1998 BMW M3 - Alpine / Modena / Sedan / Manual

[tmswell]

{...} Always reminded me of diarrhea. Maybe it will grow on me one day.

The color or diarrhea?
Didn’t expect to like Modena either. Guess it's an acquired taste.

[Nate047]

looks awesome, great color combo.

[tmswell]

Update to the M3/4/5 (since 2/16)
- Hydraulic Alternator Belt Tensioner Roller & Idler Pulley
- Brake Rotors (Brembo OE) and Pads (Hawk HP+)
- 4x 10mm ECS spacers (Hub-centric & longer bolts)
- Cabin Filter (Microfilter) Mann
- Dinan Performance Springs (not a fan)

Ordered and ready to install:
Ground Control - Front/Rear Sway Bars
Ground Control - Koni insert - key-adjustable dampening (F/R)
Ground Control - Eibach Springs 400/475 (F/R)
Upper Radiator Hose
180k Oil Change

[CblockM3]

Show us more pics of this beauty!

[bmw328m52]

Show us more pics of this beauty!

+1! This is motivating me to buy another e36 m3.

[tmswell]

Show us more pics of this beauty!

+1! This is motivating me to buy another e36 m3.

Thanks guys! Car is getting an alignment and corner balance so when I have it back, I'll take some pics.
Also installed a Mishimoto Electric Fan Kit (With coolant refresh kit this weekend), along with all the suspension and Sway Bars.
Looking forward to getting it back!

[CblockM3]

Nice! Did you do the aluminum expansion tank from Mishimoto too? I've been using their fan/expansion tank setup and have been extremely happy with it. Now post some pics already!

[tokbandit]

very nice...

[VaTechE36]

Beautiful!

Be careful with those HP+ pads. I've run them before and they are extremely loud and dusty around town. They did pretty well at autocross levels of use, but anything more if you're tracking the car, they're going to burn up and perform like garbage.

Everything else you've got on the car looks great! I really miss my modena interior. I had a 98 Black/Modena sedan years back...never should have sold that car =(

[Tommy604604]

Nice pickup! take care of it. My father also has one of the 26 Alpine/Modena M3/4/5!

[tmswell]

Nice! Did you do the aluminum expansion tank from Mishimoto too? I've been using their fan/expansion tank setup and have been extremely happy with it. Now post some pics already!

I didn't get the the Expansion Tank I loved their radiator but stuck with the Z3 Triple-core Radiator (had to pick up a new one the old one had a little leak.
POSTING!

very nice...

Thank you!

Beautiful!

Be careful with those HP+ pads. I've run them before and they are extremely loud and dusty around town. They did pretty well at autocross levels of use, but anything more if you're tracking the car, they're going to burn up and perform like garbage.

Everything else you've got on the car looks great! I really miss my Modena interior. I had a 98 Black/Modena sedan years back...never should have sold that car =(

I appreciate the comment. The pads are SUPER loud recently. I've never had my breaks squeak this bad and reading your comment was good to hear haha.
Yesterday, I flushed the brake fluid just in case that helped, second on my list was rebuilding the brake calipers.

Nice pickup! take care of it. My father also has one of the 26 Alpine/Modena M3/4/5!

I treasure this car. Was going to keep it all stock but as things have been breaking, I've put in the upgrades. the Ground Control was WELL worth it!.
Have someone to rebuild the front seat rip (Modena is almost impossible to repair!).

- - - Updated - - -

d5699e63-ceea-4b1e-9746-ec05aeeb1ec1_zps1goowsdq.JPG
The rear ride height is a little too low for my taste. With the Ground Control Ride-Height adjustments, It's maxed out at the moment. So I've ordered 10mm spring spacers to get the adjustment in the right spot.

The Front, however, is exactly where i want it
7b77e371-f4ff-4f7f-af06-1d67db919bee_zpsuconoxaj.JPG

[tmswell]

Alright, here's an update:
Talked to Ground Control and they shot over some 6" springs (not 475lbs but 500lbs work too).
With the 5.5" spring, I had to max out the height adjuster
With the 6" spring, I have a few extra threads.


Tomorrow I'm making one last adjustment to raise the back just a little bit more.
Top is before, Bottom is after

[andyh1]

Car looks awesome.... question on the CAI, do you know what brand it is and how do you like the sound. Been considering one ....

[tmswell]

Car looks awesome.... question on the CAI, do you know what brand it is and how do you like the sound. Been considering one ....

I've owned 3 CAI.
1 - AFE Pro Dry
2 - Jim conforti Intake - eurosport with ITG Filter (removed the ITG filter and threw on a short K&N) Sounded the same
3 - OEM intake with the baffling removed
The AFE sounds the best, by far.
The Conforti with ITG was quite, the K&N sounded better
the OEM w/baffling removed sounds good but the AFE is unmatched, in my opinion.
Also felt a little from the low RPMs with the Conforti & especially the AFE
(Haven't experienced the Dinan CAI - so I can't offer anything there.

Hope that helps!

[andyh1]

I've owned 3 CAI.
1 - AFE Pro Dry
2 - Jim conforti Intake - eurosport with ITG Filter (removed the ITG filter and threw on a short K&N) Sounded the same
3 - OEM intake with the baffling removed
The AFE sounds the best, by far.
The Conforti with ITG was quite, the K&N sounded better
the OEM w/baffling removed sounds good but the AFE is unmatched, in my opinion.
Also felt a little from the low RPMs with the Conforti & especially the AFE
(Haven't experienced the Dinan CAI - so I can't offer anything there.

Hope that helps!

I do appreciate the feed back, thanks!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

[tmswell]

Adjustments made and finally some pictures.
I still think I should drop the front about 2mm and raise the back by 1-2mm.
Thoughts?
Also, anyone thing 15mm wheel spacers would fit on the front? Currents are 10mm all-round and I plan to keep the 10mm spacers on the rear.

Set up:
Wheels: OEM Contours - Style 23
Tires - 225/45/17 (Front), 245/40/17 (Rear)
Spacers: 10mm, Front & Rear
Suspension: (Ground Control) Koni Sport, Key-adjustable damping
Springs: (Ground Control) Eibach 450 (Front), & Eibach 500 6" (Rear)
Sway Bars: (Ground Control) Stiff/Large (Front), Soft/Small (Rear)





Yes, better (high quality pictures coming soon) also doing some micro-adjustments again so should look good.
At this point, the car FEELS INCREDIBLE.

[tmswell]

It's surprising what an additional 5mm can do (going from 10mm wheel spacer to 15mm wheel spacer).

[bmw328m52]

Looks good. I may be blind and can't see the post, but what extended lug bolts are you using?

[tmswell]

Hopefully this picture shows up if the last one didn't

4E5C19C2-CE1F-41D8-9863-891478C098E7_zps07ghkd4g.jpg
(left - 10mm spacer || right - 15mm spacer)
As for the Lugs, I ordered Conical Seat Wheel Bolts 12x1.5x43mm. (a few threads longer than the lugs I used for my 10mm spacers).

[bmw328m52]

Hopefully this picture shows up if the last one didn't

<img src="http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=590505"/>
(left - 10mm spacer || right - 15mm spacer)
As for the Lugs, I ordered Conical Seat Wheel Bolts 12x1.5x43mm. (a few threads longer than the lugs I used for my 10mm spacers).

More interested in brand. Don't want those eBay bolts to shear off.....

[tmswell]

More interested in brand. Don't want those eBay bolts to shear off.....

Agreed.
ECS. https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-part...pound-255ktwb/

[tmswell]

still need to raise the back up a bit

[MParallel]

Sweet!

[Moron95M3]

very nice!

+1 on how much spacers help. I'm running 25mm up front on my oem LTWs. (with 235/40 or 225/45s)

[MParallel]

Personally I find the fronts sticking out a little bit too much. The vs pic, the one with less poke I like best.