Mike's Cosmos Black 1998 M3 Sedan (M3/4/5) - Project Concord

[mike.bmw]

Earlier this week I rebuilt a low-mileage power steering pump. It was from a 2000 M Coupe, so it's compatible (the same) as the E36 M3 power steering pump. I'm going to install this after I get back from the Vintage.

Here's a video I posted to YouTube:

https://youtube.com/shorts/nXjY4Xg_S...hwaVomA9Mbm4c3

And here are some random photos from the rebuild. There will be an in-depth BimmerLife.com article about this in the next few weeks (whenever I can get on their schedule). Update! Here's the article: https://bimmerlife.com/2025/05/13/un...steering-pump/

20250430-DSC_4318 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

20250430-DSC_4191 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

20250430-DSC_4224 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

20250430-DSC_4240 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

20250430-DSC_4244 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

[mike.bmw]

Our trip to The Vintage 2025 was a success! My eleven-year-old daughter Avery had a great time, we did everything we planned to do, and we got home safely. This included driving 500 miles from Virginia to Asheville, NC, visiting the Zentrum at Plant Spartanburg, visiting the Vintage Open House in Greer, SC, going to a Treetop Adventure Park in north Asheville, the big show on Saturday at Hendersonville airport, and the 500-mile drive home.

This was my fifth Vintage and my daughter's second. The last time she came was 2022, and she's grown enough to be a front-seat passenger, so that made the trip extra fun. It was a fantastic father-daughter trip.

It was fun meeting up with the previous owner and showing him what I've done with the car. He said, "I'm so glad that you were the one to buy this car," which was a huge compliment. I know he cared for it a lot, as do I and my family.

It wasn't all rainbows and sunshine, though. On Friday, the day after our long drive to Asheville, my E36 start leaking quite a bit of oil from between the engine and transmission. I had packed a floor jack, jack stands, and a bunch of tools, so I was able to get the car in the air and see the head/valve cover were dry. My best guess is the rear main seal sprung a leak. Bummer. I replaced the failing/failed PCV system about a month ago, which has reduced oil consumption significantly, but my theory is that I caught those failing PCV symptoms too late and the rear main seal had already been affected. Thankfully, with frequent checks and topping up as needed, the oil level never dropped below the half-way mark on the dipstick.

As for now, the E36 is parked in my garage. I'll likely take it to my trusted local shop next week and have them properly diagnose the leak and perform the repair. I certainly hope I'm wrong about the rear main seal, but I'm not sure what else it could be at this point!

2025...
20250516-DSC_5293-2 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

2022...
DSC_0340 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

Uh oh...
20250516-DSC_5646 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

Vintage mastermind, Scott Sturdy...
20250517-DSC_6286 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

[blckstrm]

You should do it - you'll learn so much. It's not really that tough to drop the trans - the last time I had a clutch issue I dropped the trans and replaced it in a morning. Not that it was anything near that fast the first time.

But man, you just become so much more intimately familiar with the car and how it works when you do stuff like this.

[mike.bmw]

You should do it - you'll learn so much. It's not really that tough to drop the trans - the last time I had a clutch issue I dropped the trans and replaced it in a morning. Not that it was anything near that fast the first time.

But man, you just become so much more intimately familiar with the car and how it works when you do stuff like this.

100% agree. I've taken out a transmission and replaced a clutch, just not on an E36. I'm guessing it would take me the better part of a weekend, and I'd need to pick up a few things to make it easier while lying on my back on the garage floor. ;-)

At the moment, I'm not 100% sure where the leak is coming from. It's either the RMS, RMS housing, or there's a chance it's the back of the oil pan gasket. I'm still leaning toward RMS based on the failing PCV that I replaced a month ago. I lent out my inspection camera a couple of years ago and it never made it's way back to me. I should probably order another one to replace it.

To be sure, I'm going to take it to the shop for a diagnostic. At that point I'll decided if I want them to handle it or if I have the energy/time for it.

I did speak to the previous owner this week via text. The clutch, flywheel, and RMS were replaced about 35K miles ago. So assuming no oil contamination, I'm hoping to reuse the clutch/flywheel, which would certainly help with parts costs.

[R Shaffner]

That's great, about your trip with your daughter.

I'm not familiar w/ the e36 oil pan, but on my 540-6 one can tighten all the oil pan bolts (including hidden ones) with the tranny in place. If that's an option on your car, it's worth a shot.

[blckstrm]

That's great, about your trip with your daughter.

I'm not familiar w/ the e36 oil pan, but on my 540-6 one can tighten all the oil pan bolts (including hidden ones) with the tranny in place. If that's an option on your car, it's worth a shot.

You can, and I'd definitely start there. Just start with making sure they're all at spec. I have added a couple pounds to them before to stop a leak (after a rear main housing replacement, and it did work).

I know people always say to replace everything while you're in there, but I've quit buying that. You can go in, just replace the rear main, and put everything back with no problems.

[mike.bmw]

That's great, about your trip with your daughter.

I'm not familiar w/ the e36 oil pan, but on my 540-6 one can tighten all the oil pan bolts (including hidden ones) with the tranny in place. If that's an option on your car, it's worth a shot.

You can, and I'd definitely start there. Just start with making sure they're all at spec. I have added a couple pounds to them before to stop a leak (after a rear main housing replacement, and it did work).

I'll do this today! Looks like the torque spec is 10nm and the rear bolts are accessible through little access holes in the transmission bell housing.

I sprayed the pan and surrounding areas with brake cleaner earlier this week to clean them up, so when I turn the car back on and it starts leaking again, I'm hoping I can definitively tell where it's coming from.

[RND1]

Any update Mike? I've dropped the transmission to do the clutch. The only issue is the starter gets hung up on the dowel. I basically had to use long extensions and hammer it off. Ended up destroying the starter but they took it as core exchange for a new one. All in all, not a bad job.

[mike.bmw]

Any update Mike? I've dropped the transmission to do the clutch. The only issue is the starter gets hung up on the dowel. I basically had to use long extensions and hammer it off. Ended up destroying the starter but they took it as core exchange for a new one. All in all, not a bad job.

Here's an update! I checked the rear oil pan bolts last week and they were fine.

Earlier this week (Tuesday), I dropped it off at my go-to shop for a proper diagnostic and repair. The shop confirmed it was in fact the rear main seal (RMS) leaking and may have used the name "Exxon Valdez". Speaking with the previous owner and looking at the service records, the clutch, flywheel, RMS, and a bunch of other items were replaced about 35,000 miles ago. The shop said that everything else looked good, had plenty of life left, and only needed to replace the RMS, so that's what they did.

I got the car back yesterday, running great and leak free. I took it out on an enjoyable long drive last night. I love this car.

Whoever joked, "At least you'll have some BimmerLife.com content," was right. I just finished writing a story about this little adventure, so it'll be published in a few weeks. :-)

PXL_20250527_121001979~2 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

[R Shaffner]

That's great.

BMWs from this period aren't perfect, as you know. But when they're sorted out and running well, they can FEEL almost perfect. I enjoy my 540-6 every time I drive it. I mean EVERY time.

[blckstrm]

That's great.

BMWs from this period aren't perfect, as you know.

I don't know... mine is pretty damn close! :')

[mike.bmw]

I'm still in shock, but last month I opened my mailbox to find this:

PXL_20250503_162926050~2 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

I've been a member of BMW Classic Car Club of America for a few years and I occasionally write for their quarterly magazine, The Ultimate Classic. When the Editor reached out in early April and asked for some of my E36 Cherry Blossom Photos, I wasn't expecting to see one of them on the cover of the magazine.

[Foda420]

That is very cool! Great shot too. As someone who spent time in Borders and Barnes and Noble reading car magazines as a kid, I've still always thought it would be cool to be featured in one.

[propcar]

woah, that's a cool privilege for sure! Great shot!