New to me daily driver.. 95 M3.
 

So I started looking for a DD that I wouldn't give much of a fuck about (BRZ still has zero door dings, etc) to drive to the shitty garage here at work, drive around town, keep miles off the BRZ, etc. I can't justify any random normal car for a DD so I started looking for an E36 M3. Specially a 95.

I almost bought one, then found out a good friend of mine was looking to buy the same car. Let him have that one and bought one from another buddy who dumped a lot of cash into maint (headwork, cooling system, all bushings replaced, chassis reinforcements, etc). Ended up spending a little more than I wanted but the work done to it means I should only spend 1-1.5k in maint this year instead of 3-4k ;) The car was in Gettysburg, PA while my buddy lives in DC. So I flew up to DC and then packed the car, went to MD to drink with a bunch of ITR friends, and then started driving home...

It actually did make it to Florida without a tow, but has preceeded to drop as much oil as possible along the way. By the time the trip was over I added over a quart. The VC gasket is leaking badly, maybe oil pan (hard to say due to run off) and maybe VANOS line. Either way, it's first $1,000 or so parts purchase will happen soon.

Here's some pics of the kraut mobile.
Sitting outside of PO's parents house:
http://www.itrexpo.com/users/dave/m3/IMG_3835.jpg
http://www.itrexpo.com/users/dave/m3/IMG_3836.jpg
http://www.itrexpo.com/users/dave/m3/IMG_3837.jpg
http://www.itrexpo.com/users/dave/m3/IMG_3839.jpg
http://www.itrexpo.com/users/dave/m3/IMG_3840.jpg
http://www.itrexpo.com/users/dave/m3/IMG_3841.jpg
http://www.itrexpo.com/users/dave/m3/IMG_3842.jpg
http://www.itrexpo.com/users/dave/m3/IMG_3843.jpg

Watching a classic movie on the way home :)
http://www.itrexpo.com/users/dave/m3/IMG_3847.jpg

Rolling at ~80:
http://www.itrexpo.com/users/dave/m3/IMG_3848.jpg

Saw this badass ride in GA. NC plates "2QCK4U2C" - Looked like it was in great shape!
http://www.itrexpo.com/users/dave/m3/IMG_3850.jpg

Why I call these things German Mustangs.. fuel eco FTL:
http://www.itrexpo.com/users/dave/m3/IMG_3852.jpg

Finally home...
http://www.itrexpo.com/users/dave/m3/IMG_3856.jpg

And in it's new hiding spot:
http://www.itrexpo.com/users/dave/m3/IMG_3857.jpg
http://www.itrexpo.com/users/dave/m3/IMG_3858.jpg

So now the BRZed gets to rot. :)

Congrats! I've gained a new appreciation of these cars since I started tracking with BMW club a bit. They're fun cars for sure on the track, and have that additional oomph in the midrange, which I'm sure comes in useful in daily driving. They also have that understated, toned-down look which I like.

I find it funny you are calling it a DD but it's leaking oil and you expect it to require 1k in repair after one road trip that encompassed less miles than an oil change

GL with your "new" car.

And people in your hood have a lot of cars, wtf

Congrats! My DD is a 03 Civic Hybrid. Gets me 47MPG lol. DGAF about it.

Congratulations! Always have been a huge fan of the older BMW. I see all the new ones all the time, since we work with Mckenna. Can not go wrong with BMW

Very nice find! Me likes.

Love IT!!! DO WANT! My buddy just picked up the same year. Just about done with his S54 swap in it.

It's an E36 BMW. If you buy one that doesn't leak anything then congrats, it was just rebuilt :) German cars leak. New german cars leak. It's part of the "character" lol

1k in maint is less than I normally do (I've spent more up front on a very very reliable and issue free Integra Type-R). I don't trust any previous owners including friends.. All of the normal maint items will be done. I don't wait for stuff to really break. :thumbup:

DD = beat on to and from work. If it gets dented, DGAF. If it gets wrecked, DGAF. :)

We don't have basements here, I'm one of the few around me that put any cars in the garage, let alone two. I have shelving around basically the entire garage.

Nice, post some pics when it's done :thumbup:

Ha, yeah well you are getting a real car soon also ;)

I need to get insurance on the kraut car.. based on previous experience it'll probably cost 60% what the BRZ does. Stupid BRZ is too expensive to insure IMO.

Dave: sells parts from DD to buy new DD :bellyroll:


Nicely done.

ha, I haven't sold anything from the BRZ yet. I do need to get off my ass though. My right ankle is swollen to twice it's normal size due to what I assume is a sprain (dr appt on monday.. yay..) so I'm mostly useless for working on either the new DD or the old DD at the moment.

Just hope my ankle clears up before Road Atlanta in a few weeks!

He's just about there. Waiting on some ARP bolts to arrive. He literally ripped the engine out of it about a month after he bought it, lol. Crazy dude, HUGE track guy.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h8...psd1c7b423.jpg

Pardon him….he's French…..
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h8...ps1e650b8e.jpg

And the new motor that will be going in when the ARP bolts arrive.
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h8...psdd4e4772.jpg

You bought a great car, Dave! I'm very tempted to get rid of the FRS and pick one up. Very similar ideas as far as light weight, great handing is concerned and you can pick up a clean E36 M3 for $10k or so!

Once again, congrats on the purchase!

If I could find a good 4dr E36 M3 with a manual I'd scoop it up. I can't really justify having two, two door cars.

Nice and clean E36. Sucks to hear about the issues but damn that thing looks mint! :cheers:

Congrats! Those vaders are mint. Something you don't see very often

Cliff notes: DGAF

i always wanted a white with black interior..

but here is mine
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...ps70c94f8a.png

This :)

Make sure you get all the chasis/suspension reinforcements so you won't have trouble in the future.. Things usually crack and fall apart

All of it has been done already with one exception (but the parts were included).

Head has been resurfaced, head gasket, water pump (metal impeller), thermo housing, thermostat, recent radiator (I might replace it again anyways with either a Z3M or aluminum one), hoses, expansion tank, etc has also been done. Suspension arms have been blasted and powdercoated, new diff carrier bushings, all suspension bushings replaced. Balljoints also replaced. Rack replaced with a low mileage rack. Oil filter housing gasket, oil pan gasket and VC gasket replaced recently.

The VC is leaking again though so I'm going to replace the VC gasket set along with the gaskets on the bolts (which seems to be where it's leaking mostly) and the VANOS line while I'm there.

The E36 Vader seats are one of my favorite seats Ive head the pleasure of driving in. The only car Ive owned that came close to them, as far as support and comfort, was my '91 Mazda MX-6 GT turbo.

Good God man, that is a gorgeous E36 M3

Congratulations on the seemingly well-bought car

Parts get pricey though...

Nick C.

Thanks. It is getting a few rust issues.. some bubbling here and there.. will likely fix it since the rest of the car seems so solid :thumbup: I do want to remove the yellow fog light tint. Not a fan really of that. I might swap back to the OEM taillights as well. The car is currently on some Eibach coilovers which will be returned to the PO, I have some Bilstein Sport dampers and OEM springs in the garage to install. I'll throw it up on the lift in the next few weeks to check the car out in detail.

Here's a list of some of the stufff that was done recently (within the last year and a half):
- Pioneer In-dash Nav/DVD Player Unit
- Bluetooth and microphone accessories
- XM/Sirius ready (receiver included) - Pandora Internet Ready
- Euro blue passanger side mirror replacement (no objects in mirror text on the glass) - heated
- 2 new door handle assemblies
- Rear window gaskets replaced
- OEM Bosch starter replaced (Feb 2013)
- OEM used replacement coil packs
- Spark plugs just replaced
- OEM front splitters
- New M3 front lip
- New OEM foglights with luminex yellow film
- Silverstar light bulbs in the fogs
- DJ Auto FXR Retrofit with custom E55 shrouds, custom install (looks entirely oem)
- Front Bumper/Hood/Trunk Lid were replaced with much better condition oem parts with excellent condition paint (original matching VIN panels included)
- Rear plastic trim pieces replaced
- Extra OEM dealer cut key
- AA track-pipe
- Autothority chip
- K&N air filter
- 12mm spacers up front & 5mm in rear
- Head Work Completed (June 2013)
-- Head Resurfaced
-- Head Gasket Replaced
-- Head Bolts replaced (OEM)
-- Vanos Rebuilt (DR. Vanos Stage 1)
-- Valve Cover Gasket replaced
-- Oil pan gasket replaced
-- New exhaust gaskets
- Valve cover, sandblasted and powdercoated crinkle black
- Eibach Adjustable Lower Control Arms
- Sand Blasted/Powdercoated rear subframe
- Ireland (Urethane) Diff and Subframe Bushings
- Low mileage Rear Trailing Arms w/brand new ball joints and Turner RTAB Limiters
- Differential seals replaced
- Sanblasted/Powdercoated front Control Arms with new ball joints and bushings
- Sandblasted/Powdercoated X-brace
- Brand New Lemforder Tie Rods
- Low mileage used 95 steering rack replacement OEM
- Geba water pump with metal impeller
- Thermostat
- Upgraded aluminum thermostat housing
- Sealing gaskets
- Expansion tank
- Tank cap
- Upper & Lower rad hoses (silicon)
- Radiator hose clamps
- Accessory Drive Belts
- New OEM electric auxiliary fan
- New OEM clutch fan
- Brand New Slotted and Drilled Rotors (June 2013)
- Brand New Hawk HP Plus pads (June 2013)
- Complete Flush of brake system with ATE Gold - same as super blue just gold
- Brand New OEM front pads (still in the box)
- Rogue Engineering Rear strut tower mounts
- Ground Control front Camber/Caster plates
- Strut Tower, Chassis, Suspension, etc reinforcements

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/196v...f/original.gif

Wow!

Nick C.

lol, thats a pretty long list. Always loved that generation M3!

I have 2 question about the car.
Does it really wear out tires fast?
Is it costly to maintain/buy parts?

Really nice car though. Thanks.

good alignment and an easy right foot will do you fine, stress on that "GOOD ALIGNMENT"

I think German cars are expensive to maintain but if you look around the net, you can find good deals, and learn how to fix things..

Thanks

Too bad you couldn't get one with a real M motor in it. :lol:

The parts aren't really that bad. You can see parts prices at Pelicanparts, turnermotorsports, ecstuning, etc. Nothing crazy.

Some things are hard to get to and a PITA to replace though. German independant repair shops are pricey, dealers even more so.

The most expensive thing I've bought for it was an exhaust on a black friday deal. That wasn't needed though of course.

So far I've replaced the oil/filter, changed diff fluid with redline 75w90, trans fluid with redline mtl, replaced all fill and drain plugs (originals were fine but I didn't verify ahead of time and didn't want to deal with messed up ones if that were the case), replaced cabin air filter, installed an AA Gen 3 cat back, already has a AA track pipe, installed AFE Intake and Samco intake tube. Still need to replace the fuel filter, valve cover gasket and spark plugs. Spark plugs are a lot easier than a BRZ lol\

Tires have been fine, although my alignment is off. Been too lazy to swap suspension over and haven't wanted to pay for an alignment twice. The tires on it aren't that great anyways so I don't mind killing them off.

Wow I am sooooooo fucking jealous. E36 m3's are what I learned to drive on. My buddy had upgraded shrick cams, an intake and a flash tune... Stock exhaust, suspension, stock everything else entirely. He would pull hard on e46 m3's allllll the time. If you ever sell that car....... Please please let me know.

HOW DID I JUST CATCH THIS?!?


LTW wheels are, IMHO the prettiest OEM wheels+car combination I've ever seen.


Keep her nice, I might have to take her off your hands in a few years.

LOL it broke today. Ran perfectly fine last night, tried to start it today and it had to be revved to run, shuts down when it tries to idle.. and backfires. Gotta love German character. Of course it may start right up and run fine next this next weekend when I try to start it.. otherwise I'll tow it over to Nate's house and throw it up on the lift and start troubleshooting.

No time to fix it but that does mean I will actually drive the BRZ to the airport tomorrow where it can sit most of the week while I'm in the frozen north for business.

I've never touched one of these before, this topic scares me...

Ahem

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AENdc50K5aE"]Regular Car Reviews: 1995 BMW E36 M3 - YouTube[/ame]

But nice looking car!

HAHA I love regular car reviews.

That stalling and having to turn the key all the way off is super dumb.

I like the car for a daily driver though. Torque, fun to drive, and once I put the stock suspension back on and return the coilovers to the previous owner - a reasonable ride height.

HAHA I love regular car reviews.

That stalling and having to turn the key all the way off is super dumb.

I like the car for a daily driver though. Torque, fun to drive, and once I put the stock suspension back on and return the coilovers to the previous owner - a reasonable ride height.

Eh. German high mileage cars. :shrug: :)

I've been debating one of these for a while now, it's a lot of car for the money.

I obviously haven't looked into them hard enough, I thought they were more reliable than you're letting on.

Brings back memories lol

Alternator:
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g8..._tow_truck.jpg

Clutch slave cylinder:
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g8...ps48ns6jai.jpg

Great cars regardless of the dumbass issues. I have a weird affair for BMW in my heart.