The Definitive 1991 M-Technic Thread

[bradnic]

771 Luxury package also came with M technic cloth centers (most common here in US).

I was wondering about this. Looking at a 771 car right now that has a 0318 interior code. per this post on bmwmregistry.com about M3 verts that code refers to 'black extended napa' interior. did this car originally have full leather, or could it have come with the mtech cloth inserts?

Full M technics were produced all the way up to around 8/91, I believe was the latest entry when I took a poll in a previous thread. Most cars seem to be produced in the beginning months 4/91-5/91 but there were a few produced later. My own M technic (Macaoblau) was produced 5/31/91.

car I'm talking about above was built a week or so before yours. keith's e30ic info only appears to cover 4/91 VINs.

[///M42 sport]

anymore pics of that seat cover? looks interesting

[CrusherCurtis]

This is a good idea for a thread. I have a set of those sills^ pm me if interested.

[MR 325]

Still a cool thread, nice to have this info on R3V too. :)

I want those door sills, must find a set.

[reelizmpro]

I've seen versions of that seat in pictures...all euro cars so it must have been an option.
The door sill is stock on full M technics with 771 Luxury package.

[Cabriolet]

did this come in a stock mtech? sooo sexy

[reelizmpro]

P Kelly...not sure how active you have been but there are some threads with very good information compiled from top M Technic sites like...

E30ic.com

http://www.e30cabrio.se/mtechnic.html

Even the above sites have a couple of errors here and there. For instance the US appearance package cars did not come with the trunk lid liner or M technic door sills. It was just the aero body kit, color matched wheels and interior. 771 Luxury package also came with M technic cloth centers (most common here in US).

Full M technics were produced all the way up to around 8/91, I believe was the latest entry when I took a poll in a previous thread. Most cars seem to be produced in the beginning months 4/91-5/91 but there were a few produced later. My own M technic (Macaoblau) was produced 5/31/91.

[P.Kelly]

M-Technic Build/Restoration Threads

As I come across build or restoration threads on M-Technic II cars I will post them here.

Sterling Silber M-technic Cabriolet - robrez
1991 Mtech Vert Slow Restore Project - Cabriolet
Resurrecting a full M-Tech vert - bradnic
M-Technic II slow restomod - P.Kelly

Note: If you are the owner of a build thread and would like your thread added/removed from this list please let me know.

M-Technic For Sale Threads
Brilliantrot 771 - May 2013

[P.Kelly]

Other Information, Part Numbers and Upgrades

[reserving this post for other information in the future]

Replacement Parts for NLA OEM parts:

MTechnic Badges (grill and trunk lid)

There appears to have been some work on this in the past. Trying to confirm if a reproduction is available now through a third-party.
Here's a current discussion which links to a previous thread on the topic.

Upgrades using stock parts:

Trunk Lid Shocks

One of the issues that the M-Technic has is trunk shock failure. The added weight of the trunk liner can cause the trunk shocks to failure prematurely. There is an interesting discussion of the trunk shock changes here. People with trunk spoilers often have the same sort of issue.

It appeared that buying 2 of the older shocks will solve the problem; however it did not. Two 300nm shocks are way too much lift force and make the trunk lid not close properly. It appears we're doomed to replace 150nm shocks every few years.

Old (single) shock (300N) - 51-24-8-103-180
New (double) shock (150N) - 51-24-8-103-118

Modifications and Euro/Aftermarket Parts

Filling in Side Markers and Lips
Yakima roof rack for your hardtop

[P.Kelly]

Registry

While not exactly a registry, here is about the best list of these cars thus far:

http://www.e30ic.com/detailedmtech.htm

[P.Kelly]

Links

[reserving this post for links to other sites]

US E30 Convertible M-Technic Research (last updated: unknown)
Mtech 2 Cabby Pictures
M-Technic II Cabrio Install Instructions from BMW (auf Deutsch)
How to remove your MTech II kit

Retrofit Links
How to remove your M-tech 4 door kit
Fitting M-Technic II front and rear bumpers to facelift cars


M-Technic I Links
M-Technic I- Installation Manual

[P.Kelly]

The M-Technic Luxury Equipment option was offered on 1991 model year vehicles. It was a limited production option. One site suggests that about 100 were produced, while another website suggests that the number was between 140 and 250. Both website suggest that production began in April of 1991 (4/91); however, I personally have one built in early May of 1991 (5/91).

In 1991 there was an option, S771A, that was the "full" or "real" M-Technic. It was available only on the cabriolet (convertible in American speak). However, there was also an M-Technic "appearance" package or S770A.

The S771A option is "771 M Technic Luxusausstattung" (luxury equipment in english) or the 771 Luxury for short.

According to e30cabrio.se the M-Technic Luxury Equipment option package in the United States included the following (translated from Swedish):

Body
- Face Lifted Body
- M Technic II aerodynamics package without rear spoiler

Colors
- Brilliantrot [paint code: 308] and convertible top in Schwarz (Black)
- Macaoblau metallic [250] and convertible top in Dunkelblau (Dark Blue) or Schwarz (Black)
- Sterlingsilber metallic [244] and convertible top in Dunkelblau (Dark Blue) or Schwarz (Black)

Interior/Upholstery
- Anthrazit M Tex 0344 full leather upholstery (not clear if this is "full" or "extended")

Equipment/Options
- 288 Alloy Wheels Cross spoke 15x7 wheels (BBS euroweaves)
- 339 Shadow Line (trim)
- 350 Green Tinted windows with thermal power
- 375/377 Electro-mechanical convertible top (automatic top) in Black or Dark Blue
- 704 M Technic sports suspension

Included in option 771:
- M Technic II aerodynamics package without rear spoiler
- BMW M Technic door sill plates
- BMW M Technic badges on the grill and trunk lid
- Alloy Wheels Cross spoke 15x7
- Delayed dimming of interior lighting
- Lining the inside of the trunk lid
- Leather steering wheel with airbag
- Shifter knob and boot in leather (selector lever in leather on the automatic)

Background

I do not pretend to know everything about the M-Technic; however, what information has been published over recent years seems to be spotty at best. Since there are so few of these cars I thought it would be good to get an official thread pulled together to collect as much information as possible in a single place.

I know there has been talk of a registry, but it doesn't seem to have ever materialized, so maybe we could do that here as well.

I'll block off a few posts to capture data in the future and try to keep the original posts updated as people tack on more information (assuming that is allowed).

From e30ic.com:

In '91, the full M-Technic option added about $4,700 to the normal price. Available in Sterling silver, Brilliant red and Macau blue. Changes included: lowered suspension, full body kit, special leather/cloth interior, 15" wheels, M-Technic badges, M-Technic door sills, leather console, e-brake boot.

[holding this space for other general info about this definitive thread]

M-Tech I vs M-Tech II

There was a previous E30 M-Tech car before the 1991 model. This thread is not about the "M-Tech I" as it is known on R3V. If/when a thread on the M-Tech I is found, I will link it from here:

[reserve for link to M-Tech I]

We know the 1991 M-Technic package as the M-Tech II or mtech II. In Germany it is the M-Technik.

M-Technic vs. "M-Technic appearance"

The S770A option is "770 M Technic weiss/schwarz" (white/black in english) or the 770 Appearance for short.

According to e30cabrio.se the M-Technic "appearance" option package in the United States included the following (translated from Swedish):

Body
- Face Lifted Body
- M Technic II aerodynamics package without rear spoiler

Colors
- Alpinweiss [paint code: 218] and convertible top in dark brown with Lotusweiss leather (White)
- Diamantschwarz metallic [181] and convertible top in Schwarz (Black)

Interior/Upholstery
- Nappa full leather interior in Schwarz (Black) 0318 or Lotus Weiss (White) 0462

Equipment/Options
- 280 Alloy Wheels Cross spoke 14x6.5 wheels (BBS basket weave) in Alpine Weiss (Alpine White) 218 or black rims with Diamond Black metallic 181
- 350 Green Tinted windows with thermal power
- 375/377 Electro-mechanical convertible top (automatic top) in Black or Dark Brown

Included in option 770:
- M Technic II aerodynamics package without rear spoiler
- BMW M Technic door sill plates
- Lining the inside of the trunk lid
- Leather steering wheel with airbag
- Shifter knob and boot in leather (selector lever in leather on the automatic)

The M-Technic appearance package was about $1,600.

[reserve for differences between the two versions]

Interior:

An M-Technic Luxury (S771A) will have leather wrapped interior, including leather door panels, leather center console, etc.

According to a member of the bmwe30ic user group, "JM" mike_mulholland, "If you pull the rear seat out and look at the back their will be the factory stamp for the seat part number, and because its a limited edition and put together by hand, the engineer will have written the number in the series.....mine is #5......its the 5th mtechnic made in the series in 4/91....I used to also own a red one and it was #176 made in 6/91."

bradnic chimes in to say, "This is the build order number for the car, and it's written on all the custom interior parts, either directly on the part by hand or with a sticker. On my former car the interior craftsman actually signed the console."




Suspension:

The following suspension parts are different from a stock 325iC

Front:
Strut Inserts - 31321133560 (also used on 318iC?)
Springs - 31331131333 (on some non-AC US E30s and lots of Euros)
Absorber (bumpstop) - 31331133513

Rear:
Shocks - 33521132123 (also used on 318iC?)
Stabilizer Bar (14.5mm) - 33551129194 (also used on E30 M3)
Stabilizer Bar Bushings - 33551130349 (also used on E30 M3)

Exterior:

Front Bumper and Valence:



(7) Front Valence to Bumper Clips - 51712239711 (#3)

Dealer Add-Ons:

I've now seen two red M-Technics that had a tri-color pinstripe or pinstripe with M logo on the rear quarter. Both were in Northern California, one originated at East Bay BMW in Pleasanton and the other was recently for sale in Sacramento. General consensus is that this was not a factory option, but rather a dealer add on, as was discussed here and can be seen in this for sale thread.