Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,825
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Jan 12, 2020 10:43:36 GMT
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I had coffee and toast.  As I've got a couple of hours to myself today, I figured I would clean up the M42 cam cover I have here in readiness for a fresh coat of satin black paint. I also want to see if an M10 oil filler cap will fit and replace the square plastic OE one? Devil being in the detail etc. Unfortunately I haven't had much time for the 02 in the past few months as I started a new job. It's a job I enjoy but the hours are long and I also drive a taxi a few hours a week, so 'play time' is very limited nowadays. My goal is to be at Goodwood this spring though. I also want to lower the 02's suspension a little more. I just need to be careful that it's not so low as to make it unusable on some of our Cornish lanes! I don't want to go with coilovers either, as in reality I just don't need that level of adjustability. I'll be happy with stiffer springs and Bilstein or Koni shocks. That said, I may see what Spax or KYB are offering nowadays? My only real concern at the minute is sorting an LSD. It's not urgent but hopefully I'll have about 170 - 180 bhp at my disposal once the M44 is finally mapped and a relatively small foot print of rubber to push it through. It used to be easy and (relatively) cheap to source an E21 LSD but prices have got silly now. An E30 small case would be another option, but they're not cheap either. I could go for a brand new Gripper but once built up it's night on £2K and that's way out of reach right now. I'm wondering if there might be a cheaper alternative that could be persuaded to fit? An MX5 unit maybe? If anyone has any ideas please let me know. Right, I'm off to play in the garage for a bit whilst the sun is out. |
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E36 BMW 318is saloon (rare as a hens false tooth)
VW Caddy Maxi 2010 (usually full of Labradors)
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,825
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Jan 12, 2020 10:44:06 GMT
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Yay! 
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E36 BMW 318is saloon (rare as a hens false tooth)
VW Caddy Maxi 2010 (usually full of Labradors)
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,825
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Jan 12, 2020 16:23:38 GMT
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It's surprising (well to a sad act like myself anyway) just what a difference something as small as an oil filler cap can make to the overall look. I've never liked square plastic caps anyway. Right now I'm waiting on my Mrs not being around as I slip the cover into the dishwasher. It did such a great job on my old M3's oil pan that it seemed an obvious choice for the cam cover. I'm then thinking I'll just go with a classic crackle black finish but maybe with the raised lines polished?  The 1 series is not my usual kind of thing but it's an ideal winter daily and the dogs fit in the boot. It's not exactly slow either now that ARM have re mapped it. I still can't wait to be taking the 02 to work come Summer though.  |
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E36 BMW 318is saloon (rare as a hens false tooth)
VW Caddy Maxi 2010 (usually full of Labradors)
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,825
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Well i just couldn't leave well alone. A bit of a Google looking for E21 and 02 LSD's led me to www.passionautofrance.com and their LSD options built here in the UK. As the OE diff is a bit on the tired and whiny side (much like my good self) I couldn't resist. So now I just need to decide on the final drive ratio that will work best with the Z3's five speed box? I assume the same ratio as the Z3 diff would make the most sense but I'm wondering if I could achieve livelier performance with a shorter ratio instead? If anyone has any suggestions I'd love to hear them.
So as the engine, gearbox and diff' are all new, I figured I may as well go the whole hog and replace the suspension. Another search and a bit of key tapping later had me looking at Gaz Golds. I ran these on my old E21 and E30 so it made sense to stick with what I know. This meant whipping out the front struts and stripping them right down, including removal of the bearings. I did consider going for the slightly larger ones from an E21 but a) I don't have any and b) prices have risen considerably and I'm already spending way more than I'd anticipated. So, it's off with the legs and package them ready to courier to Essex and the Gaz factory.
All I need now are some tii brake callipers or maybe a swap to Wilwoods, so long as they'll fit beneath the 13'' BBS? I did consider going with bigger wheels but that's what everyone seems to do. I also just prefer the look of 02's slammed on 13'' rims. Especially wearing 185/60's like Nankang AR1's. I also want to fit a stud kit and ditch the wheel bolts.
Hopefully, the first outing will be RR Weekender on May! gazcoilovers.com/bmw-2002-gaz-gold-coilover-suspension-kit-78-p.aspwww.passionautofrance.com/products/differentiel-a-glissement-limite-3j-nxg-bmw-2002
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E36 BMW 318is saloon (rare as a hens false tooth)
VW Caddy Maxi 2010 (usually full of Labradors)
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ZXRob
Europe
Posts: 1,201 
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I just love it how you always follow what your heart says and let your projects get a bit more out of control than originally planned! Well in good sir!
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,825
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Thanks Rob. I think my Mrs is close to packing her bags though. I've opted to add a few niceties, such as an oil cooler, alloy catch can, race rad and alloy expansion tank in an effort to pretty things up under the bonnet. I also ordered a new 16'' electric cooling fan whilst I was at it. Once the cam cover comes back from powder coat the whole engine bay should look racy but functional and retain a classic look even though it'll have a modern ECU and injection set-up. www.mishimoto.co.uk/bmw-e36-coolant-expansion-tank-1992-1999.htmlJust waiting on a box of shiny bits now. |
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E36 BMW 318is saloon (rare as a hens false tooth)
VW Caddy Maxi 2010 (usually full of Labradors)
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,976
Club RR Member Number: 71
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BMW's galore!bstardchild
@bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member 71
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I just love it how you always follow what your heart says and let your projects get a bit more out of control than originally planned! Well in good sir! At least he's not got the "M" tax element to contend with  |
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a small % change on the final drive will make a huge difference to acceleration, but don't go too mad as you end up in a situation where you are robbing peter to pay paul (additional time changine gear outweighs the gain from torque at the wheels)
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Loving this build! Read it from start to finish.
The new Mishimoto race fans are supposed to be the job too if you're going down that route.
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1994 S1 106 Rallyé
1996 Mini Cooper 1.3 MPI (Rust bucket, currently in for surgery/resto)
2003 Renaultsport Clio 172 (Daily beater)
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,825
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E36 BMW 318is saloon (rare as a hens false tooth)
VW Caddy Maxi 2010 (usually full of Labradors)
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,825
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Well I opted to grab a cheap pair of front struts when the opportunity presented itself and that way I can sell the ones currently on the car, along with the lowered and uprated springs with Bilstein dampers. I'm opting to go 3 way adjustable coilovers from Gaz, which I admit is probably overkill on a mainly road car but they look too good to ignore. Yes, I really am that shallow! Passion Auto France came up trumps with their LSD from J3Driveline so I have literally just dropped that off over at ARM BMW. The diff really needs new bearings rather than slotting a shiny new LSD unit into a tired and weary differential so that'll be a week or two being built. I'm going to have the housing and back plate powder coated while I'm at it. I'd really like an Alpina cover with the longer cooling fins, but this whole project is already costing me way way more than intended. Don't get me wrong, I know I'm in a pretty fortunate position, but working 2 jobs and as many hours as possible can get a bit draining at times. Anyway, next week should see the engine coming back out and we can start getting everything looking as we want it.  The housing aperture needs a little love to squeeze the new LSD unit in place.     |
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Last Edit: Mar 7, 2020 11:59:49 GMT by Mark: spilling mestakes
E36 BMW 318is saloon (rare as a hens false tooth)
VW Caddy Maxi 2010 (usually full of Labradors)
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,825
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Mar 14, 2020 13:13:18 GMT
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Cam cover is getting there.  |
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E36 BMW 318is saloon (rare as a hens false tooth)
VW Caddy Maxi 2010 (usually full of Labradors)
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,825
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Mar 25, 2020 15:55:51 GMT
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E36 BMW 318is saloon (rare as a hens false tooth)
VW Caddy Maxi 2010 (usually full of Labradors)
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Mar 25, 2020 16:15:25 GMT
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what are they from?
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,825
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Mar 25, 2020 16:25:33 GMT
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A BMW 2002tii
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E36 BMW 318is saloon (rare as a hens false tooth)
VW Caddy Maxi 2010 (usually full of Labradors)
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Mar 25, 2020 16:28:17 GMT
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ooh hens teeth
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,825
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Mar 25, 2020 17:44:23 GMT
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Yeah, I was very lucky to find them at the price I did. If honest, the last thing I need right now is to be spending cash on callipers but I knew I'd regret passing on them.
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E36 BMW 318is saloon (rare as a hens false tooth)
VW Caddy Maxi 2010 (usually full of Labradors)
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BMW's galore!ballbagbagins
@ballbagbagins
Club Retro Rides Member 164
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Mar 25, 2020 20:27:25 GMT
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Do them yourself. Get a rebuild kit from big red, clean them up and them spray some vht paint on them.
I've recently done a pair and they are not as good as a pro job but much, much cheaper, and it's something to do.
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,825
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Mar 30, 2020 10:58:40 GMT
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Hi, hope you're well and great to see you making progress on your 02. I absolutely love how your car looks and hope my own will be as good eventually. Also hope to bring my car over the Nurburg eventually too. |
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E36 BMW 318is saloon (rare as a hens false tooth)
VW Caddy Maxi 2010 (usually full of Labradors)
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