cheap M3, whats the worst..
- Thread starter Matt82
- Start date
two evening update
last night i painted the new parts with the final paint finish. i used FLAG hammer finish black metal paint and its a great product. goes on nicely and leaves a great finish with very minimal effort
here are the new parts all together this morning waiting to go on
but first i needed to get the remaining gear off the car
no more 3.0 back end
the old subframe had poly bushes, so did the old trailing arms. they had to come out to be cleaned up and refitted to the new gear
poly bushes had to go into the new sub frame and arms
i put the new subframe up first and then the diff. im sure i got a pic of the subframe by itself but cant find it
diff took a bit of wrestling
i got the off side trailing arm on too and got the cv joint in the hub after some effort. camber arm, spring arm is on. im actually dying at the moment so that might be why i didnt get pics!
tomorrow = near side trailing arm
insert springs and ARB.
fit wheels
reverse onto ramp and tighten bolts so the bushes have the correct pre load.
also, the offside trail arm bush holder, ive put the bolt in the wrong way. when i correct that i can remove the arms without removing the holder and ruin the geometry.
got to go and die now
last night i painted the new parts with the final paint finish. i used FLAG hammer finish black metal paint and its a great product. goes on nicely and leaves a great finish with very minimal effort
here are the new parts all together this morning waiting to go on
but first i needed to get the remaining gear off the car
no more 3.0 back end
the old subframe had poly bushes, so did the old trailing arms. they had to come out to be cleaned up and refitted to the new gear
poly bushes had to go into the new sub frame and arms
i put the new subframe up first and then the diff. im sure i got a pic of the subframe by itself but cant find it
diff took a bit of wrestling
i got the off side trailing arm on too and got the cv joint in the hub after some effort. camber arm, spring arm is on. im actually dying at the moment so that might be why i didnt get pics!
tomorrow = near side trailing arm
insert springs and ARB.
fit wheels
reverse onto ramp and tighten bolts so the bushes have the correct pre load.
also, the offside trail arm bush holder, ive put the bolt in the wrong way. when i correct that i can remove the arms without removing the holder and ruin the geometry.
got to go and die now
i used those bushes are they came with the car and were fitted a few months before i bought it.
spotted a major problem though.
see the subframe mount studs on my car are in the rear holes, i think theyre supposed to be in the FRONT holes
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/image/suspension/susp_e36_rsubframe_2_lg.jpg
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/image/suspension/susp_e36_rsubframe_4_lg.jpg
etc
so still correcting work carried out by idiots.
going to be fun trying to correct that tomorrow
spotted a major problem though.
see the subframe mount studs on my car are in the rear holes, i think theyre supposed to be in the FRONT holes
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/image/suspension/susp_e36_rsubframe_2_lg.jpg
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/image/suspension/susp_e36_rsubframe_4_lg.jpg
etc
so still correcting work carried out by idiots.
going to be fun trying to correct that tomorrow
must have been when the subframe bushes first went in. the studs should be in the front holes. stuff like that makes me worry about what the hell else i might be contending with.
it shuoldnt be TOO hard to correct though
as for subframe bushes, theyre a damn sight easier to fit than originals so that was a big part of the decission too. it wont be an everyday car at all. if it is noticably bad then itll only be easier to change next time as ive learned a lot in just this job
it shuoldnt be TOO hard to correct though
as for subframe bushes, theyre a damn sight easier to fit than originals so that was a big part of the decission too. it wont be an everyday car at all. if it is noticably bad then itll only be easier to change next time as ive learned a lot in just this job
it shuold be two studs up front secured by a nut each and then a pair of long bolts at the rear
the links/pics should be the clearest.
ive got a feeling it would be best to have two pairs of hands to do this, ideally id want someone to balance the subframe and diff whilst its supported on the jack
the links/pics should be the clearest.
ive got a feeling it would be best to have two pairs of hands to do this, ideally id want someone to balance the subframe and diff whilst its supported on the jack
the whole experience has been gob smacking. i bought it at bottom of the barrel price, the two previous buyers paid more, but i cant see any logic in paying money for a "performance" car and maintaining it as if it were a pile of junk. the engine/suspension etc are what make an M3 an M3
this car had m3 evo top mounts on the wrong, with plain m3 arms and bushes, which left it with positive camber, so this isnt just limited to the rear.
this is why it feels like a restoration to me
this car had m3 evo top mounts on the wrong, with plain m3 arms and bushes, which left it with positive camber, so this isnt just limited to the rear.
this is why it feels like a restoration to me
See if you can find one with all new components in it and then well see what the price is
The way I see it is that after all these years the vast majority will be in a similar state. This way I know mine is full of good bits. Once I got it on the road, for example, mine has a brand new cooling system practically too.
Not sure it was worth the effort as I don't seem to find the time nowadays for car stuff like I used to, but once its on the road that could all change.
The way I see it is that after all these years the vast majority will be in a similar state. This way I know mine is full of good bits. Once I got it on the road, for example, mine has a brand new cooling system practically too.
Not sure it was worth the effort as I don't seem to find the time nowadays for car stuff like I used to, but once its on the road that could all change.
I think 20mins is what I'd read on some American board as being good.
What do you have for camber? I'm thinking 2deg. From should be about 2.5 with the parts on mine.
Toe in at the front should make it turn in better too I'd think. I'm interested to see what front castor will be given on car is a bit of a mash up
it put up a good fight today, but it lost. i didnt get round to starting it and getting it on a ramp to torque up the last bolts, but i did well.
first i had to relocate the studs, it wasnt nice getting the frame down again. i learned that if you get the exhaust's middle hanger bracket down, its a lot easier as the prop shaft can come down further. ##
the studs were inthe wrong location at the back
after what felt like forever i got them into the correct location and used the washers in a different order to spread the loads better
this and this
becomes this
moral support is courtesy of lilly, the next door neighbours cat
i got the trailing arms bolted up properly. after clearing up the dirt under there i can now actually adjust the toe.
springs, arms, dampers and ARB are all on. i even dug out the evo sunflower wheels and bolted them up
all i need to do is refit the bracket for the centre of the exhaust, then i can start it and put it on a ramp (without backbox, should be fun!) so that i can bolt up the bushes in place then its ready for MOT and road use
first i had to relocate the studs, it wasnt nice getting the frame down again. i learned that if you get the exhaust's middle hanger bracket down, its a lot easier as the prop shaft can come down further. ##
the studs were inthe wrong location at the back
after what felt like forever i got them into the correct location and used the washers in a different order to spread the loads better
this and this
becomes this
moral support is courtesy of lilly, the next door neighbours cat
i got the trailing arms bolted up properly. after clearing up the dirt under there i can now actually adjust the toe.
springs, arms, dampers and ARB are all on. i even dug out the evo sunflower wheels and bolted them up
all i need to do is refit the bracket for the centre of the exhaust, then i can start it and put it on a ramp (without backbox, should be fun!) so that i can bolt up the bushes in place then its ready for MOT and road use
lilly was providing encouragement 
i did the subframe first and then the diff. wasnt fun.
the second time i did subframe and diff together and learned that if you remove the exhaust hanger bracket thing, the prop shaft can come doesn loads more
(that reminds me, still need to do diff flange bolts!
i did the subframe first and then the diff. wasnt fun.
the second time i did subframe and diff together and learned that if you remove the exhaust hanger bracket thing, the prop shaft can come doesn loads more
(that reminds me, still need to do diff flange bolts!
would be lovely if you could but the spare wheel well gets in the way. i wasted so much time this weekend trial fitting things. eg i have never rebuilt a set of drum brakes. closest i have been was when i stripped the parts off of the new trailing arms.
i had to trial refit on the disused arms so that i knew i could get it to work
experience, something you learn immediately after you needed it
i had to trial refit on the disused arms so that i knew i could get it to work
experience, something you learn immediately after you needed it
south east essex. sadly the bulk of the work is out the way now. its just small thing and bodywork (which i will get someone else to do)
now that the BM can move off the drive i can finish sorting out the paint on the front of the house and paving the driveway. after that i can pave the patio and at the same time finish building the garage, so i do have some heavy lifting jobs going if youre keen
seriously though, ive got the bulk of the BMW work out the way now, provided engine/gearbox/the secondhand diff dont blow up on the maiden voyage.
now that the BM can move off the drive i can finish sorting out the paint on the front of the house and paving the driveway. after that i can pave the patio and at the same time finish building the garage, so i do have some heavy lifting jobs going if youre keen
seriously though, ive got the bulk of the BMW work out the way now, provided engine/gearbox/the secondhand diff dont blow up on the maiden voyage.
finally reached terra firma today.
battery was non existent so couldnt even get in the boot (being a sketchy M3 the boot lock doesnt match the rest....)
eventually had my brother bring round a booster pack which gave enough juice to get the central locking going and set the alarm off
at this stage the car was on the ground, the suspension was lightly bolted, i needed to get it on a ramp to get back under there to tighten them with the car on "ground level" so the bushes could set themselves in the right position
whilst waiting a did a spot of de chavving
with the BMW connected to the Golf i spun the engine over to get oil pressure and then started it. i have a video of the start but i spazzed out like a complete girl and am just too embarrassed to show it
my GOD it sounded good without a backbox. sadly (for the neighbours) my brother was keen to get it on the ramps and tighten it all up
tightened it all up, refitted the exhaust and propshaft flange bolts and its all good to go.
rear end camber looks a bit positive but i dont care at the mo.
may even try for an MOT tomorrow then i can get some miles on it.
with the exhaust on i started it up again. temps all go straight to perfect so im happy with that.
boot
im absolutely buzzing still. Im trying to get the MOT booked for tomorrow then it would be geometry a day or so after.
The video i have, if you listen to it with headphones, it sends tingles down your spine. So much bark its unreal. BMW made a mistake when they let the car leave the factory with a back box.
The video i have, if you listen to it with headphones, it sends tingles down your spine. So much bark its unreal. BMW made a mistake when they let the car leave the factory with a back box.
Never actually heard my M52B28 (never heard of an M50B28 as a stock engine) without the rear section. The M30 no cats (pre 1991
the camera mic seems to have got all the bass this thing had, ill post it up tonight. the car sounds almost as epic as my girly squeal
i spazzed out a bit, its not pretty rofl
well im glad i spotted it, even if it was a few hours later and i had to pull it apart again but im not familiar with bmw's layout of these things so im expecting to miss things.
it is sad that people pay good money for these things to be carried out and theyre often not done correctly
this was before i got it on some ramps to tighten all the rear end bits. plugs had just gone back in after a good crank over to get some oil pressure.
it hadnt been started in months, hence my saying "if its got any fuel" at the start
it cranked and started after about two turns