Bmw e36 m3

[tmswell]

Thanks folks! No polishing/waxing, I guess it's just California! We're so lucky.

@tmswell - I think I pm'd back, but my sent messages don't show anything. Let me know

[TheDukeGTi]

About time for an update? I’ve mainly just been driving the thing. Getting out and enjoying these Bay Area roads as often as I can. As well as working on the photography side. Hopefully you enjoy the pics. Any feedback would be very welcome.


I went to Cars and coffee SF again recently. However, this time I was joined by my friend who owns a Tesla. Some of the reactions to an EV at a car show were pretty funny, even here in SF! But the best part of the day was the drive after, introducing him to my favourite spots.


Some shots of the show: https://flic.kr/s/aHskyjuxqa


Otherwise, some parked up at Alices. A place I seem to frequent most weeks. The roads are astonishing.


DSC_0319 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DSC_0325 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DSC_0328 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DSC_0317 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DSC_0321 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DSC_0322 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


Shame about the gas truck in the background, but hey ho, maybe next time.


I’ve also made an effort to attend my first BMWCCA (Car Club of America) event; the East Bay Cars & Coffee. Great bunch of like-minded folks with some very pretty cars. Two highlights; a new M3 Individual which was very very nice.


DSC_0343 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


…and my personal fav. Something I’ve been very excited to sit in (as my expression would suggest):


DSC_0337 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr




The rest of the photos from the event can be found here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskyorWqL


One of mine at the event:


DSC_0361 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


Which brings me on to todays activities. Those headlights. They are the biggest let down on the front end (followed closely by the dent in the nose panel, and that front plate, which although blanked for internet, I can assure you it’s awful). One of the very first things I bought for this car was a Meguires headlight restoration kit; a kit that, after today, I would very much recommend.


Here’s how they started today:


DSC_0378 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DSC_0375 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


During (actually almost done):
DSC_0381 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DSC_0383 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


Done:


DSC_0387 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DSC_0390 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DSC_0393 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


I hope you agree, it looks transformed! 10 years younger! Which is good since it turns 20 this year. I thought, since the headlights cleaned up so well, the rest had better get a quick going-over too. Then more pics, cos, well, everyone love them.


DSC_0395 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DSC_0398 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DSC_0400 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DSC_0404 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DSC_0409 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DSC_0415 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DSC_0418 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DSC_0414 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr




I still have that steering wheel to change, I just chickened out again today. Which makes 2 chicken-outs so far. Maybe I’ll get to it next time.

[mazdabish]

For the center console shift surround trim piece, did you just peel all the wood trim off of it and cleaned the residue/glue left over? Or did you actually switch it out for a black one from a non-Luxury Package car? It looks pretty good if you did the former, I might have to do the same on mine.

And forgot to ask but what camera/lens are you using? The pics look great, definitely better than a cell phone camera.

[TheDukeGTi]

For the center console shift surround trim piece, did you just peel all the wood trim off of it and cleaned the residue/glue left over? Or did you actually switch it out for a black one from a non-Luxury Package car? It looks pretty good if you did the former, I might have to do the same on mine.

And forgot to ask but what camera/lens are you using? The pics look great, definitely better than a cell phone camera.

At first I did remove the wood trim, which was not easy, with the aim of wrapping it, but frankly I over-estimated my talent for crafts. So I just ended up buying a non-lux one.

The camera is a Nikon D3200 with the standard 18-55mm lens it came with. Just a bit of colour and light tweaking really bring them to life.

Thanks!

[TheDukeGTi]

Evening all, it’s been a tough couple of months for the M3.


It all started with a knocking developing at the back. I couldn’t work out where this was coming from, and in my efforts to diagnose, stumbled upon this:







The eagle-eyed of you may notice the cracking; the strut towers are a pretty well documented as being a weak point on the E36. I took the car to a local BMW specialist for a full checkover. They stated that the possible cause of the knock was the rear top mounts, and also came back with a raft of other issues, mostly stuff that can be taken care of at my leisure, but a couple of things that required fairly swift action. The exhaust hangers needed replacing, and the clutch hose was ’seeping’.


Both were changed and the car was booked in somewhere different for the welding.


Memorial day weekend, and a few days before the welding was due to be done (an hours drive away), I went to reverse out of a parking space, and the clutch dropped to the floor. Having had the flex host changed just a few days before, I was certain that the fix was inadequate, and that the garage would fix this. Turns out that the additional pressure from a functioning flex hose had caused a failure in the clutch master cylinder. So the car was recovered (at my cost) to the garage who proceeded to change the aforementioned master cylinder, as well as the slave.





The next day, the strut tower crack was welded and both were reinforced at a local metal fabricators - TC Design. They came highly recommended, and they did a fantastic job. I got them to change the top mounts too as they were the main suspect of the rear-end-knock. They were changed for E46 M3 items, and the knock was subsequently fixed.


Strut Tower reinforcement by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


So all this has been a bit of a downer on the car. I’ve considered selling up, but frankly there’s really nothing much else that I want within my reach. It does drive very well now too. The clutch has a great feel, and there are zero rattles, which has to be rare for an E36.


I decided to do a couple of other little things to cheer me up.


Firstly, the drivers seat was getting progressively worse on the bolster, there is also a tear across the width of the base, on both the front seats, presumably due to the leather hardening, which will require some more care, but for now the bolster can be prettied up a little. I bought a leather(-like) patch from Amazon that I was hoping would at least tidy the area up a little, it was past repair anyway.
Before:



After:
Seat Repair by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


Interior by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


Not bad!


I also decided to pull the trigger on a Clarion FZ102E. Having researched for hours trying to find a semi-oem-looking solution that (at least) had USB playback, I settled on this. It’d been sat in my eBay watch list for a couple of months, and was delivered from London. The previous headunit, was good, but I couldn’t see the damn thing in the sun and I don’t like the flashy lights. So it had to go.


Anyway, it’s pretty basic, and the operation of it is clunky, but it looks good, which is kind of what matters to me. It also sounds respectable too:


BMW E36 Clarion FZ102E by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


BMW E36 Clarion FZ102E by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


I also wanted to try a front plate delete. Not something I’m running daily, but perhaps for shows.


BMW front plate delete by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr




Finally, I found this cool little product while browsing around. Turns out that the boot/trunk latch can crack on these, especially spoiler-less boots. This re-enforces the latch. As you can see, mine was pretty good to start with, but I installed it anyway.


DSC_0464 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DTP Reinforcement by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DTP Reinforcement by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr




So, that’s it for now. Just picked it up from an oil change service yesterday. Got a few more things I want to do soon. But it’s re-enforced now.

[107corners]

looks great. love the 'yellow filter' coastal picture

[TheDukeGTi]

Thanks!

[CblockM3]

Car is looking good man. Any idea if you can play music through an iPhone using usb on that clarion?

[TheDukeGTi]

Thanks! No you can't play directly from the phone through USB, but it does charge my 6, and there's an aux input obv.

[CblockM3]

Thanks! No you can't play directly from the phone through USB, but it does charge my 6, and there's an aux input obv.

awesome, thanks for the info! I've always loved the way that deck looks.

[95RedBMWe36M50]

So I'm looking at your M3 and I do not believe it's a true M3. Sorry to be the delivery of bad news, but all American M3's had rocker panel creases that extended over each other. I believe it's an M3 clone with all the M3 bits added to make it look like an M3. Look at notMpowered's car, you can see what the rocker panels look like. my guess is you have a 328i Sport that has been cloned to look like an M3. Run the vin number and you'll be able to verify.

[BleedsBlue]

So I'm looking at your M3 and I do not believe it's a true M3. Sorry to be the delivery of bad news, but all American M3's had rocker panel creases that extended over each other. I believe it's an M3 clone with all the M3 bits added to make it look like an M3. Look at notMpowered's car, you can see what the rocker panels look like. my guess is you have a 328i Sport that has been cloned to look like an M3. Run the vin number and you'll be able to verify.

Can't tell if serious or not...

Ignoring the fact that rocker panels are extraordinarily easy to swap out, this is a Luxury Package M3, which had different rockers (and the body-colored slats in the front bumper, and as standard no front bumper lip).

No need to "run the VIN", either, since all Ms start with WBS and all non-Ms WBA.

[usedunderwear]

Sorry to hear about your recent issues with the car but glad you attended to them and fixing it up

Great work once again and the pictures are great quality. You have a sagging glove box issue btw

[TheDukeGTi]

Thanks folks, it's getting there...and yeah, the glovebox is on the list.

Oh, and it's definitely an M3.

[usedunderwear]

Thanks folks, it's getting there...and yeah, the glovebox is on the list.

Oh, and it's definitely an M3.

[CblockM3]

So I'm looking at your M3 and I do not believe it's a true M3. Sorry to be the delivery of bad news, but all American M3's had rocker panel creases that extended over each other. I believe it's an M3 clone with all the M3 bits added to make it look like an M3. Look at notMpowered's car, you can see what the rocker panels look like. my guess is you have a 328i Sport that has been cloned to look like an M3. Run the vin number and you'll be able to verify.

lmao it's a lux package sideskirt. Definitely an m3.

[TheDukeGTi]

Hey folks! Another quick update on the M3 progress.


A couple of months ago, I was invited for a driving weekend away with a friend of mine and his buddies; a trip they do every year and have named “car guy cruise”. Incredible weekend of driving sparsely populated roads that carve through the Northern California mountains. Some of the best driving I’ve ever experienced. The cars I accompanied were also cool, top of my list is my friends 300ZX twin turbo; the sound!


Anyway, having just ticked over 200k; ~4x the mileage of the other machinery and a broken fuel gauge (later fixed with some fuel cleaner), the M3 really held it’s own, and shone on those twisty mountain roads. Enough wittering, pictures. You can see the whole album here, should you so please: https://flic.kr/s/aHskLhZ2Dq


else:


Guy car cruise 2016 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


Guy car cruise 2016 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


Guy car cruise 2016 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


Guy car cruise 2016 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr




So I’ve generally been enjoying the car. I’ve had my ups and downs. Thoughts of selling, then keeping; changing by the day. I took it to a dent clinic run by BMWCCA last weekend in the hope of fixing the dent in the nose panel. Having taken grilles and headlights out, surrounded by fellow members, he didn’t manage to fix it. Fix one thing, find two more. But I genuinely find myself growing more and more attached to the thing. It’s plenty fast for anything I need it for. It’s raw and exciting enough, more-so than an E46, which honestly I’d love to own, but have also heard are way more expensive than the E36, especially the US variant.


So in the spirit of all this, I decided to to pull my finger out and finally change that steering wheel. A pic of ‘before’ for your viewing pleasure:
DSC_0247 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


Ripped. Ugly.


I used the following guide to change: http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=33048
Pretty involved process. Remove wheel, remove trim pieces, remove switch bracket, swap switch bracket, splice horn wire, replace everything. So happy with the result though. Smaller wheel, sportier, nice BMW emblem, and in amazing condition! Much more fitting for the supposed top spec 3 series. Drives soooooo nice with it.


DSC_0250 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


IMG_1667 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DSC_0253 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


Weirdly, it all seems more solid since I put it back together. Can’t say that’s ever happened to me before, and it only took me 11 months! Till next time!

[raoke]

The little things add up. Especially where you make contact with the car. I'd say get some nice pedals and a clutch stop next.

[TheDukeGTi]

Hi all! Just a little progress update with the M3. Truth be told, there hasn’t been any work done on the car, but I’ve enjoyed using it a lot, and I’ve taken a few photos these past couple of months, and everyone likes pics!


It was my birthday over the holiday period, so I decided to treat myself. A visit to wine country motorsports at Sonoma raceway helped me pull the trigger on a helmet, since I really want to do some autoX or track days soon, I figured this would push thing along.


BMW E36 M3 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


BMW E36 M3 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


BMW E36 M3 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


Helmet by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


Helmet by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


I’ll make sure to take the stickers off


Ever since I changed the steering wheel, I had the airbag light on. I had a little mishap when installing the wheel which meant I had to drive a short distance without the airbag. So I knew there wasn’t an issue. I just had to reset the light. Sure enough, a $20 eBay win later, I had this:
BMW M3 96 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


BMW M3 96 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


Worked a charm, no airbag lights!
A couple of days later, I decided to take a few days to drive all the way to LA, down the PCH. No pictures, as the weather was terrible. But this was the final mileage at the end of the 3 days:
BMW M3 96 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


Car performed faultlessly, burned no oil, no hairy moments; smooth all the way there and back!
Another week passed, and my wife and I decided to drive the coast again. Another load of driving, but good weather and pics this time (and another final mileage pic).
Car was obviously filthy after all this, and those swirl marks are standing out a lot. I’ll need to think about sorting that soon. Anyway…


BMW M3 96 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


BMW M3 96 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


BMW M3 96 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


BMW M3 96 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


BMW M3 96 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


BMW M3 96 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


BMW M3 96 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


BMW M3 96 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


BMW M3 96 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


BMW M3 96 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


Till next time!

[AntiHero]

Looks great! Enjoy it

[SM3]

enjoy its a fun car.

[ATL Buff]

Makes me want another E36. Looks great!

[TheDukeGTi]

Thanks guys.

Couple more jobs done. I hope you’re sitting down, ‘cos it’s riveting stuff.


The glovebox sag has been improved. The vent panel was not sitting correctly; it seems the clips weren’t properly attached, which was evident by the fact the wood insert was bending. I installed it properly so now it sits flush. Unfortunately one of the clips has been snapped in the past, so it doesn’t clamp enough to solve the sag totally, but it’ll do for now. There’s a screw fix to get it sitting better, but I see that as a last resort, and I’m not there yet. The front of the glovebox was also coming unstuck, so I re-glued that. Looks much better. Not 100%, but better.


DSC_0160 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


I’ve also had a battery vent tube sitting waiting to be installed since a garage inspection surfaced the fact that (they existed; something unbeknownst to me, and…) mine was missing. So I got that installed.


DSC_0157 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DSC_0158 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


I also picked up some light reading material, and renewed my BMWCCA membership. I’ll be taking more advantage of this this year too as I’ve booked my first AutoX school day on the 25th of this month. Looking forward to that.


DSC_0167 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


DSC_0164 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


See? Exciting stuff!

[volodka1985]

Good thread, thank you for sharing.

I live in the bay too. Interested in the route you took with your friends - the 'sparsely populated roads that carve through the Northern California mountains'.
Always good to find new fun roads to explore.

[TheDukeGTi]

Good thread, thank you for sharing.

I live in the bay too. Interested in the route you took with your friends - the 'sparsely populated roads that carve through the Northern California mountains'.
Always good to find new fun roads to explore.

Thanks! It was the roads around Plumas National Forest, take 70 north from Sac and it'll turn off into some amazing canyons. We stayed in Seirra City overnight.

More updates? Still having fun with the red wonder that is my M3. It’s been up and down, as per usual. I’ve been considering selling the car in favour of a new Alfa Romeo Giulia (non-QV), as my wife and I have been wanting one since it was first announced almost two years ago now. I even took some for sale photos! But I can’t quite bring myself to sell the M. Considering it’s a dedicated weekend car now, as I work two blocks from home, it really doesn’t make sense to replace it.

I also went on my first AutoX day in the M3 and had an amazing time; really getting to drive it in anger, at the limit, has really allowed me to learn exactly what it can do. It’s just ticked over 205,000 miles, and yet it takes everything I give it in it’s stride! One of the instructors drove it briefly and stated that it seems to be in decent order.


So, it looks like it’s staying. It brings me a lot of enjoyment, so why change that?


I don’t really have any pics from AutoX, only this to document in the journey I suppose:

M3 AutoX by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


Awesome day, so much fun. Some of the ‘for sale’ photo’s I took. Amazing what polishing the exhaust and a bit of trim restorer does!

BMW E36 M3 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr



BMW E36 M3 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr



BMW E36 M3 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr



BMW E36 M3 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr



BMW E36 M3 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr



BMW E36 M3 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr



BMW E36 M3 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr



BMW E36 M3 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr



BMW E36 M3 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


You can see more of the same on Flickr, should you wish.


I also attended another BMWCCA cars and coffee, where my car met it’s great grandson.

BMW M3 E36 and F60 Red by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr



BMW M3 E36 and F60 Red by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr



BMW M3 E36 and F60 Red by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr



BMW M3 E36 and F60 Red by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


Finally, I’ve been wanting to do something about the rips in my front seats. Both have come unstitched the whole way across the base as the leather has dried. They’re beyond a re-stitch, and I haven’t decided how to replace yet. So I just wanted to tidy them up a bit. I found some repair tape which hopefully should do the job.


Before:

BMW E36 M3 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


After:

BMW E36 M3 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr



BMW E36 M3 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


Not perfect, but it’ll do.


Oh, and a mileage pic, for dialogues sake I suppose.



BMW E36 M3 by TheDukeGTi, on Flickr


Until next time!