Sup everyone…
I may be mad far away in the PI but that doesn’t mean I can’t find an M50 powered something to bore y’all about!
Although it literally took me almost a year to find because all the 3 series BMWs here have like 4 cylinder engines with like 100 hp.
Weak…
Then again, I’ve been driving a CRV for almost a year… Another year of that and I’d probably be ready for a 100 hp 3er (and a lobotomy).
To be fair, you can find a 6 cylinder Bimmer but like 95% of them come with an autotragic. Being an import, all BMWs (even used) are expensive as well. I saw a listing for a '95 E36 M3, selling for the equivalent of $20k USD. Uhhh no thanks! But that’s how any E36 M3 would be priced.
A couple of weeks ago I came across a fellow enthusiast here parting with his 525i… White with blue interior, and most importantly the good ol’ Getrag 250 between the flywheel and the driveshaft!!
Damn I know I make a big deal out of it but after having seen about 15 listings for either a 325i or 525i, ALL of them automatic, I was beginning to think they just didn’t exist out here!
Long story short, I drove the car to make sure it was pretty solid (although any car would seem “solid” compared to the my old 325i)
See original “Daily Operation”: http://shift518.com/showthread.php?t=7690
Thing is actually in great shape! Zero rust (of course, we average 80 deg F year round with no snow , no road salt out here… Just road craters that will eat a lifted F150 alive, traffic that makes NYC seem like child’s play, and expensive gasoline!!)
The E34 has good paint, is mechanically solid, A/C works perfect (important with the heat and humidity!!), no odd clunks, no leaks around the engine, and suspension bushings were ok too. OBC works, everything except for the outside temperature gauge. Which is fine, 'cause I could just put an 80 F handwritten sticky on that and it would be right 99% of the time.
So of course I picked it up!
Here’s the car!
Pics after a good cleaning!
Here are the near term plans for my baller build (yo)-
- Clean the car in and out
- Peek underneath and see if the diff has a S, on it (LSD)
- Fill the washer fluid reservoir
- Replace radio and speakers (some kind of alien howling going on, I think the deck’s done)
For later-
Diff replacement - 3.64 or 3.46, maybe a 3.64 from an E32!
Suspension - upgraded struts / lowering springs to get ride of the floaty ride
Sway bars - E34 M5 sways?!
Engine - well would love to see a little more power at some point
Will write more later, gotta head out soon!
Payce!
