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bmw m3 donor - anyone at it?
Flick - 25/9/11 at 08:19 PM

hi
i think there may be a few folks using the m3 as a donor on this forum. Like the idea maybe in gkd. Anyone on here done it yet, Could do with getting in touch for a bit of info

thanks
flick

franky - 25/9/11 at 08:32 PM

Yep.

Credit to CKC for the pics. Any questions feel free to ask.


Flick - 25/9/11 at 08:37 PM

think im sold. ill u2u some questions over in the week.

nick205 - 25/9/11 at 08:51 PM

That's a stunning looking car

rodgling - 25/9/11 at 09:12 PM

Another one here, what questions have you got?

Flick - 25/9/11 at 11:13 PM

quote:
Originally posted by rodgling
Another one here, what questions have you got?


Hi
99% sure ill put in an order soon enough.


Im going to start looking for a donor and other parts over the next few weeks. So..................

Can u use the m3 lsd diff? Any other parts you cant use off the m3 and I can start looking for/source ?

Many thanks

rodgling - 25/9/11 at 11:33 PM

Yes, you can use the LSD (and you should, with plenty of power and the LSD it slides beautifully :-)). I think everything else fits, but you may want to use a 5 speed gearbox as it's supposed to be stronger than the 6-speed that I think all the M3s had.

The rear driveshafts won't fit, you'll need non-M3 driveshafts. Otherwise I think all the M3 bits fit.

You'll need new wheel bearings / hubs... conveniently I have some for sale here along with many other bits that may be useful ;-)

http://www.bmwowner.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=206044

Flick - 26/9/11 at 12:04 AM

quote:
Originally posted by rodgling
Yes, you can use the LSD (and you should, with plenty of power and the LSD it slides beautifully :-)). I think everything else fits, but you may want to use a 5 speed gearbox as it's supposed to be stronger than the 6-speed that I think all the M3s had.

The rear driveshafts won't fit, you'll need non-M3 driveshafts. Otherwise I think all the M3 bits fit.

You'll need new wheel bearings / hubs... conveniently I have some for sale here along with many other bits that may be useful ;-)

http://www.bmwowner.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=206044



hi
ill have the bearings and hub stuff off you (both hubs if u can find the other one) if you need them......
should be able to collect, how far are you from camb railway station?

any driveshafts off e36 ie compact etc...

franky - 26/9/11 at 05:38 AM

get some 328 drive shafts as they're hollow but stronger. You'll need a 3.0LSD(medium case). 5speed box is 17kg lighter than the 6 speed and very very cheap(£100). Have you got your eyes on a donor?

adithorp - 26/9/11 at 07:30 AM

quote:
Originally posted by franky
get some 328 drive shafts as they're hollow but stronger. You'll need a 3.0LSD(medium case). 5speed box is 17kg lighter than the 6 speed and very very cheap(£100). Have you got your eyes on a donor?


So is the only major bit of the M3 thats used the engine? Seems a different gearbox, prop', diff', driveshafts and hubs have been listed, leaving the engine the only running gear used.

Flick - 26/9/11 at 08:44 AM

quote:
Originally posted by franky
get some 328 drive shafts as they're hollow but stronger. You'll need a 3.0LSD(medium case). 5speed box is 17kg lighter than the 6 speed and very very cheap(£100). Have you got your eyes on a donor?




Hi
saw the gearbox's on ebay. cant beleive they only cost 85 quid plus p&p. cant find any driveshafts at moment. lsd seems expensive best i could find one for is 350. Did see a donor, emailed guy, but it had sold over weekend.

franky - 26/9/11 at 10:23 AM

You can use a 6speed m3 box if you want, also the large case diff, m3 evo bits. It all depends on which m3 you go for. The medium diff and 5sp bOx are just lighter. Great donor choice

Best choice would be a 3.0 donor.

[Edited on 26/9/11 by franky]

RK - 26/9/11 at 11:30 PM

That's a beaut! I love the roll cage too; can someone make me one and send it on over to Canada? Thanks. I'll be waiting.

FASTdan - 27/9/11 at 06:41 AM

quote:
Originally posted by franky
Yep.

Credit to CKC for the pics. Any questions feel free to ask.




Awesome looking

What sort of rough budget is needed to do an M3 locost then? I take it the donour M3 would be the 90's square shape (excuse my childish designations, I never know the E numbers lol).

rost - 27/9/11 at 03:02 PM

Found this build log of a dutchman building a GKD, he hasn't made too much progress but the kit is still looking good
http://www.vdvossen.nl/gkdlegend/wordpress/

rodgling - 27/9/11 at 03:12 PM

quote:
Originally posted by franky
get some 328 drive shafts as they're hollow but stronger.


I'm using 328 drive shafts which are solid - I think they came in both forms. They haven't snapped yet, although I guess it could happen at some point. I'd go for the hollow ones if you can find them though, I would have if I'd known about them at the time.

£350 for the LSD sounds like too much - I've seen ones advertised as fully working but noisy or with some minor issue for (IIRC) £100ish, and I think £250 is the going rate for a fully working LSD.

franky - 27/9/11 at 05:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by FASTdan
quote:
Originally posted by franky
Yep.

Credit to CKC for the pics. Any questions feel free to ask.




Awesome looking

What sort of rough budget is needed to do an M3 locost then? I take it the donour M3 would be the 90's square shape (excuse my childish designations, I never know the E numbers lol).


It depends but if you use donor dash/wheels etc then it'll be quite a chunk less thank building an MK/MNR/GBS/DAX with a very standard zetec installation.

It's the square shape BMW yes You can fit the later e46 m3 lump if you want though.

Flick - 28/9/11 at 01:47 AM

right......been offered a 328 at very good price. Would I be able to use this as a donor but still fit m3 engine and 3.0 lsd? I dont know if theres much difference in the other parts (brakes being the main concern) etc.......but it would be way cheaper for me. Or should I just hold out for an m3 donor.

franky - 28/9/11 at 06:00 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Flick
right......been offered a 328 at very good price. Would I be able to use this as a donor but still fit m3 engine and 3.0 lsd? I dont know if theres much difference in the other parts (brakes being the main concern) etc.......but it would be way cheaper for me. Or should I just hold out for an m3 donor.


Yes you could. In fact the 328 would make a great donor full stop. An easy 220bhp.

If it was me i'd just get a running m3 if thats the route you want to go down as all the bits you don't want are worth £££'s or more. A 3.0 m3 would be ideal.

BMW M3 1994 Metallic Blue 105,000k with FSH. Reduced! | eBay At about £2400

[Edited on 28/9/11 by franky]

chris-g - 29/9/11 at 11:07 AM

Sorry to go a little bit off topic, but I really like to the BMW 5 speed gear box in terms of size and weight. Are there adapter plates or bell housings available to match them to engines from other manufactures?

franky - 29/9/11 at 11:31 AM

quote:
Originally posted by chris-g
Sorry to go a little bit off topic, but I really like to the BMW 5 speed gear box in terms of size and weight. Are there adapter plates or bell housings available to match them to engines from other manufactures?


I'm not sure to be honest. There should be though as they'll take 600+bhp.

big_wasa - 29/9/11 at 12:49 PM

quote:
Originally posted by chris-g
Sorry to go a little bit off topic, but I really like to the BMW 5 speed gear box in terms of size and weight. Are there adapter plates or bell housings available to match them to engines from other manufactures?



KL racing make adapters for some volvo,saab engines to bmw boxes.

link