Az's BMW M3 - Found out only 113 in my Paint/Interior, aww yeah

[Keef]

Wheels with bolts are a nightmare. Time to break out the Q-tips!

 

[Azuremen]

Well, last night did not end well. Over cooked it a bit in a corner. . .

Yeah, the axle popped out enough too that it can't move under its own power. So now I get to redo the rear pieces a bit sooner than I wanted.

There is no damage to the body of the car, as I hit a curb. The DS1 wheel that got to meet the curb is bent, but the tire is still holding air. All around, the damage could have been much worse but still, this sucks.

 

[EA11R]

You accidentally a whole BMW.

Bummer. My dad did the same thing ages ago, sliding his Mustang into his parking space at work. He knew he broke the car, but didn't let it show. He had the car towed 8 hours later, when he got off of work. His style continued undisturbed.

 

[Azuremen]

A few people will know. But I'm hoping to have the car running good in a couple of weeks. Have a friend that can tow the car the block to my place, and then off comes the back end. I'll also replace the suspension bushings and other various worn bits.

Not sure if I'll have the money for the springs and shocks I want though. Still, new bushings will make a world of difference.

 

[Philly]

No good! I guess that means you'll have to suffer with the MR-S for a while?

I'm sure replacing the bushings and things will help a lot when if comes to the performance of the car though. So it's not all bad...

 

[Keef]

Find out if there are any bushings that are better off left stock. I know there's at least one bushing on my car--the rear trailing arm bushing--that when replaced with typical polyurethane pieces will end up binding under load, snapping back, and sending you spinning out of control. So that one should be replaced with stock or a hardened-rubber version of the stock design.

Maybe those BMWs have similar issues with certain products?

 

[Perfect Balance]

Find out if there are any bushings that are better off left stock. I know there's at least one bushing on my car--the rear trailing arm bushing--that when replaced with typical polyurethane pieces will end up binding under load, snapping back, and sending you spinning out of control. So that one should be replaced with stock or a hardened-rubber version of the stock design.

Maybe those BMWs have similar issues with certain products?

It's better replaced with a spherical bushing, not left stock.

 

[Giancarlo]

What is it about the BMWs and the wheels? I know, i clean my sister's 3 series coupe from time to time. It's from the brakes i'm guessing? Are those things made out of clay?

 

[Philly]

I think it's the pads they use. I remember seeing somewhere that there is some sort of test that measures brake dust under braking, and less dust is better. Maybe it creates consumer confidence that their brakes are going to last longer or something.

But even the GTI does something like that. Whenever I clean the car, the rear wheels are significantly dustier than the fronts, so they probably use different pads back there.

 

[YSSMAN]

My VW did it too, I could never keep the front wheels clean. It seems like the Cabrio has the same problem as well.

Its odd, because I've yet to have to give the Celica a major wheel clean since I bought her a year ago. A few wipes here and there, and that's about it.

Side note: I've now had the Celica for a year. Crazy!

 

[Eric.]

The Civic gets some pretty good brake dust buildup too - and its just noticeably worse at the fronts. I know my Grand Am didn't get this much buildup, but I did drive it waaaay less and less aggressively.

 

[///M-Spec]

Well, last night did not end well. Over cooked it a bit in a corner. . .

Yeah, the axle popped out enough too that it can't move under its own power. So now I get to redo the rear pieces a bit sooner than I wanted.

There is no damage to the body of the car, as I hit a curb. The DS1 wheel that got to meet the curb is bent, but the tire is still holding air. All around, the damage could have been much worse but still, this sucks.

It's been ages since I've looked at the bottom of an E36... That's a forward facing shot of the right side from just behind the right rear wheel, right? So that'd be the lower control arm/wishbone in the foreground. And that's one of the catalysts behind it. And the broken peice...

..damn, I'm not sure what that part is. Rear sway bar end link? Can I get another shot from a different angle?


Hope you're okay.


M

 

[Azuremen]

I am fine, just very irritated with myself.

This is a diagram of the rear axle with suspension and as you can see, the lower wishbone is suppose to be straight and on my car it is very much not that.

 

[///M-Spec]

Wow. You totally accidentally the LCA. I forgot the arm is supposed to be straight.

Bimmerworld has stock ones for about $50 a side. They are made by Lemfoerder. You can also buy the BMW Motorsport "Group N" arms, which are reinforced, but they super pricey... TMS carries them for $180 each... and you get to pay extra for the bushings, too. If you're made of money, they can get the TMS adjustable ones... at $600 for the pair. The Group N arms are nice, but you have to ask yourself if they're almost four times nice as the OEM Lemfoerders.

Pretty sure at this point the totally tore up piece is the end link for the rear sway bar. Luckily the part is fairly cheap at about $35 bucks a side. But I wonder if your rear sway bar isn't bent as well.

Well, the car is bent, but at least you're in one piece.


M

 

[Rotary Junkie]

What is it with everyone wrecking their cars lately? Buddy at school, PB, you, etc etc.

I hope I'm not next.

 

[Duke]

Dude, if you drive like a squid and tear up that M3, I'll never forgive you.

 

[Keef]

Wow. You totally accidentally the LCA. I forgot the arm is supposed to be straight.

Bimmerworld has stock ones for about $50 a side. They are made by Lemfoerder. You can also buy the BMW Motorsport "Group N" arms, which are reinforced, but they super pricey... TMS carries them for $180 each... and you get to pay extra for the bushings, too. If you're made of money, they can get the TMS adjustable ones... at $600 for the pair. The Group N arms are nice, but you have to ask yourself if they're almost four times nice as the OEM Lemfoerders.

Pretty sure at this point the totally tore up piece is the end link for the rear sway bar. Luckily the part is fairly cheap at about $35 bucks a side. But I wonder if your rear sway bar isn't bent as well.

Well, the car is bent, but at least you're in one piece.


M

Are these pieces aluminum or steel? The broken end link looks like aluminum on the inside, and nothing down there is rusted a bit. Of course it's all dirty and black, with either the stock coating (which never lasts that long), or oxidation.

 

[Philly]

What is it with everyone wrecking their cars lately? Buddy at school, PB, you, etc etc.

Probably me. I've had several close calls in the last week or so. But none have been my fault. Mostly people turning out in front of me and not noticing I was there until I slot in front of them from "out of nowhere."

 

[///M-Spec]

Are these pieces aluminum or steel?

I believe they are steel on the E36, as BMW did not begin using aluminum suspension pieces in the 3er until the E46 and even then, sparingly. E90/91/92/93 bits are almost all aluminum. Of course I could be wrong on that particular part, so don't take my word as gospel.


Az, for replacement vendors on the sway bars as well as general suspension bits, I would check out:

-Turner Motorsport
-Bimmerworld
-UUC Motorwerks
-Rogue Engineering
-Vorshlag Motorsports

You can check out Dinan and Bav Auto too, but the above vendors seem to be a bit more track/autox oriented and Dinan and Bav Auto more street oriented in their selection.


M

 

[Azuremen]

Thanks M

I've got a few people looking at the Civic so I should have some money together to put into the M3 here soon.

As for the MR-S, it got some love again recently... new brakes all around...

Yeah, the pads on the back were done for...

Putting the new rotors and such on.

And a shot that turned out very well I feel...

 

[Keef]

Wow, where did you find a landscape like that? It looks great.

 

[Perfect Balance]

From Windows.

 

[Philly]

We're practically tripping over decent landscapes like that here in Washington. On both the West and East side of the state.

Are those an OEM setup?

 

[Azuremen]

We're practically tripping over decent landscapes like that here in Washington. On both the West and East side of the state.

Are those an OEM setup?

Yeah, just an OEM replacement setup. Car doesn't really need a big brake kit or anything.

 

[Bram Turismo]

Wow, that last image was really beautiful Azure 👍

Are those rims from the Civic?

 

[bergauk]

Bram, thats a good catch. I believe they are. Doesn't look bad at all either.

 

[Bram Turismo]

Also, what's that block behind the seats, a lump of wood?

 

[Azuremen]

Wow, that last image was really beautiful Azure 👍

Are those rims from the Civic?

Bram, thats a good catch. I believe they are. Doesn't look bad at all either.

Yes, those are the Rotas from the Civic. At 11.9 pounds each, they are a couple pounds lighter than the OEM wheels, the rears I believe weigh around 15 pounds.

Also, what's that block behind the seats, a lump of wood?

The wind deflector. Or maybe the corners of the top I was too lazy to tuck in that day

 

[Azuremen]

Update - I sold the Civic. So that gets me the money to work on the M3 a bit.

Only own three cars now. Madness to think I had 6 like, 2 months ago

 

[McLaren]

From Windows.

Last shot is great, Azure. 👍
Anything more planned for the MR?