New to me '99 M3/2/5 Vert

[ELSchlotty]

Picked up my first ///M last week for some spirited fair weather driving. 1999 titanium silver over dove. Not my favorite color combo but couldn't pass up on the unmolested 50k mile specimen. Had the car inspected at my local motor werkes shop and mechanically the car is in great condition (after they replaced the power steering hoses). A few small projects to keep me busy (drivers seat leather repair, passenger door HK mid-range to replace, drivers side 1/4 window alignment, etc) but overall I am really pleased with the car. It's a convertible so it won't be tracked but I will be looking to stiffen the chassis as much as possible for windy backroad driving. Look forward to learning from you roundel veterans.

[MParallel]

Nice car.

stiffen it? Well you could get a (proper, as in unhinged) strutbrace.

hardtop does wonders as well.

[ELSchlotty]

Thanks MP. Solid strut tower brace is at the top of my list...thinking strutbarbarian or mason engineering. Just want to minimize the so called cowl shutter.

[MParallel]

It's a vert, not much you can do, without unverting it. But the E36 isn't too bad considering its age.

it's already got the x-brace on it.

I added the Motorsport brace and Z3 reinforcement plates in the back, although that's not to limit shake.

[CblockM3]

Mason engineering makes a great strut brace, can't go wrong there.

[ELSchlotty]

Loving the vert. Happy to give up a little rigidity for the open air enjoyment. Also happy to spend a couple hundo if the strut brace actually makes a difference (other than looking cool).

[Billyp7718]

Beautiful! Picked up my 99 5sp vert in Jan with 37k. Bought a hard top separately. Really stiffens it up. Not much you can do about scuttle shake in these. I only use the soft top now when I am not driving it like in the garage, parking lot, or driveway (or if I get stuck in the rain)

BTW... I love the pillarless look with the hardtop.




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[Billyp7718]

BTW... The wind deflector is also a must on these.


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[ELSchlotty]

Looks so good in Estoril with the LTW wheels.

The hardtops are nice but my M will sit in the garage when it is too wet or cold to have the top down. That said, if I stumble upon one locally I may pick it up just to complete the package.

[Billyp7718]

Thanks! Sent you a pm. Let me know if you do any kind of brace. I'll do the same.


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[MParallel]

Don't get a hardtop. You'll love it so much it won't come off again.

[Billyp7718]

Don't get a hardtop. You'll love it so much it won't come off again.

Took a while for me to get the adjustments right, but now that it is quieted down a bit, it stays on much more


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[M3Dynamic]

Don't get a hardtop. You'll love it so much it won't come off again.

He's right... mine basically never comes off.. the pillarless'ness provides a similar experience to the top down

[Billyp7718]

He's right... mine basically never comes off.. the pillarless'ness provides a similar experience to the top down

Pillarless'ness.... Haha


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[M3Dynamic]

Pillarless'ness.... Haha


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[MParallel]

Didn't you remove the whole softtop?

[ELSchlotty]

He's right... mine basically never comes off.. the pillarless'ness provides a similar experience to the top down

The hardtops are looking pretty fresh but the soft top is brand new and I really enjoy the top down driving.

M3D-those wheels look outstanding. Not the biggest fan of my DS2's so I was planning to find a set of Contours to keep the OEM look, but now I'm tempted by your setup. Mind sharing the specs?

Also, finally snapped a pic of the M3 with the dailys.

[MParallel]

Think thos DS2's look great.

[Botoja]

Congrats. I was in a similar situation where a clean titanium/dove 5speed vert came up and couldn't pass up. Well maintained verts are alot of fun for "spirited" cruising. I do recommend installing a nice catback exhaust. The sound, with the top down ,is intoxicating.

[ELSchlotty]

The DS2's are growing on me but all 4 of them are in need of some professional refinishing. Baffles me how the PO could have rubbed curbs on all four corners.

[ELSchlotty]

Congrats. I was in a similar situation where a clean titanium/dove 5speed vert came up and couldn't pass up. Well maintained verts are alot of fun for "spirited" cruising. I do recommend installing a nice catback exhaust. The sound, with the top down ,is intoxicating.

I was looking at the magnaflow system sold through bimmerworld. Great sound (per the YouTube video) and good looking exhaust tips. Which setup are you running?

[M3Dynamic]

M3D-those wheels look outstanding. Not the biggest fan of my DS2's so I was planning to find a set of Contours to keep the OEM look, but now I'm tempted by your setup. Mind sharing the specs?

Thanks! Im running apex arc8 17x9 et30 all the way around in the picture Im ruuning Nitto Invo 255/40/17. Its a pretty meaty set up.. not for the faint of heart

In regaurds to the top down and a good cat back... i coulnt agree more.. I have a Super-sprint catback sounds glorious when the car comes on cam.

[Billyp7718]

Thanks! Im running apex arc8 17x9 et30 all the way around in the picture Im ruuning Nitto Invo 255/40/17. Its a pretty meaty set up.. not for the faint of heart

In regaurds to the top down and a good cat back... i coulnt agree more.. I have a Super-sprint catback sounds glorious when the car comes on cam.

Looking at cat back options myself. I just want it a tad louder than stock when I get on it with no highway drone.


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[M3Dynamic]

Think thos DS2's look great.

Yep! Still havent looked back.. Houston summers are IMO a little too burny on the skin for top down..(skin condition) but fall is on its way.

[MParallel]

...In regaurds to the top down and a good cat back... i coulnt agree more....

Indeed. Stock pipe for me though. Then again, I have the glorious mechanical sounds of the S50B32 caressing my eardrums