Damon's BMW E36 M3
Photography & Words By Wynn
1999 BMW M3
The M3 definitely has one of the better reputations when it comes to an iconic sports car. It’s known for it’s sublime handling, strong engine performance and above all it’s perfected balance. It’s the kind of car you can drive day to day doing errands. Then on the weekend, head over to your local track and have a little go. It’ll bring a smile to your face no matter what your objective is that day. Plus, if you ever decide that the constant smiling is taking a toll on your face, selling an M3 wouldn’t be too tough. The M3 is known to not only maintain its’ value but in certain situations, increases over time. Case in point, Damon’s Estoril Blue M3 in the convertible variant which is a rarity among Canada as the ‘vert never came to us up here in the North. Yet, regardless of whatever this car may be worth, Damon uses it on a daily and uses it hard. Hell, he even takes it to the track for lapping or backlot drifting for some reckless fun.
On this early morning as I waited for him to arrive, I could hear the custom exhaust purring in the distance. When I eventually did see the blue gem rolling its’ way towards me, it was clean! I must say, it really is hard to explain the actual exquisiteness of this car. The morning sun hitting the Estoril Blue perfectly as it cruised up, it really is something special.
“I’ve always been into BMW’s” Damon begins as we both stood there just staring at the ‘vert’s perfection. This is by no means Damon’s first BMW, heck it’s not even his first E36. Having owned a few previous E36’s plus an E46 before switching to a Nissan 350Z, it’s safe to say his fondness is strong for the Bavarian realm. Yet, Damon still found himself in a Nissan 350Z at the time. Even though he was enjoying the car, and still technically had an E36 for the Winter months, it’s safe to say it wasn’t the same. Not to mention the constant trouble the 350Z was starting to have on a day to day basis. Eventually, as luck would have it, the Nissan decided to die on him right before Summer, forcing Damon to use his E36 sedan during the sunny months of Summer.
With the car season now back in full swing and Damon not really with a proper car for the Summer, the idea of starting a new proper project was taking shape. Yet, with his first year of University creeping up, the idea was put on the back burner. Not needing a car during school, Damon decided to sell the E36 sedan and focus on his schooling. With school on the forefront, the idea was to replace the engine on the 350Z as soon as the Summer came around again. However, long before Summer ever arrived, Damon came across this M3 droptop on Kijiji. Being the exact M3 he had always wanted, he knew he had to make this happen.
So Damon took a shot and bought the M3, but with the 350Z still taking up the room in the garage, Damon had to find temporary storage for the new addition. Eventually the Summer came and the 350Z had sold. It was now time to get to work on the ‘vert. As with any new car, the first order of business was to fix up and replace all the worn parts and get the car back to a regular running standard. Every hose and bushing (including subframe) was replaced as with a general maintenance overhaul which included a new clutch and flywheel. He even upgraded the stereo system for a better sound with the top down.
The next order of business was to show the interior some love. If your an E36 owner, you’ll know the front seats are infamous for cracking and tearing. Damon decided to thrown in a set of E46 seats temporarily. Then, he decided on a Renown steering wheel to freshen things up a little. Taking things outside, the main thing you’ll notice of course are those fender flares. Now, the fender flares weren’t something Damon was intending on when heading into this little project. The goal from the get-go was to keep the car in a OEM+ state. However, as with any project, things tend to change as time passes. Having a friend who owned their own E36 and had decided on installing Hard Motorsport fender flares on theirs, the idea appeared for Damon to consider. His friend’s E36 came out amazing, plus his own ‘verts’ fenders and quarter panels were in need of some love. So Damon took a shot and decided to cut his fenders and add some flares. Damon admits, it’s definitely a love/hate thing when it comes to onlookers but he doesn’t really care what others think. It’s his car and he’s going to add to it in his own way, putting his own style and characteristics into it. Personally I dig the way this car sits, thanks to a set of Broadway Static Coilovers. The fender flares add a bit of pop to the body. Of course the custom built 3-piece AC Schnitzer Type 1’s imported from Romania help out quite a bit, sizing 17x10” all around. Damon then decided to add a Carbon Fiber front lip and side skirts to bring the whole package together.
Now, most people would be absolutely happy with the current state the car is in now. Yet, Damon is still not done. Future plans have the M3 getting Vaders in place of the temporary E46 seats that currently occupy the seating duties. He also plans on redoing the door inserts at the same time. He’s also planning on deleting the rear seats and in exchange adding an air compressor to have a bit of air suspension up front. Now, the setup won’t convert the car to bags per se, it will just let Damon raise the front end a bit at the touch of a button. Seeing that he daily’s the M3 through the harsh roads of Toronto, this idea isn’t too surprising. Lastly, he wants to throw on the rear diffuser he’s had lying around. I must admit this car strikes a chord with me. Not only is it a car that I look up to when it comes to my own E36 project but I appreciate the fact that it goes against the grain. Many owners would rather sell a liver then take an angle grinder to their pride and joy. Yet, Damon brings a “fuck it” attitude towards this project. That being said, he hasn’t taken it over the top and clearly calculates every decision he makes with the car. This car sits perfect, sounds amazing and rides like it’s on rails. The combination of these things isn’t random and I’ll just leave it at that.
