88 M3 rez-erection

[patrick88m3]

Here's a fun purchase story.
I think around 7th or 8th grade I started to get into BMWs. This car sat right off the highway going through town, so I'd see it every day on the way to school. I talked with the owner once or twice, then it disappeared and I forgot all about it.
In Oct. of 2022 I was driving by and saw his garage door cracked, and noticed the bumper. He had some wheels out front with a for sale sign so I knocked on the door and bought them, just to have an excuse to talk to him again.
The next night I saw the owner at the gas station, and mentioned the car again. This time he said he'd sell it for $2000, because his girlfriend needed bail money. Of course I said yes. And we met up again the next evening.



Here it is fresh out of the garage. The in tank pump died in 08 and it never got fixed.
It's an 88 Lachs/Cardinal M3 with 210k on it. It did not have a title, and obviously no service history either.



Had it towed to my mom's house, where it would sit until August of this year. Right after I bought it I moved out into a shithole rental, so I didn't want to tear into it until I owned a place with a decent garage.

[iXguido]

Wow, you're one lucky sun of a gun! Congrats on the purchase! What are your plans with the car?

[patrick88m3]

I have been buying parts slowly. So far I have a set of used AST 5200 coilovers, used wilwood sl6r's, a CF hood, a s52 with every swap part minus a trans, used front seat foam, crack free dash, and used 284/276 cams for a s14.
I've pretty much decided it'll get swapped. Now whether or not that's permanent I'm not sure.
I may just post the s14 for sale eventually and see what happens. I can always put it on a stand in my basement and buy one part a year for the engine.

Anyway, first order of business is rust exploration.



I will be doing some patch work this winter.

I figured I'd pull the interior first. Then I can figure out if I'll be buying floor pans or just sheet metal. Need to pull the cracked windshield and check under it as well.


Tool-less gas pedal removal.


Here's where I'm at. Taking my time and putting every small piece into a bag and labeling it. This whole making sure I don't lose anything because the car is worth more than $500 thing is new to me.

[patrick88m3]

Wow, you're one lucky sun of a gun! Congrats on the purchase! What are your plans with the car?

I want to have a fun street car. Can't afford to be at the track all summer long. Also once it's done I'd like to be driving it to the vintage and sig fest every year that I can.

[reelizmpro]

Haha, good for you. I can relate as I felt I got a good deal on mine but that was back in 98! This is an amazing come-up in 2025, where rolling shells are now selling for 20+K . It's hard to believe there are owners who are not informed by now but I'm sure they are out there.

[patrick88m3]

Haha, good for you. I can relate as I felt I got a good deal on mine but that was back in 98! This is an amazing come-up in 2025, where rolling shells are now selling for 20+K . It's hard to believe there are owners who are not informed by now but I'm sure they are out there.

I didn't even realize how good it was when I bought it. Some dirtbag parts scalper that was in a group chat I used to be in insisted I'll never touch the car and NEED to sell it to him for 10k.

[rturbo 930]

You stole it at that price. Didn't think deals like that existed anymore. If you're going to swap it, I'd suggest the much lighter N52 instead. More power, less weight, and the car should drive more similarly to how it would with an S14.

[patrick88m3]

You stole it at that price. Didn't think deals like that existed anymore. If you're going to swap it, I'd suggest the much lighter N52 instead. More power, less weight, and the car should drive more similarly to how it would with an S14.

Have you done a N52 swap?

[rturbo 930]

No, but it's been documented on the forum. It's still a relatively uncommon swap, and not as easy as an S52, but it seems to be getting some traction now.

https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/24v-engine-swaps/n54-n52-swap-forum/385417-n52-swap-discussion

[BlackbirdM3]

Why go to the effort and expense to swap the engine if the S14 is in good running shape? I'd start there first. There is a reason a 6cyl wasn't used, and I will never understand why people put them in. I also wouldn't touch an N series engine with a 40 foot pole.

I say fix the fuel pump(s), change the oil and filter, pull the ignition and fuel pump relays, crank it over until there is oil in the cam box, plug in the ignition and fuel pumps and see if it starts. So much less trouble, and the car will handle better in the end.

Congrats on the find, but keep it a real M3. (Because real M3s have 4 cylinders.)

Will

[2mAn]

What a score! Going to have some work ahead of you, but with a starting price of $2k, you have a lot of room for the inevitable headaches ahead.

Keep posting and sharing the progress

[grandeswag]

Sell the S14

Buy K24

You know the rest

[patrick88m3]

Why go to the effort and expense to swap the engine if the S14 is in good running shape? I'd start there first. There is a reason a 6cyl wasn't used, and I will never understand why people put them in. I also wouldn't touch an N series engine with a 40 foot pole.

I say fix the fuel pump(s), change the oil and filter, pull the ignition and fuel pump relays, crank it over until there is oil in the cam box, plug in the ignition and fuel pumps and see if it starts. So much less trouble, and the car will handle better in the end.

Congrats on the find, but keep it a real M3. (Because real M3s have 4 cylinders.)

Will

Sir I'm just a poor 23 year old who can't afford to grenade a 10k engine that's past its usual rebuild point.

[patrick88m3]

What a score! Going to have some work ahead of you, but with a starting price of $2k, you have a lot of room for the inevitable headaches ahead.

Keep posting and sharing the progress

Yes there is budget left for ibuprofen.