Another E36 M3 project begins....

[BMWManiac]

I'm pretty sure you are keeping this car for yourself..
Good stuff. Keep them posts coming.

80% wifes, 20% mine....I just want it to look nice. After I get the seats redone, the only thing left will be paint/body dings/dents. So, plan for 2019 is PDR!

[BMWManiac]

Carpet back in....I managed to pull the carpet higher and I think that will work....if the carpet falls underneath the trim, then I'll figure out a more permanent solution.
Trim getting reinstalled as we speak....

[BMWManiac]

So, waiting for my LSeat covers....in the mean time, the new bane of my existence continues to win the battle....

Tonneau cover trim piece. It is a little black plastic trim piece that has 10 x plastic fasteners and 10 x black rubbers. No matter what I try, I can't get the piece to sit connect.

I've tried clamps....they just pop right back out. Its as if plastic fasteners don't have a good sized lip on them. So, when they do get in there, they will pop out once I pop the next one in.

I tried 2 x other black trim pieces, to no avail.....seriously thinking of going the route of just 3M tape. It just need to sit on there......or, take it to BMW and let them figure it out, but I'm worried they will tell me:
1) You need a new trim piece
2) You need a new tonneu cover

Both of which is wrong, but they will only struggle with it so much, right?

Ok, I'm going to try something....I'm wondering if the foam swells over time and once this trim is removed, its like removing a boot after you get a sprained ankle....so, I'm going to trim back the cover a bit and see if that will be enough...more to follow

[Gcracker]

Love the color of the new vert! Good luck on the project(s)!!!

[BMWManiac]

Wife getting to enjoy it this summer! Cant wait to get the seat cover in from Lseat.com. Then, I dont plan to spend any more money until November when I order all the rear suspension parts to do RTABs, controls, subframe. Debating on oem rubber or poly.....thoughts? Purely street driven by the wife and I and while I dont care about performance, I do care about not going back in there and ease of installation
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[blckstrm]

Wife getting to enjoy it this summer! Cant wait to get the seat cover in from Lseat.com. Then, I dont plan to spend any more money until November when I order all the rear suspension parts to do RTABs, controls, subframe. Debating on oem rubber or poly.....thoughts? Purely street driven by the wife and I and while I dont care about performance, I do care about not going back in there and ease of installation
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That looks AWESOME. Though my car said it was 120 on the way home yesterday, so that seems less fun. Lucky it's not nearly that hot for you guys!

I'd do poly subframe mounts, and probably stick with the OEM RTABs for everything else. Get limiters and the RTABs should be great, and I'd imagine the OEM rubber should be good for around 8-10 years.

And it's a giant pain, but make sure you do all the control arm ball joints / bushings, too. I just did them and it made a crazy difference in how the car feels (smoothness, etc).

My wife hates how rough my car is. If I was building her a car, I'd stick with OEM rubber for almost everything (and that's my plan when I get my daughter a car sometime in the next year).

[BMWManiac]

That looks AWESOME. Though my car said it was 120 on the way home yesterday, so that seems less fun. Lucky it's not nearly that hot for you guys!

I'd do poly subframe mounts, and probably stick with the OEM RTABs for everything else. Get limiters and the RTABs should be great, and I'd imagine the OEM rubber should be good for around 8-10 years.

And it's a giant pain, but make sure you do all the control arm ball joints / bushings, too. I just did them and it made a crazy difference in how the car feels (smoothness, etc).

My wife hates how rough my car is. If I was building her a car, I'd stick with OEM rubber for almost everything (and that's my plan when I get my daughter a car sometime in the next year).

Yeah, the M3 is a GREAT 10 footer....too many dents/dings that I need to get taken care of next year, along with some paint work, but it does clean up nicely. I am going to change the wheels to my favorite, contours, as soon as I can find a decent set too.

That sounds like a plan...poly on the subframe/differential, and then rubber for RTAB, control arm bushings....

[DrftKingIII]

Cant wait to get the seat cover in from Lseat.com. Then, I dont plan to spend any more money until November when I order all the rear suspension parts to do RTABs, controls, subframe. Debating on oem rubber or poly.....thoughts? Purely street driven by the wife and I and while I dont care about performance, I do care about not going back in there and ease of installation

I did hours of reading people's reviews in regards to Rubber vs Poly in different suspension bits, and in your case I think OEM rubber is probably the best bet. New rubber is very good and will make the car feel refreshed, won't add any undue harshness and your low annual mileage will keep them in good shape for quite a while. Poly in the differential and subframe will likely add some gear whine/NVH.

Looking forward to your results with LSeat.

[BMWManiac]

Super excited!!!

First impressions:
-Such a small package that I thought I was surely missing another package since this was both front/rear (glad I was wrong!)
-Everything looks very nice! All pieces are there. Only 'issue' is the rear pass through doesnt have the plastic clip. You can just transfer from old, but the leather is sewn already? I just cut the clip from my old one and slipped it through....hope it reaches
-Silver grey is VERY close to the dove grey.....looks great!
-Leather is grainier but doesnt bother me in the slightest
-Tricolor stitching is close....leguna seca blue is too dark, but again, doesnt bother me

I am awaiting on a steamer to see if that will refresh the cushions. I will do the rears first, then get the front out tomorrow. Hopefully, this will be finished this weekend!

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[Cos270]

Super excited!!!

First impressions:
-Such a small package that I thought I was surely missing another package since this was both front/rear (glad I was wrong!)
-Everything looks very nice! All pieces are there. Only 'issue' is the rear pass through doesnt have the plastic clip. You can just transfer from old, but the leather is sewn already? I just cut the clip from my old one and slipped it through....hope it reaches
-Silver grey is VERY close to the dove grey.....looks great!
-Leather is grainier but doesnt bother me in the slightest
-Tricolor stitching is close....leguna seca blue is too dark, but again, doesnt bother me

I am awaiting on a steamer to see if that will refresh the cushions. I will do the rears first, then get the front out tomorrow. Hopefully, this will be finished this weekend!

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Are these the same covers from LSeat?

Front - https://www.lseat.com/products/1992-...ers-front.html
Rear - https://www.lseat.com/products/1992-...vers-rear.html

These have been on my radar for awhile. My seats are in decent condition for the age, they're just very dried out and stiff (and despite numerous conditioning treatments, I think they're spent). Please let us know how the install goes (assuming you're putting them on yourself?) That's really the only thing keeping me from pulling the trigger on these and putting them on this winter.

[BMWManiac]

Are these the same covers from LSeat?

YES! I'm busy transferring the wires right now, but I already have the rear headrests and whatever the ski pass through cushion is? already fitted....so far, looking good. Obviously need to get the creases out, but so far, so good

Also, if you are ordering the convertible rear, just mention you want the tri-color stitching because they don't the M3 specific one on the site. The link you posted is for sedan.

[MarketMaster]

will be interested on how they wear.

[Cos270]

YES! I'm busy transferring the wires right now, but I already have the rear headrests and whatever the ski pass through cushion is? already fitted....so far, looking good. Obviously need to get the creases out, but so far, so good

Also, if you are ordering the convertible rear, just mention you want the tri-color stitching because they don't the M3 specific one on the site. The link you posted is for sedan.

I’ve got a sedan, hence the link

Looking forward to some pics after the install

[BMWManiac]

will be interested on how they wear.

The material feels very solid....this car isn't driven more than 2500 miles a year, so it won't get the typical abuse, but should see plenty

I’ve got a sedan, hence the link

Looking forward to some pics after the install

Should hopefully be done by the end of the weekend

[BMWManiac]

Does anyone want to see anything about these seats/covers? Here is a picture of the rear net that sags.....will fix it. Broke a bunch of the mounts for the trim because of how BMW secures them to the back!
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[BMWManiac]

Fixed! All you have to do, is pull it taught. There is MORE THAN ENOUGH tension on the rope that it is not going anywhere!
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- - - Updated - - -

Here is another shot of the tricolor stripes....looks like estoril blue compared to leguna seca
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Also, instead of gluing the broke mounting nubs, I just used some short self taping screws....worked perfectly!

[BMWManiac]

Color is very very close....love it! Close up of the headrest (new vs old) and new headrest on seat with old cover!
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[BMWManiac]

Has only taken pretty much all day for just 1 x seat....I will not finish this in a weekend....maybe just front seats, lol

I absolutely love it!
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[BMWManiac]

And I'm kind of in a pickle....So, my other front seat cover is missing one of the sheaths that the metal wire sits in....not sure what to do. It will probably look fine, but it would lay flat intsead of sit inside the cushion. The leather cover is pretty thick and the seams are really sewn well....so, not sure if I should proceed or not

[BMWManiac]

Coming along! Still very happy so far!

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[BMWManiac]

Finished up the rear bottom, now just have the top part of the passenger seat. I'm tempted to just install it instead of waiting for LSeat to either send me another or whatever they decide for me to do. I think it will be fine...thoughts?

[BMWManiac]

After countless zip ties and lots of time, I am finished!

I am pretty OCD, but compared to what it looked like before I started, I am very happy overall. MY BIGGEST GRIPE of all is that, in some areas, the thread is not very good and it ripped at one of the shoulders while trying to put it on. Besides that and the fact that the middle part of the upper chest is not connected (although not horrible - OCD in me hates it), you can't beat the out come for $650. The bottom of the rear cushion could hide the seal better too, but again, it will do for now.

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[BMWManiac]

All has been somewhat well lately, and I'm beginning to plan my rear suspension fix. Right now, I'm debating between poly subframe/RTABs vs OEM rubber.....

This is a convertible, so I'm worried about NVH.
I like the idea of easy install
I like the idea of durability/longevity but I doubt I'll own it even for OEM rubber to need replacement again...who knows

Also, I have some brand new in box 33326775551 ball joints. I know 895 are the current ones, but are these still fine to install or not?

What about the wishbones? Can you replace the bushing or do you just replace the whole thing?

I have no poly up front. This is not a daily driver, just the wife's "get away" car.

New Rear shocks, rear shock mounts w/ reinforcement plates are already installed.

[BMWManiac]

Last week, I finally received the replacement cover....should be able to keep the seat in the car for the repair, but we'll see....

Still waiting on everyone's recommendation for rear suspension, poly vs OEM rubber....

[BMWManiac]

The winter project has begun! Car is currently up on the quickjack and I've already started tearing it up...I went with poly rear subframe/diff/RTABs.

So far, muffler is removed, half shaft bolts removed, sway bar removed, and nuts holding midsection to headers (managed to snap a stud). Plan is to get everything removed this week and cleaned. Reassembly sometime this month. Since the car won't be back on the road any time soon, I'm trying to take my time so I can make this project last over winter!