Yeah, quite a ways back I started a thread because I was looking for a new summertime daily driver so that I could use the Pickup for winter mostly.
I always have two cars on the road at the same time, and one of them is always my Pickup. It's super reliable, and mighty useful, too.
Back around April or May I decided against a Lexus, and started looking for a decent BMW for a DD. I stumbled across what's now one of the best cars I've driven: 1995 BMW M3 3.0L 5 speed, Cosmoschwarz (black w/ blue metallic) exterior, Black leather Vader (the Vaders are the front seats) interior, with only 87k original miles.
It had some body damage in the rear, the shifter was sloppy as hell, the radiator leaked, and the back tires were on the brink of having cords exposed. Kelley blue book value on the car put it around 8K, as everything else was pretty much perfect.
I took it for a test drive and fell in love. I met the guy the next day w/ $6500 cash (he was asking $8500), told him to take it or leave it. I walked out with the key and title in my hands.
On to the pics:
You can see at the back side of the rear wheel well, it needed a small amount of bodywork:
I got that taken care of three days after I bought the car. More pics:
I decided that the 7.5" M Contour rims weren't wide enough. The car is supposed to have 235/40r17's all around (changed to 245 rear and 225 front for '96+ M3's), but the previous owner put crappy Nexxen 225/40's all around. Seriously not grippy enough for my tastes, so I started looking around for something wider. Just looking, though.
In the meantime, aside from the bodywork, I did the following maintenance items/upgrades:
-Giubo (driveshaft flex joint)
-New rear tires (same as the crappy ones that were on there so I can sell the set of four when I'm done w/ these rims)
-New ambient temp sensor (for the on board computer, tells ambient temp, etc..)
Modifications:
- X-brace
- Ipod input/stock stereo (very careful soldering to the tape deck)
- UUC Evo III SSK w/ DSSR - awesome short throw shifter
- Ireland Engineering Aluminum Radiator - thicker than stock, no crappy plastic end tanks.
- Generic cone filter intake- came on the car.
- UUC Red poly transmission mounts- Mine were toasted
- Redline D4ATF- (the ZF transmission calls for ATF, but when I get a lightweight flywheel/beefier clutch, I'll go w/ Redline MTL)
Keep in mind that all along I'd been looking for new rims. Nothing yet... However, I decided that the stock s50 3.0L is too slow for me. I did tons of homework, and decided to turbocharge the car w/ a T4 flanged GT35r. Still deciding on A/Rs and whatnot, but I'm in the beginning phase of gathering parts. I've got a guy making me a custom tubular manifold right now.
And finally, I found some wheels that I like. They're 17x9 ET40 Forgeline RS Comps. They're pretty rare in this form, and only weigh 18lbs! I've got them at my place now, but no tires yet. The plans are to stuff either 255's or 265's in all four corners of the car. Should be sick w/ some sways and coilovers.
I always have two cars on the road at the same time, and one of them is always my Pickup. It's super reliable, and mighty useful, too.
Back around April or May I decided against a Lexus, and started looking for a decent BMW for a DD. I stumbled across what's now one of the best cars I've driven: 1995 BMW M3 3.0L 5 speed, Cosmoschwarz (black w/ blue metallic) exterior, Black leather Vader (the Vaders are the front seats) interior, with only 87k original miles.
It had some body damage in the rear, the shifter was sloppy as hell, the radiator leaked, and the back tires were on the brink of having cords exposed. Kelley blue book value on the car put it around 8K, as everything else was pretty much perfect.
I took it for a test drive and fell in love. I met the guy the next day w/ $6500 cash (he was asking $8500), told him to take it or leave it. I walked out with the key and title in my hands.
On to the pics:
You can see at the back side of the rear wheel well, it needed a small amount of bodywork:
I got that taken care of three days after I bought the car. More pics:
I decided that the 7.5" M Contour rims weren't wide enough. The car is supposed to have 235/40r17's all around (changed to 245 rear and 225 front for '96+ M3's), but the previous owner put crappy Nexxen 225/40's all around. Seriously not grippy enough for my tastes, so I started looking around for something wider. Just looking, though.
In the meantime, aside from the bodywork, I did the following maintenance items/upgrades:
-Giubo (driveshaft flex joint)
-New rear tires (same as the crappy ones that were on there so I can sell the set of four when I'm done w/ these rims)
-New ambient temp sensor (for the on board computer, tells ambient temp, etc..)
Modifications:
- X-brace
- Ipod input/stock stereo (very careful soldering to the tape deck
)- UUC Evo III SSK w/ DSSR - awesome short throw shifter
- Ireland Engineering Aluminum Radiator - thicker than stock, no crappy plastic end tanks.
- Generic cone filter intake- came on the car.
- UUC Red poly transmission mounts- Mine were toasted
- Redline D4ATF- (the ZF transmission calls for ATF, but when I get a lightweight flywheel/beefier clutch, I'll go w/ Redline MTL)
Keep in mind that all along I'd been looking for new rims. Nothing yet... However, I decided that the stock s50 3.0L is too slow for me. I did tons of homework, and decided to turbocharge the car w/ a T4 flanged GT35r. Still deciding on A/Rs and whatnot, but I'm in the beginning phase of gathering parts. I've got a guy making me a custom tubular manifold right now.
And finally, I found some wheels that I like. They're 17x9 ET40 Forgeline RS Comps. They're pretty rare in this form, and only weigh 18lbs! I've got them at my place now, but no tires yet. The plans are to stuff either 255's or 265's in all four corners of the car. Should be sick w/ some sways and coilovers.
