Polishes up well Nick 
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Finally got the ///M - Byzanz Metallic BMW E36 M3 Evo Saloon.
- Thread starter Nick172Cup
- Start date
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- Tags
- bmw
Waitey
ClioSport Club Member
Alpina D3, AC Cobra
My bad! Searching under your own name eh? lol
Ah right no not yet Waitey , got to go to BM in the week or whenever to order up all new BMW badges for the body and wheels as well as the ones that sit in the exterior trim as they come separate!
, got to go to BM in the week or whenever to order up all new BMW badges for the body and wheels as well as the ones that sit in the exterior trim as they come separate!
I didn't even notice!
So a little bit of an update now i'm back home from working away.
With working away I knew I'd be missing the annual Surrey rolling road day and really wanted to take the M3 to it, thankfully Ollie82 on here said he would as his Cups 'hibernating' atm. Eagerly waiting on the day for him to text me saying how it did, the cheeky fecker text me saying it had only made 266bhp and that there was Vanos problems and restrictions with the standard airbox and filter. Rest assured at the time I was pretty pissed/gutted but thankfully 5 minutes later he text me the actual figures...
Flywheel figure -
Wheel figure -
Rest assured i'm over the moon with the results, standard they are 321bhp so for this to make over book power is pretty impressive as the Evo engines never seem to make book power...
The best part is I had taken off the Simota air filter that people rave about and put the standard airbox and a Gen. BMW air filter on the car and its made more power and torque with the standard setup! Simota setup on top and the standard setup below...
So a nice 9bhp and 10lb/ft of torque gain with the standard induction setup, it actually now holds more torque at higher rpm also! Apart from the changing the induction side of things I had changed a couple more things, them being...
Changing Oil from 5W/40 which came with the car to BMW 10W/60 TWS
New throttle cable and thrust rods for throttle linkages.
So not sure if these parts would have made a massive difference to the figures above, but Charlie (owner of SRR) said its up there with one of the most healthy M3 Evos he's ever roaded and he's doen a few as he's a BMW nut!
Whilst I was away I eventually stumbled accross a standard/mint set of Gen. kidney grills on eBay. £15 Delivered later they arrived at home waiting for me. Much better looking front end now and another step forward in bringing the car back to completely standard!
Also took it out for a long run as it hadnt been driven in a while, boy its great to get back into a comfy/quick 'lively' car again rather than being stuck in a slow works Transit van!
Cheers
Nick
With working away I knew I'd be missing the annual Surrey rolling road day and really wanted to take the M3 to it, thankfully Ollie82 on here said he would as his Cups 'hibernating' atm. Eagerly waiting on the day for him to text me saying how it did, the cheeky fecker text me saying it had only made 266bhp and that there was Vanos problems and restrictions with the standard airbox and filter. Rest assured at the time I was pretty pissed/gutted but thankfully 5 minutes later he text me the actual figures...
Flywheel figure -
Wheel figure -
Rest assured i'm over the moon with the results, standard they are 321bhp so for this to make over book power is pretty impressive as the Evo engines never seem to make book power...
The best part is I had taken off the Simota air filter that people rave about and put the standard airbox and a Gen. BMW air filter on the car and its made more power and torque with the standard setup! Simota setup on top and the standard setup below...
So a nice 9bhp and 10lb/ft of torque gain with the standard induction setup, it actually now holds more torque at higher rpm also! Apart from the changing the induction side of things I had changed a couple more things, them being...
Changing Oil from 5W/40 which came with the car to BMW 10W/60 TWS
New throttle cable and thrust rods for throttle linkages.
So not sure if these parts would have made a massive difference to the figures above, but Charlie (owner of SRR) said its up there with one of the most healthy M3 Evos he's ever roaded and he's doen a few as he's a BMW nut!
Whilst I was away I eventually stumbled accross a standard/mint set of Gen. kidney grills on eBay. £15 Delivered later they arrived at home waiting for me. Much better looking front end now and another step forward in bringing the car back to completely standard!
Also took it out for a long run as it hadnt been driven in a while, boy its great to get back into a comfy/quick 'lively' car again rather than being stuck in a slow works Transit van!
Cheers
Nick
Looking good Nick, the car is really growing on me! (I wasn't a fan at first
Where have you been with work? We've been moving a lot of engineers around recently!
Cheers dude, there's a few people that havent been a fan but they're converting slowly but surely!
You should look up where i've been, you know what my 'EIN' is
I've been working down in Cornwall helping with the push to get BT Infinity to s**t loads of homes down there!
Damn i need to start some serious saving. Looking good Nick
Another little update.
Having purchased some wood trim last year for the M3 which was taking out of the car before I purchased it I was going to get it refurbished as it was a little worse for wear. Then last week a fellow off M3Cutters had purchased a new M3 saloon with the exact wood mine should of had, he wasnt really interested in having wood so a few pennies were exchanged and swapped my standard black plastic parts over and I had the wood trim i've wanted for ages! Finished fitting it all yesterday, also fitted the new Gen. leather handbrake and gear gaitors also. A few little cracks as they do over time but nothing too extreme, you could say it has still worn less than the year of the car.
The finished product!
Wood interior and a saloon, old man status achieved I think! lol
Also picked up a set of nearly new shocks all round with some new Intrax lowering springs, the Intrax springs sit slightly higher than the current Eibachs and are also progressive springs so nice and comfy when driving normally and should stiffen up slightly when driven harder.
Cheers
Nick
Having purchased some wood trim last year for the M3 which was taking out of the car before I purchased it I was going to get it refurbished as it was a little worse for wear. Then last week a fellow off M3Cutters had purchased a new M3 saloon with the exact wood mine should of had, he wasnt really interested in having wood so a few pennies were exchanged and swapped my standard black plastic parts over and I had the wood trim i've wanted for ages! Finished fitting it all yesterday, also fitted the new Gen. leather handbrake and gear gaitors also. A few little cracks as they do over time but nothing too extreme, you could say it has still worn less than the year of the car.
The finished product!
Wood interior and a saloon, old man status achieved I think! lol
Also picked up a set of nearly new shocks all round with some new Intrax lowering springs, the Intrax springs sit slightly higher than the current Eibachs and are also progressive springs so nice and comfy when driving normally and should stiffen up slightly when driven harder.
Cheers
Nick
Christopher
ClioSport Club Member
Z4M
Totally love this car.
I just couldn't live with the wood trim.
I just couldn't live with the wood trim.
Totally love this car.
I just couldn't live with the wood trim.
Lol Cheers Chris!
I dont mind the wood that much, given the colour of the car it kind of suits it. Its either that or I have no taste! Ha
Sir_Dave
ClioSport Trader
lol @ retrofitting the sodding wood.
I do understand your thought process though Nick - as BMW intended is a good way to do things. Although admitedly i'm retrofitting some refurbed 'Carbon Cube' trim from the normal Sport model to mine - instead of the M3 'Titan Shadow' stuff. So thats OEM+, which is also fine
I do understand your thought process though Nick - as BMW intended is a good way to do things. Although admitedly i'm retrofitting some refurbed 'Carbon Cube' trim from the normal Sport model to mine - instead of the M3 'Titan Shadow' stuff. So thats OEM+, which is also fine
Saab 93 Aero Wagon
If you'd have told me a year ago that in a years time you'd be getting wood over wood trim for an old BMW uberbarge, I'd have beaten you over the head with your own shoes.
It pains me to say it but I actually prefer the look of the wood over that horrible plasticky trim you had in there before.
It pains me to say it but I actually prefer the look of the wood over that horrible plasticky trim you had in there before.
Christopher
ClioSport Club Member
Z4M
Why is there a Yorkie bar in front of the front passenger?
Why is there a Yorkie bar in front of the front passenger?
LOL!
Hondata'd EP3 Type R
You actually went out of your way to put the wood IN? Did I read that correctly?
Really finishes off the interior that does Nick. lovely
Very nice Nick, I'm not totally sold on the colour, I think it would suit something like an E28 better, but I imagine it still looks great in the metal.
I'm actually having a bit of a moral dilemma at the moment, and considering an E36 M3 as a long term car, to cover a few wants/needs, and hopefully not lose any money on (other than upkeep).
I sold my 850R last year and convinced myself I wanted something smaller & cheaper to run, so bought the 182. I love the 182, but I've started looking at performance exec/luxury cars again, and keep falling back on the M3. I think personally I'd go with a saloon as they are a little less obvious, a bit more practical (although, does yours have split/fold rear seats?), and contours look better imo!!
So I'm thinking about selling me Eunos and the 182 and buying a ~£4k M3 as my only car, that will mainly be a weekend car (I live only a couple of miles from work). Trouble is, I wonder if I'm just getting itchy feet again and would just want to change it again in a few months. I imagine on B roads there isn't much between a 182 and M3 (probably more down to driver), but I do miss the straight line performance I've had in previous cars.
How have you found the M3 next to a 1*2? Anything you miss about the Clio?
I'm actually having a bit of a moral dilemma at the moment, and considering an E36 M3 as a long term car, to cover a few wants/needs, and hopefully not lose any money on (other than upkeep).
I sold my 850R last year and convinced myself I wanted something smaller & cheaper to run, so bought the 182. I love the 182, but I've started looking at performance exec/luxury cars again, and keep falling back on the M3. I think personally I'd go with a saloon as they are a little less obvious, a bit more practical (although, does yours have split/fold rear seats?), and contours look better imo!!
So I'm thinking about selling me Eunos and the 182 and buying a ~£4k M3 as my only car, that will mainly be a weekend car (I live only a couple of miles from work). Trouble is, I wonder if I'm just getting itchy feet again and would just want to change it again in a few months. I imagine on B roads there isn't much between a 182 and M3 (probably more down to driver), but I do miss the straight line performance I've had in previous cars.
How have you found the M3 next to a 1*2? Anything you miss about the Clio?
Sorry for the delay, completely missed this!
As a weekend car they are fantastic in short, very capable chassis and extremely quick. The relentless power band can get you up to very naughtly speeds without trying/realising. For me I feel like I can only drive the car at 4/5 tenths when going for a spirited drive as if you ring its neck in 2/3/4 your then doing big figures, plus in a rear wheel drive car i'm not that confident yet! Thats where the clio is more fun, being slower means you can drive the car a bit harder and your not going utterly mad speeds, and can feel more rewarding to drive/equally as quick.
The comfort/driving position is lovely, I could drive all day in it, get out and feel fine whereas the clio I get backache/figgity after an hour or so. Dated interior in comparison to the 182 but its functional and works so again i'm more than happy with it.
What i'll say to everyone having owned mine just over 6 months, be prepared for large bills! I paid strong money for mine with remarkable service history/paperwork, yet i've still had some hefty bills to shell out on to keep it in good condition. Thats where at times the M3 wears thin on me being just a weekend car, shelling out all that money for the little mileage that I cover in it. Mine does indeed have a the split/fold rear seats also.
Want my honest opinion? For £4k target I probably wouldnt buy one, i'd budget £5-6k and get a 'loved' example and even then go over the car with a fine tooth comb before buying it. It has always been one of those 'scratch the itch cars' and i'm happy to of owned one!
Nick
As a weekend car they are fantastic in short, very capable chassis and extremely quick. The relentless power band can get you up to very naughtly speeds without trying/realising. For me I feel like I can only drive the car at 4/5 tenths when going for a spirited drive as if you ring its neck in 2/3/4 your then doing big figures, plus in a rear wheel drive car i'm not that confident yet! Thats where the clio is more fun, being slower means you can drive the car a bit harder and your not going utterly mad speeds, and can feel more rewarding to drive/equally as quick.
The comfort/driving position is lovely, I could drive all day in it, get out and feel fine whereas the clio I get backache/figgity after an hour or so. Dated interior in comparison to the 182 but its functional and works so again i'm more than happy with it.
What i'll say to everyone having owned mine just over 6 months, be prepared for large bills! I paid strong money for mine with remarkable service history/paperwork, yet i've still had some hefty bills to shell out on to keep it in good condition. Thats where at times the M3 wears thin on me being just a weekend car, shelling out all that money for the little mileage that I cover in it. Mine does indeed have a the split/fold rear seats also.
Want my honest opinion? For £4k target I probably wouldnt buy one, i'd budget £5-6k and get a 'loved' example and even then go over the car with a fine tooth comb before buying it. It has always been one of those 'scratch the itch cars' and i'm happy to of owned one!
Nick
Thanks Nick, it's something I'm mulling over - really need to get out and have a few test drives to see how 'special' they feel once driving one.
I know what you're saying about buying a 'loved' one with a higher budget, but from what I've seen there are still a few good examples going for less than £5k. You could argue if your goal was to refresh a lot of parts in the same way that you have (exterior/interior trim) and try to get a car as close to oriinal condition as possible, then a mechanically sound, but perhaps a little tatty £4.5k car would be better than a £6k car where even though pampered, the OCDness might cause you to refresh bits for peace of mind.
A friend of a friend has a '96 coupe, 113k, FSH, no Vanos noises (previously been sorted I believe), all old MOT's, refurbed sunflowers with Conti SC3's, no rust around rear arches, alarm & tracker, had lots spent on it - and it's up for sale for £4200. So I'd say good ones can be found for not too much cash now.
Other than the bits you have refreshed to get the car up to an 'original condition' type level, what have the big bills been?
As you say, it's an itch I'd like to scratch, and I think I'd be better doing it before prices increase again (if they do). There have been numerous cars that I've considered before, only to stall on them, then watch them appreciate!
I know what you're saying about buying a 'loved' one with a higher budget, but from what I've seen there are still a few good examples going for less than £5k. You could argue if your goal was to refresh a lot of parts in the same way that you have (exterior/interior trim) and try to get a car as close to oriinal condition as possible, then a mechanically sound, but perhaps a little tatty £4.5k car would be better than a £6k car where even though pampered, the OCDness might cause you to refresh bits for peace of mind.
A friend of a friend has a '96 coupe, 113k, FSH, no Vanos noises (previously been sorted I believe), all old MOT's, refurbed sunflowers with Conti SC3's, no rust around rear arches, alarm & tracker, had lots spent on it - and it's up for sale for £4200. So I'd say good ones can be found for not too much cash now.
Other than the bits you have refreshed to get the car up to an 'original condition' type level, what have the big bills been?
As you say, it's an itch I'd like to scratch, and I think I'd be better doing it before prices increase again (if they do). There have been numerous cars that I've considered before, only to stall on them, then watch them appreciate!
Evo 5 RS
It's an itch I want to scratch as well...
It's an itch I want to scratch as well...
Lol, just about to write out a mammoth update for the car. No pictures though as not a lots changed looks wise, and I havent had a chance to take any either!
Poopensharten
ClioSport Club Member
Golf R
That is amazing, 4 door hero wagon!
So, the big update...
3rd March 2012
This years been a pretty mad one so far with me working away quite a bit for the first 3 months of the year, so the M3 hasnt had much of a look in seeing as I had been working 12 out of 14 days solidly. Upon getting home of a weekend looking through the paperwork for the car, it only had 3 days of MOT which left me in a predicament as to where to get some of the remedial work done. I knew from looking under the car that it needed quite a few brake and fuel lines as the originals corrode pretty badly, and also needed the standard exhaust and cats fitting. So I was recommended to use a reputable specialist out fo Bentley, Farnham way called Lee Shannon, called him up, booked it in for a load of work and got it dropped over to him before I had to head away from home to work again.
Now this Lee Shannon fellow is a lovely chap and very thorough with his work being an ex BMW Tech for 10 years, so when he called me on the tuesday to give updates I was expecting things to be good but it wasnt so. Upon looking underneath the car properly, there was a lot more work to be done than just the brake lines and exhaust for the car. Ruined Polybushes, properly knackered rear upper and lower balljoints where the start. He said he'd need it for quite a while which was fine by me, I just said to let me know what else NEEDS to be done for the MOT, let me know the how much it'll cost and do it. The other scary part was the metal fuel tank straps were corroded also, some more than others. Out of the three one had completely perished and was doing nothing, the other was so thin that if that had snapped the chap reckons the last standing strap would have just bent/buckled under the pressure of a full tank and the whole tank could of fallen out the bottom of the car!
2 weeks had gone by, calls going both ways between me and the specialist but the car was ready for me when I got back on the friday, ready for me to collect that evening and got it booked in for an MOT the next day. In the end the following was replaced...
All undercar brake lines and fuel lines, including new mounts/fixings etc.
3 new tank straps.
Rear axle carrier bushes.
Rear trailing arm bushes.
Rear balljoints x4 (dog damn double wishbone suspension!).
Pretty much new Gen dampers all round.
Standard coil springs all round.
Standard exhaust system with cats, plus all mounts/fixings.
Rear handbrake shoes.
Eye watering price of £1547.71 for all the parts labour, something that I wasnt looking forward to but knew with this type of car should probably expect these bills/work to be carried out. Lee did give me a couple of pointers that would need addressing but should pass an MOT, front calipers slightly binding and a front balljoints that would need changing within the next 6 months to year.
Regardless of that, the drive home on the Friday evening was sublime. Nice warm eveing, quiet exhaust, comfier ride quality made me near forget what I had just paid for and was great to be in the car that I hadnt driven in months and made me realise again why I purchased the car in the first place.
Had the MOT the next day, apart from having to warm the cats up as they'd been sitting for over a year off the car and changing a couple of bulbs the car went its MOT with flying colour which was a huge weight off my mind. There wasnt even a brake inbalance like Lee had said there may be.
Spent the rest of the weekend cleaning and driving it, before the monday where I'd have to leave the car to go work away again...
3rd March 2012
This years been a pretty mad one so far with me working away quite a bit for the first 3 months of the year, so the M3 hasnt had much of a look in seeing as I had been working 12 out of 14 days solidly. Upon getting home of a weekend looking through the paperwork for the car, it only had 3 days of MOT which left me in a predicament as to where to get some of the remedial work done. I knew from looking under the car that it needed quite a few brake and fuel lines as the originals corrode pretty badly, and also needed the standard exhaust and cats fitting. So I was recommended to use a reputable specialist out fo Bentley, Farnham way called Lee Shannon, called him up, booked it in for a load of work and got it dropped over to him before I had to head away from home to work again.
Now this Lee Shannon fellow is a lovely chap and very thorough with his work being an ex BMW Tech for 10 years, so when he called me on the tuesday to give updates I was expecting things to be good but it wasnt so.
Upon looking underneath the car properly, there was a lot more work to be done than just the brake lines and exhaust for the car. Ruined Polybushes, properly knackered rear upper and lower balljoints where the start. He said he'd need it for quite a while which was fine by me, I just said to let me know what else NEEDS to be done for the MOT, let me know the how much it'll cost and do it. The other scary part was the metal fuel tank straps were corroded also, some more than others. Out of the three one had completely perished and was doing nothing, the other was so thin that if that had snapped the chap reckons the last standing strap would have just bent/buckled under the pressure of a full tank and the whole tank could of fallen out the bottom of the car!2 weeks had gone by, calls going both ways between me and the specialist but the car was ready for me when I got back on the friday, ready for me to collect that evening and got it booked in for an MOT the next day. In the end the following was replaced...
All undercar brake lines and fuel lines, including new mounts/fixings etc.
3 new tank straps.
Rear axle carrier bushes.
Rear trailing arm bushes.
Rear balljoints x4 (dog damn double wishbone suspension!).
Pretty much new Gen dampers all round.
Standard coil springs all round.
Standard exhaust system with cats, plus all mounts/fixings.
Rear handbrake shoes.
Eye watering price of £1547.71 for all the parts labour, something that I wasnt looking forward to but knew with this type of car should probably expect these bills/work to be carried out. Lee did give me a couple of pointers that would need addressing but should pass an MOT, front calipers slightly binding and a front balljoints that would need changing within the next 6 months to year.
Regardless of that, the drive home on the Friday evening was sublime. Nice warm eveing, quiet exhaust, comfier ride quality made me near forget what I had just paid for and was great to be in the car that I hadnt driven in months and made me realise again why I purchased the car in the first place.
Had the MOT the next day, apart from having to warm the cats up as they'd been sitting for over a year off the car and changing a couple of bulbs the car went its MOT with flying colour which was a huge weight off my mind. There wasnt even a brake inbalance like Lee had said there may be.
Spent the rest of the weekend cleaning and driving it, before the monday where I'd have to leave the car to go work away again...
13th July 2012.
Then for another 3 months like the first 3, the car again didnt get much use through working away, bearly even covering 800 miles this year so far! Dirty, looking sorry for itself I had nearly collected all the bits required to change other various things that I wasnt happy about.
I called Lee up again and got the car booked in as it was now due and Inspection 1 which included a valve clearance check. Again as I should have expected, there was always something else apart from what I had planned to be fixed. With the inlet manifold/rocker cover off for the valve clearances there was a few perished/torn air hoses that needed changing as well as a power steering return hose that was corroding. On top of this, the radiator (possibly original) had buckled (again told this happens) so that needed replacing but luckier than that, Lee said that the oil cooler had almost fallen off its mounts because it mounts to the bottom of the rad! With that leaking a bit I sourced a second hand cooler with pipework as BMW wanted over £500 for that alone! So again the final list of parts changed/work carried out...
Inspection 1
New microfilter
Refurbished genuine front calipers
Good condition genuine rear calipers
New geniune front disks and pads
New radiator
Good condition oil cooler and pipework
New power steering return hose
New secondary air pump hoses.
Another cool £1277.57 bill for the priveledge of owning an E36 M3, having it taken a month to get it all sorted with various parts being on backorder and me not being in a rush to need the car it was back again.
I had a couple of weeks to use the car before it was going to embark on my annual 1200+ trip down to the south of France, Lee had nicely said he'd give it a quick once over to make sure everything was tickety bo before heading to France. Everything was good when he checked it over so all I had to do now was clean the car, do all the final prep bits before I left.
What could go wrong now, having sorted so much on this car this year alone...
Then for another 3 months like the first 3, the car again didnt get much use through working away, bearly even covering 800 miles this year so far! Dirty, looking sorry for itself I had nearly collected all the bits required to change other various things that I wasnt happy about.
I called Lee up again and got the car booked in as it was now due and Inspection 1 which included a valve clearance check. Again as I should have expected, there was always something else apart from what I had planned to be fixed. With the inlet manifold/rocker cover off for the valve clearances there was a few perished/torn air hoses that needed changing as well as a power steering return hose that was corroding. On top of this, the radiator (possibly original) had buckled (again told this happens) so that needed replacing but luckier than that, Lee said that the oil cooler had almost fallen off its mounts because it mounts to the bottom of the rad! With that leaking a bit I sourced a second hand cooler with pipework as BMW wanted over £500 for that alone! So again the final list of parts changed/work carried out...
Inspection 1
New microfilter
Refurbished genuine front calipers
Good condition genuine rear calipers
New geniune front disks and pads
New radiator
Good condition oil cooler and pipework
New power steering return hose
New secondary air pump hoses.
Another cool £1277.57 bill for the priveledge of owning an E36 M3, having it taken a month to get it all sorted with various parts being on backorder and me not being in a rush to need the car it was back again.
I had a couple of weeks to use the car before it was going to embark on my annual 1200+ trip down to the south of France, Lee had nicely said he'd give it a quick once over to make sure everything was tickety bo before heading to France. Everything was good when he checked it over so all I had to do now was clean the car, do all the final prep bits before I left.
What could go wrong now, having sorted so much on this car this year alone...
25th August 2012
The car cleaned/RainX'd (just incase!) the night before, all prepped with everything you need for France these days and packed full of cases.
Headed off at 5:30am for an early morning Eurotunnel, me, the woman, Ollie off here and his prettier half. The car felt good and our spirits high being able to get away from England for a week. Stopped off for a bit of breakfast at Clackett Lane Services before than realising that we were there a little too long so we had to sprint to Folkstone at a reasonable speed. We got there in time but because of the massive ques we were put on the next train, no problem really as it was a 10 minute wait. Despite the ///M being loaded up and having had to be a bit urgent to get to the port, the car had returned a very respectable 28.1mpg which I was quite pleased with.
Got to France and headed on the silky smooth roads for our destination, again the car getting into a good rhythm and the mpg reader rising to 31.3mpg! Stopped to fill up the first time with just under quarter of a tank left showing 286 miles, with more smooth, less erratic driving in England and using that quarter of a tank the car would do 350 miles which again is pretty good given what the car is and it being loaded.
Another 100 miles further into the car coughed a little but then drove on fine, this had me a little worried as it had never done this before and given its track record of wanting new bits I kept a close eye on all the gauges etc to see any indifference. Another 20 miles on it started coughing more and struggling to rev, pulled over instantly to check anything throttle related as it felt that way. Couldnt put my finger on it so I had to go through the palarver of getting it off the french public owned motorways. The chap took it back to the depot, had a look in and around the car and came to the conclusion that the fuel pump had failed as there was no priming when you turned the car over. Proper gutted feeling as up to then the car felt great and was comfy as hell, RAC had told me that were going to sort me a hire car and take the M3 to a nearby BMW dealer to be fixed. :dead:
Subsquently BMW didnt have enough time to fix the car out there so its being relayed back to England thankfully, as I didnt want to have my trousers pulled down by a BMW dealer, in a foreign country. So a good holiday non the less, but without the ///M which was shame.
Fingers crossed its just a fuel pump and nothing else, will be needing some new tyres all round soon as well so looks to be an expensive start to September!
Nick
The car cleaned/RainX'd (just incase!) the night before, all prepped with everything you need for France these days and packed full of cases.
Headed off at 5:30am for an early morning Eurotunnel, me, the woman, Ollie off here and his prettier half. The car felt good and our spirits high being able to get away from England for a week. Stopped off for a bit of breakfast at Clackett Lane Services before than realising that we were there a little too long so we had to sprint to Folkstone at a reasonable speed. We got there in time but because of the massive ques we were put on the next train, no problem really as it was a 10 minute wait. Despite the ///M being loaded up and having had to be a bit urgent to get to the port, the car had returned a very respectable 28.1mpg which I was quite pleased with.
Got to France and headed on the silky smooth roads for our destination, again the car getting into a good rhythm and the mpg reader rising to 31.3mpg! Stopped to fill up the first time with just under quarter of a tank left showing 286 miles, with more smooth, less erratic driving in England and using that quarter of a tank the car would do 350 miles which again is pretty good given what the car is and it being loaded.
Another 100 miles further into the car coughed a little but then drove on fine, this had me a little worried as it had never done this before and given its track record of wanting new bits I kept a close eye on all the gauges etc to see any indifference. Another 20 miles on it started coughing more and struggling to rev, pulled over instantly to check anything throttle related as it felt that way. Couldnt put my finger on it so I had to go through the palarver of getting it off the french public owned motorways. The chap took it back to the depot, had a look in and around the car and came to the conclusion that the fuel pump had failed as there was no priming when you turned the car over.
Proper gutted feeling as up to then the car felt great and was comfy as hell, RAC had told me that were going to sort me a hire car and take the M3 to a nearby BMW dealer to be fixed. :dead:Subsquently BMW didnt have enough time to fix the car out there so its being relayed back to England thankfully, as I didnt want to have my trousers pulled down by a BMW dealer, in a foreign country. So a good holiday non the less, but without the ///M which was shame.
Fingers crossed its just a fuel pump and nothing else, will be needing some new tyres all round soon as well so looks to be an expensive start to September!
Nick
Stefan.
ClioSport Club Member
think i have just been put off an e36 m3 for the time being with some of those eye watering costs, think a frp or lupo gti (always wanted to own a lupo gti) will be my next car. still credit to you for having a very rare and looked after m3 :approve:
Fletcher
ClioSport Club Member
What a shitter mate :dapprove:
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