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The Right M3
There is something exciting about the prospect of picking up something old and used for what is relatively little money and returning it to former glory or transforming it into something that represents you. That is part of what we enjoy about this hobby, which makes the process of buying and beginning a new project so thrilling. Andrew, a close friend of mine, is no stranger to the addiction that is the feeling of a new project. Last week he asked me to accompany him on a short trip to see what would potentially be his next build and I happily agreed, excited at the idea of helping with another winter project.
Andrew and I had previously tinkered on an E36 328is both of us had intended to use on the track. Unfortunately, as he took on other projects, he sold the car to me. I ‘finished’ it (made it run and put back together) and decided I would rather sell the car and use the money on my other cars instead of sticking with the E36. The 328is could have been a good car for either of us, but neither of us felt a real connection with that particular example. I decided the E36 just isn’t right for me, but Andrew seems to have thought differently. For the past few months, he has been looking for the right E36 M3 to build as his next project with the purpose of track days and drift events in mind.Â
The right M3 had to be something in a condition that wouldn’t spark any guilt from his conscious should it have an unexpected encounter with a wall or tire barrier, but it needed to be relatively presentable. The car had to be in that sweet spot to where many enthusiasts gravitate: cosmetically flawed to some measure, mechanically sound, relatively low mileage, and low cost. Considering the E36 M3 market, where a cleanish coupe can still fetch over $10k, Andrew needed to either accept a car in worse condition or shell out more money than he would prefer unless he could find an example in that Goldilocks zone often elusive to those without luck and patience on their side.
Fortunately, after some searching, Andrew was able to find two E36 M3s in driving distance from us that seemed to fall into that list of requirements. The catch was, however, we would only have time to look at one. With winter moving right along, there is also a shortening window available to prepare the car for competition in the spring. Due to the time constraints, he had to choose, and soon. One of the M3s carried a surprisingly low price tag but also displayed more wear and tear than the second. The seller of the other M3 had sent fewer pictures and asked considerably more for his car, while he provided less information about it to Andrew. Deciding to take a risk, Andrew made the call to see the more expensive M3 with the hopes that he could negotiate with the owner and the car would be in a condition that met his needs. |
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We arrived after a short drive to see a steel gray 1999 M3 sitting outside of the seller’s residence. The scaffolding and supports on the outside of his antique house improved our confidence levels as the seller climbed down from his ladder to greet us. Clearly, this was a man who liked to take care of his belongings and improve them himself, which bode well for the history of the car. Entering any car deal with a private seller is always a stressful, albeit fun, experience since the description of the car can often be stretched, exaggerated, or entirely false, which you would never know until you saw the car in person. In this case, Andrew struck BMW gold.
The M3 displayed some normal wear and tear for the price point in the form of some minor surface rust in the typical locations for a northern car, but was an otherwise clean example. It sat lowered on Ground Control coilovers and sported a Scorpion performance exhaust, but was remarkably unmolested everywhere else. The perfect project is one that has never been a project. I could see Andrew attempting to hold back any excitement from the moment of our realization that this car was worth far more than the seller asked. Another part of the project car buying process that further adds to the enjoyment is that rare but pleasant surprise when you have found the one in a million example at the right time for better than the right price.
Andrew and I briefly inspected the car from front to back, inside and out, and under the hood. If you remember our Keys to Performance article about buying an E36, there are quite a few places to look that can help in your negotiating process. This car exhibited some of the usual E36 faults, but surprisingly few for the age and asking price. To Andrew’s excitement, the seller provided the service history of the car and informed us that he was, in fact, the second owner, even proudly showing off the original window sticker. As more good news kept flowing our way, I had to imagine this was the exact opposite of Lando Calrissian’s bargain with Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back. This deal kept getting better all the time.
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After our thorough overview of the car, Andrew grabbed the keys and took the M3 rumbling up the street, letting the Scorpion exhaust sing. I had to admit, despite the fact that the oblong tailpipe looked like something from Need For Speed: Underground 2, it did sound perfectly paired with the S52’s raspy vocal cords. I listened as Andrew rowed the car through its gears up the street.
When he returned, the decision had clearly been made. Still, Andrew looked at me and asked the question to which he already knew my response; “Should I buy it?” Knowing it isn’t my money, of course, I obviously encouraged him to make the best decision. After a trip up the street to the bank and a handshake, this two-owner E36 M3 became a three-owner car and the newest project in Andrew’s garage.
The day wound down and Andrew hopped in his new E36 as we drove our separate ways. I had to imagine the fun he was awarded the few hours of time on the drive back to become acquainted with his M3. The victorious drive home is always a gratifying experience unless something were to go wrong. Thankfully, Andrew safely completed the trip in his twenty-year-old BMW and situated the car in its new home, alongside his E90 330i daily driver.
With the car home, Andrew has already delved into the modifications to prepare the car for spring competition. Since this E36 was purchased with the express intent to drift it and track it, there is quite a bit to do for the car to transform from a stock luxury performance coupe to a safely competitive vehicle. A pair of Bride Vios III seats, Takata harnesses, Sparco seat brackets, a Momo hub, and Vertex racing wheel have already found their way into the car. This, however, is just the beginning.
The car will receive a complete overhaul this winter, where it will become Andrew’s vision for the perfect track toy with which he can improve his driving skills. The excitement of tackling a new project has expectedly faded, replaced by a dedication to seeing the build through to the end. With this E36, Andrew has already established the connection that was missing from the junker 328is. The prospect of building something he highly anticipates driving will have to carry him through this winter while the E36 becomes his ideal car, though. With a few months of work ahead of him, Andrew is ready to tackle each bit of maintenance and every upgrade with his own two hands. As the car progresses, you can be sure to follow along through the process, struggles, and shenanigans with us here at Turner Motorsport Weekly. With any luck, we will see one of the next generations of BMW drivers develop his skill behind the wheel of this E36 on and off the track backed by his hours of work and research.
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