M3 Cecotto Project

[M3Cecotto]

Hello,

Here are some pics of the Cecotto I bought to restore last week, it looks like a chicken shed at the minute, but with a bit of work, and some original parts, it will be brought back to life.

I was originally planning to do an M5 engine conversion, but I might be refitting a S14.















I have a set of E36 M3 Evo wheels to put on it, to make it look better than sitting on steel rims.

Parts I have lined up for it:
S14 engine/box lined up
Black leather interior (it had black leather from the factory)
Proper Steering wheel and gearknob
Original M3 Cecotto Side sills
Lower part of rear spoiler
Original Dash Clocks.

The car still has electric windows, electric sunroof, electric mirrors, cruise control, rear sun blind, pas, abs, original toolkit, etc...

Do you think its a good project?

[Hyperion]

all i have to say is that you are one brave man, but if you have the funds and will power its gonna be a sweet ride. good luck Bro!

[eko]

looks worthwhile to me

I`d have it

[Jon_Bmw]

Yeah whatever floats your boat chap. Is that a nasty looking 3 foot long dent come fold come scratch in the rear quarter, what are you going to do with that, get a copy of the times and some p40 and do it pacerpete style? Or is it the light? You certainly have got your work cut out, but then i don't like bodywork so it make be relatively straight forward for you??

Jon

[M3Cecotto]

The original plan was to buy one to convert the engine, then this cecotto came up, and it being a ltd edition, makes it a sin to be sitting in this state.

It still has the original lightened glass and bootlid aswell.

The steel wheels really really dont help it, when I stick the motorsport wheels on, ill post some more pics.

[stevetigger]

Has it got an engine?? How much did you pay for it?? How far are you planning to take it??

[M3Cecotto]

Yeah whatever floats your boat chap. Is that a nasty looking 3 foot long dent come fold come scratch in the rear quarter, what are you going to do with that, get a copy of the times and some p40 and do it pacerpete style? Or is it the light? You certainly have got your work cut out, but then i don't like bodywork so it make be relatively straight forward for you??

Jon

the dent didn't really bother me, i'm not a big fan of fillers myself, but the worst of the dent will push out from behind.

I wanted an E30 M3 to work at, and im happy enough with this as a project. All the original suspension, brakes, propshaft 25% LSD diff are all there, all the engine wiring loom and ecu is still intact, so there is less work than it initally looks.

[eko]

still looks good to me,i`ve put much worse looking cars than that back on the road!
Like you say,set of decent wheels on it will make a big difference!
So come on,how much did you pay?

[M3Cecotto]

Has it got an engine?? How much did you pay for it?? How far are you planning to take it??

I wanted an e30 m3 to convert to either the s50 engine or e34 m5 engine, but Im starting to look at refitting a S14, the one i'm thinking on is the EvoII 220BHP one,

Bodywork wise will be standard plus the Sport Evo guerney flap and front splitter, interior will be back to black leather, and maybe maybe RHD.

I only got the car very recently, and plan to restore it over the winter, I literally haven't done any work to the car yet, but over the winter months the transformation will begin.

I bought the car without an engine/box, as i was planning on doing a conversion.

[M3Cecotto]

still looks good to me,i`ve put much worse looking cars than that back on the road!
Like you say,set of decent wheels on it will make a big difference!
So come on,how much did you pay?

Thanks, I think it has good potential, and like I said, it'd be a sin to see a cecotto go to waste.

As for the price, when I'm finished it, hopefully by the summer, ill post the price, it wasn't cheap, but in my eyes it was worth it. I was offered a standard M3 with blown engine for twice the money.

[stevetigger]

Fair play, put it back to original!!

[eko]

why not keep a photo diary on the Zone for those of us that are interested

[stevetigger]

Like me!

[M3Cecotto]

No probs, ill be slow, I get paid monthly, so at the start of every month there will be an influx of parts, then all quiet to the next month. It probably sounds sad, but I can't wait to get working at it.

Just had a new baby born, so it will be another week or so until I even get the wheels put on.

But ill keep posting, and even maybe give the prices of parts, the a final project total.

Once the car is finished, ill know exactly what is on the car, and that all the parts are 100%, i could've bought a "minter" only for it to turn out to have ghosts. The sheel itself has no rust at all, and is in good shape.

Only real mods planned at the minute, is a cage, sport evo spoilers, maybe 17inch BBS LM's, coilovers and engine mods

[stevetigger]

No dont put a cage into it, If you have a baby and you plan on keeping the car.....then with no cage you can have nice family trips out in it!

[M3Cecotto]

No dont put a cage into it, If you have a baby and you plan on keeping the car.....then with no cage you can have nice family trips out in it!

in my wee mind, an e30 m3 needs a roll cage, I've a baby girl at 3, and a new born boy, but im sure they'll fit!!!! they'll have too!!!! LOL

It'll hopefully be ready for the summer, and then ill try to get over to some of the circuits in England for a holiday, and see what the car goes like.

[stevetigger]

OK, Lets see what the general consensus is??

What do you guys think....................CAGE OR NO CAGE???


Answers welcome

[M3Cecotto]

CAGE . . . althought the novelity will wear off pretty fast, and it'll just be a pain in the ass

By the way, this wont be a daily driver, just an occasional flutter,

[stevetigger]

NO CAGE.....even if its just a weekend car!!

[eko]

no cage

[jonbuoy]

It's not down to us to decide whether it has a cage or not!
Buy your own and then you can decide

[Nostrils]

Looks like an interesting project, most of the bits are there for you to be getting on with. Personally, I would not put a cage in - Do you have another car for the family to use?

Each to their own on that.....I would be interested in a photo-story for the forum to view.

Good Luck

[M3Cecotto]

I dont mind people having their own opinion, its good to know what other people would do with the car, most would probably strip it for parts!

I know of a bare m3 shell, no suspension or any panels, except quarters, and it was on offer at Ԛ£1500, to me making my car worth the pennies

[M3Cecotto]

Heres a couple of more pictures:




put one of the motorsport wheels on it.

[Jimbob]

Hi mate, good Project you've got yourself here. Like you say you can buy one and not know much about its skeletons and least you'll have a mint M3 and know everything about it down to the finest details, not something money can buy!

As for putting a cage in, dude it's your car - do you want with it, if you want a cage then put it in!

[M3Cecotto]

Im thinking of putting the cage in, without the rear seat cross-overs. I dont want the cage that requires cutting the dash, one that runs in front of it like this one, forgive the bad photos;

[stevetigger]

That will do ya head in after about the FIRST time you get in to it!!

[Jimbob]

It depends on your intentions really, the M3 came from the track so I don't see why fitting a rollcage changes anything!

[M3Cecotto]

That will do ya head in after about the FIRST time you get in to it!!

i wonder is there an elegant way to get into a car with a cage? you can lower the bar, but then that'd defy the point of having it.

It gives me a good excuse why not to do the stupid runs to the shop in it! just take the diesel runabout instead

[stevetigger]

That will do ya head in after about the FIRST time you get in to it!!

i wonder is there an elegant way to get into a car with a cage? you can lower the bar, but then that'd defy the point of having it.

It gives me a good excuse why not to do the stupid runs to the shop in it! just take the diesel runabout instead

Are you selling it when its finished???

[M3Cecotto]

Are you selling it when its finished???

Not a hope!!!!

I've wanted one from a very early age, and when this ones finished, and when I can afford it, ill buy a black one.

I'd love a Sport Evo, but couldn't afford to sit in one of them, let alone buy it, unless I win the lotto!!!!

[JOSEMI]

good luck with the project M3 Cecotto, it is absolutely worth while and I am sure you will enjoy (at times) doing it. You have my admiration mate.

All the best !!

Jose

[stevetigger]

Are you selling it when its finished???

Not a hope!!!!

I've wanted one from a very early age, and when this ones finished, and when I can afford it, ill buy a black one.

I'd love a Sport Evo, but couldn't afford to sit in one of them, let alone buy it, unless I win the lotto!!!!

I want one too! I bought a convertible instead, now I want an M3.
Im thinking about dropping the engine into mine out of an M3

[M3Cecotto]

To be perfectly honest, I've no real experience of the S14 M3 engine, so it'll be a fairly steep learning curve.

As you say JOSEMI, it'll be fun at times, well it'll be fun when its finished and polished and ready to roll!!!!

I had a good look at it today, and the shell has no visable rust on it, and the suspension and brakes are complete (other than the front discs).

I have a full black leather interior lined up, which will hopefully be in my possession in the next few weeks, this will make it more presentable!

I have a S14 Evo II motor and box lined up for around christmas, and this will bring the project on leaps and bounds.

[REEDY]

Nice project mate!!!

All the best!!!