Statek

The swap itself is pretty awesome, but his chewing put me off ? 

Long time since update, even though some work has been done. Things are slowing down, as we found out we're pregnant and my wife is currently having a hard time dealing with the nausea - which means I'm running laps around her, providing everything she needs at whatever hour she needs it. As a result, my garage time no longer exists, or at least is split into very brief visits.

Changes since last update: 

• Purple rack has made it into the car
• Style 68 wheels have made it onto the car
• Some dashboard light bulbs have been replaced, and some have been ordered and are pending replacement

I've been trying to decide what's next, whether to focus on the exterior (which is in very poor shape), suspension or engine. It was easy to decide when an E46 with M54B30 came up for sale for a very decent price. Even if the engine will be unusable due to the issues the previous owner highlighted, at least i'll have all the wiring, ECUs and auxiliaries necessary to do the swap.

So currently I'm (very slowly) diagnosing the M54B30 - it drove home just fine, but apparently if you add oil above the minimum line it will start smoking from the exhaust. So far I've pulled the coils and plugs out, in an attempt to drain the plug holes from oil - I'll be compression testing it, then seeing whether it actually has issues, or just needs some new gaskets.

The spark plug is still in the hole in this picture - it's just covered to the top ?

4 hours ago, NRJ said:

It will more than likely have a small split in the PCV diaphragm or PCV hose. The lower rubber PCV hose that goes to the dipstick tube goes really soft over time causing leaks. A smoke test may not show up a small hole or split. 

I'll be checking that out - I've got a mate with a brand new PCV spare, since he recently went to an M50 manifold. Cheers for the tip @NRJ

Yup, should fit fine. I wonder whether the tyres aren't too wide for it though  still, any time on a track is always fun!

Is that a square set Paul? According to http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/bmw/22 the Style 22s only came in 17x7.5. That tyre width is pretty chunky - are the 235s only on the rear or on all 4?

11 hours ago, zero said:

Holy threadbump Batman!

Did this ever get resolved, and if so what was the cause?

I'm currently chasing the same two codes.

Thanks for bumping this @zero, otherwise I would've missed this  

I've been chasing P0171 and P0174 on the X3 for a while. I've replaced the intake elbow, and checked bungs at the back of the manifold. I've smoke tested it (home-made smoke test machine) and can't see any smoke escaping. I've done the Vanos seals using Beisan kit.

I can reset the codes, and they return after about 50kms of driving (usually while cruising on the motorway at around 2500rpm). I'm sure that car is waiting for me to start hoping that i've resolved the problem before slapping me on the cheek with the engine check light - again ?

The car also occasionally has a rough idle on first start-up, only for about 5 seconds - I'll probably look at the IAC sometime in the next few weekends (my wife's daily, so difficult having it off the road for any amount of time). 

Keen to hear if the OP has resolved the problem.

Hey Johnny, 

I'm very, very interested in the car. I'll PM you my contact details.

Cheers

5 hours ago, 325_driver said:

@Statek i checked, with the hand brake on the rotor had no movement, with the hand break off it seemed to turn (but not too far because the other wheel was grounded)

So im hoping i didnt do any damage lol, i gave up not after long, too hard for me to be arsed in this

i guess i'll find out when i try and use my hand brake? Or would i have known i done something lol

You're probably ok - it's only if you had managed to convince the rotor to come off that way, you would have probably found all the handbrake parts inside the drum.

btw, I second the caliper colour choice, looks good ?

3 hours ago, 325_driver said:

@M3AN rear hubs ain't coming off. And the mallet is huge. 

Looks like it's going to to be hopefully someone else's mission in the future. Or hopefully it never has to come off.

You'll probably need to back off the hand-brake adjustment to be able to take the rotors off. You're lucky you quit instead of persevering with the bfh, otherwise you'd be picking up handbrake assembly pieces and potentially need to replace the backing plate where it's all mounted to. Ask me how i know 

This beauty in Parnell today:

1 hour ago, M3AN said:

Just to help you with part numbers, Bilstein don't make a B8 shock for the E36 (despite what the US sites market them as). They do make a B6 though which is suitable for lowering springs and B4's which are suitable for stock springs.

You can make up a B8 set by using Z3M front B8's and E46 M3 rear B8's but it's difficult to find perfect springs for that combo.

The "E36 B8's" on US sites are B6 part numbers.

http://web1.carparts-cat.com/default.aspx?11=18&10=CAA15FE554904382B0FB9ABF5CC3B1AB018001&14=1&12=100

 

That's really great to know, actually! I'll probably settle for B6s then - I want something which handles better then the stock (and very old) boat suspension currently in the car, but I don't want coil overs (I'd love to get a nice low ride height, but the last time I put coil overs in the car I had to sell it, as my wife couldn't suffer it and it was no longer usable for the weekends).

Early stages of the project, but wondering if anyone has anything lying around?

To suit 1996 E36 touring NZ New (I'm pretty sure all E36 suspension bits fit, but correct me if I'm wrong).

Cheers, Kris

Interested in the M3 suspension, I'm pretty sure it should fit the touring, right?

Still available?

Turns out the inner rack ends were replaced and some non-OE lock washers have made it on instead of the spacered washers BMW designed. Sorted now thanks to @M3AN gifting me the proper set. Tyres no longer rub  

Also sorted the other WoF items out: windscreen washer pump, front brake hoses, new wipers all around, both rear fuel hoses, p/s belt. Just need to arrange a recheck.

Finally got my brother-in-laws E46 330i out of the garage and got the E36 in. Time to start addressing WoF issues. 

First question - why would both front wheels be rubbing on the inside rear at full lock? it's running 205/55/16 with et44 wheels. Wheel alignment looks fine (it's not, but it definitely isn't toeing out so much as to cause this). I chucked a style 68 on to see if it would make a difference, but still rubbing.

Googling around, makes me think that the rack may not have steering rack stops? Anyone able to confirm if this might be the cause? (for reference: https://www.turnermotorsport.com/image/suspension/e36_rack_stop.pdf) 

1 hour ago, blake12 said:

"Looks very "jap import 320i"-y " ???????  

 

I think he means that the lines appear to have been lost in that colour - you can't tell that it has the 'swollen' M3 body. It might just be pics

Grey ? Sorry, not sorry ?

Sorted the seat adjuster cables - hidden screw directly under the rail.

Also sorted the net on the back. Seats still need a good clean, which I'll do before chucking them both in the car.

2 hours ago, zero said:

The msport front bumper looks best on the touring imo.

I had a e36 touring I sold recently, and they really are nice cars. The fact they are far less common than the sedan,coupes is definitely a plus in my book.

Yours would look nice with the msport exterior trim I reckon.

Yeah man, the plan is to go with the m-sport kit  love how they look. You're right - there's not many tourings, and that's why i went with it.

52 minutes ago, zero said:

Is this Brents old wagon?

Looks like you are making good progress.

Yep, got it from Brent.

Don't hold your breath - this is a long-term project plus I need to squirrel away money without my better half noticing  
I'll be making a list of parts which need replacing or reconditioning as I find them, then i'll slowly rebuild the car depending on priority or availability of parts. Luckily I found a goldmind of touring parts in the UK.

The biggest and scariest job for me will be the body work...

Ebay UK might be a way to go - i find there's a good selection of parts for my e36 touring. 

Whatever and wherever you order from - make sure it's for a RHD!

On the weekend I found some decent condition front seats to replace those ratty ones. I've never really been for leather, but they were the best seats in all 5 pick-a-part/zebra-u-picks in Auckland, they seem pretty comfy and they'll match the leather door cards.

So took a portion of the interior apart to give the car a semi clean before it goes for a WoF this weekend - the car seems to have been pretty unloved so it took a while to get it looking semi decent. I also took the sagging headliner off as i'll be retrimming it in a little while - but at least now i don't have to lean my seats that low to drive it anywhere.

I started fitting the new seats into the car when I found that someone had raided the donor car and took the forward/backward sliding adjustment cable out from the driver's seat. Not the biggest deal, because i've got a spare cable in the old seats, but for the life of me I can't figure out how to disassemble the seat controls from the seat to take the old cable off.

Does anyone have advice or a link to a guide for forward/backward seat adjustment cable replacement? I can't find anything about these manual seats on the internet...

On 7/18/2019 at 8:52 PM, hunter said:

I have some 18 x 8 S65 reps (italian made) if you're looking to change those wheels up.

Thanks, but i'll stick with my spare set of Style 68s for now while I tidy up the car - I'll probably end up getting some shinier spinners later down the line...

1 hour ago, balancerider said:

M54 transplant? A manual e36 touring as a great starting point for a project

It is indeed a great starting point  long road ahead!