88' Zinno M3 (Progress Thread)

[brokecollegekid]

We're basically the same age and you have an e30 m3. What am I doing with my life?

[jhaurimn]

Sounds like you need a new hood strut too...

Hood strut is fine. When pounding on tie rods with a huge hammer, we didn't stop to think about the hood before it was too late.

[jhaurimn]

It got to nearly 60 today, in February, in Minnesota. The roads were pretty clean, so I took the m3 out to stretch its legs! I was able to change the oil and filter, as well as do something that was a little overdue. A baffle!



Things that will be installed coming up here once we start getting more nice days:

Re-man alternator (looks very nice :) )
New alternator bracket
New windshield to be installed
New water pump and radiator
New s50 chain tensioner

[M-technik-3]

Your wallet will appreciate that item. The bad is Blunt can' get you a EVO oilpump anymore cheap, heck nobody can.

[jhaurimn]

So, I installed crank windows in the m3 :)




Center console with no window switch holes :)


While replacing the regulators, I noticed a crap load of broken glass in the bottom of my passenger door, so something clearly happened to that window at some point. Then when I was removing the regulator, I realized the nuts that held on the regulator werent even tight! Thankfully I was able to get all the glass out. Then, on the driver door, the glass was missing one of the 10mm bolts that hold it to the regulator.

Needless to say, the car is a LOT quieter on the inside now.

[ginger1340]

i just want you to know that there is a picture of your car hanging up on my wall. its my daily motivation.

[Court M3]

Nice work! One question, where did you get your dogleg shift knob/boot? I need one badly!

[2mAn]

Why the swap to manual windows?

[jhaurimn]

i just want you to know that there is a picture of your car hanging up on my wall. its my daily motivation.

Appreciate it! :D

Nice work! One question, where did you get your dogleg shift knob/boot? I need one badly!

PM'd you buddy.

Why the swap to manual windows?

Because of the cool/rare/reliability factor :D

[2mAn]

Because of the cool/rare/reliability factor :D

haha I guess so

[Panici]

Just read your whole thread.
I appreciate your attention to detail. Good work!

Subscribed for updates.

[jhaurimn]

Not a huge update, but its been awhile. So screw it.

I finally replaced the tensioner with the upgraded e36 m3 part. I had started getting some not-very-pleasant sounding starts lately with the s14. All the writeups on how to do it make it seem really easy, but with an AC car its a pain in the ass to get to the spot with a big enough socket. (32mm)

Solution? Cut a socket.


With this deep socket cut, I was able to get the new tensioner on. Thankfully the old tensioner came out with the 19mm as the old tensioner is two pieces. People talk about how much of a pain in the ass it is to install the old style part, and you can see why with the stupidly long spring.


It was also verrrryyy nerve wrecking starting the car up the first time after installing. Its crucial you install it with the grooves in the tensioner facing the right way.

I also replaced my suede interior pieces with leather, as I was sick of wearing gloves while I was driving the car. :p I found a really nice 370mm leather wheel, and bought a new oem m3 shift knob+boot combo.

[e30lyf]

^^^ i love the last pics.. ;)

[jhaurimn]

Ive been tinkering.

My right tail light I had replaced with a n.o.s. part, but my left taillight had a bunch of pressure cracks. I bought a replacement taillight that didnt have any little cracks in it. However it needed to be polished.


With a little plastic polish and a buffer, it cleaned up really nice.


I replaced the little rivets that hold the plastic piece on the edge of the trunk, only to realize the PO used some rubber cement stuff to hold the piece down. I didn't get an after picture, but with some patience I cleared it all off. This picture was taken after I took the big chunks off.


I went to home depot and got some adhesive plastic thats normally used to protect carpet when painting walls. I used it on my tan floor mats to make sure they stay looking nice.


I realized the battery tray in my car was not the proper part. When taking out, I found some surface rust underneath, likely from a battery leaking acid. Thankfully none of it was deep and I was able to grind it all off, then a coat of Por-15 to keep the rust away.


All cleaned up. The rest of the brown spots are dirt. Ill clean everything out a lot better in there and paint over the repair eventually.


Old "tray" vs new. I painted the battery tray with some trim paint before throwing it back in


In its spot


I was missing a little clip here


Thankfully still available for cheap from bmw


Whats this? :o


Turns out it was a few things including a new radiator, water pump, misc coolant hoses...and a few other things I dont remember. So commence the breakdown.


Step 1: Mentally prepare to make a mess
Step 2: Make a mess


Good thing I had a new alternator bracket


New stuff is nice


To think you used to be able to find these cars in a junkyard




Took the pulleys out and painted them




Painted this


and these


My car was missing these pieces all together before. You can see here I have 4 brackets for the radiator. I think a shop replaced the core support from a non-m at some point. I removed the unused brackets and I have a new core support ready to go in at some point.


Old vs new water pump hose


New connector and wiring for the aux fan switch on the thermostat


New water pump, reman'd alternator with new bushings, new belts, replaced those little bushings for the ps pump bracket


New radiator


New fan clutch and new fan


Painted a bracket here and cleaned a bit


coil bracket


I bought a new throttle cable because my throttle always felt off. I found out why. The little bushing that held the throttle cable to the gas pedal bracket was some diy job, and the two bushings that hold the gas pedal bracket to the chassis were completely missing. Needless to say things are better now.


And because leather ebrake boots for our cars are backordered until next year, I found one that looks very close to oem.

[iXguido]

source for the parking brake boot?