1 2
Ian F
Ian F UltimaDork
9/3/13 6:55 a.m.
poopshovel wrote: Will do...but fair warning: For the last 15-20 years it's been "Cheap bastard 1. Self-indulgence 0."

I hear you... Right now I'm thinking that after the house is paid off and the subsequent repair and renovation work is done, then I may look at replacing the wagon with something a bit less... dreary... With any luck, towards the end of 2014.

That M3 sounds nice... and the price seems good.

dyintorace
dyintorace UberDork
9/3/13 7:39 a.m.
poopshovel wrote: Hmmmmm: http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/3890167900.html

Sweet looking car! I'm shopping e46 M3s right now too and the price seems quite fair. That said, proceed a little bit cautiously with that one. From what I've read, the official BMW competition package (option code ZCP) was first available on MY 2005 cars. I've only seen 2005 & 2006 M3s that have it.

poopshovel
poopshovel MegaDork
9/3/13 8:34 a.m.
ZOO wrote:
poopshovel wrote: Hmmmmm: http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/3890167900.html
Why wouldn't you?

Gotta make some moves first. Just kicking tires and seeing what's out there. Hopefully a pile of crazy cool E36 M3 is going to happen in the 1st part of 2014, but those eggs need to hatch before I pull the trigger.

Selling a piece of equipment in two weeks that'll wipe out the CC debt for the business. That's step 1.

Also finding out for sure tomorrow whether or not another little bundle of additional monthly expense is on its way. (SHHHHHHH. I'm not supposed to tell anyone.)

D_Eclipse9916
D_Eclipse9916 New Reader
9/4/13 9:29 a.m.
yamaha wrote: Also, the s54 takes a lot of that unusual oil thanks to its dry sump setup.

Nope, has nothing to do with it.

E46 M3 also does not have a dry sump. It is a multi-stage/stock baffled, very much Wet sump setup. Not even a fake "dry sump" like a corvette. That said it works extremely well, most (including me) E36 M3 racers put the setup in their S52 motors, much better than an oil baffle setup.

E46 m3 is expensive to maintain. From specialty $400 tool set to adjust valve lash (you need it for the spacers alone), replacing valve cover gaskets because you have to adjust lash every 30k, to expensive TWS 10w60 (because of bearings and tolerances).

Alternators also like to take a crap more than they should, water pumps are $200+ (no they dont have problems like the E36, but at this age should be replaced anyway). Interiors fall apart the same as an E36, they just haven't because they are older, but I am seeing it in the older examples.

That said, if you can deal with a stiffer ride and a bit more maintenance, they are wortth the premium.

xflowgolf
xflowgolf HalfDork
9/4/13 9:53 a.m.
Paul_VR6 wrote: What is the deal with the exhaust? I have never heard one sound good, street cars at least.

I'll raise this question again.

Is it a header length issue?

Muffler resonance?

Resolved with cat back only? resonator delete?

what's it take to make one sound "good"?

ZOO
ZOO SuperDork
9/4/13 4:04 p.m.
xflowgolf wrote: what's it take to make one sound "good"?

Money. And more money.

1 2

You'll need to log in to post.

Our Preferred Partners
n5YfSU9ZF5S2fxpUly397jqntZTptYC4U1uOQdo8JPU8So9QB9p21R9oTxjf7JgQ