Video: A light restoration of a 1997 BMW M3

Fixing an E36 M3, The DJE way.

With Project RAV4X4 finally done -- and having binge watched all eight episodes of Stranger Things, Season Three -- I'm back in the market for something to keep me busy. Usually this means a financially ruinous trip to Craigslist, but for once in my life I've decided to be sensible and work on something I already own. And that something is my 1997 BMW M3.

Overall, my M3 is in really nice shape. It's only covered 120,000 miles since new, and it remained with its original owner in the Western United States until I bought it a couple of years ago. It's not a show car, but it's clearly been well looked after for all of its 22-years. And if that streak is to extend to 23-years, I'm going to have to put in some work. Because my M3 is currently broken.

As these things tend to go, one problem snowballed into many. First it was a flat tire. Then a check engine light with a rough idle. And then came the inevitable "while I'm at it” stuff. So yadda, yadda, yadda, I have a new project. But at least it's one I already own.

I'm hoping this M3 project will be done within a few weeks, not only for my mental health, but because the summer months are quickly slipping away and I really want to enjoy the car while the weather's still nice. Of course odds are it will take me well into winter to fix everything, but at least I'll have a mended M3...for next year's nice weather.