Joined the dark side

[downforce22]

nice. I really like the 300e, thats too bad you're parting it

[tehwickerman]

Thanks a lot for the advice/input dudes.

I'll definitely take care of all the maintenance before thinking about modifications, standard procedure for all cars I've owned.

I never thought I'd be much of a fan of the e36 M3 but after owning a couple 328s e36s grew on me and I thought the M couldn't be that bad.

How much slower is the 95? I mean I know this is a big debate across the forums but I can never find actual figures. I know the 96+ had a different diff which made the most difference in the 0-60 time but other than a bit more torque I thought the s52 was about the same?

Also, did 96+ have ACS or LSDs? This car has a LSD so I'm pretty stoked about that.

Bimmerman, are your contours the ones on CL?

[fsmtnbiker]

96+ all have ASC.

All M3's had an LSD. '95 had a 3.15 (5-sp), 96+ are the 3.23.

Stock for stock they are almost identical on acceleration. Once you swap an M50 manifold on the S52 it starts to pick up speed and then will outperform the 3.0 as you add similar parts to both engines.

Let me know if there are any specific parts you're looking for, I've got a garage full of E36 parts that need to find a new home.

[tehwickerman]

Awesome thanks! Ill be sure to let you know if I need anything which I'm sure I will.

[Bimmerman325i]

Mine arent on CL as far as Im aware.

The cars are roughly identical in accel and top speed mod for mod also, until you do the m50 manifold on the s52. That really wakes up the engine. 95s just have more quirks than the later cars is all.

[tehwickerman]

so got the oil pan off and found this



The remains of the driver side chain guide. No wonder I could hear a metallic clicking sound! I thought it was the lifters at first but obviously not.

I proceeded to panic about the top end and ripped the valve cover off



Thankfully everything up here looks excellent. Extremely clean and the chains aren't worn at all.

So from what was FUCK OIL PUMP NUT is now basically a front end refresh including water pump, chain guides, gaskets, and whatever else I feel like doing while I'm in there. Probably better to just get it all done anyway.

Also going to pull the entire front sub frame, do a bit of welding that needs to be done. CLEAN the shit out of everything. Winter break project status has been achieved weeeee good times.

[fsmtnbiker]

Have fun, that's an awful job. To do it properly, you have to pull the head and the oil pan.

I'll look for some fog lights, I think I've thrown away all the ones I had.

[tehwickerman]

You have to pull the head?

I thought you could get away with just pulling the front timing cover?

[Roland H]

You have to pull the head?

I thought you could get away with just pulling the front timing cover?

You can, but to do it properly, you might as well just pull the head. Gotta make sure there's nothing jamming up your oil galleys or anything. Good time to do a valve job and vanos.

[fsmtnbiker]

It's pretty much impossible to put the timing cover back on. and you can't replace that driver's side guide with the head on anyways, there isn't room.

Also, use heat on the crank bolt. It is extremely tight from the factory (for good reason.)

[Roland H]

It's pretty much impossible to put the timing cover back on. and you can't replace that driver's side guide with the head on anyways, there isn't room.

Also, use heat on the crank bolt. It is extremely tight from the factory (for good reason.)

You can put the timing cover back on if you have the oil pan off, but like you said, that doesn't help with the driver's side guide.

Make sure to get a new crank bolt, and put it back on as tight as possible, and then some.

[M-technik-3]

E46 Style 68 wheels. When in doubt consult the factory chart.

http://felgenkatalog.auto-treff.com/

[tehwickerman]

I'm going to do a compression check and if everything is fine avoid pulling the head.

From consulting the bentley manual it doesn't say anything about pulling the head so I'd like to keep it that way if possible.

The guy I bought it from mentioned something about the head being done not long ago and from how clean it is I wouldn't doubt it. It seems someone forgot the clip that holds the timing guide on so it came loose and shattered... by the looks of the other guides not being too worn at all I'm not sure how else it could have happened.

I'm obviously going to replace all of the guides and the chains while I'm at it. I like doing this kind of stuff... makes me confident my engine isn't going to blow up when pushed hard :D

I'm really enjoying working on the 36. A bit more complicated than the 30 but nothing that really causes a headache/large amounts of cursing/bloody knuckles. I guess the real test is about to come though....

[tehwickerman]

btw would you all trust autohauz Febi chain guides?

[Roland H]

febi bilstein is a pretty good company iirc.