Holden's e36 ///m project/maintenance thread

[hcbeck2689]

I will use this thread to keep track of my maintenance and modifications of my m3.

1997 e36 m3 coupe
-Bimmerworld coilovers
-K&N CAI
-Active Autowerke G3 track pipe (sections A & B) and muffler

First picture taken after purchase.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160420/70a551ab7d4f0f56d0cd222e059122d9.jpg

The first things I will address are maintenance items in order of importance and small modifications of little to no cost.

[hcbeck2689]

Bought a bulb to replace the burnt bulb for odometer and trip. Wanted to do it today but ran out of time before work.

Painted the kidney grills gloss black today. They were faded black so not sure if they were original or aftermarket, but seem to be oem quality. Fit was perfect and was quite difficult to remove them. I will reinstall tomorrow and upload some pictures.


-Holden

[hcbeck2689]

Put the kidney grills back on today. I waxed them before hand, because why not, and it seemed to make the spray paint look a smidge better. Unfortunately I never took a before, but just imagine 20 year old plastic.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160421/6253aacaa34b4025cc30b1f2a48f0f8f.jpg

I took it to a muffler shop to see how much they would charge to weld the crack in my pos Manzo muffler. When it was up on the lift I realized there was a much larger crack on the bottom that I had not seen before. I also asked them about hacking the mid pipe so it was not so low and hitting speed bumps, but the basically said they couldn't do it. I'm gonna try another shop and see what they say, but might end up getting a used oem midpipe for $250 and putting my BMW perf muffler on the back. Either way the muffler will be switched out once I can go get it off the car.


-Holden

[BMWCurves]

Good stuff, sorry to hear about the cracks in the exhaust.

What is your car lineup right now?

[hcbeck2689]

Good stuff, sorry to hear about the cracks in the exhaust.

What is your car lineup right now?

You're looking at it.

[BMWCurves]

Roger. For some reason I felt you like had two other cars...I'm losing my mind.

Time to go operate some heavy machinery.

[hcbeck2689]

Roger. For some reason I felt you like had two other cars...I'm losing my mind.

Time to go operate some heavy machinery.

Nope just the one. Unless I mentioned a Jeep Wrangler and exterra. My landlord leaves both of those here and I drive them when my cars in the shop or I have some use for them. Yea, my landlord is pretty cool.

My fiancée has a Ford Focus that gets killer gas mileage, like 36-38mpg hwy and 32 city(when she drives it). So we take that on out of town trips. I plan on teaching her to drive a stick in the m3. It is surprisingly smoother clutch engage than the 330i...I mean zhp, Haha, and it isn't near as nice as the zhp was so I am not going to be so anal.

[hcbeck2689]

Lifted the m3 up a little yesterday for some added clearance so my wheels don't rub. That was so annoying. Also added the Active Autowerke exhaust on. Very happy to get rid of the old Chinese exhaust.


-Holden

[hcbeck2689]

Got the car aligned today. They did not do the toe as I had asked and I am not a little confused after taking to the Tech on the phone.
I wanted toe to be set 0.10 deg. Meaning 1/10 in. He set it to 0.00. He said that it is toed in because factory specs call for .2-.4 deg toe and that .3 would be straight and not toed at all. From my understanding the specs are like that so that the car IS toed in and there is understeer. I did not want quite as much understeer. The Tech said that the 0.00 toe actually means it is toed in, which does not sound right to me. In theory there will be less wear with zero toe, but the toe will actually pull at when throttle is applied and cause oversteer (per my understanding).
So, should I keep the toe settings or take it back in? Looking for some help on this one.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160518/6f34c4bed8c49aef01956482b4b3951a.jpg


-Holden

[Vas]

As far as I understood toe specs of a rwd car:

If you increase toe-in, this will result in reduced oversteer. If you increase toe-out,this will result in reduced understeer.

Most RWD cars have some negative toe-out from the factory but keep in mind toe-wear is what makes tires wear out quicker.

[hcbeck2689]

As far as I understood toe specs of a rwd car:

If you increase toe-in, this will result in reduced oversteer. If you increase toe-out,this will result in reduced understeer.

Most RWD cars have some negative toe-out from the factory but keep in mind toe-wear is what makes tires wear out quicker.

I also noticed after I posted that my front toe is negative when I told them to toe in. I'm at least going to take it back and have it toed in.

[hcbeck2689]

Update. Car drives fine, but has a pretty good amount of oversteer with zero toe in rear and slight toe out in front.
I went by my Indy and asked if they would fix the toe to what I had asked. I did say that I might have accidentally said -toe in, because I was talking - camber at the same time, but still I did say toe in and not toe out. They said they would charge me another $90 to do it. I'm a little unhappy about it but whatever. I'm not paying that again. They seem to have a problem with me bc I always bring my car back if it isn't done just right. Whatever, I'll live with it.

Off to change my oil.


-Holden

[slater]

sounds like it's time to find another alignment shop...

[fredo]

Time to try another Indy. Any other good choices around ?

[hcbeck2689]

It's been awhile since I have made any real contribution to the site and must admit that I went a few months without getting on at all after I got married.

Update on the car.
I have decided to sell the m. Insurance is just too much and I just don't like it that much for a daily driver (I know...you told me so). I haven't had much luck with my CL ad though.

Also, the car has been smoking a good bit from burning oil. It consumes about 1L/500 miles so I'm not concerned with the consumption. It just is annoying since the head job is so recent (3/16) and I don't think that is the actual problem.

Anyways. I have decided to see if I can sell it and if I can't I'll keep it as a track car. After I graduate and start working I am going to be on the hunt for a nice ZHP. I have decided against my long time dream of an e46 m3, but rather a ZHP sedan build. I plan to keep it looking oem but completely overhaul suspension, brakes, diff, and supercharger. It will be a long term project for sure, but I think I will be much more happy with a FI sedan than I would a coupe m3.


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[ELCID86]

Good to see you back. Congrats on the wedding and happy hunting.


---
"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - anonymous E46 fanatic

[hcbeck2689]

Thanks. Unfortunately I won't be hunting until late next year, but when I do I will be searching for my jewel.

I added an m3 cluster to my long list of desired mods after seeing your pic. I'm guessing that all the programming has been figured out.


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