the grip missile. chronicling the sadventures of a neglected M3

[doktor b]

Any ideas for the next project?

Oh buddy.
it's already planned out.

[doktor b]

long time, no actual update.

primarily because i've been at work more than any other single thing the past month....and next month is going to be even worse.
however, i was off all day yesterday and i took the opportunity to get something done on the M3.

so here's how it went.

set the 3.91 on the bench and tried to figure out how TF i was going to get to the seals to replace them. there was no indication of leaks. but i figured i have it on the bench, and i have seals, may as well do some preventative maintenance. i know, who is this guy?


did some googling and figured it out.


here are some seals i bought for an e30 several years ago.
turns out they're the exact same part numbers as e36 (medium case - medium case)
AND they're genuine BMW. *again. very un-scumbag-ish like you, the faithful reader, have some to expect.


output flange seal (stub axle)


i had planned on doing this work at work, with the lift and more tools, but i ended up doing this all at home. so i had to get creative when it came time to press in the new seals. some digging through my cabinets and misc. storage yielded an audi 2.7tt timing belt roller that was the exact right size. hooray!



a careful application of pressure (hammer)


and voila!


at this point, i had drawn quite weary as i'd forgotten all about lunch. so a quick respite was in order. #healthfood


this is where things get dirty. #nsfw


and a general overview of my workspace.


fast forward about 90 minutes (mostly spent cleaning that horribly filthy rear cover) and this happened.


did i mention that this diff has the welded-on double shear reinforcement? #notaselfie




when i was all done, i was reviewing my pictures and found this.


i found this and i texted Mike. (the gentleman who sold me the diff) he said it's nbd and not to worry. well, i was already ahead of him. i found two cylinder head bolt washers from my vast collection of [generally useless] hardware and installed them in the void. i felt better. *no pics. use your imagination.*

test drive confirmed the diff is still limiting slip and that 3.91 is way more friendly to drive than 3.23. wish i'd have done this earlier and worried about it less. i spent countless hours on my Tremec app comparing diff ratios at all speeds and engine speeds trying to determine what would be ideal. i can safely say that 3.91 is it.

oh yeah.
i got new wheels.


i only got the fronts installed. need to get some different spacers and raise the car a smidge and i'll get some pics.
so far, i like them more than i thought i would.

[doktor b]

went outside and took some quick snaps.

new wheels on the front.
same old Advans out back.






going to have to raise it a smidge. on full compression, the tires get up into the top of the wheel wells up front now. (never did this on the Advans with smaller tires.) pretty bummed. but if it helps it sell, so be it.

[Vitaliy]

Let's open a discussion.
I'm anxious to get the new project going but don't have the cash on hand to do so until the M3 sells.
i usually part cars out. I'm not terribly experienced selling whole cars.

what would you guys see changed on the M3 to make it more appealing?

it's getting the SSRs and freshly painted kidneys put in tomorrow or Saturday.
the diff will be the next project.
then the sunroof plug.

would interior make it more appealing? I feel like no. But it's pretty clear I don't think like most folks.

throw an old dog a bone.

TIA

To answer your question about what would make it more appealing.

Well, unless you can convert it back to stock, there is really nothing you can do. $13k buys you a clean, unmolested e36 m3 or even an e46 m3 for that matter. What i see here and maybe many others, is an impractical, hacked up car that will not even be able to be registered in my state without getting historic tags. Like you said, its basically an ls swap with sheet metal wrapped around it. Your best bet is to part it out. If you wait long enough, you may find someone looking for a drift or track car that is specifically an e36 with an ls swap (not easy to do). You can try bat, but i have a feeling it will either be rejected or you will not come to an agreement on reserve price.

Again, this is just my opinion. You have no obligation to agree to it. With that said, i hope you can either sell it or part it out and get back atleast the current asking price. Good luck.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

[doktor b]

To answer your question about what would make it more appealing.

Well, unless you can convert it back to stock, there is really nothing you can do. $13k buys you a clean, unmolested e36 m3 or even an e46 m3 for that matter. What i see here and maybe many others, is an impractical, hacked up car that will not even be able to be registered in my state without getting historic tags. Like you said, its basically an ls swap with sheet metal wrapped around it. Your best bet is to part it out. If you wait long enough, you may find someone looking for a drift or track car that is specifically an e36 with an ls swap (not easy to do). You can try bat, but i have a feeling it will either be rejected or you will not come to an agreement on reserve price.

Again, this is just my opinion. You have no obligation to agree to it. With that said, i hope you can either sell it or part it out and get back atleast the current asking price. Good luck.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

you live in MD. that is the only state in the Union i've been to that tickets, tows, and impounds cars that are legally registered in other states because they just don't like them. i don't know how anyone there would be able to register anything older than about 3 years and certainly nothing modified.
impractical is debatable.
hacked up is offensive.
thanks for your time/response.

to everyone else, i'm working 38 shifts in these 31 days of August. so i sincerely doubt i'll be getting much work done to the M3 until September.
sorry to be boring, but my early October vacation isn't paying for itself.
the car is still for sale. so if anyone knows anyone looking for an absolute riot and a helluva deal, send them my way.
d-r-b out!

[doktor b]

posted the car FS on stanceworks recently and now on LS1Tech.
http://www.stanceworks.com/forums/sh...ianapolis-area
https://ls1tech.com/forums/vehicle-c...ianapolis.html

tell your friends, plz

[notMpowered]

I hope it sells as is and you don't have to deal with the hassle of parting it. It seems like a cool car that could be genuinely amazing with someone who's actually in love with it finishing up the details.
I want to see you get that porsche. I'm hoping to do the same, but there isn't a chance in hell I'm selling my e36 to do it.

[doktor b]

I hope it sells as is and you don't have to deal with the hassle of parting it. It seems like a cool car that could be genuinely amazing with someone who's actually in love with it finishing up the details.
I want to see you get that porsche. I'm hoping to do the same, but there isn't a chance in hell I'm selling my e36 to do it.

Thanks!
In a perfect world, I'd keep the M for track use (or just to beat on savagely). But Funds and space are always at a premium around my house. It'd be a shame to have the M sit broken/unused/both because I'm focused on the other car. This way, it can bring joy to someone else.

or I part it and relegate it solely to memory.

[Novablue454]

are you in the "bmw ls swaps" group on facebook? I see people in there looking for swapped e36s all the time.

[doktor b]

are you in the "bmw ls swaps" group on facebook? I see people in there looking for swapped e36s all the time.

I quit the damned FB a year ago. I almost rejoined to see if I could find a buyer.
Now I may have to after all.


I hate FB so hard.

[tptrsn]

You can use a completely false name that bears no resemblance to you or anything about you, so that you can be on there for your very limited purpose. I can verify it works! Lol

Drifting action around me seems to only be announced on bookface, so I had to bite the bullet too...

[TH3 Shifty]

i may have missed it but what is the other car you are working on? sorry to see you put all that time and energy in it and have to sell it

[doktor b]

You can use a completely false name that bears no resemblance to you or anything about you, so that you can be on there for your very limited purpose. I can verify it works! Lol

Drifting action around me seems to only be announced on bookface, so I had to bite the bullet too...

pseudonym for sure.

i may have missed it but what is the other car you are working on? sorry to see you put all that time and energy in it and have to sell it

i intend to purchase an impact bumper 911 if/when the M3 sells.

[lbennyboobool]

I quit the damned FB a year ago. I almost rejoined to see if I could find a buyer.
Now I may have to after all.


I hate FB so hard.

agreed FB blah!!!

my friend sold his ls swapped e36 M in the RveLimted group I believe within a couple days. Granted his sold for $8500 and wasn't the car yours is, but it might help you out some.

Seems like this forum is slowly dyeing

[doktor b]

agreed FB blah!!!

my friend sold his ls swapped e36 M in the RveLimted group I believe within a couple days. Granted his sold for $8500 and wasn't the car yours is, but it might help you out some.

Seems like this forum is slowly dyeing

It seems most forums are dying. It's a real tragedy IMO. Lots of knowledge potentially going to waste.
I'm glad most of the f#ckery has moved to social media. But those idiots occasionally buy stuff too.

[tptrsn]

No love over on LS1Tech yet?

[doktor b]

No love over on LS1Tech yet?

no love on LS1Tech, StanceWorks, BF.c.
feeling pretty unloved in general. lol

[tptrsn]

Damn...

I still love you though.

Somehow I bet that helps not one little bit! Lol

[doktor b]

Damn...

I still love you though.

Somehow I bet that helps not one little bit! Lol

ha! it's way better than nothing! i've learnt to take my wins where i can get 'em!

[TH3 Shifty]

I've noticed a small trend lately of modified cars not being picked up lately. Everyone seems to want the "rare" or sought after cars for investing purposes, same with Porsche and BMW ever since the e30 M3 started to skyrocket. Such as the guy who wanted the automatic transmission on that e36 M3 and didn't want the swapped 6speed cause it "wasn't original ".

Also lately there has been a huge jump in the new car market with new fangled technology and horsepower that most are opting for. Hence more DYI'ers are becoming rare, such as motor swaps. Not like it was 5-10yrs ago

[doktor b]

It might not be the forums, I've noticed a small trend lately of modified cars not being picked up lately. Everyone seems to want the "rare" or sought after cars for investing purposes, same with Porsche and BMW ever since the e30 M3 started to skyrocket. Also lately there has been a huge jump in the new car market with new fangled technology and horsepower that most are opting for. Hence more DYI'ers are becoming rare, such as motor swaps. Not like it was 5-10yrs ago

I hadn't considered that previously. But you're 100% right.

[squashman702]

It seems most forums are dying. It's a real tragedy IMO. Lots of knowledge potentially going to waste.
I'm glad most of the f#ckery has moved to social media. But those idiots occasionally buy stuff too.

It's a huge loss, especially considering the format on Facebook. It's also good to know post count (sometimes) and previous posts or threads before you take someone's advice.

[tptrsn]

I finally really looked at BringATrailer. You gonna try it?

[doktor b]

I finally really looked at BringATrailer. You gonna try it?

idk. I'm currently looking for a buyer for the motor and trans.
if I get those sold, I'm just gonna part out the whole car.

[tptrsn]

No kidding? Damn...