Well Hello Again!!!!

Jay Jay · Post by **Jay Jay** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:19 pm

Hi all,

It's been awhile since I have left a post on this web site although I do often check in to see the posts left by others.

Since my last post I have had my i.s. on the road in daily use and I have only recently retired it for the winter. I'm already missing it after 6 months of trouble free fun on the roads.

I got my i.s. back in 2002 when it was in a bit of a rough state due to neglect and vandals. The paint work was faded and scratched but the shell was totally rust free and the chasis in excellent condition (thanks to the more favorable climate in Italy). Originally I got the car purely for track use, that explains the "different" paint job of Original Diamond Black Metallic and Misarnot Red!!

However, after a short use of the car on holiday (during which I drove the i.s. over 5000 miles in 2 weeks through Europe whilst my mate drove in his much more comfortable E36 M3 GT) I decided the car would be great for the road (we only had 2 incidents on holiday when 2 old water hoses burst).

Since then I have always found things to do to improve the car.
So far I have done the following:
All New Water Hoses
All New Oil Pipes
New Rotor Arm and Disi Cap
New Red Evo Sport Ignition Leads (Thanks Turnermotorsport.com)
Full M3 Leather Interior (Recaro Seats)
M3 Red Needle Instruments
15" X Spoke Alloys (Totally Refurbished)
E36 M3 Short Shift
Bilstein Shocks
Eibach Springs
M3 3.25 Diff
New Powerflex Front Wish Bone Bushes (Eccentric)
New Rear Beam Bushes
New Gearbox Mounts
New Clutch Master Cylinder
New Clutch Slave Cylinder
New Windscreen (A Pheasant jumped in front of me 2 Days after I got the car on the road!!!)
New Battery
New Timing Chain and Tensioner
New Front Wish Bones
New Inner Wheel Arches
New Air Ducts
New Track Rods and Ends
New ATE Brake Discs and Pads
New Expansion Tank
New Radiator Levelling Switch
New Exhaust Mounts

I keep finding other things to do. I am planning to give the engine a bit of a refresh this winter aswell as install heated seats (the M3 seats already in the car has this option, just need wiring loom etc...). Plus I have the option of buying a stainless supersprint exhaust at a reasonable price.

When will it end???? But in all honesty, I enjoy it and love driving such a fantastic car!!!

Great site Jeroen. Get yourself over to the Ring for the 24 hr race in 2006!! I plan to be there again with my i.s. (for the 3rd time in a row!!).

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 9:53 am

Well, welcome back then!

You did quite a bit of work already, but a few questions and recommendations come to mind...

-You switched to a longer diff... like it? Probably takes some acceleration in favour of top speed and lower revs when cruising
-How about fuel filter and fuel hoses?
-Same for TB gaskets and TB resynch... did that?

Will consider going to the 24h at the Ring next year, and I will probably be there a few more times as well. And I definitely will be at the Le Mans 24h and of course visit some 'local' events in Belgium and Holland as well.

Jay Jay · Post by **Jay Jay** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 5:50 pm

Not done anything with Fuel Hoses as they appeared to be decent enough. Fuel filter was changed with a standard replacement. Any suggestions for improvement?
TB gaskets and synch was done too.

Yes I switched to a longer diff in the mean time. Acceleration is ever so slightly affected but when cruising the difference is certainly noticed with regards to refuelling!! I do drive a lot of miles each week (unfortunately the other half lives almost 200miles away!!) so the longer diff helps in that respect. Still have the original diff and lets face it, its only a quick job to replace it.....

I have done a fair bit to the car, but as with these things, you keeping finding little things to do to get an little bit more improvement.

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 6:06 pm

More good work. And yes, there's alway something new on the 'to do' list

But regarding these fuel hoses... for the engine bay you're talking 2 times 90cm of straight hose and the u-shaped one on the pressure regulator. These hoses tend to harden and I've seen leaking examples several times. You can imagine the risks of one of these spraying around in a hot engine bay. That's why I don't take any risks with them.

For the rest... no more suggestions, well done.

Did about the same work myself as well and over here the 320iS is running without a problem all the time. But... lucky me (or lucky iS) only uses the car for fun trips, not a daily driver. But I've done some of these around Europe trips with at as well.... never a problem and always big fun!