[rjd598]

Originally Posted by W///

Might as well bump this thread. I went to the track with my E92 M3 the other month and was hooked. However, I realized that the car is just way too much for a beginner like me, not to mention the cost of tracking that thing was just too high.

So I began looking for a higher mileage E46 M3 or a nice E36 M3. E36 won because it was more different to my E92 than the E46 is. Not to mention the cost of running is much cheaper too.

So I'd like to introduce my 99 Techno Violet coupe. Tons of mods already done (brakes, suspension, bushings) and the cooling system has also been taken care of. I do need to do a few cosmetic things to it but otherwise, she's in great shape. The shifter is too sloppy though, have to fix that.




And I just couldn't resist getting these locally. 3 days into the ownership and already there are parts coming in



Let's turn this into the E36 M3 owner's thread! I'd love to see what some of you guys have. I just cannot stop driving this thing, it's so much fun.

Techno violet twins! I've had my e36 for a year now as a daily and damn I love it

[Sniz]

^ love techno violet, my 2nd favorite color on the e36.

[W///]

Just had to do it. Looks amazing!

Originally Posted by rjd598

Techno violet twins! I've had my e36 for a year now as a daily and damn I love it

It's an amazing color for sure! I still have to pinch myself because I can't believe I found one 15 miles from my place. It's so much fun to drive, I haven't touched the E92 all week.

Originally Posted by Sniz

^ love techno violet, my 2nd favorite color on the e36.

Told you your sig was going to do something bad eventually haha. Long story short, went to the track with the E92, love it, but was too much car (and expensive to run). Started looking at Mini Clubman S to replace my 4Runner and do light duty track, local BMW dealership loses me over $500 (yea they are worthless). End up keeping 4Runner and adding a great M3. Still comes out to be cheaper than buying that Clubman.

Needless to say, I love this car. Got a few parts coming in this weekend I hope.

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by W///

Just had to do it. Looks amazing!

I picked up a set of the stamped ltw rims myself. It really adds to the look of the car

[W///]

Originally Posted by rjd598

I picked up a set of the stamped ltw rims myself. It really adds to the look of the car

The next things to do is install ZHP knob and new hood struts. I've also been looking at deleting the mech fan.

Also, are your shifter bushings in good shape? Mine is really sloppy (very easy to go into 5th instead of 3rd for example). Not looking forward to rebuilding that.

[debom3]

My E36M3 is my first love. I have owned it since 62,000 miles, and it currently has 256,500. Been an awesome car. Very easy to drive. Not as refined as the 335i, but completely awesome.

[W///]

Originally Posted by debom3

My E36M3 is my first love. I have owned it since 62,000 miles, and it currently has 256,500. Been an awesome car. Very easy to drive. Not as refined as the 335i, but completely awesome.

That looks super clean considering the mileage! What mods do you have on it?

[02rsxpilot]

Had great fun this weekend chasing my brother-in-law in his E36 M3 around Laguna Seca. Our best lap times were within 1 second of each other (he was faster). Both cars bone stock motors, but he's got track suspension. Neither of us could overtake the other, as I'd pull away in the straights, but he was quicker in the corners. Total blast. Brilliant car to be that fast with only 240ish horsepower.

[Law]

Didn't see this video yet, looking forward to watching it later.

Great cars. Even though we in the US got the neutered motor, it is still great fun whenever i get to drive one. The pure I-6 noise, the handling/nimbleness, and excuse the cliche but just an overall raw driving experience. Certainly an M3 that is purely analog & excellent at that.
I certainly love the era-specific look & many design cues (awesome paint colors, vader seats, those famous mirrors, & angular lines and silhouette). Dated yes, but certainly timeless.

Most awesome experience was a friend's S54 swapped E36 M3...my goodness...

[debom3]

Originally Posted by W///

That looks super clean considering the mileage! What mods do you have on it?

Thanks! Nothing Major...

Ground Control Coilovers
Eibach Sway Bars
M50 manifold
Simota Intake (Groupe M rep)
UUC System U Catback

Lots and Lots of maintenance. =0]

What everyone is saying is true, these cars will last a long, long, time, but they need maintenance. Much more than normal oil changes.

I am on my 4th radiator, 4th water pump, 2nd clutch, have rebuilt the head and replaced the head gasket. All suspension has been overhauled, most items replaced a couple of times.

Still, awesome car. I still autocross it and drive it daily (when i'm not in the 335) If you treat it good, the E36 will reward you time and time again.

[W///]

Originally Posted by Law

Didn't see this video yet, looking forward to watching it later.

Great cars. Even though we in the US got the neutered motor, it is still great fun whenever i get to drive one. The pure I-6 noise, the handling/nimbleness, and excuse the cliche but just an overall raw driving experience. Certainly an M3 that is purely analog & excellent at that.
I certainly love the era-specific look & many design cues (awesome paint colors, vader seats, those famous mirrors, & angular lines and silhouette). Dated yes, but certainly timeless.

Most awesome experience was a friend's S54 swapped E36 M3...my goodness...

Well to be honest, that's why I went for a US E36. For once I don't have to worry about things like rod bearings and VANOS (too much). Engines are cheap, parts can be found everywhere. Honestly, for the money, I struggle to find a car as awesome as an E36 M3. I'm in love

[Law]

Originally Posted by W///

Well to be honest, that's why I went for a US E36. For once I don't have to worry about things like rod bearings and VANOS (too much). Engines are cheap, parts can be found everywhere. Honestly, for the money, I struggle to find a car as awesome as an E36 M3. I'm in love

You know what, you're absolutely right. I never thought about it in that light but after reading your posts above it does make sense.
The Euro motor would've made the E36 M3 a better car when it was new, but now that it is two decades old, the US motor actually is somewhat of a blessing & makes it a more attractive used buy, especially for the purposes of track duty. The E36 M3 is an awesome car regardless of US-spec, Euro-spec, swapped.

Enjoy in good health, i love the techno violet.

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by W///

The next things to do is install ZHP knob and new hood struts. I've also been looking at deleting the mech fan.

Also, are your shifter bushings in good shape? Mine is really sloppy (very easy to go into 5th instead of 3rd for example). Not looking forward to rebuilding that.

are you talking about the "5th gear lean" issue. I have it but it goes away after the car is warmed up. i get really frustrated though when i want to go into 3rd and it so easily slips into 5th

[W///]

Originally Posted by rjd598

are you talking about the "5th gear lean" issue. I have it but it goes away after the car is warmed up. i get really frustrated though when i want to go into 3rd and it so easily slips into 5th

Yea I do that all the time. Got a ZHP knob and that helps a little, but I'm still not too happy with it. Can't be going to the track and not know which gear I'm shifting into.

Btw, took my fog lights out, and the intake temp now drops 25F in hot SC weather when the car is moving. Pretty big difference temperature wise.

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by W///

Yea I do that all the time. Got a ZHP knob and that helps a little, but I'm still not too happy with it. Can't be going to the track and not know which gear I'm shifting into.

Btw, took my fog lights out, and the intake temp now drops 25F in hot SC weather when the car is moving. Pretty big difference temperature wise.

Wow that's interesting

[W///]

Originally Posted by rjd598

Wow that's interesting

Do you have the Dinan CAI as well? If you look at it, it goes behind (and a little higher) the fog light where there's absolutely no fresh air. Granted, that's better than having a cheap eBay hot air intake. My driver side fog light was literally filled with water, and the passenger side didn't work, so I figured I'd try it out. In 94F weather, I saw the intake temp rise to 140F in light traffic, and it didn't really go down much when the car started moving. With fog lights out, I was getting temps closer to 115-120F when the car was moving. The filter is not right behind the foglight so it's not completely exposed to the elements, but I figure you'll prob have to change the filter more often.

I don't think it looks half bad actually. Just trying this out for a few days before I decide what to do next:

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by W///

Do you have the Dinan CAI as well? If you look at it, it goes behind (and a little higher) the fog light where there's absolutely no fresh air. Granted, that's better than having a cheap eBay hot air intake. My driver side fog light was literally filled with water, and the passenger side didn't work, so I figured I'd try it out. In 94F weather, I saw the intake temp rise to 140F in light traffic, and it didn't really go down much when the car started moving. With fog lights out, I was getting temps closer to 115-120F when the car was moving. The filter is not right behind the foglight so it's not completely exposed to the elements, but I figure you'll prob have to change the filter more often.

I don't think it looks half bad actually. Just trying this out for a few days before I decide what to do next:

yea i do have the dinan cai...actually dinan stage 4. it makes sense and i don't think it looks that bad either

[Malibu1]

The E30 and E36M are some of the most fun cars to drive that I have had. Its kind of sad that I keep trying to find this fun in newer BMW's but its just not there. That's one of the reasons when I was in the marked for a 1965 Shelby Cobra Replica that I went with a Backdraft Cobra. Being built on BMW E36 suspension it just feels so right. Its like driving an E36 that is 1000#s lighter and 3X the power. But still feels like an E36 in many ways.

[Sniz]

Bah!!! My M3 has been out of commission due to a broken rear diff since last October! Finally got it fixed Friday by putting in a very nice custom built diff, 2.93 with 3 clutches and 40% lock up. Well......got ready to wash it to get all the pollen and dust off it and what do you know....the clutch pedal breaks!!! Clutch master cylinder is damaged and all the springs fell to the floor.

F'n hell

[Sammyzuko]

Originally Posted by Sniz

Bah!!! My M3 has been out of commission due to a broken rear diff since last October! Finally got it fixed Friday by putting in a very nice custom built diff, 2.93 with 3 clutches and 40% lock up. Well......got ready to wash it to get all the pollen and dust off it and what do you know....the clutch pedal breaks!!! Clutch master cylinder is damaged and all the springs fell to the floor.

F'n hell

Aw man, that's rough!
What kind of power are you putting down these days?

[W///]

Originally Posted by Sniz

Bah!!! My M3 has been out of commission due to a broken rear diff since last October! Finally got it fixed Friday by putting in a very nice custom built diff, 2.93 with 3 clutches and 40% lock up. Well......got ready to wash it to get all the pollen and dust off it and what do you know....the clutch pedal breaks!!! Clutch master cylinder is damaged and all the springs fell to the floor.

F'n hell

Damn, tough break Sniz. Hopefully you'll get it up and running (for real this time) soon! Btw, do you have a build thread or anything of that kind? I'd love to read it.

Here's what mine looks like right now. Changed the headlights and dipped the kidneys:

[DrivenByE30]

Yes to this thread!!

Yes to TechnoPurple!

Yes to keeping these underpower and under appreciated cars alive!!

Thread subscribed