What mods should I consider for my E36 M3?

[EuroPlate]

Alright, we all know that this isn't much more that a super powered 328is. However, I am interested in making it into something more. What does everyone out there think? What mods can I make that will improve my virgin M3? I know that a super charger or a turbo could launch the horse power but that's not my thing. The car is great as it is but I'm always looking to push the envelope.

Comments anyone?

[VtwinVince]

Unmolested Dakar M3? I'd keep it that way.

[EuroPlate]

Originally Posted by VtwinVince Unmolested Dakar M3? I'd keep it that way.

Vincie,

U know of a good upholstery dying shop?

[murphymurf]

Get yourself a suspension upgrade..... it's worth it.

[motoyen]

Talk to Chris at CG. He had a crazy E36 M3 a while back.

[VtwinVince]

I think someone needs to open a good wheel refinishing\upholstery shop in this town, as I don't know any good ones. And Anthony's right, the M3 Chris built was totally nuts. I remember it had a Schnitzer crate motor in it.

[woods]

Originally Posted by EuroPlate Alright, we all know that this isn't much more that a super powered 328is. However, I am interested in making it into something more. What does everyone out there think? What mods can I make that will improve my virgin M3? I know that a super charger or a turbo could launch the horse power but that's not my thing. The car is great as it is but I'm always looking to push the envelope. Comments anyone?

1. Change the software. TMS or EAT software. This will wake up the engine on the top end.

2. Add a cold air air intake with a good heat shield. Not much good for power but louder always feels faster (and you'll be using WOT constantly). Tough to improve on the M3 exhaust.

3. Beyond this - new cams and a 540 MAF are your next step up but this gets expensive. $2000 or so. At $5000 to $10000 a turbo or SC setup is prohibitively expensive IMO (and is not for the faint of heart or worth putting on a tired engine).

3. Get rid of the factory suspension and put on a good set of adjustable coil-overs. Couple this with the best tires you can afford (which is much different from the most expensive tires). This will transform the car. You don't buy and M3 to drive in a straight line afterall...

There are a few other things you can do to squeeze a bit more power out... Remove the mechanical fan, underdrive the accessory pulleys, add a lightweight flywheel (all somewhat questionable IMO)... Putting in a shorter diff will get the car leaping off the line...

One of the best parts of owning an E36 is the aftermarket...

[DS Rook]

Originally Posted by VtwinVince I think someone needs to open a good wheel refinishing\upholstery shop in this town, as I don't know any good ones. And Anthony's right, the M3 Chris built was totally nuts. I remember it had a Schnitzer crate motor in it.

Pacific auto trim does very nice upholstery work from my experience. No help with the wheels though.

[murphymurf]

Good upgrade breakdown Woods!

If it helps... I'm running H&R springs, bilstien sports, heavy duty shock mounts. Best upgrade I have done, transforms the car into a track ready toy. I have a CAI and it probably does not contribute too much to the power but damn it sounds good. The whole stock exhaust on an M3 sounds great IMO. Mellow at low revs but really roars at the higher end.

You WILL go through tires... if you don't, you own the wrong car. Disable the ASC and the car begs to be spanked, transforming it into a confidence building go kart that is just as happy railing the apex as it is drifting it. The best bang for your buck is kuhmo Ecsta's. I'm a hard driver, so I don't expect the tires to last, but my fronts are at 80% and my rears are done..... after one year and a number of track days I'm not an ass, thats just what M3's make you do

Also one great upgrade are the UUC tranny mounts. Popping out of gear is not uncommon under heavy acceleration. These will stiffen up your drive train. This is a must!

[woods]

On my old E36 325, I ran the Bilstien Sport, H&R Sport combo too and it was fantastic. Needed thicker sway bars though. At the track, my lowly 325i could out-corner a stock M3 but wasn't much of a match on the straights.

Of course, any suspension upgrades have to be done after everything else is in tip-top shape... On an older E36, this likely means new lower front control arms with all new bushings and inner/outer balljoints every 100K Km and probably new rear trailing arm bushes.

Stiffer tranny mounts are a good upgrade too. I had a set of the stiffer 320i (UUC) mounts but without the UUC cups (to keep the NVH in the cabin down)... The dreaded M3 "money-shift" is often a result of the transmission shifting around while cornering and mounts can really help this.

...never should have sold that car...

[bimmer_adam]

what id do????

h&r sports, keep the body stock, keep the wheels, or get e36 m3 ds11's, active autowerk supercharger kit...(talk to chris a cg, there selling a car that they threw the kit on)

and thats it!

[M635]

There's some dude at Brian Jessel BMW with a Dakar M3 as well. Nice looking car, except for teh friggin' huge wing! I will get a picture of it. Looks hideous...

There's just something about BMW where you can't go all "Ricer" over it

[320Colin]

*cough* sell it and buy a e30 320i *cough cough*

[EuroPlate]

How does this sound for starters: Short Shifter and Dinan intake with the matching software? Chris at CG recommended this as a jumping off point.

[murphymurf]

Originally Posted by EuroPlate How does this sound for starters: Short Shifter and Dinan intake with the matching software? Chris at CG recommended this as a jumping off point.

active autowerks is the best CAI.... what kind of deal are they giving you for the Dinan stuff?