Please Educate Me: E36 M3s

**bridge** · 09-21-2014, 12:48 PM

Okay talked to Dan real quick. Strut towers are a big one that need replacing/stiffing. Also in his opinion the m engine is the better one, not just horsepowerwise but "quality" too.

You can always do an ls swap.

**anyonebutme** · 09-21-2014, 01:13 PM

The front and rear towers don't need the recall plates unless running more than stock spring rate, and when you change out the springs you just toss in the plates, they just get placed between the strut and the tower, no welding required, but a lot do anyways because:

You'll probably be welding a lot on the car at the same time: Trailing arm bucket reinforcement, rear subframe reinforcement (not needed on 1996+ M3), rear subframe sway bar bracket reinforcement, front subframe sway bar reinforcement, rear subframe dual sheer diff bolt reinforcement.

I only did the subframe because mine was tore out, because I was running just lowering springs and stock sway bars, didn't need to do the towers or brackets. Also didn't do the bolt because stock HP and low grip tires, just a new bolt. Also, you'll want Mahle HD bushings for the upper damper mounts in the rear, stockers tend to die withing 30K miles.

The only water pump worth buying to me is the Stewart for a car that sees track, otherwise I just buy the BMW metal one, screw the plastic ones. LS swap is always an appropriate answer, although Jason will not agree with me there.

**bridge** · 09-21-2014, 01:18 PM

Can Ryan keep anything at stock height?

**anyonebutme** · 09-21-2014, 02:01 PM

About as easy as I can keep anything NOT turbocharged, lol. Hense my love for the 2.5 block and head.

I put H&R race springs on mine, it's as low as you'd ever want to get it honestly. Scrapes on speedbumps.

**lawdogg** · 09-21-2014, 08:26 PM

Great info. All these things has made me start looking at Miatas again.

**familyMAN** · 09-21-2014, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by lawdogg

Great info. All these things has made me start looking at Miatas again.

This. I keep telling you a turbo is the way to go with a miata! Don't have to get crazy with it. Mine was a low boost (8psi) setup with an archaic FMU and it was a blast. There are better options of course but it was super cheap. An already turbo charged miata is in your price range......do it.

**Boomer3000** · 09-22-2014, 10:14 AM

Love my E36, picked up a new transmission for it for $200. Took me a weekend to have it in the car by myself so not to bad. I have toyed with turbocharging mine but can't bring myself to do it till I had another car. At the moment the car sits at 311,000 miles and with the acception of me grenading the transmission ( yea my bad) it's a great car. And believe me I am rough and that's being modest on cars. So for it to have put up with my style of driving she gets an A plus.

**Boost4VR4** · 09-22-2014, 11:05 AM

I have an E60 for my DD. A little outside your price range, but they are coming down in value. They are comfortable, fairly reliable (what German car is extremely reliable?) and they usually come in auto which will be good for the women. The only things to watch for on the E60/E90s are High pressure fuel pump, injectors, intake valves gunked up, and the suspension will sag over time (similar to the older Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable).