Year: 1997
Make: BMW
Model: M3
Price: $16000
Mileage: 110500
Color: Techno Violet
Private or Dealer Listing: Private Listing
Location (State): MN
Transmission: Manual
Drivetrain: Rear Wheel Drive

SOLD

Looks like its time to sell another one! Originally purchased this car as a project for the significant other and myself while I look for an M3 without a sunroof (so I actually fit), then she made the mistake of driving Mk7 GTI with the performance package. Needless to say, a 2016 model should be arriving in just under two months…

1997 Techno Violett M3
Dove interior (seats had covers and are in great shape)
Sport package with heated power seats
110,500 miles
Clean title (Nose piece between hood and bumper was repainted)
Spent its life in the PNW, all plastic and rubber is in great shape, no rust
Everything works
Full maintenance list from PO
Located in Minnesota, can arrange shipping

Changes made by previous owner:
Bilstein PSS9 Coilovers
UUC short shifter
Nakamichi CD45z head unit (period correct and orange illumination!)
Focal Tweeters and Mids
Zapco Amps (2)
Alumapro Subwoofer
Stainless steel brake lines
Stoptech rotors
Clear taillights

Only current engine "performance" modification is the new Stromung exhaust, nothing else has been touched.

As I often do I spent a silly amount of money and time on preventative maintenance and cleaning over the summer. It began when I bought the car: it had an extremely minor head gasket leak that would pressurize the cooling system on long drives. This was not fun to diagnose, the shop who did a PPI missed it, and after getting it home I had it pressure tested and surprise, it tested fine. The issue persisted and I found a thread noting it was likely the head gasket so I decided it was worth the few days of work to check. Headwerks Specialty Machine recommended a basic rebuild of the head while it was being resurfaced as it was already out of the car and disassembled. This included lifter draining and cleaning, valves and seats were 5 angle cut, and the cams were polished. Used an Elring gasket for the head and BMW OE for the rest of the sealing surfaces. Changed the oil 2 times after the work was completed with Mobil 1 Euro 0w40, and finally once more at 110,430 miles to Motul 5W40. Cooling system was refreshed (Parts below) and flushed with distilled water twice before filling with BMW coolant. Upgraded the head studs to ARP as I simply don’t like the 1 piece design BMW uses.

Checked all the important rubber bushings, everything is was in great shape aside from the front sway bar bushings. Not a big fan of poly bushings for a street driven car, but I did add limiters to the RTABs as I prefer the feeling.


Extras I have done in the last 3 months (I have a problem):
Cleaned ICV
New CCV
Replaced exhaust manifold studs and nuts
Spark plugs
Injectors Cleaned and mapped by Full Blown Motorsports
New BMW Motorsport chassis brace
Z3M triple pass radiator
Coolant reservoir, lines, level sensor, cap
Hood struts
EMP Stewart water pump
Water pump pulley
Fan clutch
Belts, idlers, and tensioners
New thermostat and aluminum housing
Coolant hoses (to/from radiator and throttle body)
VAC Motorsports VANOS unit
Upper chain guide & tensioner
Front O2 sensors replaced
Auxiliary fan
New set of polished staggered Style 24 Motorsport wheels(coated with C.Quartz)
Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires
Stoptech Street Performance pads
Transmission fluid changed
Differential fluid changed
Stromung Exhaust
Exhaust hanger gaskets and hardware
Cabin Filter
Airbox filter
Front sway bar bushings
RTAB limiters
Depo headlights with full HID FX-R bi-xenon retrofit
3 Spoke recovered steering wheel with airbag (Alcantara)
New steering wheel slip-ring
Rally Road Alcantara shift boot/E-brake handle/boot
BMW illuminated shift ****
Amber corner lights installed
Leather Steam cleaned and conditioned
Paint sealed with Blackfire WD
New door handle gaskets
New cowl cover

I've likely forgotten a few things, but that’s the bulk of it!

Sale also includes quite a few extras as I planned on keeping this one. Oil filters, fuel filter, random replacement bulbs, original steering wheel, shift boot, e-brake boot, stock headlights, Bentley workshop manual, tons of receipts, original exhaust etc.

Small issues:
-Slight discoloration on the back of the headrest from seat covers, easy fix if it’s bothersome.
-Normal rock chips and a few very small dings (hard to catch in photos, tried by using direct sunlight)
-Headliner is sagging (may have this fixed if a local shop has time before sale)

Overall this is an excellent example that I would drive to California tomorrow. Just needs a new owner to take over and hopefully drive it!

SOLD

Cheers,

Andrew













One more to show how the color changes:

 

 

 

Service history from previous owner: