PROJECT CAR: BMW M3 E36 SALOON - Path to bankruptcy or endless smiles?

[adam cool dude]

11k for a e36 is absolutely insane.

It is very cheap tbh compared to some contemporary cars of the era. Escort Cosworth's going for 50-70 grand. An E36 M3 is an immeasurably superior car not some sierra kit car cut in the middle with poor fitting bumpers.

I can still remember when I was 17 getting in some girl's dads M3. Red with black Vader seats. I remember the car but cannot remember the girl . It was a saloon too and felt like a rocket ship which it was when most people had Mondeo's and 406's with 150BHP tops.

 

[Gibbo]

Hi there

So did some refreshing of the engine bay, a very quick clean down but the results are impressive, autoglym degreaser and rubber care, spray, scrub, rinse, very easy and good results:


Dirty engine with old scuttle panel and engine prep photos, just cover any potential sensitive items like alternator, air intake with plastic bags:


























Fitted new scuttle panel, also put a new air filter in as well, the old one did not look too bad either

















Happy with those results, engine runs fine so water stayed away from anything important.
I've also fastened down the front cowl and re-aligned the wipers since taking the photos.

Also absolutely no rust or corrosion under the scuttle panel and windscreen area, so winner.

The underside will get similar treatment next week.

 

[Jonnycoupe]

Good work, always good to disassemble to clean when you are getting to know a new car.

 

[Armageus]

What is that empty bracket (with rusty bolts) for behind the Passenger side headlamp?

 

[Jonnycoupe]

Surely everyone knows that one?

Aftermarket alarm sounder ?

 

[Gibbo]

What is that empty bracket (with rusty bolts) for behind the Passenger side headlamp?

Surely everyone knows that one?

Aftermarket alarm sounder ?

Yep alarm / siren.

Manage to fit the throttle cable and new pedal this morning and adjust it. Quite an easy job as don’t need crazy tiny hands on this model.

Pedal is much smoother and adjusted so no dead zone at top of pedal so makes small inputs smoother and easier to drive.

 

[jpaul]

is the heat shield on left of engine and air box a regular fit , no mildew in washer bottle or condensation in lights - good sign.
Didn't re-use the pedal then - I had full carpet out once, finally ended up cutting at the bulkhead though.

gumifledge on the door seals ? - they're like sponges in freezing weather, or, give squeeks; noise from degradation of rubber at rear shock mount tops took me ages to diagnose.

 

[Gibbo]

is the heat shield on left of engine and air box a regular fit , no mildew in washer bottle or condensation in lights - good sign.
Didn't re-use the pedal then - I had full carpet out once, finally ended up cutting at the bulkhead though.

gumifledge on the door seals ? - they're like sponges in freezing weather, or, give squeeks; noise from degradation of rubber at rear shock mount tops took me ages to diagnose.

Looks factory and smart to keep heat away from intake.

Yeah headlights are good but one is missing the dust cap so one on order. Pedals are only £20 so just made sense to get new.

I’m gonna do all the rubber seals with my he shinetsu grease I had from S2000, fantastic stuff.

 

[lordrobs]

The simplicity of changing that air filter is a thing of beauty. Why manufacturers now feel the need to make it necessary to remove half the engine bay to get to regular service components is beyond me!

 

[Gibbo]

The simplicity of changing that air filter is a thing of beauty. Why manufacturers now feel the need to make it necessary to remove half the engine bay to get to regular service components is beyond me!

Yep no tools required, very easy.

 

[ChrisD.]

Looking forward to seeing this restored to its former glory.

 

[Jamesyboyjim]

An E36 M3! What a wonderful car! I hope it mechanically treats you well and you enjoy every mile

 

[a1ex2001]

The simplicity of changing that air filter is a thing of beauty. Why manufacturers now feel the need to make it necessary to remove half the engine bay to get to regular service components is beyond me!

A local VW specialist told me it’s because they let the computer design the layout and it doesn’t think about access to things that go wrong, hence the golf requiring almost an engine out to replace the erg valve!

 

[Jonnycoupe]

A local VW specialist told me it’s because they let the computer design the layout and it doesn’t think about access to things that go wrong, hence the golf requiring almost an engine out to replace the erg valve!

Well that’s a load of rubbish.

 

[jpaul]

back couple of spark plugs are a bit of a faff removing their coil covers - have to feel for the thread, and you fear what might happen if the washer fell down the plug gap

on engine bay clean-up - local was steam-cleaning his modern 3 series engine bay, initially smirked because I thought it was actually a vacuum cleaner ..
following on from thread on boiled sweet on upholstery, do think a steam cleaner could be a versatile piece of kit for car interior, wheels ...

 

[LuckyBenski]

Bit confused by this, has he misremembered?

What is it?

1995 BMW M3 E36 Saloon which 426 units were produced in RHD Saloon.
3.0l Straight 6 single vanos, producing 286HP at 7000rpm.

No problem Andrew glad to hear of your new aquisition. I went on to a e39 m5 totally different car but still miss the v6 such great fun.

 

[Gibbo]

Bit confused by this, has he misremembered?

The previous owner probably just getting confused most people don’t realise how many different types of 6 there is, V, straight and flat etc. As he had garages do the work suggest he was maybe not mechanically minded.

 

[DeanT77]

Love seeing things like this - good work on trying to save a classic

 

[One More Solo]

Hard to believe that’s 27 years old, such a timeless design.

 

[adam cool dude]

Looking to go GT front and rear spoilers or staying completely OEM?