Some German car with an M on it (99 M3 Coupe)

RawrImAMonster · 10-20-2013, 08:19 PM

So I decided I wanted a daily driver that was a little more comfortable and a lot quieter than the Trans Am. I also needed something with a little more storage area. However, I also know I wouldn't be happy with something that's completely boring.

I tossed around a lot of ideas in my head for a while and those requirements eventually led me to my newest purchase, a 1999 BMW M3 Coupe with 122k miles on the clock.

To start off my first day of BMW ownership, I woke up early and hungover as hell to make the trek to the DMV. 30 minutes and a few hundred dollars later, I had my plates and registration.

Excited to test the car out, I took it down a back road close to my grandparents house. On the first hill I heard a noise that was absent all throughout the test drive and trip back form northern va. At first, I thought something had moved around in the trunk, but the noise ended up getting worse over every bump.

So I drove the car back to my grandparents house and ripped trunk apart to find the source. Turns out I had one of the common M3 problems, a torn rear shock mount. Unfortunate that it happened on the first day I owned the car, but not a big deal to fix. I've already ordered the reinforced rogue engineering replacements and hopefully they'll show up around midweek so I can get this thing back on the road.

Other than that, I also have the sloppy shifter that is common to E36 M3's and the driver side seat doesn't tilt. I'll get around to fixing these in time, but neither are that big of an issue.

Anyway, here are a few pictures. It really is an exceptionally clean car for the age.

[Image: N9xj790.jpg]

ScottyB · 10-20-2013, 08:42 PM

gorgeous car! i think you'll really grow to like it if you end up like any of the other dozen people here with roundel cars.

Senor_Taylor · 10-20-2013, 08:48 PM

Honestly, that gen is right up there for me for the best looking M3.

RawrImAMonster · 10-20-2013, 08:52 PM

ScottyB Wrote:gorgeous car! i think you'll really grow to like it if you end up like any of the other dozen people here with roundel cars.

Oh yeah, so far I love it (other than the fact that it's currently undriveable). The steering and handling in general is super tight and precise like my old evo, but without the harshness that came along with that.

The factory harman kardon sound system is pretty nice too. It's really clear, just needs a trunk sub to give it some more bass.

D_Eclipse9916 · 10-21-2013, 08:03 AM

RawrImAMonster Wrote:
ScottyB Wrote:gorgeous car! i think you'll really grow to like it if you end up like any of the other dozen people here with roundel cars.

Oh yeah, so far I love it (other than the fact that it's currently undriveable). The steering and handling in general is super tight and precise like my old evo, but without the harshness that came along with that.

The factory harman kardon sound system is pretty nice too. It's really clear, just needs a trunk sub to give it some more bass.

DICE (bav auto) to solve your audio needs, or just get something like a Harmon Kardon trunk powered sub.

Glad you enjoy it! Handling should also get a bit better...ya know..when your shock is connected to the car :lol:

***Jake*** · 10-21-2013, 08:26 AM

Looks super clean, glad it worked out for you!

The H/K system is good but yeah, definitely needs a subwoofer for more low-end. If you have an older iPod with the 30-pin dock connector, I have a Dice iPod adapter that I need to yank out of my M3. Would sell it to ya $cheap.

RawrImAMonster · 10-21-2013, 08:31 AM

Jake Wrote:Looks super clean, glad it worked out for you!

The H/K system is good but yeah, definitely needs a subwoofer for more low-end. If you have an older iPod with the 30-pin dock connector, I have a Dice iPod adapter that I need to yank out of my M3. Would sell it to ya $cheap.

I've got the iphone 5, but the only modification to the car is a pioneer head unit that already has the usb and aux cable inputs, so I'm good to go.

Any suggestions on good replacement headlights? Mine are pretty fogged up and I might get a glass set instead of messing around with trying to keep the factory plastic ones unfogged.

***Jake*** · 10-21-2013, 08:35 AM

RawrImAMonster Wrote:Any suggestions on good replacement headlights? Mine are pretty fogged up and I might get a glass set instead of messing around with trying to keep the factory plastic ones unfogged.

I bought a set for the green 325i from DDM Tuning. They were cheap and came with HIDzz. Everything was okay with them aside from the adjuster screws (to aim them), which were plastic and a pain in the dick to work with. And the HID ballasts tripped the "Low Beam Failure" warning on the OBC.

For sub-$200, they were fine. Umnitza also is a big-name BMW lighting source so you may want to check with them, spend a bit more money, and get the right lights the first time around. There are ways for the HIDs to not trip any error codes.

***SlimKlim*** · 10-21-2013, 08:46 AM

Bummer about the rear shock mount on Day 1, I have those rogue engineering replacements and they are practically bulletproof, think they've been on the car for 80k with no signs of wear, so at least you won't have to go through it again.

Car looks super clean, congrats!

davej · 10-21-2013, 09:48 AM

nice pick up! and yeah, real clean, as has been noted.

WRXtranceformed · 10-21-2013, 10:59 AM

Ahhh man I promise I won't troll up this thread like Deersty's wanted thread. But I would point him toward this thread as a warning :lol:

Nice car dude, that should be a fun daily once you get it sorted out.

RawrImAMonster · 10-21-2013, 11:38 AM

WRXtranceformed Wrote:Ahhh man I promise I won't troll up this thread like Deersty's wanted thread. But I would point him toward this thread as a warning :lol:

Nice car dude, that should be a fun daily once you get it sorted out.

I don't think I would own one as a daily driver if that's all you had, but if you have another car to drive if something goes wrong, the small issues like shock mounts don't really matter since they are cheap and easy to fix.

Unrelated, but anyone who says these cars are unrefined hasn't driven an unrefined car. After owning 3 Firebirds, a DSM, and an Evo, this is a big step up in interior quality, comfort, and road noise.

davej · 10-21-2013, 11:50 AM

RawrImAMonster Wrote:Unrelated, but anyone who says these cars are unrefined hasn't driven an unrefined car. After owning 3 Firebirds, a DSM, and an Evo, this is a big step up in interior quality, comfort, and road noise.

true. i loved my S4 for that. so quiet and creaturecomfy

***SlimKlim*** · 10-21-2013, 01:08 PM

RawrImAMonster Wrote:interior quality, comfort, and road noise.

Lulz, don't drive an E46, or any European car made after 2004ish, no point in bursting your bubble now. I have seen a few E36 interiors that have held up really well, but most of them creak and rattle like crazy.

Replacing my blown out vaders (which were rubbing against the console and squealing like piggies) helped quite a bit with interior noise in my car, but the rear side panels and parcel shelf still chirp and rattle like crazy. I'm sure it doesn't help that my car has been on modded suspension for the past 80k+ miles to help shake things loose. The factory springs/shocks are pretty forgiving.

Beej · 10-22-2013, 09:51 AM

Just parroting what others have said, but man, that looks like a damn clean/straight e36. May the e36 gremlin gods be kind to you.

Kinda looks like my car's slightly older brother.

RawrImAMonster · 10-22-2013, 04:33 PM

Beej Wrote:Just parroting what others have said, but man, that looks like a damn clean/straight e36. May the e36 gremlin gods be kind to you.

Kinda looks like my car's slightly older brother.

Well they got me on the first day, so we'll see how it goes going forward.

Has anyone here ordered from Rogue Engineering before? I'm wondering if they send out shipping tracking information. I ordered the shock mounts on saturday around noon and I still haven't seen anything other than the initial order confirmation. Can't wait to get this thing back on the road.

nismosam · 10-22-2013, 08:11 PM

Looks good!

***SlimKlim*** · 10-23-2013, 09:04 AM

RawrImAMonster Wrote:
Beej Wrote:Just parroting what others have said, but man, that looks like a damn clean/straight e36. May the e36 gremlin gods be kind to you.

Kinda looks like my car's slightly older brother.

Well they got me on the first day, so we'll see how it goes going forward.

Has anyone here ordered from Rogue Engineering before? I'm wondering if they send out shipping tracking information. I ordered the shock mounts on saturday around noon and I still haven't seen anything other than the initial order confirmation. Can't wait to get this thing back on the road.

I've never ordered from them directly so I could'nt tell you, but it couldn't hurt to give them a call and check on the status of the order.

**xvxax** · 10-23-2013, 11:07 AM

In the future, Bimmerworld has a ton of basic BMW maintenance stuff like Rogue rear shock mounts and they would probably get there in one day. I remember stuff used to arrive from them overnight to Harrisonburg back in the day.

RawrImAMonster · 10-23-2013, 11:21 AM

xvxax Wrote:In the future, Bimmerworld has a ton of basic BMW maintenance stuff like Rogue rear shock mounts and they would probably get there in one day. I remember stuff used to arrive from them overnight to Harrisonburg back in the day.

Thanks, I didn't realize they were so close. I'll be ordering from them in the future.

Edit: Just called Rogue, shock mounts should get here today. They apparently don't send tracking information. Odd for a well-known company like that.

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