:: sumyungguy :: 95 M3 Build/Restoration :: Photos Galore

[sumyungguy]

Purchased this 95 m3 in April 2012. Picked it up cheap because it had, what the seller and I thought at the time, a pretty loud Vanos rattle.





Im the second registered owner and the car has always been a Northern California car. Its been kept all original for all of its 265,000 miles.

I quickly began diving into the car because I was in need of some wrenching time. I thought this was going to be a simple Vanos swap, shift linkage rebuild, oil pan gasket and pump nut job. Boy was I wrong.







Everything was going great until I found some goodies in the oil pan. Entire chain guide made it down into the pan and the chain had been slapping on the steel posts the guide slides onto.





So here I had a decision to make. A - Slap it all back together and sell the car. Or B - Pull the motor and do a complete rebuild.

Option B







Now with the motor out and disassembled I had another decision to make. A - Put the motor back together with new parts and call it a day. Or B - Really REBUILD the motor.

Option B again

















Finally all back together. Every part inside the motor was either replaced or resurfaced/refreshed. I put about 60 hours into the engine rebuild alone. Replaced the Oil Pump and completely disassembled the Oil Filter Housing to make sure it was 100% free of plastic debris. I also found most of the piston oil squirters to be bad, if your rebuilding your motor CHECK THEM. You can simply stick a needle in the ball bearing ind to see if there is spring tension. If there isnt or its stuck, REPLACE them.

[sumyungguy]

While the motor rebuild was underway I also dug into the rest of the chassis. Completely went through all of the suspension components and replaced every bushing/wear item and 90% of the hardware. The subframes received reinforcements and fresh black powder coating. Picked up a used Autopower roll bar and had it powder coated as well. Went with TC Kline S/A coilovers, chose 550F 600R spring rates.













Up next was refreshing the trans, replaced the shift detents and bushings. Followed by taking the motor off the stand and installing the clutch (OEM Sachs), flywheel (F1 Chromoly), and headers (Supersprint).





Since Im doing all of this in my garage I had to rig up a way to get the motor back in through the bottom because of limited vertical space. I actually prefer taking the motor out/ putting in from the bottom with the subframe attached. So I wouldn't have to drag the motor across the floor I convert the subframe into a dolly.






Only took about 15 minutes to have the motor and trans all bolted in.




One of the little side projects was to get gauges set up. I went with Innovate Motorsports MTX Digital dual function Oil Pressure/Temp and Water Temp/Battery Voltage. After a few weeks of debating where to place them I ended up going with the RallyRoad gauge pod. Spent some time soldering everything and added a connector for easy/clean installation.





34 weeks after the car was put up on jack stands, she's finally back on the ground. Still need to play with the ride height, sort of waiting to see what I do for the wheel/tire set up.





Slowly installing all of the accessories. Im doing a "Euro" style coolant reservoir but using a Canton tank and fabricating my own hard pipe to run behind the motor.

[AliGhanizad]

Awesome restoration, can't wait to see the rest of the build pics.

And I think we met at Streets of Willow 2-3weeks ago? No? I was in the alpine white e36, beginner/intermediate group?

[MarketMaster]

man, you really saved that one. excellent job and better than new condition on all mechanical parts!

[TXV007]

Great job, now she is ready for another 250k miles.

[Aquaticbob]

This is an awesome save! Really liking what ya did. What are your next plans if you have any?

[gotboost79]

Awesome work, wish i had the $$ and the knowledge to do that!! Subscribed

[technoMyviolet3]

Love the detailed photos of everything. Must feel awesome to drive it after all that work and time.

[Relax]

This is an amazing build.

[Moron95M3]

wow

[Economist]

Kickass.

[BimmerReaper]

Epic.

[dave92]

Wow! Great job, everything looks perfect! I also wish I had the money/know how to do all of that myself!

[sumyungguy]

Awesome restoration, can't wait to see the rest of the build pics.

And I think we met at Streets of Willow 2-3weeks ago? No? I was in the alpine white e36, beginner/intermediate group?

Not me. I havent been to Streets of Willow in a couple years.

man, you really saved that one. excellent job and better than new condition on all mechanical parts!

Thanks!

Great job, now she is ready for another 250k miles.

Thanks!

This is an awesome save! Really liking what ya did. What are your next plans if you have any?

Plans right now are to get it running so I can break in the motor. Once its good to go, tack days and canyon carving. I still need to address the seats and wheels/tires.

Awesome work, wish i had the $$ and the knowledge to do that!! Subscribed

Thanks! Ive been wrenching for over 10 years and I was a machinist for some of that too.

Love the detailed photos of everything. Must feel awesome to drive it after all that work and time.

I cant wait to drive it.

This is an amazing build.

Thanks!

[Aquaticbob]

Will be cool to see it running again. Any plans to boost it in the future?

[sumyungguy]

Will be cool to see it running again. Any plans to boost it in the future?

Funny you mention that...

Ultimately Id like to go smaller turbo route. Im addressing too many things at once to set that now. I really miss the instant torque my n54 335i had.

[Aquaticbob]

Funny you mention that...

Ultimately Id like to go smaller turbo route. Im addressing too many things at once to set that now. I really miss the instant torque my n54 335i had.

I figured boost would be in the future for this car. Especially seeing the great parts you were putting in for internal

[Jkpgt96]

Very nice! I am essentially doing the same thing with the front end of mine right now..minus the complete engine teardown.

[Jkpgt96]

Very nice! I am essentially doing the same thing with the front end of mine right now..minus the complete engine teardown.

[projekt h]

Wow... Great work! I love how neat and organized everything is! I can't wait until I have the money and space to do all this (and then some) to mine. I think I'm just gonna drive it how it is for a year or two, then when she starts getting tired I'll restore/rebuild/build up everything.

[sumyungguy]

Small progress this evening. Mocked up the Canton coolant reservoir tank location and brackets that Ill fabricate. Installed the cluster, RallyRoad gauge pod, and steering wheel.



While looking for where to get power and a illumination signal I found yet another little mess of wires under the dash that needs to be cleaned up. I spent a good 2.5 hours on the passenger side already, all this time spent on things that no one will ever see.

[nectrplnt993]

wow, very impressive. subscribed!!!!

[ThreeD]

Wow. Very impressive!

[Eurogeek]

:thumbup for a local

[breakindrifts]

Awesome work!