[flametail]

A swap is planned for the future...but for now it will be smaller mods for performance and looks.

[flametail]

Id do all the little things that big differences. Tint, SS clutch line, UUC tranny mounts, lowering springs, shadow kidneys, ddmtuning headlights+hids, and a detailing kit to clay bar the car, good wash, wax and full interior detail.

The tint is done (20%) courtesy of my fiance/b-day. lol. I have Projector36's w/ 6000K HIDs...they are ok but will be replaced after awhile. What springs would you suggest? My shocks are about shot anyways so I need replacements so is there a complete kit you would suggest?

[Bluebimma]

Well, if youre going to do a swap, id recommend a 6cyl front setup. I have H&R m3 race springs up front, Intrax 328 rear springs for an even lower stance than the ti kit, and will be using 328 sport front Monroe struts and Mroadster shocks in the back for the shorter, stiffer valving. My springs were 100$ and the struts/shocks are 235 shipped with warranty brand new.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o305/bluebimma/PICT0001-4.jpg
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o305/bluebimma/Picture022.jpg
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o305/bluebimma/Picture019.jpg

[bmw318is1994]

brakes (rotors, pads, lines, maybe upgraded calipers?) would be another good mod if you are planning on go fast parts later. suspension as stated already...springs/struts/shocks/camber and caster re-adjustments. that's my 2 cents. If you are planning on go fast parts later down the road...it would be nice to be able to stop and steer still..

[flametail]

The swap wont come for awhile. Do you have the UUC tranny mounts installed? What do they do? I looked it up but I want to hear real world experience. What SS brake lines do you use?

[Bluebimma]

The UUC mounts are stiffer but i havent bought my set yet but from what ive been told, from people who have bought them, shift selection is easier and the drivetrain doesnt move around as much. SS lines you can get from anywhere. Bloodrunsdry runs Balo blank rotors and Green Stuff pads and hasnt had any problems stopping in his 325ti. I have m3 brakes on my car which is overkill but hell, who doesnt want big brakes. lol

[bmw318is1994]

http://www.bavauto.com

124.95 for the full set of SS brake lines for your ti.

If you catch them at the right time they are around 100 sometimes cheaper.

[bmw318is1994]

The UUC mounts are stiffer but i havent bought my set yet but from what ive been told, from people who have bought them, shift selection is easier and the drivetrain doesnt move around as much. SS lines you can get from anywhere. Bloodrunsdry runs Balo blank rotors and Green Stuff pads and hasnt had any problems stopping in his 325ti. I have m3 brakes on my car which is overkill but hell, who doesnt want big brakes. lol


I'd rather have overkill for brakes than not enough!!!!!!:redspot

[flametail]

I loves me some big brakes! lol. I'm having a problem with shifting anyways...when I stop at a red light and let out on the clutch its kinda hard to put it back into first...would this maybe fix that or is there a bigger issue there?

[Bluebimma]

Could solve it but unlikely, thats most likely a clutch assembly issue.

[flametail]

damn...

[flametail]

I don't think my wheels are big enough to fit the M3 system just yet, I plan on eventually getting 18s so I can stand to wait for brakes until then. Would I be better off getting a full suspension kit, coilovers, or piece one together?

[Bluebimma]

Kits can get expensive but you can get a lot of feedback from others who have used them. Coilovers definately seem like overkill for most instances unless you know how to dial in setting to fine tune the suspension characteristics but even then, youd need to adjust camber/toe/caster (if you have the aftermarket equipment to do so) which would be a pain to try and stay in spec so you dont chew your tires away.

As far as piece mealing your suspension, thats what i did/am doing. Theres nothing wrong with it, but you need to do more research to make sure its good.

[flametail]

328 sport front Monroe struts and Mroadster shocks in the back

I have the base model Ti so what 6 cyl suspensions would fit?

[Bluebimma]

Any of them.

[flametail]

I don't want my car as low as yours is so would I need to go with different springs? Who has a good aftermarket camber/toe kit?

[Bluebimma]

H&R sports are about a 1.5" drop which isnt really aggressive, but will pull the car down so there is about .75-1" of a gap.

[flametail]

Is that with your 17's?

[Bluebimma]

Any e36 wheel. Theyre all the same size unless you buy the wrong spec tire for the rim.

[flametail]

I might have to hit you up on your offer about the springs shocks then. How do they deal when it comes to bumpy roads? I don't plan on going through many but just in case I don't want to be thrown around. The stuff you are selling is the 6 cyl suspension, correct?

[Bluebimma]

Im not selling anything, thats how much i picked mine up for and quoted for brand new equipment from rockauto.com.

[flametail]

oh, ok, thanks for clearing that up. What year, model did you use to search?

[tam328isport]

m50 manifold.

[Bluebimma]

m50 manifold.
:dunno ..........:nono .......................:lol

[Bluebimma]

oh, ok, thanks for clearing that up. What year, model did you use to search?

The mroadsters/coupe have out same rear suspension but have shorter and stiffer valving, so i knew i wanted a set of those. I then talked to some track guys and did some research and the 328 sport struts are the stiffest, shortest valved strut besides buying a bilstein m3 strut. the 328 struts are also only 78$ or something like that. The mroadys are only 20 or so.

[flametail]

Well, I think I have figured out what I want:

UUC Black tranny mounts: $70
UUC SS Clutch line: $29
UUC Evo 3 shift kit: $325

Everything w/ shipping: $436.95...$63.05 left! lol

[Bluebimma]

I hope you like it, thats a lot of money for so little of parts. lol

[damone6969]

ide go get hella drunk

[Bluebimma]

That sounds like a hella waste of free money.

[damone6969]

better than a waste of my own?"

[Bluebimma]

Seeing as how not everyone catches a free 500 to splooge on their car, id definately make better use of it than alcohol.

[beskhu3epnm]

Seriously? You want to spend $500 on something that will not improve the dynamics of the car one bit? I'm sure that short shift kit will take your 0-60mph time from 11.3 seconds to 11.1.

You could do some serious work and make the car a blast to drive, mainly with the suspension - as Bluebimma has pointed out. If you are handy with used parts, you could source a LOT of things to put on your car for that kind of money.

The E36... especially the M42/44 was never designed for speed. Save that stuff for last.

Go with the chassis' strong point and make it handle properly. Either that, or tuck that money away for some future repairs. Guaranteed to happen. After 4 years, ask me how I know.

[Pswirley]

I don't want my car as low as yours is so would I need to go with different springs? Who has a good aftermarket camber/toe kit?


Yeah Tony,

I dont want my car as low as yours either. LOL.



Suspension>All

[456meyer]

Well, if youre going to do a swap, id recommend a 6cyl front setup. I have H&R m3 race springs up front, Intrax 328 rear springs for an even lower stance than the ti kit, and will be using 328 sport front Monroe struts and Mroadster shocks in the back for the shorter, stiffer valving. My springs were 100$ and the struts/shocks are 235 shipped with warranty brand new.



where did your springs, struts/shocks come from?

[freakgeek]

heres a good mod, I might be a little more than $500 though
http://www.bornrich.org/images/jet-car_12.jpg

[Pswirley]

I knew it was crap but I still clicked and I still laughed.

[freakgeek]

well, I am known for the quality of my crap

[flametail]

I will have a summer job so piecing together my suspension could be done with money earned...I figured since it was free money I would spend it on fairly expensive bits, and I figured that since i'm already getting a new boot and knob, why not just replace everything while i'm at it. lol.

[Pswirley]

Then whats the point in asking our opinion. Sounds like your mind is made up.

[Ryond]

II would get a Complete Maintenance check up. (Spark plugs, diff fluids, transmittion fluids, coolant flash, replace gaskets, top and bottom radiator hoses, oil change, wheel alignment and balance. The works). maybe a new clutch? or a suspension refresh. or maybe work on your interior and sound system if your into that stuff.

[Quailane]

I would buy a beater.

[metale]

x-brace + front sway bar + maintenance...

[Bluebimma]

where did your springs, struts/shocks come from?

THe for sale forum and rockauto.com

[flametail]

Then whats the point in asking our opinion. Sounds like your mind is made up.

Just in case I come up with another $500 :D But I hadn't had my mind made up until I was looking around and found the forum about the short shifters...still not guaranteed to stay that way though because I change my mind more than my underwear. lol.:alright

[Bluebimma]

I still say buy the rest of your car. :shifty

[Bluebimma]

I still dont see why you want to pay so damn much for so little. For example, you can always pick crap up like this...

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=963156

[flametail]

I'm definitely gonna check the forums before I buy anything, but I still have 2 months before I have ca$h in hand.

[flametail]

Pswirley: I noticed in a thread that you are running 18's...I love your stance you have so I was wondering what suspension setup you are running.

[Bluebimma]

Mr Swirley is just about as low as i am.

[reds6960639]

Save it. Then you'll be 500.00 closer to that swap you're thinking about, in the future.

[flametail]

Mr Swirley is just about as low as i am.

I didn't notice until I looked harder at your thread...oops :(. How much do your tires run for your 17's? What about rubbing? any?

[Bluebimma]

My fronts were only 50 from a local and the rears i bought from a shop because i blew my old tires out and that was ~200. I dont have any rubbing.

[flametail]

my?