New Owner: '89 Zino M3

[ttrousdell]

Looks like a good project. Congrats on it

[Nesset]

Looks like a nice project. Enjoy the car and drive it like the test drivers in Munich did 28 years ago...

-Nesset

[markseven]

Nice work, OP!

Swap in some stock Zinno doors asap.

[kingston]

Nice pickup!! I wish I could find a $12K M3!!
Can't wait to see where you go with her :)

[2mAn]

Im not a fan of shaved door handles. My first car was a VW Golf and it had shaved door handles and also the retarded automatic seat belts. I would get out of the car and the auto-belts would pull the door closed and if the windows were up I would have to crawl in through the hatch....

If the car is still #s matching then I would do something like a hidden release, but if its not I would just swap back on another set of ZINNO doors and be done with it.

[G FORCE]

Thanks guys! I'm slowly working on combing over the car and compiling a list of to-do's:

-Exhaust fumes in cabin from screw holes in the trunk where the audio stuff was
-Oil leak from filter area/housing. Will investigate further during oil change
-Transmission is very hard to shift when cold and in this colder weather. Ordered some Redline MT-90 so hopefully that helps. Fluid may be a little low, noticed a leak at the tail section
- Wiper nozzles and antennae were shaved too so need to rectify that at some point too >.<

2mAn, so it sounds from what you are saying that the E30 doors are all the same? I think I am going to need to source all the door hardware to return these doors to stock functionality. I locked myself out again and it's very annoying (though I did have my spare key on me thankfully). The car isn't completely numbers matching because the bumper was replaced at some point so if it is easier to swap doors rather than cut out the plates that are welded over the spaces than I may entertain that option. In any case, it would nice to be able to go to the boneyard and source the hardware I need.

[slammin.e28]

Make sure the trans doesn't take ATF.

Yes....ATF. I've heard the Red Line will make them notchy/hard to shift.

[Alpina]

Greetings with the car

[G FORCE]

Update: Car passed smog so that's good! Bit of a high idle around 1k but whatever.

Installed some new NGK coppers, Redline in the transmission, Mobil 15w50 oil and filter. Still have an oil leak which I thought was the filter housing but must be the upper pan so that's next. Also need to order some new suspension and front wheel bearings!

I also have been dumping some Torco fuel treatment in to get me to around 94 octane for the aggressive TMS chip timing maps. Car seems to run more smoothly than on the crap 91 we have.

[G FORCE]

Does anyone have any tips on how to remove the clear plastic cover on the gauge cluster? It seems glued on and I don't want to break it. I need to fix my faded //M!!

[CorvallisBMW]

It should pop off with gentle, even pressure. If that doesn't work try a hair dryer to soften the adhesive.

[E30NJ]

If that doesn't work try a hair dryer to soften the adhesive.[/QUOTE]
Watch you don't warp or burn the plastic if you go this route.

[R31 Mark]

sweet car mate, I thought this was a car from another thread when I first saw it haha, hope to see this get resto'd nicely!

[evil-diesel]

This is awesome! Reminds me a lot of my own M3 story!

If you're not able to source genuine M3 doors you could always buy some regular E30 doors and have the trim shaved. No matter how you decide to do it, please put some door handles back on the car.

One question: You mentioned fixing the faded ///M sticker on your gauge cluster, how exactly are you planning on doing this? Mine is a little faded as well and I haven't been able to figure out where to get a replacement...

[evil-diesel]

Courtesy bump for an awesome story!

Please get back to me about the gauge sticker and how you're planning on replacing it...?!