 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 05-02-2024 08:18 PM 6 Replies, 397,957 Views | |  | | View Poll Results: Keep or recycle? | | keep |     | 3 | 75.00% | | rebuild |    | 1 | 25.00% |
 |  |  07-21-2011, 09:07 PM | #1 | | Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 1 |  worth repair
Enclosed are a couple of pictures of my 1997 318ti with 176K. Had a low speed impact on a oil covered road, but impact was low speed thus crumple zones not activated. I am considering keeping it as a runabout for the local mountain roads. I have had the car for 13 years and most of the time the airbag system light was on, thus the system never worked. This despite having seatbelt sensors replaced half a dozen times and even installing a new airbag wiring harness. Wife is glad as she wants me to get a car with working airbags. I am thinking that even with a salvaged title this car could be fun to own. I need a new (used) hood, fender, and miscellaneous front parts. Front wheel & geometry not impacted. What do you think? Am I nuts? Most often I ride my bicycle to work and I have a garage & car part. Need advice... please! |  |  | | 07-22-2011, 12:07 AM | #2 | | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 |
It would be a shame to junk a car with that little of damage. Did the insurance company say it was totaled or was it a salvage title prior to the latest accident? You could pick up the used body panels for under 200 bucks if you're thrifty and everything could be replaced in a day. Paint may be a little a little pricey, but heck, you may just be able to take the new/used panels to a shop along with one of the damaged panels and have them color match and spray them. This would eliminate the need to mask off the entire car, plus you'll save money by removing/installing the panels yourself. You live down in San Diego, pick up an Mtechnic bumper and a set of headlights from DDMtuning. The bumper costs less than 150 and the headlights are about the same. Both are upgrades, you'll have glass lens projector headlights with HID's and a more stylish bumper when you're all done for cheaper than what the factory parts would probably cost. | | | | | 07-22-2011, 12:22 AM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 252 |
I agree with coolness, keep and fix. Too easy to fix that little of damage. __________________ 1996 318ti base: m44, 5 spd, lsd - 18x8 bremmer kraft wheels w/sumitumo tires 225/40R18 & bmw locking lug studs, 10mm spacers in rear, halo headlights, cold air intake, koni str.t struts and shocks w/mounts, h&r sport springs, serp belts, control arm & tie rod kits, front sway bar links, JVC kd-x50bt headunit w/ipod hook up in the glove box, alpine sps-500(front and rear), jl audio 10" powerwedge max, jl audio 250.1 amp, motor mounts, fuel filter, passenger side window motor, drivers lower window run, muffler hanger kit, various interior bulbs, left door striker/ajar switch, lower hood latches, changed from gray vinal to black leather shift and parking brake boots, m3 weighted shift knob, ngk-r spark plugs, magnecor spark plug wires(blue),new cabin micro-filters,new headliner & a-pillar mouldings, 5w20 synth-blend oil and filter, BG Ultra Guard syn. rear end fluid & ls additive, BG Syncro Shift II syn. manual trans fluids, stainless steel braided brake lines and dot 4 fluid, extra brake light mod, new p/s reservoir and rubber hoses
need to do - fix door panels, paint job, MORE MONEY!!  | | | | | 07-22-2011, 01:25 AM | #4 | | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 |
BTW, your poll options are "keep" and "rebuild", both of which insinuate saving the car. I vote for both  | | | | | 07-22-2011, 02:24 AM | #5 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Riverside ,So-Cal Posts: 725 |
Keep!!! Not hard of a fix __________________
EURO FRESH | | | | | 07-22-2011, 04:10 AM | #6 | | That's not Millpoint Blue Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: BNA Posts: 3,161 |
Also keep in mind that all of those body parts can be sourced from the E36 SEDAN, so you might be able to find them in a junk yard at a reasonable price. If you go that route, be sure to confirm that you get parts from a 1996 or later E36 because the fenders and I THINK nose panel are slightly different on the 1995 & prior E36. __________________ Real men know how to SEARCH!
THIS IS A MILLPOINT BLUE INTERIOR
Mods 'n' stuff: Star Spoke 43 wheels - X-Brace - Mason Engineering front strut brace - CF gauge overlay - ZHP shifter knob - Racing Dynamics cat-back - Doubled brake lights - M-tech rear spoiler
From Page 68 of the 1997 Owners Manual: "Vehicles equipped with ASC+T remain subject to the laws of physics." | | | | |
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