New to me 95 M3

[m3f_mewantkouki]

Time to tame the unruly beast. Let the games begin...




Cliff's notes:

EMP-Stewart water pump

Moroso expansion tank (Oem one committed suicide on me on the way up from FL - KY )

Bimmerworld AN Power steering kit

New High pressure Power steering line

OEM thermostat

Aluminum Thermostat Housing

New Clutch Fan

Fuel Filter

Flex Disc, Carrier Bearing, and Center Bearing

Every hose that carries coolant in and out of an s50

Misc interior plastic screw plugs

Intake manifold gaskets

Valve Cover Gasket

Coolant Level Sensor

Knock Sensors

Re-manufactured Bosch 140A alternator

Serpentine Belts & new hydraulic tensioners

Power Steering Pump Rebuild Kit


Once this turd is purring like a kitten. It's tire & suspension time! (After my wallet recovers...)

[m3f_frbz]

Are you sure about that CHF fluid? The car takes ATF in the power steering system.

[m3f_mewantkouki]

Hmm, I was under the impression that it could use pentosin or any dex 3 ATF. (Just aren't supposed to mix the two.) I am rebuilding the pump and replacing all of the lines so It should be empty for the most part when I refill... It's going to sound silly but I went to two different auto parts stores and couldn't find ATF... What are you guys putting in your cars? Also, any advice in pulling the intake manifold, I ran into somewhat of an impasse with a super brittle plastic PCV device right behind the throttle body. Is there a trick to removing it without destroying it..? It looks like it's pressed into the bottom of the intake manifold with a tab securing it. The damn thing doesn't want to come out!

[m3f_egebhardt]

I've used the cheapest ATF I can find to flush the steering system. Then consider something better after the final drain. Fresh beats fancy any day. i.e. black fluid is bad.


With the ICV idle control valve, you can remove it with 2 10mm bolts. Then pull it out the bottom. It's metal thing that you can blow out with Carb cleaner to keep the idle nice. It's all very fiddly under there. Take your time.

[m3f_roarE36M3]

I have 118k on my 95M and I consider that low. Nice find and good luck with it.


Looks like you are on the right track. Nice the OPN service has been done. I still don't know if mine is done or not. I plan to do a front end overhaul in the very near future. You may want to look into reinforcement plates on the RTAB if that hasn't been done. I did all new bushings and reinforced the rear sub-frame and RTAB pockets at around 100k, which really tightened the car up.


I've found with my car that you can't go wrong with OEM parts, so when in doubt go OEM. I hope you didn't let the car overheat when the expansion tank exploded.

[m3f_mewantkouki]

Updates: Swapped thermostat & water pump, hydraulic tensioners for serpentine belts, and replaced 95% of the coolant hoses. I'm missing one and have two extras that my car does use. The plastic clips securing the fuel lines to the dipstick bracket and one holding the large hose under the intake manifold bracket pretty much disintegrated. Plastic clip gurus, I can't seem to find these particular clips... I've searched realoem thoroughly. Anybody have part numbers for it or know where I can purchase them?


Pics for reference:

[m3f_mewantkouki]

Nobody..? lol

[m3f_jayjaya29]

Best I can find for the fuel lines is 61131371074

[m3f_mewantkouki]

Update: The car has all four wheels back on the ground as of yesterday. It's been a nightmare waiting on parts / back and forth returning & exchanging stuff.







1. All hoses supplying coolant to and from the engine have been replaced.

2. New water pump, thermostat, and aluminum housing have been prophylactically installed.

3. Both knock sensors were cracked. (Replaced them while I was in there.)

4. Injector o-rings disintegrated when I pulled the rail out, so I rebuilt all six with new sealing rings, spacers, and filters.

5. PCV system rubber lines and idle control valve vacuum hoses were dry rotten and destroyed as well... So all of that got changed.

6. New Bosch sensors for coolant temperature to DME & Dash were also installed with a new oil pressure switch.

7. Repaired cut oil pressure switch plug wiring and added a new terminal to connect sensor.

8. All new hydraulic serpentine belt tensioners and belts were installed.

9. The moroso expansion tank is a really nice part. Pretty expensive though, and the first one that bimmerworld shipped me had the threads for the bleeder screw tapped crooked... I returned it and bought a replacement elsewhere.

10. Coolant level sensor has also been replaced per, the nasty corroded one that came out of the plastic expansion tank.


Driving impressions: My car is SLOPPY. Shocks are toast and I've got a ton of creaks coming from the suspension so that's the next big thing on my list along with some sticky tires. The brakes could also use a set of new pads & possibly rotors. I have yet to install my AN power steering kit and rebuild my pump. That will probably happen this weekend depending on how busy I am.


Soon, I'll lay out the master plan for my suspension & brake overhaul / beg for suggestions. There are definitely some other annoyances I have found and need to address. (A rat or small woodland creature that was making it's home in my engine bay prior to my ownership.) More to come, stay tuned!

[m3f_usedunderwear]

Great work!! It will be rewarding once you are all done

[m3f_M_Parallel]

......

Looks like you had you side indicators off.



They are propely installed on the first page, now you have put them back upside-down, which means you swapped L/R around.

[m3f_mewantkouki]

Good catch! I got the car that way. My guess is the PO either replaced bulbs or had the car detailed & they got flip flopped. All is right in Oz now.

[m3f_mewantkouki]

The suspension build has begun...

Today I purchased a set of four 235 40 17 Nitto NT05 tires


This is what I came up with so far for the suspension overhaul.

Fortune Auto 500 series coilovers

Lemforder lower control arms/ball joints (for 95 model year if there is even a difference)

OEM 95 offset FCAB with mounts

Mahle front sway bar end links

OEM RTABs with limiters

ECS Tuning Rear Shock Mount Reinforcement Plates

SPC Adjustable Rear Lower Control Arms


Thoughts on the list thus far? I have experience with KW's (ran a set of v3's and Clubsports on both of my 240sx's) however they are prohibitively expensive for this particular build plus I live in Louisville Kentucky and the roads are absolute shit. I have a set of Fortune Auto 500's on my current 240sx and have nothing but good things to say about them. Also, what exactly is the difference between running an aluminum vs a delrin RTAB limiter..? I see a set that Turner makes but it looks like they require drilling into the arm to mount. Lastly I'm aware that there are differences between the 95 M3 & 96+ cars as far as suspension geometry (mainly front shock mounts centered and pulled back as opposed to offset, offset FCAB's on 95's, and possibly different lower control arms?

[m3f_mewantkouki]

New Sneakers arrived today!




I'll be ordering my coilovers in a few weeks and attempting to tame the wobbly beast.


I also managed to find a 328i in the junkyard I was able to beat down for a couple parts I needed. (Seat belt height adjuster, extra headlight & fog light connectors, misc plastic clips & brackets) I still have yet to find that elusive coolant hose clip that broke on my engine. BMW has no idea what the part number is and doesn't have listings for 90's cars apparently which couldn't be more frustrating.

[m3f_NolliM3]

Have you installed the power steering kit yet...dying to get feedback since it's so pricey; however, I am seriously thinking to go that route than trying to weld the connectors?