Mark

Zenetti knows his sh*t.... perhaps we could compile his good advice into one big post and sticky it for everyone. I suggest the title be: "Everything you need to know about SACKIN'/SLAMMIN'/DUMPIN'/DROPPIN'/ your BMW."

There's even pics of two different cars!!! Someone email them and tell them they'll buy it!

Just pop along to the stealership or a wrecker if you don't mind used ones. Real OEM is your friend for looking up part numbers and such. Good luck!

Great P-Plate! Hot car too.... go the Alcantara interior!

One of a kind? That's for sure! Trademe I ROFL'ed at the interior.

Welcome...enjoy your stay!

So what we've gathered so far is that this is a genuine M3 that has either been in an accident or had an engine out respray. (No strut tower stamp, incorrect bootlid badge) I don't think it is a SA car as it has JPN written on the speedo which means it's a Japanese car. So I still think it is simply a case of the original owner specifying sports seats over vaders.

Try some of the online BMW performance parts stores from the States. The exchange rate is still pretty good so you're not paying huge coin. Shipping shouldn't be too much of a killer for a couple of mirrors: Turner Motorsport

Haha! Tell me about it!!

Welcome aboard! Did you buy your car from Allan Milligan cars by chance? One that matched your description was on their yard.

On IE Tools>Internet Options then hit Delete cookies/Delete temp files.

Looks like an M3 to me.... it's got the engine/18 button OBC/logo on the instrument panel etc. You could option M3's with different spec seats etc. The original owner may have chosen sports seats over the more popular "Vader" style seats. Also, looks like a Jap car too, so they may have different options to the European versions.

Looking mint.... are you likely to colour-code the lip/mirrors at all?

That pic is of a 325/328 muffler correct? Your 318 will have a single inlet.... looking under the car will confirm this easily. Did a quick search and the info I found says you'll require a 2.25" inlet. So the example you posted won't fit. Just a disclaimer: I'm simply a fellow BMW enthusiast and by no means an exhaust expert. But in my opinion I suggest saving up and fitting a cat-back system as you won't gain anything from buying a cheapie muffler off Trademe, except nice shiny tips and a louder exhaust sound than stock!

Does your E36 already have a twin pipe exhaust? If so this muffler won't fit without modification as it doesn't have twin inlets. Also.... I'm not sure you'll make any power gains with just a muffler. It will potentially improve the sound but not much else. A cat-back system will work much better and provide some small gains in power but will cost a lot more money. Having said that, do some research and you could have a muffler shop fabricate an exhaust for your car for reasonable coin. $300 won't go far though I don't imagine!!

If the knob is manufactured for facelift cars, you'll need to modify the shifter arm for the knob to work on cars equipped with the T-bar knob. There's a DIY on how to do this here However, the pic looks like there's a shifter arm included so not too sure what the deal is with these.

Should we sticky this for everyone? Cos it seems to be a fairly common problem.

Contest over.... Type II FTW!!!

13 grand?!

Load of bollocks if you ask me... but there's only one way to find out... Dimebag, you buy a can, spray it on and then floor it past a speed camera!!

To save your email bandwidth EVLBMW, here's a link to download the PDF file. Bentley Service Manual - E36

This is what the lip will look like - but without the black splitter. It's either that or buying an m3 front bumper and painting it. Would really like a Hartge or ACS one, but they are so hard to find and damn expensive too!

Excellent!

IIRC, it was me who posted the link to the tutorial in your original thread about your OBC's clock crapping out! Haha! I might have a go this weekend at just replacing the bulbs and see if that fixes anything.... if not, I'll take it to an electronics repair shop and get them to do it. I don't want to break it and pay $200+ for a replacement!

Haha... the funny thing is, my glovebox and vents were fine until the guys who installed my stereo took it out to install the ipod connection. They broke the vents, lost screws and buggered the latch. Won't be going back there again. OBC you say? Thanks for reminding me... that's this week's project!