Dakar Yellow Overhaul
A STASH Restoration & Detail
Some cars arrive at STASH with a very clear brief. Others have a way of changing the plan when you start looking a little closer and understand more of what the owner is looking to achieve. This Dakar Yellow E36 M3 was the latter.
It initially arrived at STASH for a detail, but after talking through the car with its owner, it became clear there was an opportunity to do much more. He already had a number of replacement parts ready to go, each addressing an area of the car that could be improved. One part led to another, and before long the original detailing job had evolved into a much more involved mechanical restoration. For an E36 M3, that was a project worth taking on.
Starting With What You Can't See
The advantage of having the space, equipment and time at STASH, is that we're not limited to quick turnaround jobs. When a car needs to stay on the hoist for an extended period to get everything right, we can make that happen. With Brodie's mechanical knowledge, and his genuine love of getting stuck into a project, the M3 stayed with us for the duration of the restoration while we worked through the owner's list.
The problematic air inlet system was removed and rebuilt, replacing the O-rings and sensors that can become a common source of running issues on these cars. The cooling system was comprehensively refreshed with a new radiator, water pump, thermostat and heater hoses, to ensure no overheating issues or coolant leaks in the future
The air conditioning system was also brought back up to standard with all new components, ensuring the car would be just as enjoyable to drive during the warmer months. From there, the work moved underneath the car. A new steering rack was fitted, along with new suspension and differential bushes, plus fresh engine and gearbox mounts. The aim was to remove the unwanted vibrations, movement and knocks that had crept into the car over time and restore the tight, connected feel that makes these cars so enjoyable to drive.
The driveshafts and tail shaft were replaced, as were the clutch and associated components. A full service followed, including fluids, spark plugs and filters, before a new exhaust system was fitted to finish the mechanical work and allow maximum performance out of the inline six and pure enjoyment while driving. At this point with all mechanical work completed, the M3 was road tested. It was the first opportunity to experience the difference all of that work had made, revealing the cars true performance capabilities. Now we turned our attention to the way the car looked as the M3 moved into the detailing bay.
Dakar Yellow
The Dakar Yellow paint had plenty of life left in it, but it needed the same level of attention that had gone into the mechanical restoration. We started with a thorough wash and decontamination before moving into paint correction. The AMMO Sheer Cutting Pad was used to work through the heavier imperfections, followed by the AMMO WAFL Polishing Pad to refine the finish and bring the clarity and gloss back into the paint. Dakar Yellow is one of those colours that really comes alive when the paint is right. Once the correction was complete, AMMO Reflex Pro 5 was applied to protect the freshly restored finish and give the exterior the depth and gloss it deserved. The wheels had also been removed from the car during the process and sent to our friends at Wheelworx for refurbishment. Once restored, new tyres were fitted before the wheels were ceramic coated with AMMO Gelee Pro Wheel Coating. It was another small part of the project that made a big difference to the finished car.
Inside the M3
The interior received the same attention. Early E36 interiors require a slightly more considered approach, with BMW using a high proportion of recyclable materials during this period. Rather than simply cleaning everything aggressively, the focus was on carefully restoring what was already there. The carpet, dashboard, door cards and cloth seats were all thoroughly cleaned using AMMO Lather and AMMO Shag. New floor mats finished the interior, while the windows were cleaned and the smaller details brought back into shape. After the mechanical refurbishment, interior restoration and the exterior correction, the M3 felt like one complete car again. The end result, a Dakar Yellow E36 M3 that has been given the opportunity to be enjoyed properly again. Mechanically refreshed, thoroughly detailed and ready for the road.
AMMO NYC Products Used