It's been a while.
Since getting a new job at KIA a few months ago, I decided it was only right to get a new car too. The MR2 I had previously was fun, but I'd lost a lot of love for roadsters/convertibles after owning three MX5's previously. So it was time for a change. I sold my MR2 Roadster to my housemate who's MX5 got written off when a taxi pulled out in front of him. Poor lad. (http://www.cliosport.net/forum/show...s-shed-of-an-MX5-(Fully-s**t-content)/page11)
I'd already decided what I wanted to replace the Toyota, so set about finding a good E36 to go and spend some pennies on.
I got quite lucky and bought the first one I went to see. (original advert here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-BMW-...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557)
It's a '98 in OrientBlau, with some M3 bits and pieces added, including wing mirrors and genuine staggered wheels.
As you can see, there was a few little bits that needed renewing/replacing, number plates, indicators, bonnet badge, rusty boot lid.
It started off well. I ordered some fresh new number plates from Fancy Plates; big improvement IMO!
I couldn't stand the frankly chavvy pressed 'german' plates & surrounds. Very naff.
And then it kinda went downhill... I thought it would be such a great idea to buy coilovers that cost £174. Nice one.
They arrived and if anyone's ever had Rokkor coilovers for their Clio, they're exactly the same. Heavy as f**k too. Disposable suspension FTW though I guess...
Decided to have a bash at fitting them and immediately ran into issues. I would need some spacers for the wheels to clear the coilovers and, being an idiot, instead of buying 5mm ones I bought 20mm ones. What a spastic. Tried them on and yes, they're massive.
Going to need camber adjustable top mounts now FFS. So again instead of saving up for quality items, I bought cheapo chinese crap.
This also pointed out another fault with the car. Some useless c**t has completely stripped the threads of a wheel bolt hole in the hub. Great, new hub needed...
Eddie did try and help me out by attempting to fit a helicoil, but apparently E36 hubs are made from diamond and refuse to be drilled/tapped.
Got on with fitting the coilovers regardless and the drivers side went on without much effort. It's only when I got to the passenger side that I ran into problems. Problems caused by me being retarded. Lefty loosey, righty tighty; it's not hard to remember. Alas, I still haven't grasped that concept, and so sheared a bolt inside the hub. Great. Now I need two replacement hubs. Thankfully, it was only £30 for both sides, but still. Large pain in the arse!
I drove the car with one side lowered and with a couple of fairly important bolts missing for about a month and a half due to either being on holiday, or just busy with other stuff.
Looks great, right...
But this weekend I finally got the opportunity to get things sorted. Went down to Oli's house (TV E36 thread here: http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?722000-Oli%92s-E36-M3-Photoshoot) and we had both front hubs replaced within a matter of hours. I say 'we', I pretty much stood and watched whilst he and his dad did everything. I even managed to f**k up putting on a new bonnet badge... lol
Ruined hub
Chinese top mounts
Loads of adjustment left on the coilovers too
And so today I decided to give it a wash and take some pictures. It's kinda getting there, I don't know what to do about the rear end yet, whether to bother with spacers and stuff, or even to lower it more. Who knows. I do know that I want an LSD and an M50 inlet, however. Maybe next year...
Since getting a new job at KIA a few months ago, I decided it was only right to get a new car too. The MR2 I had previously was fun, but I'd lost a lot of love for roadsters/convertibles after owning three MX5's previously. So it was time for a change. I sold my MR2 Roadster to my housemate who's MX5 got written off when a taxi pulled out in front of him. Poor lad. (http://www.cliosport.net/forum/show...s-shed-of-an-MX5-(Fully-s**t-content)/page11)
I'd already decided what I wanted to replace the Toyota, so set about finding a good E36 to go and spend some pennies on.
I got quite lucky and bought the first one I went to see. (original advert here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-BMW-...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557)
It's a '98 in OrientBlau, with some M3 bits and pieces added, including wing mirrors and genuine staggered wheels.
As you can see, there was a few little bits that needed renewing/replacing, number plates, indicators, bonnet badge, rusty boot lid.
It started off well. I ordered some fresh new number plates from Fancy Plates; big improvement IMO!
I couldn't stand the frankly chavvy pressed 'german' plates & surrounds. Very naff.
And then it kinda went downhill... I thought it would be such a great idea to buy coilovers that cost £174. Nice one.
They arrived and if anyone's ever had Rokkor coilovers for their Clio, they're exactly the same. Heavy as f**k too. Disposable suspension FTW though I guess...
Decided to have a bash at fitting them and immediately ran into issues. I would need some spacers for the wheels to clear the coilovers and, being an idiot, instead of buying 5mm ones I bought 20mm ones. What a spastic. Tried them on and yes, they're massive.
Going to need camber adjustable top mounts now FFS. So again instead of saving up for quality items, I bought cheapo chinese crap.
This also pointed out another fault with the car. Some useless c**t has completely stripped the threads of a wheel bolt hole in the hub. Great, new hub needed...
Eddie did try and help me out by attempting to fit a helicoil, but apparently E36 hubs are made from diamond and refuse to be drilled/tapped.
Got on with fitting the coilovers regardless and the drivers side went on without much effort. It's only when I got to the passenger side that I ran into problems. Problems caused by me being retarded. Lefty loosey, righty tighty; it's not hard to remember. Alas, I still haven't grasped that concept, and so sheared a bolt inside the hub. Great. Now I need two replacement hubs. Thankfully, it was only £30 for both sides, but still. Large pain in the arse!
I drove the car with one side lowered and with a couple of fairly important bolts missing for about a month and a half due to either being on holiday, or just busy with other stuff.
Looks great, right...
But this weekend I finally got the opportunity to get things sorted. Went down to Oli's house (TV E36 thread here: http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?722000-Oli%92s-E36-M3-Photoshoot) and we had both front hubs replaced within a matter of hours. I say 'we', I pretty much stood and watched whilst he and his dad did everything. I even managed to f**k up putting on a new bonnet badge... lol
Ruined hub
Chinese top mounts
Loads of adjustment left on the coilovers too
And so today I decided to give it a wash and take some pictures. It's kinda getting there, I don't know what to do about the rear end yet, whether to bother with spacers and stuff, or even to lower it more. Who knows. I do know that I want an LSD and an M50 inlet, however. Maybe next year...
