earon

Great work Justin! impressive

Awesome position you're in dude! Good luck with the decision.
I've lived with both cars since their various stages of introduction and bought a M3 CS 2 and a bit years ago.

If you've got space as a concern and want a refined, fast, slightly reasonable economy wise car, I'd say a LCI E91 335i, highly optioned possibly a panoramic roof optioned one.
Massively tune-able, tons of torque, hp and daily appeal while also being track capable.

Also bits are cheaper than M cars and arguably if money is spent correctly outshines both M3's.

or if you're really keen, a neat diesel E90 (15-20k) for a daily which will give you amazing fuel economy and an earlier 01-02 E46 M3 (being quite cheap market wise 20-25k) for track duties!

However if you really really want a E9x M3, could I please implore you to test drive a 2010 IS-F and C63 AMG Performance Pack Plus version. I've spent extensive time in all these cars, all are neat, hence my non-biased opinion.

Goodluck you're a winner any way dude!

Hi guys would anyone be able to recommend a good automotive electrical guy?

Just need a few wiring bits for components tested and maybe cut with the spare part and soldered up.

Thanks in advance

Genuine m3 wheels?

Headlights cleaned up and brand spanking new lenses

(Now to await that first stone chip )

Got back to the project today, work and a insatiable need for vacation time has slowed down progress a fair bit unfortunately.

All plugs wrapped in clear bags and sprayed with contact cleaner prior, alternator and ac compressor covered and wrapped in clear plastic to ward off imminent coolant spills.

- oil cooler set aside with blocks of wood taking weight so no stress on the lines

-Fan clutch and shroud removed

- coolant hoses removed

- radiator removed

- ac condenser removed

- heater valve removed and replaced

- headlight xenon lens replacement and clean up

Guys any opinions on what I should do with oil cooler??

Should I drain oil system, remove oil cooler and clean up oil cooler debris (yes the slightest debris are bothering me haha) ??

O expansion valve..how I despise you

Aircraft aren't as complicated as you

Stop being modest - this is top tier.

 

Did you consider under drive pulleys?

 

Any mods planned? Or all OEM?

Thanks Nick. I'll definitely do my best hopefully everything comes along great.

Yup looked at the rogue engineering and AA 'power pulley' sets and reviews on USA forums, for 5-10hp I'd rather not stray from stock really. It's all M3 CS stock besides certain extra CSL bits last owner threw in from when he had it from factory so I'll continue on that rhythm (bit boring! I know right haha).

Mods..there's so many options but again with na cars it's relatively costly for a mere 50hp at times but these cars are well balanced from stock not had the itch to fiddle ...yet

Have you done many mods?

An F10 M5 also awaits in 2016 so not looking too intensively into mods as well. Probably parting ways in late 2015 :wacko:

You'll laugh at this...

 

 

 

 

 

Now I need one!

 

My belt is not holding the pump so the sledge method is not working (I've sprayed it with penetrating oil in the meantime).

 

Did you find one in the end? Anyone in Auckland (preferably the 'Shore) have one?

Ahaha! Just bad luck mate.. no I couldn't bring myself to swing that hammer! Haha

I'll have one in 3 days time, been busy all week caving so didn't get around to it..have a few other things I can do on the car without having to pull the fan out so will continue on that till holding tool arrives.

I could pass it onto you when I'm done?if that'll help you out?

Hey guys,

Where do you generally source your Bmw coolant from? Any specific place one of you gentlemen would like to advise to purchase from?

Looking for a gallon essentially and will mix with distilled water as per specified ratios.

Thanks in advance

Never driven an E60 M5 but know plenty of owners and they all love the car 25% of the time (when they can go balls out on the track or some quiet twisties) and hate it the rest of the time when they're driving uncomfortably and massively uneconomically around town.

 

If it's a weekend weapon they're a bargain, I reckon... For daily use, a massive and expensive PITA.

 

For all round use it's successor and predecessor, F10 and E39 respectively - both of which I have driven - would be a much better bet.

I think you're right on the money with that jules..I've always envied those mint e39 m5s that show up at the meets, such nice cars!

There was a reason the two previous m5s didn't stay in the family long (but again that was back in 2006..2007).

If you want an all rounder with great economy I recommend the 530D or 535D.

They really do haul ass.  I can get over 1100kms on one tank on the open road.  Cost $1.05per liter and Rego is being cut quite a bit in July.

Beating E39 540's onto the motorway is always a laugh.

 

Most of them are high spec too.  Perfect weekend getaway car.

 

Even towing an E30 on a heavy car trailer from Wellington I still got 10L/100kms.

535d...massive drool.. haha, they've got some insane tuning kits too.

1100kms! :o ..I need something stronger than coffee after reading that

If you want to go faster get and m5.  If  you want to drive back roads, stick with the m3. Maybe send it to ray for some fettling,

I could probably have both at current prices (though that would be massively silly and I'd probably get put in a straight jacket for it)..though that's where the sense of me shutting up, selling the m3 later in 2015 and possibly buying an f10 version next year prevails.

Go for the 550, save you an arm and leg on gas and repairs, still goes like a cut cat. Great 4 dr express

Thanks..Will definitely look at that more seriously.

I see the 535d also has massive potential while remaining fuel efficient and fairly reasonable.

Though I've had M cars before and not adverse to the respective bills that come with it.

 

You'd have to say it's a better all round car, but there's something alluring about mashing the pedal on the V10 and peeling out from a stop...

Absolutely!

Ray or someone here just needs to 'shove' that v10 in an e46 m3 and call it a day haha.

Probably because of those dodgy 2002 versions with bearing issues and smg pump failures.........

No wait ....... I've got one of those

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=825676677 something of that order maybe?

Correct.

Actually that's wrong ... the CS only got the CSL Headers if made post 03/05, front brakes, DSC module (very rare and worth a bit of money these), steering rack, steering wheel and handbrake cover and the rear wheels (the fronts were 0.5" narrower), the rest are standard M3 items. It did get the HP DME however, but the tune is identical to the rest of the range.

All M3 made post 03/2005 got the CSL headers also, but not the rest of the exhaust system - only the CSL had the full system.

Still not the best headers you can get for the S54 ... that belongs to the P54 motorsport item which I nearly purchased a set not long ago - rumored to be good for an additional 15hp+

I stand corrected there so only if the CS it made post 03/2005 interesting stuff Tom. (I shouldn't look at personal spec to decipher options really).

Yup that's what I meant with the last M3s they got the CSL headers. (don't think I mentioned entire exhaust system)

As a sidenote I've curiously looked at importing a CSL a few times over the 2 years from the UK under the 'special imports' category and I did feel they've become slightly more difficult to source and also higher in value recently than 2 and a bit years ago when I looked initially.

But hey that could also just be the market at the time and my bad luck. I've given up on that venture now

It's car that only really seems comfortable going 7/10th's +. It's not at all happy pootling around town ( nor is the fuel consumption ).

 

As with most of theses cars that you can pick up for cheap, you have to remember it was once a $200k+, high tech, flagship car, so expect repair bills to reflect that msrp.

That's quite true, they're made to be run at 7/10ths+ or so hence the unhappy pootling around town.

Guess the newer F10 represents a rather different if not better choice?

If your analysis of car performance is as inaccurate as your reading skills I can see why you think the E92 M3 is just an OK car.

Haha...you're a laugh mate. But nevertheless I'm happy to agree to disagree.

Have a look at what Daveo said about his in the projects area of the forum.  Have a dig for it.

He ended up replacing it with an E63 AMG and never looked back.

Thanks for that.. I'll have a read of it

I'm a bit biased on this one so shouldn't have any voting rights. (Only if it's a SMG version thought ;-) )

Mind you , the sound of that V8 in the E92. Will be interesting to see if the "GTS" version gets "CSL" status in the future.

Excellent point! That E92 M3 GTS looks to be brilliant.. surely go down as something amazing maybe not CSL-esque but very close I'd say.

Hi guys,

Just thought I'd post a curious question Mike (user name:Michael. who built the v8 e36) and I were discussing. This forum has a lot of information on various M cars and great expertise (even biased at times haha) but what's the take on the E60 M5?

Had two on separate occasions e60 m5's in the family say 5-7 years ago (and it's quite a while ago now) however I saw one the other day and it went past like a missile and although it took a few seconds right before it started truly motoring but once it probably got to over or near 3500-4000 rpms it went past like not much else on the road and it got me thinking about the car. (not much on the road lives with the M engines once they truly start motoring in terms of sound and feel not straight HP putting aside 'supercars' of course)

What's the take on it? LCI or not? Asking for problems? Would it be something even more amazing with the Evolve Stage 3 tune plus long tube headers and exhaust (possible 580hp)? Would you spend your hard earned $$ on it?

Thanks guys... it's just an exploratory question, hopefully owners could chime in with experience as well.

Also I would like a proper modern four door car and was thinking of adding an LCI edition to the stable hence the curiosity (I've also thought of just being patient sell the M3 CS in 2016 and maybe just buying the F10 M5 next year, but I don't do patient very well haha )

I have owned an E92 for 5 years and driven about 30,000km from new. I have never heard anyone ever say that the E92 lacks a bit down low without them having their hands down the front of their trousers. I had to laugh about the comments about first hand experience being different to the entertainment of Top gear. I was highly entertained by the fact that the Merc and the Audi got their arses well and truly kicked.

Lol.. don't need to get 'hurt' from a mere discussion mate.

Everyone's opinions differ, it's human nature. I've never known anybody to use top gear videos as a form of analysis without having their 'hands in their trousers' as you say, maybe it's your 'thing'.

Comparatively to the competition it lacks down low. I'd driven e92 and e90 m3s from brand new many times, it's an okay car not bmws finest hour but maybe if you spend major time with the competition you'd gain a better understanding.

Edit:

May I add, I hope you enjoy your E92 M3, if it's amazing to you, then it's all that matters.

Didn't the last of these get CSL headers , rotor's , Callipers ?

Sat Nav will have the best of the BM tuners with AUX and ID3 track names as well.

Nope the CS version had CSL headers, cats, entire exhaust basically, brakes, suspension, steering rack etc etc.

Last of the few m3s got csl headers but that's it.

Hey Neal you've got the awesome sound system setup in your m3 right? I'd rather like to pick your brains over that one day, brilliant work mate if I can say so! would be nice to see the finished project at a meet hopefully?