500k Mile Beauty (E36 M3)

[bimmerteknik]

This is it...
30102
30103

I have worked with the previous owner (second owner) since starting at the dealership in 2014.
He has taken pretty good care of the M3 being that it was driven over 160 miles 5 days a week.
last year he spent a few days chasing down a vibration, which resulted in him replacing just about every bushing under the car save the motor mounts and trans mounts. It ended up being a combo of the differential bushings and drive shaft.

The P.O. purchased a 335D and decided the car would take up to much of his time if he kept it. I have always joked with him that I wanted to buy it so he tried to call my bluff when he found out that our Sales department was going to send it to auction if traded in. Ultimately a deal was made and I had to explain to my Wife where some $'s had gone.



Known issues:
500k+ miles.
Smokes a lot! currently using 1-2 litres per week with mostly interstate driving.
Rear bumper/trunk appears stained with oil.
Windshield is split in multiple areas.
Alternator whines. (i think its the alternator)
Front bumper and hood are riddled with rock chips.
radio display is dead.
IHKA temp control adjustment only available from driver side button, the passenger stays above 80 but temps out of the vent do not reflect this.
Seats creak a bit, but then again its a 20 year old car with 500k+
Rear brake pads are at 3mm.
Fuel pump is original!

I have tried a few snake oil tricks to get the smoking to subside, though it has gotten much better, I think a tear down is in order. I suspect the oil rings to be stuck/coated in carbon. I also suspect the valve guides are worn heavily. The P.O. had recently replaced the valve seals and oil separator in attempt to stop the smoking.

Not exactly sure when I will get around to removing/disassembling the motor.

I have driven it around about 100+/- miles since purchase. It drives very well. plenty of power spite the oil consumption and mileage, and the handling is great thanks to the refreshed suspension from the P.O.

This weekend I poured some Lucas stop leak in and drove it home to give it a detail so i feel better about it sitting outside.

I will update this periodically as things progress with the car.

Here are the pics,
Enjoy!

3011330114301053010630107301083010930111https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170531/efa759a1cac48d3259cfa17f5099542b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170531/74ba9abc6f90c2c0496d0348b88be338.jpg

[Vas]

Love it. Looking forward to updates

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

[RUS_ZHP]

This is unbelievable!!!! I am glad to see this beauty on the road.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[melonz]

Still looks pretty dang clean for a 500k car! Awesome.

[BMWCurves]

Still looks pretty dang clean for a 500k car! Awesome.

+1

[az3579]

I can't believe the condition of those seats for the mileage. How much was it, out of curiosity?

And BTW... THAT, my good folks, is Dove Grey, not that ugly mess the E46 has for a grey interior. Please don't confuse the two! Totally different colors, and this one actually looks good.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[slater]

love it! :cheers :cheers

i think, based on the condition of the rest of the car, doing an engine rebuild is worth it. then replace the driver's seat (maybe get some vaders?), restore/replace the headlight lenses, fix the other issues you listed (most seem fairly minor), and then you're off and running with a unique M3. plus, it's a silver M3/4/5! so cool.

love it. :)

[bimmerteknik]

I can't believe the condition of those seats for the mileage. How much was it, out of curiosity?

And BTW... THAT, my good folks, is Dove Grey, not that ugly mess the E46 has for a grey interior. Please don't confuse the two! Totally different colors, and this one actually looks good.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

I feel like I stole this thing, after getting it and browsing the f/s ads on various forums. Just a quick craigslist search yielded this at the price point.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170529/b69809f718ec891817c318f5b8fbe52e.jpg


And HEY! [emoji35] I quite like my e46 interior lol.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ELCID86]

Great find. Congrats.

[Sreten]

Congrats. Holding up pretty good for the miles and age. Keep her running!

[Prestovie]

This is amazing, pretty motivational for owners who are worried about rising mileage :thumbup

[fredo]

:like

[egiles14]

This has to be one of the higher mileage E36 M3's in existence...it's definitely the highest I have seen. I am also amazed at the condition of the seats, and the interior at this mileage. One of the main weak points on the E36 is the terrible interior quality, but this one seems to have held up very well over time. Has the car had any accidents or paintwork? It would be amazing if it had not after traveling all of those miles.

I owned a '97 M3 sedan years ago, and it was a fun car to drive for sure. Although I said I would never own another one, if I came across one like this at that price, I would probably make an exception.

[bimmerteknik]

This has to be one of the higher mileage E36 M3's in existence...it's definitely the highest I have seen. I am also amazed at the condition of the seats, and the interior at this mileage. One of the main weak points on the E36 is the terrible interior quality, but this one seems to have held up very well over time. Has the car had any accidents or paintwork? It would be amazing if it had not after traveling all of those miles.

I owned a '97 M3 sedan years ago, and it was a fun car to drive for sure. Although I said I would never own another one, if I came across one like this at that price, I would probably make an exception.

P.O. Had the front resprayed at some point early in his ownership. He also added the trunk lip/spoiler at that time. I recall him mentioning a minor bump up, lady inched forward into him at a light. It was well before my time at the shop so I'll have to get more details for that.

As it is now, the front is in need of some paint and the center of the rear above the bumper has a spot the size of a quarter where the clear is failing. Presumably from the corrosive oil soot.

Attempted to quote machining cost today, but I never heard back from the shop.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bimmerteknik]

Decided to drive ol' smoky home tonight. Received a call back from the machine shop, has me wanting to pull the motor this weekend[emoji57]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalkhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170531/ec1b0a536a163dea2c95b6b5156655e2.jpg

[Whammy]

Damn! Nice find! Hopefully it doesn't become a money pit maintenance-wise.

[az3579]

Damn! Nice find! Hopefully it doesn't become a money pit maintenance-wise.

It's a BMW... of course it's gonna be a money pit. lol

[illirep]

Awesome project car! They say these cars will run forever with proper maintenance!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[zhpnsnv]

Amazing! Car looks great for its age/mileage.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[bimmerteknik]

Trying out a pricey “snake oil” product and decided to get some before measurements of compression and leak down. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171006/bf93ce9f99625c0e33a8902bc085669b.jpg
Left is compression and right is leak-down percent.

Other than leak down on 6 we were a bit impressed at the shop. (6 is probably the culprit for the consumption)

Ultimately the motor is getting rebuilt, was planning to do that this month but some things came up and I will not have the time to devote and rather risking the car/parts sitting I’m postponing the tear down.

[Dual]

That is a cool car (and thumbs-up on the colors). My brother owns one of these (much lower mileage coupe)- I'll have to send him here.

[joeybananaz18]

There are cars with only 50K miles that look like basketcases. Still can't believe milage is 10x that.

[Karl Lazlo]

Love it!

[bimmerteknik]

Well overdue for an update on this project.

Pulled the car into the shop this morning around 9:30 for a state inspection.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180421/66dd02cbd9aa9ebce8ce41a833a908df.jpg

Then I pulled the motor out. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180421/e2a5c976643608f654b88c92f1cd52e8.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180421/97c003517e01658225d213a644f87c29.jpg

Disassembly will begin on Monday morning and take place between work hours.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180421/5f6fba75b2e3329e6105237c464b3c0a.jpg

Planning on sending the block/crank/rods/pistons and head to the machine shop. Hoping to reuse the pistons and rods but we will have to wait and see.





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[johnrando]

Nice

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[KIRIEIW]

This things awesome man, keep up the work.

[bimmerteknik]

Got a chance to pull the head off today, major scoring on cylinder 6 https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180424/86968b0f25427e8a3754e6eb49205b71.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180424/815527c455709c133dc30aad529b33c0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180424/17654e5169ced396ad08619b403e1a46.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bimmerteknik]

Block, crank and head were sent out to a local machine shop last week. They got back to me today confirming it needs to be bored out to 87mm to clear the scoring, however it does not need to be decked and the crank was perfectly fine, they told me to just get standard size bearings for rod and mains and send the pistons to them for fitment when they arrived.

That being said this rebuild is starting to feel real, ordered a set of eagle h beam rods and JE pistons spec’d at 87mm 11.5:1 CR

Everything should be in between the 12-16th per the shipping info.








Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[slater]

awesome. what was stock CR?

[bimmerteknik]

awesome. what was stock CR?

Stock is 10.5:1 (edited: not sure why I said 9.5:1 [emoji17])

From the little research I did, 11.5:1 seems to be the highest you can run on pump gas “safely”



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[slater]

Stock is 9.5:1

From the little research I did, 11.5:1 seems to be the highest you can run on pump gas “safely”



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

whoa, that's quite a bump in CR. what are you doing for tuning?

that's gonna be one heckuva motor.

[bimmerteknik]

I’m gonna take it to bpc for tuning.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bimmerteknik]

whoa, that's quite a bump in CR. what are you doing for tuning?

that's gonna be one heckuva motor.

And I just realized i stated 9.5:1 as stock CR. It’s most definitely 10.5:1


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[webster]

this is amazing. here's to another 500k!

[bimmerteknik]

Ordered riot racing regrinds, I have it on good authority that they are dangerously close to schricks cams.

Pistons and rods will be in on Tuesday. So hopefully dropping the pistons and rings at the shop no later than wed. afternoon for final clearance and fitment check.

Still to order; cam followers, springs and retainers, oil pump bits, head studs, light weight flywheel.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bimmerteknik]

Parts started showing up today.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180516/b19ef38334d306c754b46b29c3ddaad6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180516/218dca224ce5d397ac353a16486a0d32.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180516/69fd64dc9f38e5cbed62d8f526fed8d4.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bimmerteknik]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180521/fbb81e152d4867c0893b1ac2587f9d65.jpg

Not much of an update, but more parts!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bimmerteknik]

Stuff happened this week.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180527/7308fa4d1657940677bf52c3efd7df42.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180527/095ee880ac34ebb11a9c1206895a3d6c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180527/b9f02137797044cd2bad57a79d72123f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180527/ca5d94344fb6a19652e815c3d6eacf5a.jpg

Feeling good about the progress.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[johnrando]

Good stuff :)

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[Vas]

Great update

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[bimmerteknik]

She’s home! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180624/e1be88acbf81e0c5c66866536d22915d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180624/5e1678b52bbcec747dba6161263b92d8.jpg

Motor was completely assembled and installed last Friday. Start up yielded what I though was pretty low oil pressure, after warm up it was down around 4psi.

Unfortunately I left out the oil squirters/jets.

So Thursday I spent roughly 2 hrs pulling the motor again. Then about 6 hrs total on Friday tearing back down to the crank and installing the jets and confirming the bearings are ok and reassembling.

Then about 8 hrs on Saturday putting it back in the car.

Once in the car and wired it was a no start. Checked grounds, mounts etc. no luck. Tested the starter solenoid and it was dead. Bought a reman from advance and went for a drive.

A coolant hose clamp failed on the test drive. I had bypassed the throttle body cooling and routed that circuit straight to the head. The connection on the head failed. Fortunately I had another clamp in the trunk, unfortunately it was at operating temp[emoji51].

Then a cel popped on. P0340, I cleared it and it pops back as pending. Car feels pretty weak throughout the rpms. (Granted I’m keeping below 5k)

Drove to an O’reilly and purchased an aftermarket sensor and changed it in the parking lot. Sheathing just after the connector was gone on the original one. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180624/8fdef820e03b76b488ae7a20895ea085.jpg

New sensor in, fault clears and it drives much nicer, can’t wait to hit 500 miles and start driving this like I want to.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[704sw]

Dang, what a roller coaster that was! Glad it worked out in the end.

[ZHPizza]

Dang, what a roller coaster that was! Glad it worked out in the end.+1 I was on pins throughout

[bimmerteknik]

M3 is running great.

Deleted the mechanical fan and installed a Spal low profile fan and installed a switch in the center console in addition to the temp switch.

Changed oil at 500 miles and again at 1200 miles.

Car has been tuned by Jordan/RK-tunes.
Idle was raised, this helps a lot with SMF noise. And it burbles above 4K rpm when engine braking. [emoji847]

Today I had a local exhaust shop make a dual 2.25” to single 3” with some MagnaFlow mufflers I’ve been holding on to. I’ll be wiring in my AFR module and sensor this week.


https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180910/4f57814a0d042b396b5b029d2b1f695d.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[johnrando]

Nice!

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[bimmerteknik]

Since the exhaust I have installed larger 24lb injectors and a 3.5” maf, had the car returned and installed a gang of poly bushings and fortune auto coilovers 9k/11k.

Attended a few auto-x events to make sure things were gonna stay together before an hpde.

By chance I met up with a local mafia member 704sw at VIR for the first track outing.

https://youtu.be/jyG8THneCg4




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[E46Fan]

Exhaust sounds great!

[Will]

Awesome! Glad to hear it's running smoothly. Looking forward to future updates.

[ZHPizza]

I'll never forget the first test drive in my 95 M3 after swapping in a 3.5" intake + hfm, 24lb injectors, and a conforti chip. It just makes that S50 scream.

Guess it worked out for you seeing you walking e46's on the straights lol

[704sw]

First video cut off right before the Esses :( I’m guessing we came up on traffic?

[bimmerteknik]

First video cut off right before the Esses :( I’m guessing we came up on traffic?

Yeah we did, but my GoPro was doing some weird stuff too, it was breaking the videos up into 17-20 minute segments and when I try to play a few of them they are missing about 14 minutes. For example a video shows 17 min but only has 3 min on it. [emoji1745]*[emoji3603] so missing quite a bit of recordings from both days.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk