Hey guys,
I figured my first post should be an introductory one. I just picked up a Â’97 M3 coupe in silver as a winter project car to replace a couple of motorcycles I had lost interest in. I have been creeping the forums for months picking up information on the E36 chassis.
The M3 coupe joins my daily driver F80 M3 in Austin Yellow; the F80 is no slouch and is FBO stage 2+ tuned putting down a reliable 500+hp & torque to the wheels.
IÂ’ve been searching for a clean, rust free, E36 convertible for months with no luck. Every unit I looked at had a poorly/non functioning roof and an ugly past of some sort. The dismay of hunting for a 20 year old car I suppose. I ended up settling for a coupe after finding a bit of a gem; yes it needs some work but the body looked to be in great shape and I wanted a project.
So about the M3
The Good:
- FK coilovers with 12mm pistons (we will see how these hold up)
- E46 M3 6 speed tranny & 3.91LSD
- Interior is fairly mint; no tears, no drooping glove box, and no pixelated screens!
- Aftermarket long tube headers & hi flow cats (unknown brand)
- Tune (unknown)
- Secondary air pump delete
- Fan delete (electric replacement is garbage)
- Carbon fiber GT style hood (flimsy but light)
- Depo headlights (although they look to be halogen)
- New Zimmerman rotors
The bad:
- Valve cover leak
- Potential white smoke (granted it was -1 Celsius) plugs look good, crank case looks good, still need to pressure test the coolant system
- Rust on front quarters (only on the bottom)
- Hidden bondo on the rear fender lip (wonÂ’t matter being cut out)
- Hidden bondo on trunk where a ricer wing was mounted (already cut out)
- The entire coolant system is toastÂ… (more copper additive than IÂ’ve ever seen in a overflow tank)
- Rear trunk lip JUST starting to rust (easy fix)
Parts already ordered / here
- Authentic Pandem kitÂ… yes, IÂ’m bastardizing the M
- 17x9/17x10 Work Meister S1R 2 piece wheels
- Victor Reinz valve cover gasket
- Fuel filter
- Mishimoto aluminum radiator
- Mishimoto 16” electric slim fan (2200CFM)
- Mishimoto race thermostat
- Fan delete nut
- Silicon heater and coolant lines in blue
- Aluminum thermostat housing
- New water pump with metal impeller
- ECS aluminum water pump pulley
- New radiator overflow tank, cap, and level sensor
- New electric fan wiring and relay
- M design glow gauges in blue (looks stock, light up like a modern car)
- POR15 rust treatment. Degreaser, metal prep, paint and rubberized overcoat
The daily
The night I picked her up (last Tuesday!)
Stable mates
Last edited by 4everkidd; 10-03-2018 at 11:55 AM. Reason: Issues with photo hosting
The tear down and deep clean process… she needed it
The wheel wells after a goodscrub
Front end on the way off
All bumpers, and skirts removed and prepping to wash
The coolant system… needs some serious work
- - - Updated - - -
The beginning of the rust treatment.
- Wire brush/wheel all loose rust and paint
- Clean
- Degrease
- Metal prep (rust dissolver / encapsulator)
- POR15 paint
The engine diagnostics
Spark plugs look good…need to figure out if the head gasket / cylinder head are barriers. A touch of oil blow by on cylinder 4; will need an oil catch can on the breather.
What the heck are these components?
Can’t see any pics
1997 BMW ///M3 - Estoril Sedan 5MT - M-Rain Interior (1 of 1)
2001 BMW ///M3 - Laguna Seca Blue 6MT
YouTube: (///Motorsport Throttle) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUM...pYSmibzy5YmUvQ
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