I didn't take my own advice and bought a janky M3

[SexualChocolate]

Normally I advise others to get the car with the best maintenance history in the best condition one can. I was thinking this very thing one month ago while searching for an E36 M3. Then I saw a cheap 96 Alpine White on Mulberry and for some reason I called and subsequently visited the seller to have a look. Car had some records, but all were from 2009 and prior. It ran ok, drove ok, looked terrible, and then I blurted out an offer. 2 days later the car was in my driveway. Then I left for Colorado.
Came back and car is still here, sigh, lol. Started looking her over, ummm yeah needs about everything, AC compressor shot, all bushings shot, etc, etc, wait I didn't see a CEL when starting it...damn it.
Pulled the cluster to find someone took the bulb out. Ok add that to the list of parts to order. Check the codes, surprisingly nothing detrimental (1 pre cat O2, cam sensor, evap shit off valve, high idle).
Then a compression check...170, 175, 170, 175, 175, 170. Not shabby for 356K miles.

So can this old girl be resurrected to become predominantly a track car that is streetable, we shall see. I'm certainly going to give her a shot of replacing my 600 dolla make ya holla E46 track rat (yes it actually cost me 600 dollars and I'm into it for 3400 now, but it performs well for what it is and I'm pretty happy). So please wish me luck on this journey, or laugh at me, lol.

[Solaris99]

SexualChocolate. lol, I say that out loud every time I stomp my feet. Good luck.

[propcar]

That's pretty high miles. Not bad though. Some love will make it a good fun car.

[mitch500]

How much did you pay for it? If you got it cheap I see no real issue. You can do all the bushings and balljoints for not to much money at all.


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[TH3 Shifty]

"give it up for my band.... thhhexual choclate"...

[Braymond141]

Congrats on buying a 96, a favorite year of mine. Your signature is a little redundant though. All 96 M3 are 2-door 5-speeds here in the US. There was no other option.

Another random fact. 96 uses the prefacelift nose panel but is the only year to have it's own unique set of kidneys. Similar to 92-95 style but they have an additional radius edge in the chrome portion. Your original set is missing

[SexualChocolate]

SexualChocolate. lol, I say that out loud every time I stomp my feet. Good luck.

Thank you!

That's pretty high miles. Not bad though. Some love will make it a good fun car.

Parts have been arriving. Plan is to get her running/driving perfectly then repaint.

How much did you pay for it? If you got it cheap I see no real issue. You can do all the bushings and balljoints for not to much money at all.


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2300 with a clear title. It wasn't the best of deals, but certainly not the worst.

"give it up for my band.... thhhexual choclate"...

Hah, one person knows where my SN is from!

Congrats on buying a 96, a favorite year of mine. Your signature is a little redundant though. All 96 M3 are 2-door 5-speeds here in the US. There was no other option.

Another random fact. 96 uses the prefacelift nose panel but is the only year to have it's own unique set of kidneys. Similar to 92-95 style but they have an additional radius edge in the chrome portion. Your original set is missing

I didn't know these things, more of an E46 guy! I fixed my sig and although the car has a clear title, it does have a DOT R fender up front, so it was repaired at some point (early in life would be my guess) which could explain the kidneys. I will have to research the kidneys.

Thanks for the information. Makes my car a little cooler to own.

[LockDots]

"give it up for my band.... thhhexual choclate"...

Damn, that boy's GOOD!

[Nate047]

Not shabby for 356K miles.

I actually chuckled out loud when I read this. Nice though, should be a fun project. Or it'll ruin you mentally lol. Probably not at risk of taking you to the poor house judging by what's in your garage so that's a plus

[CGumina]

I read 365k miles and laughed audibly.

Best of luck, I'm seriously looking forward to seeing what you do with this. The fact that the car can even be considered for track use with that many miles is a credit to E36's!

[tsmith25]

2300 for a functional, albeit maintenance needy, clean title e36 m3 is a steal regardless of mileage. You basically paid for the engine and transmission and got the whole car along with it. I think its pretty awesome. "Wasn't the best of deals"...

[SexualChocolate]

I actually chuckled out loud when I read this. Nice though, should be a fun project. Or it'll ruin you mentally lol. Probably not at risk of taking you to the poor house judging by what's in your garage so that's a plus

Thanks! I'm not wealthy by any means, but I manage. Either have a really really nice toy and a daily or a vehicle for every situation, errr some situations.

I read 365k miles and laughed audibly.

Best of luck, I'm seriously looking forward to seeing what you do with this. The fact that the car can even be considered for track use with that many miles is a credit to E36's!

Thanks!

2300 for a functional, albeit maintenance needy, clean title e36 m3 is a steal regardless of mileage. You basically paid for the engine and transmission and got the whole car along with it. I think its pretty awesome. "Wasn't the best of deals"...

This is exactly why I didn't pass on it. I figure for 3Gs more I could sort out most if not all the issues and have a predominantly track ready car. Plus the mileage is sort of an allure to me. I imagine surpassing 500K with is one. It's also a long term project as I don't see it being really ready until late next year, then again parts are already here lol.

[SexualChocolate]

Had a little time so went ahead and changed plugs, coil packs/boots, and replaced/added the missing bulbs in the cluster. She runs better, but I am almost certain the cam sensor, fuel filter, and pre cat B2S1 O2 sensor will aide in smoothing her out even further.

Most of the parts are here and I will start tearing it down this week (hopefully). The clutch pedal engagement point is annoying me (very low and the pedal assembly moves quarter of an inch laterally), but those parts have also arrived to repair that; I'm just not certain how to contort my body and hands up there to replace the master and bushings.

[Mless5]

Damn, that's fr from "janky", you did well!

[m3boost]

place a new check engine light bulb, clear the codes and see what comes back.. then go from there..

[SexualChocolate]

Damn, that's fr from "janky", you did well!

Thanks!

place a new check engine light bulb, clear the codes and see what comes back.. then go from there..

Ordered a bunch of new bulbs for the cluster, installed, and pulled the codes with a generic OBD2 reader.
P0150 - Bank 2 Sensor 1, ordered and is here.
P0505 High Idle - I'll clean the ICV
P0446 Evap shut off valve - Purchased a new OE unit and replaced it
P0340 Can Position Sensor - Purcased a new OEM unit and replaced it.

Cleared codes and she runs much smoother and pulls from down low through the redline. Still feel as though there's more in her; doesn't pull as hard as my M Coupe did (clogged cats?). Getting the P0446 code reoccurring, I'll need to research that and remediate as necessary to address it.

Found some parts I had hoarded for the aforementioned M Coupe that was lost in Hurricane Ike, new VPD oil cooler kit, new Ground Control camber plates, and Rogue Engineering pulleys which should all fit this car. Also have some ugly Fikse wheels that I need to rebuild that I might use on this car.

Next step will be the belts, pulleys, cooling, and AC refresh; hopefully in the next 2 weeks I'll install those. Then address the suspension bushings/drivetrain mounts by winter (hopefully). I'm pretty stoked!

[JEC928]

356k miles!

Also, killer username dude.