<![CDATA[From Green Bay!]]>Hey guys, i'm Chris and I live in Green Bay. I drive a 1997 M3.

The car itself is pretty rough, bought it last year in march with 199k miles for only $3000. The car has plenty of rust, but engine runs strong and the car is a blast to drive.

I'm going to attempt to learn how to weld coming up pretty soon, and hope to sort out all the rust issues. I've also got a new trunk lid to paint, so we can all see how bad that turns out.

1997 Cosmos Schwarz Metallic M3

Black interior, original heated Vaders

Pretty much stock:

98+ steering wheel

Raceland Ultimo coilovers (I know)

Euro taillights

Broken DDM splitters

Drilled/slotted rotors

Zionsville aluminum radiator

Car is sitting on some 17x8 Mille Miglia MM II's

Sorry it this gets too picture heavy.

Small timeline. Few days after I brought it home:

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Oh God... Why...

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A few months later, after lots of cleaning and wax.

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Further into last summer, mid-wheel paint. I hate these wheels.

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End of summer. Finally got a lip and some splitters.

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Random interior shot

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And the last time I took a picture of it, about a month ago after a brutal winter.

Car just rolled 206,500 miles.

That's about it. I hope this summer I can get a lot done with it and learn, and this forum seems like a good place to share/get some advice.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/topic/2683/from-green-bayRSS for NodeWed, 16 Sep 2026 06:46:59 GMTMon, 12 May 2014 23:35:44 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Thu, 15 Nov 2018 14:14:03 GMT]]>:c Good looking wheels though. 😁

You forgot the step where they added the dirt..

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/95883https://wibimmers.com/post/95883Thu, 15 Nov 2018 14:14:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Thu, 15 Nov 2018 13:17:31 GMT]]>The rise and fall. The heart still lives on though.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/95878https://wibimmers.com/post/95878Thu, 15 Nov 2018 13:17:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Thu, 15 Nov 2018 04:53:29 GMT]]>Hey it's 17 year old me.

I couldn't have been more lucky to have a M3 at 16 years old, weird to think I took it to high school everyday for 3 years, moved out and went to college with it and took it everywhere. Enjoyed every mile of the 30,000 I put on it.

I should be studying for finance but instead I'm in my feels 😞👌

Day 1, March 2013, the car looked like an abomination. I remember wanting to return the car to oem, and scrubbing the turn signals with acetone that night to de-tint them.

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2014

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early 2015 ft. @Rekpoint current wheels

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fall 2016

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Fall 2017

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Spring 2018

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Summer 2018 ft. @SteelBlue

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Fall 2018

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Summer 2019 coming out hot

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RIP

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/95873https://wibimmers.com/post/95873Thu, 15 Nov 2018 04:53:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Wed, 14 May 2014 18:03:55 GMT]]>Welcome, I'll keep an eye out for you around here.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41162https://wibimmers.com/post/41162Wed, 14 May 2014 18:03:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Wed, 14 May 2014 01:59:33 GMT]]>Good work so far - looking forward to seeing what you do with it!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41111https://wibimmers.com/post/41111Wed, 14 May 2014 01:59:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Tue, 13 May 2014 21:29:35 GMT]]>Sounds like your cooling system and other maintenance is good to go then.  Check carefully for vacuum leaks, the o2 sensors may be bad, but codes may be caused by the ecu encountering unexpected conditions. 

Also I like the wheels, and there is no such thing as too many pictures.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41085https://wibimmers.com/post/41085Tue, 13 May 2014 21:29:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Tue, 13 May 2014 21:09:49 GMT]]>

jc43089 said:

Welcome, This looks like a fun car.  I haven't done much with my lawn ornament lately.  I have taken tons of pics as I disassemble so I will be able to get everything back correctly.  What is your time frame on restoration?  I would recommend some engine maintenance in the meantime, unless you know what has been done, the cooling system is a good place to start.  Poor maintenance leads to a big paperweight.

I don't really have a timeframe, it's my only car, so i'm going to try to fix it up as I go. Your build on the Arctic Grey is looking pretty sick! So far the car has the Zionsville radiator, all new coolant hoses, new expansion tank, new fuel filter, new ignition coil boots, and newer rear control arm bushings. Oil, filter and spark plugs changed every 3k, just put in some 15w50. Also just replaced transmission fluid with some Royal Purple Syncromax.That's about it for maintenance. I'm hoping to do the valve cover gasket and brakes this weekend. Both post-cat o2 sensors are throwing codes, so probably those soon along with new front lower control arm's because the right side balljoint is bad.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41084https://wibimmers.com/post/41084Tue, 13 May 2014 21:09:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Tue, 13 May 2014 21:01:45 GMT]]>

jc43089 said:

Poor maintenance leads to a big paperweight.

Or too much.....

.....earl

:)

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41083https://wibimmers.com/post/41083Tue, 13 May 2014 21:01:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Tue, 13 May 2014 19:49:11 GMT]]>Welcome, This looks like a fun car.  I haven't done much with my lawn ornament lately.  I have taken tons of pics as I disassemble so I will be able to get everything back correctly.  What is your time frame on restoration?  I would recommend some engine maintenance in the meantime, unless you know what has been done, the cooling system is a good place to start.  Poor maintenance leads to a big paperweight.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41080https://wibimmers.com/post/41080Tue, 13 May 2014 19:49:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Tue, 13 May 2014 16:43:02 GMT]]>Welcome! John's build thread will probably be a good resource for you http://www.wibimmers.com/board/index.php?/topic/2092-savin-big-money-project-thread/

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41060https://wibimmers.com/post/41060Tue, 13 May 2014 16:43:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Tue, 13 May 2014 13:47:09 GMT]]>Welcome aboard. Looks much better than when you first purchased. Keep up the good work.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41035https://wibimmers.com/post/41035Tue, 13 May 2014 13:47:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Tue, 13 May 2014 10:52:54 GMT]]>Looks like you got a project on your hands, welcome.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41017https://wibimmers.com/post/41017Tue, 13 May 2014 10:52:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Tue, 13 May 2014 03:06:07 GMT]]>

Snap said:

Welcome!

KaiserRolls said:

Welcome aboard!!

Thanks!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41014https://wibimmers.com/post/41014Tue, 13 May 2014 03:06:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Tue, 13 May 2014 02:28:21 GMT]]>Welcome aboard!!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41009https://wibimmers.com/post/41009Tue, 13 May 2014 02:28:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Tue, 13 May 2014 01:24:12 GMT]]>Welcome!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41005https://wibimmers.com/post/41005Tue, 13 May 2014 01:24:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Tue, 13 May 2014 00:35:21 GMT]]>

CHRIS said:

Thanks! Do you know how long ago he owned it?

I want to say maybe 1.5-2 years ago.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/40998https://wibimmers.com/post/40998Tue, 13 May 2014 00:35:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Tue, 13 May 2014 00:24:30 GMT]]>

Earl said:

Welcome. I thought the car looked familiar. Have you been on the underside of the car yet? Lots of learning how to weld to be done down there

Yes. I knew something was up when I saw the sheet metal riveted to the right-side passenger floorboard of the car. After pulling the carpet up, I had a panic attack and almost passed out. I keep telling myself I will eventually fix it. I'm pretty determined. I was pretty surprised that the rockers were clean for the most part after removing the skirts.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/40997https://wibimmers.com/post/40997Tue, 13 May 2014 00:24:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Tue, 13 May 2014 00:18:57 GMT]]>Welcome. I thought the car looked familiar. Have you been on the underside of the car yet? Lots of learning how to weld to be done down there

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/40995https://wibimmers.com/post/40995Tue, 13 May 2014 00:18:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Tue, 13 May 2014 00:16:53 GMT]]>

wasnt m3 said:

Welcome. That's Andy's (milwaukeeandy) old car.

Thanks! Do you know how long ago he owned it?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/40994https://wibimmers.com/post/40994Tue, 13 May 2014 00:16:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to From Green Bay! on Mon, 12 May 2014 23:55:27 GMT]]>Welcome. That's Andy's (milwaukeeandy) old car.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/40993https://wibimmers.com/post/40993Mon, 12 May 2014 23:55:27 GMT