1997 BMW M3

Description

Up for sale is my
cosmos black on black,
1997 BMW M3 with a 2012 Mustang GT Coyote V8 swap, currently with 180XXX miles on the chassis and 80XXX miles on the drivetrain.
I purchased this car back in May of 2018, and it was in such bad shape - the engine was tired needing to be gone through, the interior was gutted, pieces missing all over the car, suspension was awful, a poor carfax report, and visible rear quarter damage. However, that was the perfect candidate for what I was looking for, an e36 M3 that I could swap and feel no remorse.
Over the course of the next year, I rebuilt just about everything inside and outside of the car and preparing for the new engine. In the following year, I purchased the new-to-me engine and transmission (2012 Mustang GT Coyote V8 and MT82 6-Speed Transmission), and started all of the work, completing the swap with 157,XXX chassis miles and 57,XXX miles on the swapped drivetrain - I always thought that was cool and makes servicing very easy to remember. It's a complete swap too, instruments working, car works with the original key. The last part that is missing is A/C; however, I was very close to completing this and am happy to share the remaining parts and wiring with the new owner.
I really enjoyed this car, and this is extremely bitter sweet. It's been on some awesome road trips, all the way down to Miami, up to Rhode Island, out to Chicago, and tons of smaller trips in between. It's a car that I have never hesitated to jump in and go somewhere, especially long distances.
It's a car that I always felt some sort of love for, especially with the condition that I purchased it in. I always had the intent to fix the rear quarter damage, and finish the car. The carfax shows two accidents which resulted in total losses (of course, up for debate as these were not worth much before). The first I originally thought was just due to the front-most components, bumper, grill, rad support; however, I noticed repair to the driver front wheelhouse that had been done poorly. The second is related to the rear quarter - which had been cut and spliced on, the tail panel as well. It left parts of the trunk floor and the passenger rear bumper extension pushed in, without ever fixing this damage.
The swap, on the other hand, is amazing. The engine and trans are very strong - 1.5x power output of the original engine to this car feels incredible in the light chassis. Oil is serviced regularly throughout the drivetrain, and components replaced when they needed to be. Ford Racing Coyote Control Pack with Lund Racing Tune - the tune was done for a separate intake that didn't allow the hood to close completely, but seems to function the same.
The interior is quite nice, M3 Vader seats (passenger seat has occupancy sensor emulator) and M trimmed interior. The sunroof works! And, has an accompanying headliner without sags. Euro M3 wheel. Sony Double DIN head unit with Apple CarPlay. There are a few pieces missing, and the rear seat bottom does have some tears (currently covered in a blanket).
The body has ups and downs - from a distance the paint is nice and definitely pops, it has scratches and runs in areas though. The driver rear wheel arch has rotted through, and of course there is the rear body damage mentioned.
I wanted to see if anyone was interested in it as is. Obviously it is worth a lot more in parts given the condition of the body, I just hate to take components off, despite the body damage, it has been on a lot of awesome trips and really been such an awesome car.
With that, I am implying no warranty and am encouraging personal inspection as the seller relinquishes liability once the buyer has completed purchase. This was a great car for me, but let's make sure that's the case for you before purchase.
Below is a more extensive list of the modifications done to the car. The car has a ton of work put into it, most of which is more recent.
Engine & Exhaust
- Royal Purple Oil & Ford Racing Filter - 175k (Service Indicator on gauge cluster works)
- NGK Spark Plugs - 175k
- Vibra-Technics Motor Mounts - 171k
- Ford Racing Performance Parts Coyote Control Pack - 157k
- Ford Racing Performance Parts Mini Starter - 157k
- Alternator - 157k
- Odyssey H1 Battery - 170k
- Custom Ceramic Coated Headers - 157k
- Flowmaster Cats - 174k
- Stock M3 Rear Muffler
Interior
-
M3 Vader Seats (Passenger has occupancy sensor emulator)
- Working Sunroof & Headliner without sagging
- Euro Steering Wheel
- Sony Double DIN Head Unit
Brakes
- Chase Bays Brake Booster Delete (Single) - 157k
- Big Brake Conversion, Rebuilt Porsche 996 Calipers - 160k
- Braided Caliper Lines - 150k (still has the rubber trailing arm to body line - would replace at some point)
- Zimmermann Euro Floating Hub Rotors (Front & Rear) - 145k (would replace at some point)
- Akebono Pads - 160k
- New Parking Brake Shoes, Adjusters, Springs - 157k
Wheels & Tires
- Front
- Continental DWS06 225/45/18 - 160k
- Wheels - M Parallel 18x8
- Rear
- Continental DWS06 Plus 245/40/18 - 180k (new)
- Wheels - M Parallel 18x9.5
Suspension & Drivetrain
- H&R Street Coilovers - 150k
- Front
- Garagistic Reinforced Subframe - 157k
-
Garagistic X Brace - 157k
-
Bav Auto Strut Bar - 157k
-
Control Arms - 150k
-
PowerFlex LCA Bushings - 140k
-
Strut Mounts - 176k
-
Driver Wheel Bearing - 150k
-
Passenger Wheel Bearing - 160k
- Rear
-
PowerFlex RTA Bushings - 140k
-
PowerFlex Subframe Bushings - 150k
-
Factory Mounting Points and Reinforcements Check & Painted - 150k
-
All Diff Bushings - 150k
-
Sway Bar Reinforcement - 150k
-
Strut Mounts & Reinforcements - 174k
-
Garagistic Rear Strut Bar - 150k
-
Both Wheel Bearings - 161k
-
Toe Arms - 179k
Drivetrain
-
Spec Clutch & Aluminum Flywheel - 157k
-
Royal Purple Transmission Fluid - 175k
-
Poly Trans Mount - 171k
-
Differential Fluid & Finned Diff Cover - 162k
-
2 Piece Driveshaft - 176k
- Also will include 1 piece carbon fiber driveshaft
-
Axles Rebuilt - 161k
Steering
- Reman Z3 Rack - 174k
- Tie Rods - 174k
- Solid Slim Steering Shaft - 157k
- Volvo Electric Power Steering Pump - 174k (Firm positive feel, sometimes shudders at low speeds)
Fuel System
- Radium Engineering FPR - 174k
- Radium Engineering Fuel Dampers - 174k
- Send & Return Hardlines - 174k
- Stock Replacement Pump - 161k
- Sending Unit - 174k
Cooling System
- Mahle-Behr Z3M Radiator - 176k
- Oil Cooler - 157k
- Coolant Check - 176k
- Euro Coolant Reservoir - 157k
- Ford Racing Water Pump - 157k
- Volvo Fan - 157k