Oppo, Meet My New 1998 E36 M3 Sedan!

"190e30-Now with COSWORTH" (190e30) 06/12/2014 at 19:50 • Filed to: ///M3

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So as many of you know, I sold Hans about three weeks ago now. That left me without a car, and sent me on a mad scramble for something new. I tried on everything from a modded Audi TT to a Hawkeye WRX Wagon, and nothing really fit me until a friend of the family stumbled upon this Boston Green Metallic E36 on the (somewhat) local List of Craig. It's a '98 (meaning it has the single-throttle body S52) ///M3/4/5, with only 102k miles. One of my dream cars, and thanks to various things falling into the right places, I was fortunate enough to be able to buy myself one of my dream cars at the age of 17.

Fair warning, the car is filthy. I haven't gotten a chance to give it the ol' once-over yet, but since I got it Sunday and have so far only submitted a few teasers, I figured it was time. This also means I haven't sorted the many cosmetic issues the car is currently plagued by.

DAT TIRE MEAT. One of the first things I plan on sorting is that A'pexi badge, because I feel like it entirely ruins the clean-cut look of the gorgeous rear of this car. I'm also not a bro.

Filthy wheels. The whole car could use a good compounding, and could use a little bit of touch-up in various places, particularly the nose. In due time...

Gorgeous Nappa Modena interior. Driver's seat is in disgusting condition and is embarassing to show, so I won't until it is fixed. But you get the idea here, it's very stylish.

The extremely-underpowered US S52 at its finest. Note the front spoiler, also desperately in need of some refurbishing. Soon to come. But wait, do I spy a bit of chrome?

Why yes, yes I do! A completely non-functional Autozone intake setup. This plus the A'pexi badge confirmed a fear of mine, that the car was previously owned by a bro. Fortunately, said bro must have also been an enthusiast, because the car is in very, very mechanically sound condition and has clearly not been abused. I originally dreaded this airboxless setup, but have actually started to love it due to the fun little whistles it makes under acceleration and the massive intake noise under heavier acceleration.

*Wink*

I particularly liked this touch, ///M valve stem caps.

Hopefully I'll be able to properly detail the car this weekend, although I have finals next week and will probably be studying instead. A better, cleaner photodump is on the way though, along with various cosmetic improvements.

Brian Silvestro > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 06/12/2014 at 19:57

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-you

Jonathan Harper > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 06/12/2014 at 19:58

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Manual?

Conan > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 06/12/2014 at 19:59

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You outcooled almost all of my students already. Nice job. Good luck on the fixes.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > Brian Silvestro 06/12/2014 at 19:59

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Yes. Yes I am.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > Jonathan Harper 06/12/2014 at 20:02

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Of course, what's the fun in an Auto M3?

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > Conan 06/12/2014 at 20:03

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Thanks!

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 06/12/2014 at 20:03

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So, you're calling me a bro for having this?

Jonathan Harper > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 06/12/2014 at 20:04

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niiiiice

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 06/12/2014 at 20:07

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Oppo is being overrun by BGM E36s.

Nope, because that one is A) Not chrome and B) appears to be of name brand. We popped the hood, and my dad made a crack about it clearly being something off the rack at an Autozone. Made by some random company called Specter or something. Sure enough, we drive three miles down the road to the nearest Autozone and find the same exact setup on the rack. The poor guy dropped around $200 on it.

jkm7680 > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 06/12/2014 at 20:11

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Needs a good cleaning, but looks nice!

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > jkm7680 06/12/2014 at 20:13

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It just needs a lot of good love. The driver's seat, the paint, the various chips and scratches...I plan on getting it to show-quality condition by the end of the summer, so hopefully that's how it ends up.

jkm7680 > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 06/12/2014 at 20:15

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I'm thinking a Dinan exhaust soon after.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > jkm7680 06/12/2014 at 20:15

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We'll see...stock is surprisingly loud as-is.

jkm7680 > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 06/12/2014 at 20:16

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I'd imagine, for an M3 even the stockie exhaust would sound good.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 06/12/2014 at 20:16

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I've never been a fan of either the exterior color or that interior color. Congrats on the car nevertheless

Here's my current one

and my old one

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 06/12/2014 at 20:18

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In a perfect world, it would've been Estoril Blue or Technoviolet. But this one was too good for the time and price to pass up.

Very nice cars, especially the Dakar Yellow. Looks super clean, which isn't very easy to find anymore.

Manuél Ferrari > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 06/12/2014 at 20:20

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WHOO HOOO

M3 ALL THINGS!

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 06/12/2014 at 20:21

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1. it's a 1996 328i sedan with a manual, (the white dots are from the neighbor's tree)

2. Mine is a Spectre elbow and hose with an Akimoto (actually made by Edelbrock) filter.

3. It was polished aluminum, but I took a scotch pad to it for a brushed finish.

4. The whole thing only cost about $45

5. When not moving the fan is constantly blowing air across it.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 06/12/2014 at 20:24

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Nice car.

Yup, definitely the same Spectre* company. No idea who makes the filter though, probably also sourced from Autozone. It's even located in the same spot, so hey, maybe it is doing something.

Mine's finished in chrome plastic though. So yours is still significantly nicer.

Dsscats > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 06/12/2014 at 20:25

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I know my advice isn't needed, but I'll give it anyways! Plastidip the front spoiler and black side trim black again. It makes the car look much newer. And join Facebook groups. You'll find a seat in no time.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > Dsscats 06/12/2014 at 20:26

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But Plastidip! I dunno, it does sound like a good, cheap solution. Especially since it'll probably be chipped up again by the time I go to sell...

Definitely joining the Facebook groups though. Good idea.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 06/12/2014 at 20:27

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Your's has that extra bit of tube.

But if you ever need any help let me know and I'll try to talk you through it.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 06/12/2014 at 20:31

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The massive intake noise is very intoxicating for sure.

If you have any questions about E36s, feel free to seek me out. I'd be here more than happy to provide guidance thanks to my 5 years of E36 experience

Dsscats > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 06/12/2014 at 20:37

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that's my plan for my faded roof trim. I'll let you know how it goes

AM3R > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 06/12/2014 at 20:40

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Congrats! Super nice car. LOVE the color combo. Very mature, but it's still sporty too.

How's insurance on an M3 for a 17 y/o?

Was it under $6500? I haven't seen any M3/4/5 locally go for under $7900.

OppositeLoctopus > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 06/12/2014 at 20:45

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A buddy of mine had an M3 sedan of this vintage, in this color, with those soccer ball wheels... but he totalled it in a wreck a few years back cause he's a dipshit. I had a 98 M3 sedan myself in "Hellrot" red, but with grey leather seats and sunflower wheels... but I traded it in because I grew tired of BMW repair bills on a car with 180k + miles. Really fun car and it looks sooooooo much better as a sedan in my opinion.

You probably already know all of this, but look out for VANOS issues, seems to affect about half of these cars with no rhyme or reason (mine had them, buddy's didnt). Also rear trailing arm bushings tend to be a weak point so check them out when you get a chance. Lastly, keep a close eye on the coolant overflow reservoir... it is a) pressurized, for some reason I've never been able to understand, and b) apparently constructed of composite molded butterfly wings with a light coating of nail polish. It pretty much went pop in my car, and my friends as well, so keep an eye on that bastard.

Anywhooooooo... congrats on your sports sedan! Enjoy it!

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 06/12/2014 at 21:04

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Better come to Lime Rock Saturday so we can park our M3s together like typical BMW bros.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo 06/12/2014 at 21:38

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Unfortunately not this time, due to finals. Next time for sure, though.

Vicente Esteve > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 06/12/2014 at 21:41

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That is so cool! Great looking BMW, and I think that those seats are the coolest thing of the car. Who would be so crazy to put the M Colors on these saddle beauties! I love it!

Its awesome, and in the time you fettle with it and clean it, and make it look proper, you will just fall in love more and more.

Really Jelly!!