Another common bolt-on for the M3 that I felt made a big difference is swapping the intake manifold on OBD-2 M3s for earlier manifolds with bigger runners (325, 95M3, 525). I did this after my dyno and felt that the car pulled much better on the top end. Of course this is from my very inaccurate butt dyno.

Another thing to remember is that you have all kinds of fun things to look forward to in your M3. Airbag sensors, seatbelt latch sensors, wheel speed sensors, the whole cooling system, RSMs, RTABs and such will most likely need to be replaced soon. You'll have to continue to listen to the crappy stock stereo unless you've done something about it. You'll have to deal with the sagging headliner and upholestry peeling off of the A-pillars.

All that said, I loved my M3 and had no major problems with it. BTW, take out your clutch delay valve if you haven't done it yet.

 

I haven't done the m50 manifold swap yet, in 1999 they worked out many sensor issues and I have already replaced my water pump for a metal one. I have the harmon kardon sound system that sounds better then most cars today.

 

Then you wasted perfectly good money that you could have used on something else. 99 cars already had the metal water pump impeller. Also the HK system is the one that we're referring to as being crappy. The mids in the doors always blow out plus the speaker ring surrounds crack off and the rest isn't anything to write home about.

 

Whoo boy.

BMW did switch to a metal-impeller water pump as a stopgap while they redesigned the composite one - but it's not a good pump to use. The extra weight of the metal impellers plays havoc with the bearings in the pump and while they don't fragment like the earlier ones do, they start to leak.

The best solution is the revised BMW water pump which has composite vanes - that and replacement (with the radiator!) every 60,000 miles. edit: a good summary is here.

http://jackassofalltrades.com/water-pump.html

My factory BMW metal impeller pump started to leak after 30,000 miles!

All factory E36 stereos were junk, but that's what they gave you the engine for.

 

i've got a car guy at the local bar who has a 99 M3 and claims that he has 310WHP and is still NA, frankly i dont think thats possible with an intake chip and exhaust, you guys that know E36s what do y'all think?

 

The engine wasn't that great either, we basically got a 325 engine on steroids rather than even a watered down euro motor. My factory metal impeller water pump lasted at least to 93K when I sold it, it was on it's second radiator and I'm sure that one was about to break anytime soon.

And it's VERY unlikely to get 310 whp out of a us spec S50/S52 unless it's super high compression and not very streetable/durable. Most full bolton cammed custom software 3.2 OBD1 engines are only pulling about 270 whp MAX.

 

I used to own a 95 M3 and i'm not gonna lie that car was a blast to drive.. Great handling, awesome looks (had the Motorsport Rims), and AWESOME seats!! However, the rx8 is def a better handling car and you would notice that right away.. As previously mentioned, the M3 has a bigger steering wheel and the response isn't as quick as the 8.. The M3 would def spank it in straight line performance though..

 

Well, let's be honest here - a new civic would spank us in straightline performance. :P

 

what doesn't nowadays? LOL Especially those poor souls that get the slower cars.