E36 M3 Saloon - Upgraded w/ Xenon Headlights

[ae86_16v]

After years of yearning, after months of searching. . . 1998 BMW E36 M3 4 Door.

http://img255.echo.cx/img255/7702/img04405yq.th.jpg (http://img255.echo.cx/my.php?image=img04405yq.jpg) http://img249.echo.cx/img249/1183/img04382yg.th.jpg (http://img249.echo.cx/my.php?image=img04382yg.jpg)
http://img241.echo.cx/img241/7125/img04530jg.th.jpg (http://img241.echo.cx/my.php?image=img04530jg.jpg) http://img259.echo.cx/img259/4507/img04880mr.th.jpg (http://img259.echo.cx/my.php?image=img04880mr.jpg)
http://img259.echo.cx/img259/5957/img04828dp.th.jpg (http://img259.echo.cx/my.php?image=img04828dp.jpg) http://img259.echo.cx/img259/6600/img04664ov.th.jpg (http://img259.echo.cx/my.php?image=img04664ov.jpg)
http://img259.echo.cx/img259/4050/img04633nb.th.jpg (http://img259.echo.cx/my.php?image=img04633nb.jpg) http://img255.echo.cx/img255/4436/img04603bn.th.jpg (http://img255.echo.cx/my.php?image=img04603bn.jpg)

[SilviaEvo]

wow how much was it in all? that saloon is gorgeous :drool: :drool: :drool:
any mods or any planned in the future? maybe get it chipped?

[komotar]

Congrats man!

The car looks like it's in top shape. Very well preserved.

How many miles?

I don't think I have ever seen the 4 door model in real life.

I thik it looks great!

[bultaco_metralla]

Hey nice M3
I don't think I have ever seen the 4 door model in real life.

me too :D :D

Have nice drifts days !!!! and some video... :twisted: :twisted:

[TT]

Very nice choice! And nice in white too! The 4 doors version is quite rare afterall!

Some nice pics!

[SPEEDKILLAR]

Congrats dude, looks in excelleny shape, maybe some interior and engine bay pics would be great.
Anyway I prefer the 2 doors more but hell this one is more comfy.

[gis]

Very nice car,rare with 4 doors and looks stunning in white

congrats on the new ride :D

[ae86_16v]

Thanks guys. It has 99k miles. Which was more than I wanted, but it was an one owner car w/ all the paperwork. The guy seemed like he took care of it. And everything checked out. The car's condition is really nice. The exterior is probably 8 or 8.5 out of 10. The interior is in pretty good condition probably around 7.5 out of 10. There is a bit of wear for the driver seat, 99k after all.

The reasons why I wanted the Saloon, one, it was definitely more rare since it was only produced 2 years here in the US. Two, I had a coupe before, decided the 4 door would be more practical. Three, for some reason, I see it as being a bit more professional.

Haha, no drift videos, no mods. Planning on keeping it all stock! Gonna keep this car for a long long time. =)

Thanks for the compliments.

Interior shots next time =) .

[sameerrao]

Nice car!

[topgeartom]

Very nice car dude, you cant beat a good old M3!!!

Proper old fashioned ///M Power!!!! None of this V-tec nonesense, just a bloody big enginge in a family saloon. Lovely jubbly

[ZfrkS62]

Beautiful M3, ae86 8) If you're planning any mods, check out www.evosport.com They are located in the LA area (Irvine i think). It's a bit of a drive, but all they do is play with BMW's Mercedes and Ferraris :D

[ferrarif1fan89]

wow, ive only seen one 4-door m3 and it was in black with the same wheels. also in pretty bad condition. congrats on the excellent choice.

[Chaos in 1983!]

wow dude, nice ride. I've never seen a 4 door M3...they're quite rare I believe, very good choice of car, it appears to be in top notch conditions, congrats! :D

[ARMAN]

Holy jump!!!! Ein wundersöhn M drei ae86_16v *ARMAN trying to impress everyone with his Germanish* :mrgreen:

Keep it stock, I would.

Best wheels that have been made for M3 ever imo, excelent color choice it looks fantastic in white + 4 doors is absolute bomb cause its MUCH more practical than 3 doors - anyone who had/have 3doors car know what pain it is moving seats all the time 8) Pity they didnt produce M3 wagon :mrgreen: *ARMAN is extremly jelows* :D (in a good way :wink:)

Thanx for pics too, great wallpapers :P

EDIT: Pleaze make some nice vids, I dont mean abusing, just nice croosing, walkaround etc vids, there are lots of M3 nuts on the board who will LOVE to see them :mrgreen:

[ae86_16v]

Thanks again guys for the compliments!!!

Actually Arman I really wanted the M Contour wheels, 5 spoke kind. I thought those looked better on the car and definitely easier to clean . But I think these worked out just fine :). And yes, I am planning on keeping it stock.. Although I do want to get a set of European Ellipsoid (projector) headlights.

FerrariFan, I liked black too. Initially I wanted to get black but everyone said it was super hard to keep clean. It is very classy when it is clean, but too hard to maintained.

[ARMAN]

Actually Arman I really wanted the M Contour wheels, 5 spoke kind

You wanted those?
http://www.bmwworld.com/images/cars/m3/1904_100.jpg (http://www.bmwworld.com/pics/3er/e36/m3/1904_832.jpg)

[coombsie66]

Nice car, me dad had an E36 M3 4 door for 80k miles from new, nothing other the alarm sensors and rear trailing arm bushes (a common fault) went wrong on it. :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/coombsie66/cd2d0696.jpg

[supercarfreak]

very nice car man, congrats on it.

guys, don't be so quick to diss the 4 doors, ive read a magazine article in which they compared the 2- and 4-door E36 M3 and, believe it or not, the 4-door handled better (not that the coupe handles bad, LOL) due to increased stiffness in the body/chassis i believe.

[supercarfreak]

Actually Arman I really wanted the M Contour wheels, 5 spoke kind

You wanted those?
http://www.bmwworld.com/images/cars/m3/1904_100.jpg (http://www.bmwworld.com/pics/3er/e36/m3/1904_832.jpg)

no, i think he wanted the 5-spokes that were also featured on the E36 M3

my best friend has a '98 m3 coupe, silver with the 5 spokes

i really prefer those wheels over the others

[ae86_16v]

Actually Arman I really wanted the M Contour wheels, 5 spoke kind

You wanted those?
http://www.bmwworld.com/images/cars/m3/1904_100.jpg (http://www.bmwworld.com/pics/3er/e36/m3/1904_832.jpg)

Actually those are the Lightweight wheels, I wanted the ones that's on coombsie66's dad's car. :)

[ARMAN]

:oops: Ok :mrgreen:

[ae86_16v]

:oops: Ok :mrgreen:

But thanks for saying that my wheels are GRRRREAT. :D

Beautiful M3, ae86 8) If you're planning any mods, check out www.evosport.com They are located in the LA area (Irvine i think). It's a bit of a drive, but all they do is play with BMW's Mercedes and Ferraris :D

Thanks Zfrk. But I think I am gonna keep it stock. I'll be changing the headlights to the Ellipsoid ones. The US ones don't illuminate that well.

[stradale]

Congrats on your new car! M Power in a more discrete package, I like it. :D

Sounds like the previous owner has taken good care of the car. 99k from new, with full service history sounds very good to me.

[coombsie66]

Actually Arman I really wanted the M Contour wheels, 5 spoke kind

You wanted those?
http://www.bmwworld.com/images/cars/m3/1904_100.jpg (http://www.bmwworld.com/pics/3er/e36/m3/1904_832.jpg)

Actually those are the Lightweight wheels, I wanted the ones that's on coombsie66's dad's car. :)

I always liked the rims too. :D
And its my dads Ex-car unforutnately. Sold it a while ago.

[blah]

I love that car so much. :P

[findleybeast]

ae86 you're one lucky guy, the car looks great. I also had never seen a (recent) 4 door M3, pretty interesting.

[ae86_16v]

Okay, here is the interior. . . as you could see it does show it's age for a 7 year old car. . . but over all it is pretty good :)

http://img101.echo.cx/img101/2544/img05710ry.th.jpg (http://img101.echo.cx/my.php?image=img05710ry.jpg) http://img101.echo.cx/img101/8763/img05726kn.th.jpg (http://img101.echo.cx/my.php?image=img05726kn.jpg)
http://img101.echo.cx/img101/8/img05689fd.th.jpg (http://img101.echo.cx/my.php?image=img05689fd.jpg) http://img101.echo.cx/img101/1571/img05702zc.th.jpg (http://img101.echo.cx/my.php?image=img05702zc.jpg)
http://img101.echo.cx/img101/1558/img05695xf.th.jpg (http://img101.echo.cx/my.php?image=img05695xf.jpg) http://img101.echo.cx/img101/8244/img05672et.th.jpg (http://img101.echo.cx/my.php?image=img05672et.jpg)
http://img101.echo.cx/img101/3773/img05635te.th.jpg (http://img101.echo.cx/my.php?image=img05635te.jpg) http://img101.echo.cx/img101/6603/img05749rv.th.jpg (http://img101.echo.cx/my.php?image=img05749rv.jpg)
http://img101.echo.cx/img101/1475/img05756jg.th.jpg (http://img101.echo.cx/my.php?image=img05756jg.jpg) http://img101.echo.cx/img101/9613/img05765ir.th.jpg (http://img101.echo.cx/my.php?image=img05765ir.jpg)

[supercarfreak]

nice, i really wish the E46 M3s still came with that beautiful M3-colored leather striping on the seats

[ferrarif1fan89]

wow, that car has really held up! i love that interior, and that wheel is a bit odd (the steering wheel). oh, and i agree with supercarfreak about the striping on the seats. they definately need to introduce them back on the new m3, or atleast as an option.

[ARMAN]

:droll: :droll: :droll:
A dream car for me fosho :P You can see that the car was actually used not just standing in garage. The only thing I never liked is steering wheel, but I wouldnt complain to have one in M3 :mrgreen: Thanx for new pics ae86_16v, please post more, I cant get enough of it :D

[ae86_16v]

Yeah I know about the steering wheel. I like the wheel that was offer for the M Roadster/M Coupe or late model 98 and 99 build M3s, the 3 spoke one. (That wheel actually came in other cars such as the 740i Sport and the 540i Sport, and of course the M5.)

But there is no way around it, all Sedans/Saloon had the 4 Spoke wheel.

Maybe down the line, I'll do a retrofit, but then that is a good 500 to 600 bucks for the new wheel (including airbag).

http://img157.echo.cx/img157/7872/95m3steeringwheel8oi.th.jpg (http://img157.echo.cx/my.php?image=95m3steeringwheel8oi.jpg) http://img152.echo.cx/img152/7060/d61b2iv.th.jpg (http://img152.echo.cx/my.php?image=d61b2iv.jpg)

[Ziploc]

no engine bay pics? :(

[ae86_16v]

^ Next time :)

no engine bay pics? :(


http://img269.echo.cx/img269/97/img06203vz.th.jpg (http://img269.echo.cx/my.php?image=img06203vz.jpg) http://img269.echo.cx/img269/5351/img06179nk.th.jpg (http://img269.echo.cx/my.php?image=img06179nk.jpg)

[ae86_16v]

Was kind of artisty this past weekend. Saw a whole bunch of car sites and decided to try out some new camera angles. . .

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/2933/img07802eg.th.jpg (http://img301.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img07802eg.jpg) http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/4814/img07947qs.th.jpg (http://img301.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img07947qs.jpg)

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/4751/img09056xp.th.jpg (http://img301.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img09056xp.jpg) http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/6531/img08974er.th.jpg (http://img301.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img08974er.jpg)

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/1772/img09110oz.th.jpg (http://img130.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img09110oz.jpg) http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/87/img09273ax.th.jpg (http://img130.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img09273ax.jpg) http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/7190/img09389rg.th.jpg (http://img130.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img09389rg.jpg)

(I just noticed something, it seemed like ImageShack has lost a few of my original pictures that I started this thread with. That's weird. I guess it isn't that reliable after all.)

[TransAm]

Great car, and as gis said, it really does look good in white, even more so in the flesh. White M3s are very rare back home but I have seen a couple white E36 M3's here.

An excellent choice, sir!

[ae86_16v]

Okay, I said I will not modify the car. . . I lied. No seriously, this is the one and only upgrade.

ZKW E-Code headlights to replace the crappy US DOT ones. Significant upgrade in the lighting pattern and visibility.

:D

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/8223/dscf00103io.th.jpg (http://img392.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf00103io.jpg)http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/3687/dscf00431fv.th.jpg (http://img392.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf00431fv.jpg)
http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/682/dscf00164qn.th.jpg (http://img392.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf00164qn.jpg)http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/5017/dscf00445mo.th.jpg (http://img375.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf00445mo.jpg)

[ae86_16v]

^ Thanks for the compliment. Actually no, all US cars for the E36 had orange signal lamps. Now with the newer cars, BMW uses the clear lamps to differentiate the Sport Models and the regular ones.

I actually like the orange (one of the few people that do). I think it contrast well with a white car. When it is all white, for me, it seems too white. If I had a darker color (black or blue) then I would definitely get the clear lamps. Even with a silver car, I think I would rather keep the orange lamps :D .

[Cigarette1]

:o very very nice car !

I also like the orange signal lamps better :wink:

[sikx5]

Awesome car there dude, Very nice!!

Its a shame how the american version never got the real M-Power engine, But still a very nice beast non the less. Nice shots also!

[ae86_16v]

http://img133.imagevenue.com/loc154/th_27356_DSC_0027.JPG (http://img133.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc154&image=27356_DSC_0027.JPG)http://img9.imagevenue.com/loc169/th_27378_DSC_0032.JPG (http://img9.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc169&image=27378_DSC_0032.JPG)http://img42.imagevenue.com/loc177/th_27385_DSC_0040.JPG (http://img42.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc177&image=27385_DSC_0040.JPG)


http://img45.imagevenue.com/loc258/th_27619_DSC_0084.JPG (http://img45.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc258&image=27619_DSC_0084.JPG)http://img45.imagevenue.com/loc239/th_27659_DSC_0088.JPG (http://img45.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc239&image=27659_DSC_0088.JPG)http://img17.imagevenue.com/loc266/th_27692_DSC_0109.JPG (http://img17.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc266&image=27692_DSC_0109.JPG)

http://img142.imagevenue.com/loc91/th_27714_DSC_0115.JPG (http://img142.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc91&image=27714_DSC_0115.JPG)http://img140.imagevenue.com/loc163/th_27744_DSC_0125.JPG (http://img140.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc163&image=27744_DSC_0125.JPG)


My favorite:

http://img101.imagevenue.com/loc12/th_27952_DSC_0086.JPG (http://img101.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc12&image=27952_DSC_0086.JPG)

[Pehtren]

I so like this car :P

But i would take the Coupe it looks great, this is practical but...i like the e36 coupe 8)
^^^some BS from me

Anyway the car looks that its in great condition, just too bad that its America spec, with only 240hp :( :lol:

[ARMAN]

Havent seen new pics, love it! :P Man I want an M3 :? :)

[davide]

Not bad for a first timer car right?

damn, that's nice... and expensive? :?:

[ae86_16v]

Anyway the car looks that its in great condition, just too bad that its America spec, with only 240hp :( :lol:

^ More BS from you :D . I spent over 12 months looking for this car as a 4 door manual. And now actually I now want a Coupe as a second car :). You know, it's the whole "The grass is greener on the other side" thing.

Havent seen new pics, love it! :P Man I want an M3 :? :)

Thanks! You know why I really have this is because I can't afford an E30 M3 :). Prices for those have skyrocketed in the US!

Not bad for a first timer car right?

damn, that's nice... and expensive? :?:

Thanks Davide for the compliments. Not sure what you meant about first timer car though.

[ARMAN]

I know M3E30 is almost 1/5 - twice expensive than M3E36 here too :?

[Pehtren]

the M3 e30 is a legend woulndnt minde owning one someday, or the EVO :P


Anyway the car looks that its in great condition, just too bad that its America spec, with only 240hp :( :lol:

^ More BS from you :D . I spent over 12 months looking for this car as a 4 door manual. And now actually I now want a Coupe as a second car :). You know, it's the whole "The grass is greener on the other side" thing.

Ammm....yes the 4 door is practical but me beeing 18 years old...dont need practicality
:D

I think :mrgreen:

[ae86_16v]

http://img129.imagevenue.com/loc455/th_80858_DSC_1433_122_455lo.JPG (http://img129.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=80858_DSC_1433_122_455lo.JPG)http://img131.imagevenue.com/loc324/th_80864_DSC_1435_122_324lo.JPG (http://img131.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=80864_DSC_1435_122_324lo.JPG)http://img129.imagevenue.com/loc323/th_80871_DSC_1436_122_323lo.JPG (http://img129.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=80871_DSC_1436_122_323lo.JPG)http://img133.imagevenue.com/loc345/th_80878_DSC_1441_122_345lo.JPG (http://img133.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=80878_DSC_1441_122_345lo.JPG)

http://img129.imagevenue.com/loc440/th_80885_DSC_1440_122_440lo.JPG (http://img129.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=80885_DSC_1440_122_440lo.JPG)http://img104.imagevenue.com/loc566/th_80891_DSC_1439_122_566lo.JPG (http://img104.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=80891_DSC_1439_122_566lo.JPG)http://img28.imagevenue.com/loc564/th_80898_DSC_1413_122_564lo.JPG (http://img28.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=80898_DSC_1413_122_564lo.JPG)

http://img142.imagevenue.com/loc494/th_80905_DSC_1417_122_494lo.JPG (http://img142.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=80905_DSC_1417_122_494lo.JPG)http://img43.imagevenue.com/loc563/th_80912_DSC_1418_122_563lo.JPG (http://img43.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=80912_DSC_1418_122_563lo.JPG)http://img7.imagevenue.com/loc315/th_80920_DSC_1419_122_315lo.JPG (http://img7.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=80920_DSC_1419_122_315lo.JPG)


So after driving around in the A4 for over a week decided to take the M3 back out for a spin. And for the first time I realized the headlights were horrible and I had to do something about them. I have already installed some ZKW Ellipsoids (E-Code) when I first got the car and replaced the extremely crappy US (DOT) reflectors.

I always liked the ZKWs cut off, clear beam, nice even spread; but for the first time after getting used to the Audi's Xenons I realized how inadequate the regular Halogen were. So I had to do something.

And since the ZKWs were already projectors, the next logical upgrade would be HID kit. Picked up some Prolumens 5000k. At first I was worry that these might be too blueish (e.g. rice), but they actually turned out pretty white and clear. I really wanted to get some 4300k which was a bit more yellow but had a higher lumens rating (brighter), but the guy was out of stock.

Nevertheless these turn out great. Now I had to readjust these quite a bit to lower the aim, but still I am afraid it might throw out too much glare since these projectors weren't design as for HID bulbs from the start.

[sivsk]

ae86_16v, great car, excellent choice the 4 door, makes it a perfect allrounder, in the sense for everday use, that will still put a massive smile on your face..... I'm glad that it will be with you for a long time, had mine for 11 yrs now, still great motor... ahem when it's running that is... mine not yours....(i've definately got to get my ass in gear and get the old girl back on the road now!!!) enjoy it, it will be very easy to!!!! Only one mod you should do... fit a nice backbox to it if the exhaust is standard, they make a great noise with a good backbox on...... Happy motoring

[dutchmasterflex]

Nice white lights ;) Much bettter than those annoying blue ones.

That under exposed picture of the left headlight and corner looks like an older E21 headlight... pretty cool!

[Zot09]

Mmmmm HID's...

[ae86_16v]

Thanks for the compliments guys! Definitely, one of the key to this entire project was that it would not be ricey, which was what I was really worry about in the beginning.

Like I said, these actually turned out quite well, very nice and very bright. The only blueish hint is just at the beginning 30 secs or so when they are warming up. Still not as good as OE projectors though, but these E Code headlights work well.

Sivsk - Get your car back on the road ;) .

[sivsk]

Most definately will, actually have started...... lets see how quick i can get it done....... ps ae86_16v is that an alarm going off cos if it is it's me trying to pry your headlights off........ :wink: