05/22/2019
GEARHEAD'S GARAGE SALE:
Helping a good friend and client sell his e36 M3... here are the details. Message us here for more details or to see the car.
Year: 1996
Model: M3
Color: Arctic Silver over Black Leather
Options: Sunroof, Harmon-Kardon speakers, Forged Style 24 Wheels
Mileage: 193,0XX
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Title: Clear
Location: Costa Mesa, CA.
Price: $9,500 obo
A multitude of pictures here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/44w9zuqovfmq373/AAAbRkdQ20lAanqo4lPG_csaa?dl=0
I have an Excel spreadsheet with 138 line items of parts replaced, 34 of which have been done in the last 36 months (since I purchased the car). The vehicle is now at a point of daily-driving excellence. Everything that could and should be replaced on a high-mileage E36 M3 has been tended to.
I purchased this vehicle from a gentleman who had the car in his family since 1999 (they bought it from BMW of San Diego). In their care, the car was never babied, but was always treated respectfully. In my care, I’ve gone a step further to restore as much mechanical glory as feasible. It may still look like a 20-year old car on the outside, but it drives like a fresh sports car.
This M3 has always been warmed up prior to driving. I have only ever put BMW Synthetic 5W 30 motor oil in the engine, and the previous owner used Mobil 1 high mileage.
Pros:
Significant work refreshing suspension and braking systems
- Tie rod assemblies
- Ball joints, complete set
- LCA bushings
- RTAB limiters
- UUC stainless lines
- Subframe reinforced with AKG parts
- All subframe bushings replaced
- Differential bushings replaced with AKG poly
- Rogue Engineering transmission mounts
- Rogue Engineering rear strut mounts with reinforcements
- H&R OE Sport springs
- Rear upper control arm bushings
- RTABs
- Rear lower control arm bushings
- TC Kline SA Koni rear dampers
- SA Koni front strut inserts
- FatCat Motorsports multi-cellular urethane bump stops
- Vorshlag camber/caster plates
- UUC sway bar set including adjustable rear endlinks
- Front sway bar end links
- Front and rear Zimmerman Z-Coat rotors
- Rebuilt rear calipers
- Rear wheel bearings
- Front wheel bearings
- Upper and lower rear spring pads
- Stoptech Street Performance pads front and rear (still plenty of pad left)
- Apex 75mm stud conversion kit
- Turner Motorsport 12.5mm spacers, pair, installed on front
- New Rear HD Shock Top Mounts with 2 Bilstein Sport HD Shocks
New in last 36 months:
Visual:
- Repainted roof
- Replaced interior headliner
- 15% rear window tint, 35% front window tint
- New BMW 5-Speed Shift Lever
- (Acoustic): Pioneer Head Unit with Bluetooth
- Euro side markers (OE replacement pieces from Magnetti Marelli)
- Driver’s side tail lamp housing (Euro)
- All new tail lamp bulbs (both housings)
Convenience:
- New A/C Relay: A/C works like new
- New BMW Universal Key (only one key)
Other:
- All windshield washer internals (and both jets) have been replaced
- New Battery (10/30/17)
- New Driver’s side window regulator
- New Passenger Seat Belt Receiver
- New Shift bushings, lever, and cable
- Oil change with synthetic oil and filter (Performed at 190,008mi) Note: I have 6 spare quarts of BMW motor oil you’re welcome to take
- Motion Motorsport front undertray with cooling panel
- Driver’s side door lock actuator
- O2 sensor
- NEW 225/45R17 Pirelli P Zero Rosso Asimmetrico installed front @192,800K miles
- NEW 245/45R17 Pirelli P Zero Rosso Asimmetrico installed rears @192,800K miles
- Complete rebuilt driveshaft 10/2018
- Installed new exhaust gaskets and mounts 10/2018
Pros Continued (older work):
- Significant work in '12 on the cooling system
- Belt tensioners replaced in '13
- The VANOS was rebuilt at approximately 110k miles
- Car still pulls hard
- Passenger seat in good shape
- Back seats in good shape (folding rear seats, by the way)
- Sunroof works
- Car gets ~19mpg average
- Modifications don't make the car significantly less comfortable than stock but make the car noticeably sharper
- Door speakers were replaced with BSW speakers in early '14
- Dinan exhaust (has been welded where they typically fail)
- Comes with factory 7.5" LTW spare
- Clean title
- Depo Euro projector headlights (ZKW copies)
- Leaves no oil spots
- Has NOT been tracked
Cons:
- Passenger window requires one to "pulse" the button to get it to go up - internal sensor has issues OR windows need regreasing.
- Passenger seat belt light is permanently on, suggesting the sensor is broken
- Both door panels are a little ratty
- Center stack display has some dark spots due to burned-out bulbs
- Coolant level sensor broken
- Missing driver or passenger floor mats
- Scoring on the front lightweight alloy wheels
- Tear in driver’s seat on the bottom cushion and patched piece in bottom left bolster
- Slight sagging of glove box mechanism (closes, but hangs about half an inch low)
- Exterior rubber trim faded or chipped (doesn’t affect in-cabin road noise)
- Scratches, dings, and faded paint suggest this car was parked outside for much of its life. It has been stored in a garage since I took ownership.
- Repainted front lower bumper from before I took ownership has warped somewhat
Note: Since I purchased the car, it has been maintained and serviced by a certified BMW mechanic. He also did my PPI.
In summary, with all the recent work that’s been done to the car, this is a reliable, fun, well-maintained M3 that will give the new owner years of service as a daily driver or weekend toy.
