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Hey guys, long time forum member on M3Forums/Bimmerforums that has worked his way to possible Porsche ownership.
I currently own two M3s, a very nice condition 1995 M3 in Dakar yellow:
and a 2005 Imola red M3:
I have owned BMWs since the early 2000s and love them to death but recently a buddy bought a 997.1 Turbo and it caught my attention in a big way. I have been researching and learning a lot about the 997 Turbo and GT3. I am not huge on turbo powered cars so that is where the GT3 comes in. I absolutely love everything the GT3 offers and even recently got a ride in one which sealed the deal for wanting one.
My question is for the E36/E46 guys who have switched over to a 997 GT3. What are your thoughts on the switch? Is there anything you regret? I know this is a very opinionated question, but do you think I may regret selling the 1995 Dakar M3? I have owned it for 8 years now but only put about 15,000 miles on it in that time. I am attached but there comes a time when parting ways might not hurt so bad, aka a GT3 coming along.
Appreciate the insight and I am happy to be a new member here.
Last edited by FastAlpine; 10-20-2016 at 03:41 PM.
I came from BMW world as well to the GT3. I was a big contributor on bimmerforums and built my BMW pretty extensively (one of the first to do 3.2 obd1 conversion, jrzs, tons of reinforcements etc etc ).
I don't regret selling the BMW at all other than occasional nostalgia. Everything I kept wanting to build the BMW to do the GT3 does better out of the box. Also you can go and drive the gt3 hard at the track, then jump back in it the next day and it feels tight and brand new still. Every BMW I've been in if you do that it just doesn't feel right the next day.
Here was mine
THE MODS:
Engine
1997 M3 Motor
3.2 L Converted to OBD1
Active Autowerke Custom dyno tuned chip, Euro HFM, Intake
Evosport Underdrive Pullies
JP Performance Dual stage thermal coated long tube headers (CARB Certification Sticker)
UUC RSC36 Exhaust
TC Kline Lightweight Flywheel
Sachs Performance Clutch
Rogue Engineering Short Shifter, Weighted Selector Rod, Brushed Aluminum Oil Filter Housing Cover
JTD Tranny Rings
1997 M3 Transmission and Driveshaft
3.23 Limited Slip Differential
ASC Delete
Stewart Water Pump
S54 Radiator
Zionsville Aluminun Fan Shroud and Coolant Expansion Tank
SPAL Electric Fan
Samco Hoses
Interior
AC Schnitzer Aluminum Pedals
Autometer Pro Comp Ultra-Lite Aluminum Faced Oil Temperature Gauge, Pro Comp Ultra-Lite Aluminum Faced Oil Pressure Gauge
A-pillar Dual Gauge Pod
Das Sport Titanium Silver Roll bar with cross brace and harness bar
Momo Shadow Shift ****- Carbon Fiber and Silver
NR Auto Aluminum Gauge Faces
Kenwood KDC-BT952HD (Bluetooth phone, mp3, cd, ipod plug)
Arc Audio Xdi803 amplifier
Phoenix Gold Octane-R 10 Subwoofer, Octane-R 5.0 comp Separates, Octane-R 5.0 coax
Rogue Engineering brushed aluminum E-brake
Sparco Evo 2 Race Seats recovered in Ultrasuede and Leather. BMW factory heating elements added
Sparco 5 point competition 3” harnesses with billet cam-locks
Sparco Racer 2 Steering wheel recovered in leather and increased in thickness
Ultrasuede covered shift boot and e-brake boot
Ultrasuede covered trunk lid
Ultrasuede covered trunk panels and mat
Exterior
M Technik GT Front Bumper
M Technik Rear Bumper
M Technik Side skirts
M Technik Moldings
BMW E36 M3 GT / LTW Motorsport Badges
97+ style Nose Panel
97+ style Kidneys
GT Carbon fiber pre splitters
GT/LTW bumper carrier
European Tail lights
European Side Markers
European Corner Lenses
McCullugh 5000k HID kit
Hagus M3 Style Mirrors (factory glass includes blind-spot partition)
MaShaw M3 Lightweight Spoiler with removable extension blocks
TCKline Carbon Fiber Hood--Shadow tinted
ZKW European Ellipsoid headlights
Suspension:
JRZ RS Pro Double Adjustable Coilvers
TC Kline Camber Plates
TC Kline Rear Shock Mounts
Ground Control Rtab Shims
Ground Control Adjustable Sway bar links
Racing Dynamics Front and Rear Adjustable Sway Bars
Polyeurothane Sway Bar Bushings
BMW Motorsport X-Brace
BMW E30 M3 Aluminum Front Control Arms
95 M3 Front Hubs
95 M3 Offset control arm bushings
96+ M3 rear trailing arm bushings
Rogue Engineering Wheel Stud Kit with Closed Head Alloy Nuts
TCDesignFab Reinforced rear shock towers, Reinforced sway bar mounts
TCDesignFab Custom Alignment and Corner Balancing with 50% cross weight
Wheels/Tires/Brakes:
Forgeline RS Competition 17x9, Black powdercoated centers
Bridgestone Re01R - 245/40/17
Stoptech 332x32mm Big Brake Kit
Front and Rear Stainless Steel Brake Lines
Axxis ULT pads
Misc.
Rear fenders are rolled and stretched out 1"
Motul RBF 600 RBF
Amsoil Series 2000 0W30
Royal Purple Synchromax
Royal Purple Gearmax 75-90w
God your E36 with the AC Schnitzer wheels is so sweet. I have had both of your cars and moving into a GT3RS was just a natural progression for me and pushed me to become a better driver. No regrets but still love the old M cars and if possible I would keep them both if I were you.
I came from BMW world as well to the GT3. I was a big contributor on bimmerforums and built my BMW pretty extensively (one of the first to do 3.2 obd1 conversion, jrzs, tons of reinforcements etc etc ).
I don't regret selling the BMW at all other than occasional nostalgia. Everything I kept wanting to build the BMW to do the GT3 does better out of the box. Also you can go and drive the gt3 hard at the track, then jump back in it the next day and it feels tight and brand new still. Every BMW I've been in if you do that it just doesn't feel right the next day.
Love the car! I am pretty sure I remember it from back in the day. Also, that is where I think I am at now with the M3s. I will look back and remember how much fun they were but not regret selling because of what is sitting out in the garage currently.
I have a Tacoma that I drive every day to work and through winter so maintenance on the GT3 wouldn't be an issue if the car had to sit for a little while here and there.
Appreciate the input guys. I have a GT3 on the radar but need to sell the E46 first (so I don't get killed by the significant other). Keep the input coming.
Haha! That is awesome. Thanks for the message back about the E36/GT3 comparison.
I love my Tacoma a lot, lot. I use that thing for everything from hauling friends to taking the dog to remote locations and mountain biking. It does everything well.
Another thing that made it easier for me was as the BMW aged so many little annoying things would always come up that needed to be fixed. I felt I was fixing the car all the time vs driving it. Some of these things wouldn't stop the car from being driven, but were just plain annoying and being im fanatical about maintenance I couldn't just let it be. Fwiw I drove mine all the time, wasn't just a fun car. I got to the point where I liked looking at the E36 more than driving it, which is why I knew it was time to sell. I had both the gt3 and the BMW together for over a year.
Another thing that made it easier for me was as the BMW aged so many little annoying things would always come up that needed to be fixed. I felt I was fixing the car all the time vs driving it. Some of these things wouldn't stop the car from being driven, but were just plain annoying and being im fanatical about maintenance I couldn't just let it be. Fwiw I drove mine all the time, wasn't just a fun car. I got to the point where I liked looking at the E36 more than driving it, which is why I knew it was time to sell. I had both the gt3 and the BMW together for over a year.
I've been pretty lucky with the E36 and it has been extremely reliable without having to mess with much at all. I just wonder if I am falling into the same situation where I just enjoy looking at it more than actual driving it.
10-18-2016, 12:37 PM
Going from two M3s to a GT3..?
