M3AN

Power would make this test easier. The faster you can get to 100 the more time you have to stop.

it's a 2k cup car, just bolt it to the cage mate...

Yeah but I could never buy a car without driving it first, however attractive it may seem.

That's crazy. Drum brakes could pass that test.

Pity it's not in Auckland, I need a daily. GLWS.

What about a full roof skin from a slick-top wreck?

^ sharp price. I reckon you'll be fine...

A used one shouldn't cost you more than $350 depending on the type. If your existing tie-rods and boots are fine you can reuse those. Replace fluid and filter canister (maybe $100), alignment ($100) and add labour. A competent shop shouldn't spend more than 4 hours on it including alignment time.

INPA is best to start with, it's much easier to set up and use and may do everything you need. It can read and clear codes and take a data stream from the modules telling you what various components are doing. It can also perform some tests. You need to get INPA up and running before you tackle DIS anyway so it's not only best, but also a requirement to start there.

Downloaded it. I can provide the INPA files if required because that's simple, I'm more hesitant to offer DIS because of exactly what Josh says above.

Since we're all doing it...

$8.50? 0_0 That must be some damn special pie. I'm old enough to remember when a Big Ben's mince and cheese was 80 cents at the tuck shop... Popsicle and K-Bar for 20 cents all up...

If you can find me a 3.6x large case I'll sell you my 3.23...

Yes, I have the BMW timing tools for the S50B32 (not the S50B30) so if you have the 3.2 send me a PM. Edit: I've never actually checked if they work on the 3.0.

Pries sounds like pies so must be awesome.

Noisy whilst driving straight or on hard lock left and/or right?

ADS won't work over a USB adaptor without some complex black magic - many have tried and failed. My laptop doesn't have a serial put port but the docking station does and that works perfectly. Many docking stations have a serial port. Also Andy (_Ethrty-Andy_) on here runs an IT recycling business, might pay to send him a PM and ask?

No, you need this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/261951836011

Here's hoping!

^ "(This 20 pin adapter is not ADS so will have limited support for ADS equiped models, ie E36)" No good in this case.

You just need DIS and INPA, perhaps NCS Dummy and NCS Expert (for coding) and the correct hardware. Have a read up about those first and when you're more familure with the terms post back here with what you know and I/we can help get you across the line. There are pre-built solutions (laptop and cable included) available on ebay.uk but I created my setup myself. No. Different sensors and feeds. The software listed above will aid with this.

Probably none I'm afraid based on the age of your car. Pre mid/late 1997 most (all?) BMW's were not OBD compatible, they used a proprietary (and more powerful) interface called ADS. I'm not aware of any modern systems that are ADS compatible (but would love to know if there are any out there). For a 1996 E36 (mine is also a 1996) your best (only?) bet is a laptop with BMW's DIS and INPA software and a compatible cable that plugs in to the engine bay (there's no in-cabin interface pre 1997 either).

Yeah, running out of brakes implies you had enough then you didn't. If this is the case you fix this will fluid, pads and cooling. If you ever have enough then you always have enough, you just need to fix what's wrong with the current setup. On the other hand, if the stopping distance is below par when everything is fresh (think >35m to stop from 100km/h) then you don't have enough brakes and you need to upgrade something. I don't think you'll ever fit 300mm rotors (with calipers!) under 16" rims but stand to be corrected. If you can it will be tight as... 280mm might be more comfortable. How much will the car weigh (+/- 100kgs?)

You can't modify the sedan seats to fold forward (or rather it's possible but nowhere near practical). Any aftermarket seat can be fitted with the correct brackets but that will get pricey. I've just got some Recaro SR3's that fold forward to adapt but it's not a straight swap - and you should get a cert if you change the seat brackets. I recently picked up a half leather rear coupe seat on TM (from a member here actually) for $12.50 so they do come up. And as for the fronts, have you checked HellBM (Ray) or BM World (Brent)? Both are sponsors here and I'd be quite surprised if between them they didn't have coupe seats for sale. Did you post a WTB thread?