An E36 Investigation

[GunMetalGrey]

I am not a man familiar with E36's, but I'm hoping someone here has some insight. 
I find this list of options to be a very odd amount of conflicting parts, but what most interests me at this point is the option towards the bottom 
S779A - Carbon line

Any idea what this would be? The googler wasn't much help.

Only talk until I get other projects finished...

[patsbimmer1]

So this is what I found http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BF99-EUR---E36-BMW-M3&diagId=91_0126 . Anything I can see that has this option was an international competition model or the GT model M3.  It appears to be some carbon interior bits.

A little more info. https://e36-talk.com/forum/index.php?thread/82508-s779a-carbon-line-carbon-line-was-ist-das/

[patsbimmer1]

And now that i'm looking at these part numbers this stuff is cool!  Some of it's NLA but some still available.  Is this an LTW or a 94 M technic car?

[m42b32]

So far, I have found that the '94 325iS M-technic cars had this option (I checked the 3-4 vins I could find so far, all had it), but from what I recall they weren't offered with any carbon trim. Here is a low mile example:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1994-bmw-325is-mtechnic/

If you run the VIN it has similar options to your list including S779A, but the pictures show no carbon fiber bits. I'm not sure what it means as far as what is included with that option, maybe a black headliner?

[straight6pwr]

this options code list suggests 779A would be: Door Handle, BMW Individual/Motorsport

http://www.bmwe36blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/optioncodes.pdf

makes sense if you're finding it on m-technic cars, as those have the motorsports handles. i plugged a bunch of 94 mtechnic VINs into a decoder, and they all came up with that option.

german to english translation on a lot of BMW parts is sketch, wondering if 'carbon' means black or something other than carbon fiber

edit: the internet also has some e34 m5s with build sheets with that code. e34 m5s also could have motorsports handles. i don't believe e34s got any sort of carbon interior trim in the production lifetime.

[GunMetalGrey]

I'm glad the research is also limited, and with a bit of help from earl it's looking like it is indeed LTW interior type stuff.
It does also have a black headliner.

I found a random deal on an E36 this weekend, and it's panning out to be a much more interesting car than I ever could have imagined. 
I'll be moving it to storage for the time being, as I have told myself I can't start working on it until the other cars I have are out of the shop. 

Sadly it's looking like a bunch of the original stuff has been removed, but I think it will be worth buying those parts again to put back on it.

[Rekpoint]

94 M-Technic! Those are so cool!

[GunMetalGrey]

If anyone has a set of E36 early model grilles, headlights, and corner markers I would like to buy them from you!

[suspenceful]

GunMetalGrey said:

If anyone has a set of E36 early model grilles, headlights, and corner markers I would like to buy them from you!

I don't think there is any differentiation for early/late model when it comes to E36? Add some side/bumper moldings to the list, lol.

Either way, they only made 150 Mtechnic 325is cars. Should be a fun 'restoration' project.

[GunMetalGrey]

suspenceful said:

I don't think there is any differentiation for early/late model when it comes to E36? Add some side/bumper moldings to the list, lol.

The grilles are quite different. 
As far as headlights go, I'm not sure.

Side moldings will be refinished, with new emblems.

[patsbimmer1]

GunMetalGrey said:

The grilles are quite different. 
As far as headlights go, I'm not sure.

Side moldings will be refinished, with new emblems.

Headlights are the same but the grills are different like you already said.

[Earl]

And corner lights differ between coupe and sedan but I'm sure you know that

[Rekpoint]

I have a few sets of E36 stock headlights if you're interested.

[GunMetalGrey]

This thing is cool, and has stuff on it that I didn't realize right away.

@Rekpoint shoot me a pm with pics and a price shipped to Appleton. 
Thanks!

Moved the car into the storage unit until I get some other projects out of the shop!

[GunMetalGrey]

^ that cracking seal annoys me. Will be replacing the surround as it looks to be very easy. 

Poll time. 

I am thinking about bringing it back to as original condition as possible.
I'm in the process of obtaining a set of wheels that are original to this car; BBS RC041 / 042 
That being said, is it worth my time to pull the S52 out and put an M50 back in, like the car originally had? 

I'm thinking yes, and considering the current motor doesn't run (could be an easy fix) I think that swapping in a an M50 will remove any of the potential wiring issues that someone else messed up. 

Thoughts?

[Jdesign]

I think that you should see if its an easy fix first. If its more cost effective fix then leave it. Technically its an improvement, and I doubt it will hurt resale as you wont be putting a "numbers matching" motor in anyways.

[Jdesign]

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1994-bmw-325is-mtechnic/

Also I would register it accounted for here if it hasnt been somewhere in this thread already.

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1442294-1994-325is-M-Technic-registry/page7

[Rekpoint]

Personally Id leave the S52. Its a special car. But the m50 that came in it originally wasn't very special.

[Earl]

Rekpoint said:

Personally Id leave the S52. Its a special car. But the m50 that came in it originally wasn't very special.

If he had the original motor it would be worth leaps and bounds more with the m50 back in. At this point the only benefit of an m50 would be an easy way to get it to run if basic trouble shooting doesn't work.

[Jdesign]

Rekpoint said:

Personally Id leave the S52. Its a special car. But the m50 that came in it originally wasn't very special.

I agree, and honestly these cars were built prior to BMW offering the M3 here. So they built 150 of them with everything but the power plant. When they finally offered it all the luxuries this car had, wasnt availble in the M3. Its kind of a best of both worlds.