M3 Repair: Interior Work and a Couple "Oh Shit" Things.

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno)
02/02/2015 at 20:38 • Filed to: Steno's M3

So today we got a lot more done to the M3 than I originally planned. Mostly sorting out and removing more ricer shit from the interior. Also me breaking some trim and figuring out a battery drain issue.

We started with the crappy aftermarket stereo. We wanted to remove it to see why the head unit wasn't picking up radio stations. What started as possibly reattaching an antenna cord ended with us removing the unit all together and cleaning up the wiring mess. It was a total hack job. Plus, the unit itself was, and I'm not kidding, wedged into the center stack unit nothing more than a stack of napkins.

So after we figured out how to disconnect the damn thing, we started pulling all the amateur wiring off from the stuff that come from the factory. It was only held together with painters tape and some electrical tape, the wires themselves being twisted together.

So we got that and then we taped the remaining wires together and shoved them in the dash. We plan on buying a new head unit.

The after that we decided to deal with the horribly broken glove box. Which, if anyone has ever owned an E36, knows is a really common issue. The process to remove it was pretty straight forward and involved a couple screws, a 10mm bolt, and removing the glove box light. We got that out and my dad's going to re-glue the plastic-leather face thing back to the actual door, as well as fixing the hinges and locking mechanism. If that fails we'll just buy a new glove box unit.

Above is the current state of my passenger compartment.

Then, while I had the drop light aimed at the center stack, I noticed the carbon fiber bits around the switches, gear lever, and hazards button were nothing more than fancy tape. So I started peeling that. Then I peeled the same thing on the driver and passenger doors. As of now, there is no more carbon fiber tape anywhere in the car.

We had to pop the power window switch to remove the carbon stuff under it, so that ended up with my dad taking that out to see why it won't adjust the mirrors. He screwed with it, cleaned, it did a bunch of stuff to it and it still won't move the mirrors. Either the switch is shot or both mirrors are broken. I'm hoping it's the switch.

Then as my dad was doing that my dumb ass decided to fuck with a trim piece on the side of the car.

Yeah. That broken.

The thing is held on to the car with plastic clips that hold on to metal on the plastic bump strip. The metal was all rusted and disintegrated as I tried to take it off. Now we can't put it back on the car and I'm missing a trim piece.

We're going to order a whole new set to go all around the car, since they're all falling apart on the inside we're pretty sure.

Then we get to the big issue of massive battery drain. Enough to kill it in about an hour if I have to turn the ignition on a few times to move windows and do stuff on the system computer. My dad had a sneaking suspicion that the radio was to blame.

Shocker, it was.

The battery may still be in need of replacing, but it doesn't drain nearly as fast now.

Tomorrow we're going to clear that damn code throwing the airbag and then get it inspected so I can actually drive the damn thing.

Oh yeah, we also came to the consensus that it had been rear-ended at some point. Not badly, but the trunk lid does show it's been fixed, rather badly at that. A new trunk lid is in order at some point as well as a front and rear bumper. Since those have been caught on things at the edges and pulled out of alignment and had said corner ripped off.

It's slowly getting fixed. Slowly. I'm just glad it's mostly cosmetic and not mechanical.

Still need shocks though, which aren't cheap. At all.

DISCUSSION (18)

Yossarian > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
02/02/2015 at 20:56

Has the cooling system been overhauled? Keep an eye on the temp if it hasn't.

Those side mouldings fall apart at the slightest touch. Don't blame yourself for it.

As for shocks check what bimmerforums or another E36 forum recommends. The aftermarket and support is HUGE.

Me and my brother shared an E36 M3 as our first car, I miss that thing so much. Oh Be careful in the rain, very easy to get the rear loose.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
02/02/2015 at 21:01

Glad to see work getting done on it!

What kind of shocks are you looking at? Unless you aren't looking at some really high end stuff it shouldn't be to bad. My Koni STR.T's were just under 70 dollars a shock.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Yossarian
02/02/2015 at 21:06

The temp gauge needle stands happily right in the middle of the gauge. No idea if it's been overhauled, but it works right now.

CallMeTURBO > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
02/02/2015 at 21:09

Sag! One of the sides of my glovebox is starting to sag, so annoying. Good luck with the job though.

I recently bought a 325i AT with a blown headgasket. Did an engine swap, AT-> MT, 3.23 LSD, m3 front bumper and Remus cat back. It's my first e36 and God damn I love this thing.

They really are a labor of love though, mine was mostly mechanical, though between me, my dad, and my friend (whose owned upwards of 30 e36s) sorted just about everything out.

Luckily, being an AT 325i, the car was mostly a commuter and stock and very well taken care of, the only non stock parts were a bangin (and professionally done) aftermarket kenwood system, Bilsteins, viper alarm (which has been removed) and rims off an e46. But I also got the stock rims.

You should watch this https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ubGo6q…

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
02/02/2015 at 21:09

Our local parts store that my dad's been using for years and usually has the cheapest prices had everything (front struts, rear shocks, bearings, and some other things) at over $700.

AM3R shamefully returns > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
02/02/2015 at 21:10

I genuinely look forward to posts about this "build". Keep the posts coming! And those trim clips are bad, they always break. They're less than a dollar each OEM though, so very easy/cost efficient to change.

Alex B > AM3R shamefully returns
02/02/2015 at 21:12

Hey, you're still alive!

jkm7680 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
02/02/2015 at 21:13

Tip: Don't shop at ECS Tuning. Whatever you'd want to buy there, you can get much cheaper elsewhere. I'd suggest used parts more than anything.

AM3R shamefully returns > Alex B
02/02/2015 at 21:16

yes! The guy literally wanted to know if I wanted to go on a ride, he saw me checking out the car. I didn't get to meet Ovi, but he did tell me that he comes to that place weekly if I want to try to come back next week.

5-Speed Gangsta > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
02/02/2015 at 21:28

I don't know if you've already tried this with the mirror switch, but try pushing it down and to the direction you want to move the mirror; I originally thought mine was broken but I eventually got it to work by pushing down.

Bird > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
02/02/2015 at 21:53

Just FYI, that temp guage is really an idiot light...it will stay right in the middle as long as its in operating range. If there's a problem it will shoot to the red instantly...

BMW's have super shitty cooling systems. My e46 left me stranded twice....after I overhauled it...

Check the condition of your expansion tank. If the plastic is discolored, replace it.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
02/02/2015 at 21:57

haha I don't know what it is about hoodrat radio installs in bmws but my e30 had a similar job. The radio cut out over bumps. When I pulled it apart, the radio harness (of course they cut the factory harness) had one of the ring style ground wires. Even a butt splice or electrical tape would have been better. Homeskillet instead just wrapped the factory ground wire around it.

I got it all cleaned up but the faceplate mechanism is still screwy so the front falls off on bad bumps...meh

Fookin' Prawns > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
02/02/2015 at 21:59

The saggy glovebox! I should probably take care of mine. I'm in the same "cosmetic but not mechanical" boat as you-someone redid the upholstery panels on the doors and it's an absolute hack job. Took me a week with epoxy and clamps to make them look semi-decent.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
02/02/2015 at 22:49

If 700 is for the price of all that, it isn't to bad. I would hope they're good shocks and struts though.

Then again, if it's anything like my car, everything is better then what's on it now.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
02/02/2015 at 22:53

I think they're essentially OEM "M" parts.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
02/02/2015 at 22:56

OEM parts can be stupidly expensive, 700 for M OEM parts actually doesn't sound like a bad deal.

finn's arm > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
02/03/2015 at 18:25

RealOEM & FCPEuro can be your best friend on a budget and to learn about part pricing.

$220 per front and $100 per rear wouldn't a bad price. Throw in another $300 for springs and you'll have half done. Spending more money on bushings and going cheaper on the shocks/springs would be my route if on a budget. Better results that way.

I have the Bilstein/Eibach B12 Prokit on my E36 & Bilstein HD's on my E39. I've driven/owned E36's for 10 years. I'm a big fan of Bilsteins now. Koni Yellows are pretty amazing (imo better). I would suggest avoiding coilovers as a 1st upgrade on your 1st car.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > finn's arm
02/03/2015 at 18:58

I was looking at Bilstien HD's and Tokico D specs originally. My dad was getting me a set for Christmas. He went for the Tokicos because they were cheaper. But long story short, the vendor couldn't get a hold of Tokico (Nor could anyone else) and it looked like I wasn't getting them. Being that they were paid for already, I was forced to go for the cheaper set. Koni STR.T's. I haven't put them on yet but I hope they're good, I really wanted those D specs.

I envy your Bilstiens. I've heard nothing about great things. Same with the yellows, those would have been amazing to have. But their price is kind of insane. And to be honest they're probably more then I would ever need. Not that I don't want them....