Description
Following my retirement I bought this 1998 M3 as a hobby \ project car from a private owner in Florida, in January of 2012. It had 130,500 miles on the odometer. Currently it has just over 178,000 miles.
When I first saw and drove it, it was obvious that its previous owners had taken good care of it. The engine and gearbox \ clutch were very strong - as later proven when I did compression and leak-down tests prior to installing the supercharger kit. The paint and body panels were and remain in excellent condition, and are OEM.
When I bought the car its suspension and a number of other non-drivetrain parts were, due to age or use, clearly in need of replacement or upgrade. And I really wished to improve the performance, sound, and looks of the car. As a BMW owner of more than 40 years I had the tools and experience to do all of the work specified below by myself. An extensive file of photos taken during this work as well as all of the parts receipts & installation instructions can be provided to the purchaser.
Compressions, prior to my installation of the Active Autowerke supercharger at 134,000 miles, were between 207 & 211 psi (variance high to low of only 2%), and leak-down percentages were between only 1.2 -3.3%...probably better than when the car was new. I did a subsequent compression check 23,000 miles after the installation and compressions were still solid – between 205 and 208 psi, still better than new.
There’s nothing wrong mechanically with this car, other than the usual & customary BMW small oil drip, which it’s had for as long as I’ve owned it – not big enough for me to ever have bothered to deal with it.
The car is a beast. The dyno results following supercharger installation produced 414 horsepower and 336 foot-pounds torque at the wheels….versus 219 HP and 222 TQ prior. And its SuperSprint exhaust & headers sound absolutely terrific.
I am now 76 years old and it is time for me to pass this car on to its next custodian – it deserves someone who will feel that responsibility, just as I did when I purchased it.
Perhaps that person will decide to add a 6-speed transmission and shorter differential – that’s the only thing I didn’t get to & which could be a great next upgrade.
I also now wish to pass this car along because I am awaiting delivery of what likely will be my last new car and daily driver – a 2024 BMW M4
6-speed manual Coupe…in Dakar Yellow II special order paint of course!
Prospective bidders are advised that this vehicle’s engine and exhaust modifications will result in this car’s inability to pass a state emissions inspection. So, the purchaser must either: reside in a location where automobiles 25 model-years-old are exempt from emissions inspections, not license the car for road use, or restore the vehicle to its original exhaust & emissions configuration.
Restoration Summary
Active Autowerke Supercharger w\ Intercooler and Oil Cooler, K&N air filter, RaceMesh grill
Exhaust - SuperSprint headers & exhaust pipes – headers custom powder-coated
M50 manifold & conversion kit
New: starter & alternator; crankcase vent oil catch can
New: engine mounts, pulleys & belts, hoses; transmission mounts; hood and trunk struts; AC \ heater blower
Aluminum engine compartment under-panel
Cooling system- Mishimoto Aluminum radiator; new high-capacity water pump, fan & clutch
Suspension Overhaul – Koni front strut conversion & rear shocks, new shock mounts, Eibach springs, Eibach swaybars & new links, polyurethane control arm bushings, new tie rods
Wheels - AC Schnitzer Type I, 3-piece wheels (several years older than the car itself) – completely restored by me (pictures available), with new stainless steel bolting hardware and aluminum center caps, custom powder-coated 5-spoke hubs.
(I have the original wheels and those will go to the successful bidder)
Brakes – Zimmerman cross-drilled rotors, Akebono pads, stainless steel brake lines & caliper pistons
Dash gauges are from AEM – Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, Coolant Temp, Air\Fuel Ratio, Supercharger Boost, Voltmeter
Umnitza high-intensity Xenon headlights (with glass lenses); new fog lamps
3-Spoke M Steering Wheel
M5 HD clutch & lightweight flywheel, lighted shift knob (per previous owner)
Vader seats (per previous owner)
