My '96 Dinan M3

Veriest1 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-29-2005, 04:09 PM

I picked it up about a week ago and drove it back to Texas from Florida. Almost flawless operation really. It felt quirky at first but that turned out to be bad tire pressure (25, 31, 30, and 43!). The belt on the charger is slipping and it needs an X brace, strut bars, transmission bushings, a short shifter, and the normal rear upper shock mounts. Minor general maintenance really and thanks to Borla it's freakin' loud too.

Here are some pics....

The front with the pimp 2 piecers. The holes in the front are right in front of a K&N cone filter.

A bit dusty but I'm tucking rubber. Rather common on these actually and you can see that I just got the tires flipped over to compensate for the camber.

Boost! Thanks the slipping belt I'm only making about 5 psi.

D is for Dinan

C is for Camber

The original Bill of Sale and tax form

The window sticker.

I'm getting used to the power level but I'm still missing my old Z3's ability to just go full throttle through corners. This thing has to be fed carefully and judiciously. Fun but different. I'm really tempted to pull the supercharger off, raise the compression, and slap some ITB's on but I have a hard enough time hearing my radio as it is and I still wouldn't be able to go full throttle through corners (Looks like the 240 is going to be staying NA for a while and maybe with some Weber side drafts.). The Dinan suspension puts the cornering limits well above and beyond what my Z could do. Cornering at what the Z considered insane without breaking a sweat or inducing slip angles. For example on the one and half lane 90 degree corners here the Z3 would corner at about 45 mph with a 2 or 3 degree slip angle. The M3 does 45 through them minus the slip angle. I'm not sure where it's limits are exactly but I intend to find out at an upcoming autocross.

Scott May · #2 (**permalink**) 06-29-2005, 04:14 PM

very nice man, very nice

mtechnik · #3 (**permalink**) 06-29-2005, 04:15 PM

yup congrats.

i like ur sig Scott

Scott May · #4 (**permalink**) 06-29-2005, 05:13 PM

thank you sir.

Veriest1 - how much did you pay?

NOC · #5 (**permalink**) 06-29-2005, 07:58 PM

Nice car.
What are the little holes on the front bumper for?

///M3-power · #6 (**permalink**) 06-29-2005, 08:14 PM

image&style · #7 (**permalink**) 06-29-2005, 09:43 PM

wait, why is there a purchase invoice from Bill Jacobs Motorsports? thats in Naperville IL.. Was the car originally purchased there?

Prfctyon · #8 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 12:11 AM

Nice, but front looks too high...

Veriest1 · #9 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 04:53 AM

Yeah, it was originally purchased in IL then it was traded in on a new car in FL then I bought it and took it to Texas. The first pic is actually in FL.

I agree, the front could stand to be a little lower but the roads around here can be hazardous at times. I'll leave it well enough alone for now.

The holes in the front bumper let in extra air for the intake. There's a cone filter behind there. Well away from the engine.

I got it for $15,000 flat, plus a $1000 for the trip to pick it up, plus TT&L (haven't paid yet since I bought it in FL. That'll be Fri.). It'd be quite hard to beat for the money.

Thanks for the compliments. I'm really enjoying it.

black95M3 · #10 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 07:36 AM

15k? wow. wats the mileage?

Ca$$e · #11 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 08:22 AM

Nice ride

brianglawson · #12 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 10:17 AM

not bad man, love the car, just got my 96 m3 too, and I love it. One SERIOUS word of advice, GET RID OF THE TOYO PROXES 4s
horrible tire, had them on my silvia, they are horrible man, other than that though, great ride

Veriest1 · #13 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 12:42 PM

It's got 120k on it. The second owner was a BMW Tech. and he changed most if not all of the hoses, radiator, waterpump, the little thing on the front of the engine where the upper radiator hose goes in, and just pampered the mechanics of it in general. The first owner did all the modifications. His duaghter drove it mostly (She probably drag raced it judging from the accerated tire wear on the rear wheels the tires were put on back in Dec. and she wasn't putting to many miles on it a day.) Other wise both owners claim the car has never been tracked. I believe the first owner because he has no reason to lie, the second owner because he knew where his duaghter was most of time). The reason for the sale was because she was paying for it but was getting to the point where she couldn't afford the payments (it was in his name).

The Toyo's are a big step up from the Kuhmo's I was running on my Z3. I'm not a good enough driver to need an incredible tire so I tend to buy cheap ones with relativly high tread wear to learn on. I figure in another few years I'll need to get a second set of wheels to mount some R compounds on but until then I'll just drive drive drive. I will be buying halfway decent tires for this car but mostly just as extra insurance when it comes to keeping the power under control. Something out of the BF Goodwrench KD lineup or even another set of these Toyo's if I can get them cheap because to me they feel fine.

Edit: By the time I need R compounds my 240sx will be the dedicated track slut.

Edit 2: It looks like you had a clean S13. Why did you sell it?

95325is · #14 (**permalink**) 07-02-2005, 05:02 AM

wow very nice M3 you got one hell of a deal

m3luckyoo · #15 (**permalink**) 07-02-2005, 11:04 AM

lookin good my man- very clean...