M3 E36 track car on the cheap
Discussion
Chaps, this may have been flogged to death in which case i apologise. I own a 944 but it's not easily tuned and I need more affordable power - and am thinking of buying one of the less favoured M3 coupes - the 3.0 or an early 3.2 for 5-9k.
I intend to flog the interior, upgrade all of the ten year old suspension and brakes with the money, thow away the air con etc and have the thing chipped. Ideal for the odd cheeky track day but not too noisy as I already have a Lancia Montecarlo for that
Are the early E36's pants in comparison to the later 6 speeders?
Help appreciated!!
I intend to flog the interior, upgrade all of the ten year old suspension and brakes with the money, thow away the air con etc and have the thing chipped. Ideal for the odd cheeky track day but not too noisy as I already have a Lancia Montecarlo for that
Are the early E36's pants in comparison to the later 6 speeders?
Help appreciated!!
charlieromeo said:
One word: EVO
(The Magazine that is)
>> Edited by charlieromeo on Sunday 15th January 19:56
He's right as that magazine has just done what you ask, also BMW car magazine also the same (although not as extreme).
I bought a 3.0 M3 and am in the process of upgrading for the occasional track day.
I have ordered big stop tech brakes, eibach anti roll bars and eibach coilovers and front and rear strut braces,induction kit, should make it cracking on the circuits.
Ultimately I will change the front leather for recaros, different s/wheel (Momo probably) and an exhaust change in the future.
I would stay away from chipping, not worth much bhp on a 3.0, go to someone like Bexley motor works for a remap so the engine is running at its best. With the mods I mention 300bhp is reasonable and should be reliable.
I paid £9000 for mine but it had full bm service history and only 58k on the clock
If its just track work you are doing, get a 3.0 M3 (more reliable) for around 6k with no more than a 100k on the clock...it will still last forever!
Oh and speak to roy at Ca automotive who was really helpful and knows his stuff. www.ca-automotive.co.uk
also www.munichlegends.co.uk/homepage.html have a silver M3 for sale, same place i got mine.
Hope this helps!
Yep I am doing exactly the same thing. Bought a '95 E36 M3 3.0.
I have stripped and sold the interior. (If the seats are the right spec. and colour you can flog them for about a grand on ebay).
Roll cage is going in next week.
I've had the AST suspension fitted as per the EVO magazine car BUT at this point I would not recommend them. I am going to have it looked at but it appears you cannot lower this suspension anywhere near enough for a dedicated track car! despite what EVO mag. says.
The 3.0 engine and 5 speed box are supposed to be much stronger than the 3.2 (& 6 speed equivalent). Thats why I went for a 3.0 litre for track use.
I have stripped and sold the interior. (If the seats are the right spec. and colour you can flog them for about a grand on ebay).
Roll cage is going in next week.
I've had the AST suspension fitted as per the EVO magazine car BUT at this point I would not recommend them. I am going to have it looked at but it appears you cannot lower this suspension anywhere near enough for a dedicated track car! despite what EVO mag. says.
The 3.0 engine and 5 speed box are supposed to be much stronger than the 3.2 (& 6 speed equivalent). Thats why I went for a 3.0 litre for track use.
Interesting the 944T comparison, I think a mildly fettled 944t is a significantly quicker proposition tho, my last one had the noemal mild re-map & wategate rebuild & with carefull fuelling set up on the RR got 312bhp/360Lbft @ AmD & with new MO30 suspension & was easily able on road to give any e36M3 ive driven a darn good spanking id even streach that to include e46 too.
On track in the right hands it needs a darn decent driven in a GT3 Mk1 to get any distance.
All depends if you want booooooost & little engine character (4 pot drone) or N/A & a gloriously characterful 6 pot engine note.
I see similarly decent 944ts & E36 3.0 M3s at the same price bracket tho, infact less then mint 944Ts are cheaper than equivalent M3s.
>> Edited by iguana on Monday 23 January 20:51
On track in the right hands it needs a darn decent driven in a GT3 Mk1 to get any distance.
All depends if you want booooooost & little engine character (4 pot drone) or N/A & a gloriously characterful 6 pot engine note.
I see similarly decent 944ts & E36 3.0 M3s at the same price bracket tho, infact less then mint 944Ts are cheaper than equivalent M3s.
>> Edited by iguana on Monday 23 January 20:51
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