An E36 Investigation

[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.

[straight6pwr]

Called it!

I don't know why you'd delete horsepower for originality, this isn't some $1,000,000 Ferrari concours car. It's a better car with the ///m powerplant

[B C]

Put sugar in the gas tank

[patsbimmer1]

Leave the s52.  Like everyone else said an m50 may be original but wouldnt add any value to it where the s52 adds value and driving pleasure.

[Earl]

patsbimmer1 said:

Leave the s52.  Like everyone else said an m50 may be original but wouldnt add any value to it where the s52 adds value and driving pleasure.

But for this car it didn't add value. The value to who it matters was lost once the m50 left the building and the wheels were taken off. This is one of those cars that's worth a ton to collectors but at this point (mileage and condition) it's not something a collector would even bother with. Now it's just a clean e36 with an ///M swap and happens to have been a special package (even though that really does nothing for what this car is worth anymore)

[ChrisO]

Got more pics of the car or is it a secret rn? Still have the M cloth interior? Rusty? These things are sweet and I’d take one over another cosmos M3 haha

In my opinion I think that many will appreciate its rarity regardless of a s52 swap. I don’t think that the fact that the original motor exploded or whatever is going to completely discredit the fact that it’s a 1/150 M-technic car. Clean it up, source the special interior and exterior bits and it’ll pull a premium. I’ve seen LTW’s with motors that have been replaced, they don’t just become average priced m3’s. Same concept on a smaller scale? Honestly these cars came with much more desirable bits then the M3’s did in the US, and I think they are respected more then just being a trim level for a 325is.

[patsbimmer1]

Earl said:

But for this car it didn't add value. The value to who it matters was lost once the m50 left the building and the wheels were taken off. This is one of those cars that's worth a ton to collectors but at this point (mileage and condition) it's not something a collector would even bother with. Now it's just a clean e36 with an ///M swap and happens to have been a special package (even though that really does nothing for what this car is worth anymore)

I understand that the value as a collectors item is lost but putting another m50 wouldnt add resale value but having an s52 adds resale value as its a more desirable engine.  Just like an e30 with a non numbers matching m20 isn't worth as much as an e30 with an s5x.  The s5x is more desirable and thats the value.

[Earl]

I'm saying the only m50 that would repair the value is the original numbers matching motor. At this point there is no way the car will ever be worth that price. The s52 in it still doesn't make it worth anywhere near what it would have been. That's why I'm saying it's just another clean e36 with an ///M swap and it just so happens to be a mtechnic car.

[Rekpoint]

Bless us with pictures ?

[ChrisO]

2nd on the pics and story behind where the car came from