Eck's M3, the progression.

[ECKS///M3]

This is the progression of my e36 M3 evo that i have owned for almost three years. I've owned BMWs for the past 6-7 years and always loved the e36 M3, the plan was to keep the car original and clean but over time boredom sets in and you gotta switch it up. So....

How the car started out..
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/04052008615.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/270720071084.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/270720071081.jpg

Then came the lowering, Eibach springs for now..
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/12072008059.jpg

8000k xenons, de-lensed ellipsoids and GT style front splitter..
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/16102008037.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/16102008036.jpg

The car remained this way for a long time until i was offered a mega cheap deal on CSL reps for the winter..
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/17102008047.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/17102008049.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/17102008046.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/m3sideon.jpg

I got bored of the tall skinny 18s soon though and the car went back to..
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/cruise-077.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/cruise-075.jpg

I always loved styles 5s but mis-information led me to think they wouldn't fit an e36 without arch work. After my own research i found out they would go right on with the right tyre :D So the hunt was on..

These came into my possesion :eyebrows 17x9 rears wearing 265 rubber :(
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/17052009305.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/17052009300.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/17052009277.jpg

Once the fronts were sourced i had the shit job of splitting the wheels. Broke my sledgehammer shaft on the last centre! Then off to the coaters..
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/13072009029.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/30072009098.jpg

Powdercoated blue purple flip flop from powderbuythepound.com
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/05082009247.jpg

Then the rims were polished and bolts painted..
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/14072009087.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/14072009101.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/05082009249.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/06082009262.jpg

Then came the fitment, the wheels are 17x8front and 17x9rear with 205/40 Falken zeix912s all round. The original idea was to run 195/45 up front but at the time i couldn't source the Falkens in that size..
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/08082009273.jpg

I also added additional sidelights to my indicators on an independant switch and the sidelight remote trick. :cool
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/11082009278.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/11082009282.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/th_18082009010.jpg (http://s530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/?action=view&current=18082009010.flv)
**(in the video the front sidelights are leds, these have been replaced with ULTRA 501 bulbs for a smoother dimming effect)**

Next up was the "French" fogs, always loved the yellow fog look and after a STANCEWORKS member advised me of a stained glass product.
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/10092009617.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/13092009692.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/13092009700.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/DSC_0316.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/DSCF3110.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/DSCF2055.jpg

This is up to date on the car, next will be coilovers to get more low and more stiff, smoked front indicators, possibly two tone centre caps for the rims and a unique interior look if i get around to finding the parts.

Cheers for looking ;)

[SeanDub]

I want your engine.

[ECKS///M3]

I want your engine.

Yeah it's the major bonus of the euro model. How hard is it to get the euro evo engine in the U.S.?

One of the reasons my car remained standard for so long was the performance. I was too busy enjoying kickin' the shit out of it to worry about changing the look. Nowadays i'm all about going slow making sure everyone sees me! :D:cool

[SeanDub]

I legally, can't have a euro motor here in California.

[ECKS///M3]

I legally, can't have a euro motor here in California.

Is that emissions? The laws here are pretty relaxed in comparison, even when people i know have engine conversions the police don't know their shit under the bonnet!

[e36cruiser]

lookin' sweet... even without coils it looks good.

[00bmw323]

daytona violet:drool
also you got a pm i gotta find some 17x9 5s

[ECKS///M3]

lookin' sweet... even without coils it looks good.

Cheers man, with the standard wheels on 225/45 and 245/40 the tyres were tucking but with the 205/40 i have too much wheel gap, so coils will be required in time. :cool

daytona violet:drool
also you got a pm i gotta find some 17x9 5s

Replied mate, i thought 17x9s were pretty rare too until this set fell into my possession! The car is Techno Violet btw, Daytona is the 3.0 colour whereas my 3.2 is the evo. Very similar colours though in certain lights.

[Oxer]

Looks awesome dude, Loving the wheels...

[Steinke]

Love the look of your car! and the engine will have any American drooling all over the place

[Dr.AK]

That looks pretty cool.


Replied mate, i thought 17x9s were pretty rare too until this set fell into my possession! The car is Techno Violet btw, Daytona is the 3.0 colour whereas my 3.2 is the evo. Very similar colours though in certain lights.

17x9s are very easy to find actually in europe, or at least in germany. They're just a tad expensive. 8x17 and 9x17 was a usual setup for E34s and E39s over here and pretty easy to find.

[slimadi]

Looks good fella coming along nicely :cool

[ECKS///M3]

Looks awesome dude, Loving the wheels...

Love the look of your car! and the engine will have any American drooling all over the place

Looks good fella coming along nicely :cool

That looks pretty cool.

Cheers for the great responses guys. :alright



17x9s are very easy to find actually in europe, or at least in germany. They're just a tad expensive. 8x17 and 9x17 was a usual setup for E34s and E39s over here and pretty easy to find.

Well im in the UK mate but it seems most around here had the 8s all round and they are a lot more common on e39s. I felt like stalking a few e39 owners to find out their width/offsets. :D

This set turned up in my Dads friends breakers yard, so i got 'em fo' cheap! :cool

[OSSHWA]

Maybe i'm like the centercap police or something, because I feel like i say this all too often, but it'll look much better with some centercaps.

[1985zcar]

Car will be PERFECT once you get coilovers....very awesome so far.

[adonis]

Looks good with them sidelights, how'd you do that mate?

[Schieldrop]

Sweet ride mate. But I'd lose the GT lip and dump it on coils.
Still not bad stance for a set of eibachs tho.

[ECKS///M3]

Maybe i'm like the centercap police or something, because I feel like i say this all too often, but it'll look much better with some centercaps.

I didn't want to run caps on it at all but i stuck some silver ones on to see the look and i do like them. Will be getting a full set together and then try and get the colour matched to the centres soon. :cool

Car will be PERFECT once you get coilovers....very awesome so far.

Cheers man, i need 'em soon. After seeing the e36s stance that can be achieved on here i'm 100% set for coilies and possibly adjustable rear camber arms.

Sweet ride mate. But I'd lose the GT lip and dump it on coils.
Still not bad stance for a set of eibachs tho.

Yeah the lip will be going once the front comes down more, but i always feel the e36 M bumper needs something. I will probably fit the GT corner splitters without the adjustable centre section.

Looks good with them sidelights, how'd you do that mate?

Are you talking about the dimmer mate?

[adonis]

Are you talking about the dimmer mate?

Sorry mate, i meant the indicators

[Schieldrop]

Yeah the lip will be going once the front comes down more, but i always feel the e36 M bumper needs something. I will probably fit the GT corner splitters without the adjustable centre section.

I actually like only the corner splits better than the full GT treatment. But still prefer none at all. And keep in mind even just the corner splits go low enough to be an issue.

[ECKS///M3]

Sorry mate, i meant the indicators

I had robbed a spare set of bulb holders from spare headlights. Then drilled out the indicators right under the original fittings. So it's actually sidelight bulbs hidden under the indicator bulbs. The reason i wired them independantly is because i wanted to have them on without the sidelights on. It should be quite simple to take power from your existing sidelights, tap it into the indicator bulbs using a resistor to restrict the voltage. This would allow your indicators to glow on a low wattage sidelight circuit but still flash when you switch the stalk. You would also have to use a diode to stop the indicator circuit from powering the sidelights once they are linked. Hope that makes sense and helps mate.

I actually like only the corner splits better than the full GT treatment. But still prefer none at all. And keep in mind even just the corner splits go low enough to be an issue.

Yeah mate, the thing is my GT splitter is a glassfibre rep so it's pretty rigid. With the corners they would be a softer rubber type that would allow some flex. So they won't get damaged too easily.

[Mike_6kv]

tis very nice,

will look awesome on coils :)

[Turbo2]

I legally, can't have a euro motor here in California.

don't have to deal with that in texas :)

p.s. love the car.

[ECKS///M3]

tis very nice,

will look awesome on coils :)

don't have to deal with that in texas :)

p.s. love the car.

Cheers again. :D

When i first started researching the e36 M3, i couldn't believe it didn't run the euro spec engine. Bit of a poor effort from BMW with that. I read that some Canadian owners that reseved the car new, cancelled their order because they felt cheated at not having the actual M engine. :(

I love my engine though, the performance, the sound. Awesome for an 11year old car.

[Schieldrop]

From what I've heard BMW did adjust the gearing on the US spec engines to make up for some of the lost performance.

[Matt James Nilles]

Damn great Bimmer.

[WhiteStripes]

Love the look of your car! and the engine will have any American drooling all over the place

What he said.

That car is so nice. I wish we got that engine in the states. I bet it's a fortune to import over a used one too.

[ECKS///M3]

Small update on the car, done this a while ago now but never had the chance for any decent pics.

So, i replaced the standard clear corners with smoked units. Defo works better with the E36 dark headlights. No more U.S. amber running lights either, now fitted ULTRA 501s to match sidelights and give a similar colour to the xenons. Also i got bored of the french fogs quickly and wanted to stick with the smoked front end so i thinned out some craft glass paint and smoked the fog lenses. Pics....

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/E36%20M3/04012010383.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/E36%20M3/04012010385.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/E36%20M3/24122009341.jpg

GT front splitter is also gone, well destroyed anyway :lol: but i prefer the smoked lights and smaller lip now. Much less fussy and a more subtle look to the car.

Also running the standard wheels through the rest of the winter as i decided not to bother cleaning the car or polished wheels and this was the result :lol:

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/E36%20M3/20122009304.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/E36%20M3/20122009305.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/E36%20M3/20122009302.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/E36%20M3/20122009301.jpg

After a few hours elbow grease and a tube of Autosol the rims are ready again for the good weather 8)

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/E36%20M3/26122009362.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/E36%20M3/26122009363.jpg

Until the roads clear a bit it's winter mode FTW!

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/E36%20M3/24122009337.jpg

Oh yeah some reflection shots from this mornings cleaning too, 8.30a.m. -9C hardcore!! :lol:

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/E36%20M3/04012010388.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/E36%20M3/04012010387.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/a11fxm/E36%20M3/04012010386.jpg

Cheers for looking 8)

[Steve]

don't have to deal with that in texas :)

p.s. love the car.

yeah, but then you have to live in texas.

[mick_b]

mee no likey the winter look ecks