Hello from Saskatoon - E36

[Big Shooter]

Hey guys, I'm Cam from Saskatoon. I'm currently pursuing my second degree at the University of Saskatchewan.

I've owned and built a lot of different cars over the years, mostly Japanese cars (I've been importing from Japan for the better part of 10 years now). My current money pit is a 1991 Toyota Mark II that I have owned and built up since 2009:

When I first got it:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a51/BigShooter86/JZX81%20Pics/IMG_0445.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/BigShooter86/media/JZX81%20Pics/IMG_0445.jpg.html)
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a51/BigShooter86/JZX81%20Pics/IMG_0459.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/BigShooter86/media/JZX81%20Pics/IMG_0459.jpg.html)



This is the car as it currently sits (albeit, uselessly sitting in my garage until next May):

https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/942044_10151664372988210_952993878_n.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a51/BigShooter86/059_zpsb8ac32a7.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/BigShooter86/media/059_zpsb8ac32a7.jpg.html)
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a51/BigShooter86/032_zps66bb02f2.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/BigShooter86/media/032_zps66bb02f2.jpg.html)
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a51/BigShooter86/038_zpsb37b12e6.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/BigShooter86/media/038_zpsb37b12e6.jpg.html)


Earlier this year I bought a 1995 240sx with a blown engine for pocket change and put a new one in with the intention it would be my daily driver for the next few years while I complete law school. I quickly realized that I was going to need something more practical, comfortable, and respectable, so I sold the 240sx and started scouring the auctions.

I decided I didn't want to daily drive a right-hand drive again, so that limited my options to European cars. Two years ago I owned a 1993 325is and loved it, so I started looking at BMW's. I was initially set on finding an E46 3 series, but none were coming up that really caught my eye.

Then one day this came up and despite being an auto, the km were low, it was mint, and had basically everything I was looking for, so I decided to try a low bid on it, and I was successful:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a51/BigShooter86/E36/815966_zpsb2985001.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/BigShooter86/media/E36/815966_zpsb2985001.jpg.html)
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a51/BigShooter86/E36/815967_zpsbbd72394.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/BigShooter86/media/E36/815967_zpsbbd72394.jpg.html)
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a51/BigShooter86/E36/PA210317_zps1af55518.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/BigShooter86/media/E36/PA210317_zps1af55518.jpg.html)
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a51/BigShooter86/E36/PA210323_zpsa4729f71.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/BigShooter86/media/E36/PA210323_zpsa4729f71.jpg.html)
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a51/BigShooter86/E36/PA210318_zps650d47b8.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/BigShooter86/media/E36/PA210318_zps650d47b8.jpg.html)

I realize it is not a real Alpina, but a 'replica' if you will, and on my current student budget, I couldn't pass it up. I'll wait until I'm finished law school and my budget more realistically permits me to purchase a genuine Alpina haha.

The car is scheduled to arrive in Canada in early December, so I am anxiously counting down the days.

Anyways, sorry for the long intro, but happy to be here!

[Stirling]

Welcome aboard Cam, it's good to have you.

There seems to be an inordinate number of Alpina fans in Saskatechewan!

[Big Shooter]

Well, we have the most vehicles per capita in Canada, so I suppose it isn't that surprising haha.

[jrsmitchell]

Welcome Cam! The Mark II is excellent, I love that your fun car is a 4 door and you daily is a 2 door )

For E36s I think there are only 2 B3s and 2 B8s in Canada, plus a few (?) B6s and a few replicas. Yours looks pretty good as far as replicas go! The front lip, rear spoiler wheels and stripes all look correct. The wheels even have the right number of spokes - a lot of reps have 19 instead of 20. And they have the locks too, I wonder if they're actually legit Softlines? Either way have fun getting those centre caps on and off. :D

That 3 spoke steering wheel and the Alpina "shift knob" also look correct and those are desirable pieces. Too bad it doesn't have the gauge surround. ;)

The M3 mirrors aren't correct for an Alpina but it is a common conversion.

Anyway it looks like a tidy E36, have fun with it!

P.S. ditch those crazy floor mats :D

[Big Shooter]

Thanks!

Ugh I know, I've been doing some reading and it seems like they are a real pain in the ass. I really really hope that the keys for the center caps are somewhere in/with the car, otherwise I won't be able to put my winter tires on...

Yea I think it would be pretty difficult to get ahold of a legit Alpina gauge cluster/surround. I'm not too concerned, as you can tell by my other car, I'm not exactly a 'purist' strictly speaking.

Haha I've already ordered some winter mats for it!

The car should be home safe within a couple weeks, I can't wait.

[Scooter]

A bit belated, but welcome Cam! :)

I think we have another member on here that has a 325i with a number of Alpina parts as well. I can't remember if he's also in SK or if he's in MB.

OMG, I'm in love with that Mark II. I'd love to get my hands on a JZX100 myself, but I can't bring myself to spend the money on what 5 spds are going for.

Wow! 10 years importing. You must have got into it just when or just before it started getting big. Who do you source your vehicles from in Japan.

[Lord Vader]

Welcome!

It may be a replica, but its still nice! If those are legit Alpina wheels, they will be worth more then the whole car.

[Scooter]

My buddy spotted yours at the docks yesterday I think. :)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vhpuCRTJXww/Uq_QAzoQtpI/AAAAAAAAQow/TFF5a_1qNHA/s800/IMG_20131216_154234.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MuPzk-SRTWI/Uq_QA3ykSPI/AAAAAAAAQpQ/tlTD8Eto--g/s800/IMG_20131216_154307.jpg

[Big Shooter]

Haha that's funny! That was the same day I had my friend go fetch it for me. Sure didn't look that nice after traveling the grimy salty Canadian winter roads on the truck to Saskatoon though.

So I picked it up when it arrived on the 23rd. As it was freezing out, the battery was flat, so the lady at the auto carrier depot brings out a booster pack and rests it right on top of my fender. Luckily for her it was near Christmas and I was in good spirits, so I held back from really tearing a strip off of her, but I definitely let her know how I felt. Thanks for the scratches bitch! Some people are hopeless.

It was pretty damn grimy when I got it, and half of the lights worked, the blower motor didn't work, and the Pirellis on it made for a treacherous, slow drive back home. I put it in the garage, put a charger on the battery, and didn't touch it again until the 26th, when I gave it a through cleaning and put some fresh oil in it. After charging the battery properly, all of the electrical things seemed to be working properly so I was happy about that. I was also extremely happy with how nicely it cleaned up!

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a51/BigShooter86/E36/075_zps248fa5a4.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/BigShooter86/media/E36/075_zps248fa5a4.jpg.html)

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a51/BigShooter86/E36/022_zps82278b64.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/BigShooter86/media/E36/022_zps82278b64.jpg.html)

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a51/BigShooter86/E36/021_zpsfb871ca2.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/BigShooter86/media/E36/021_zpsfb871ca2.jpg.html)

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a51/BigShooter86/E36/018_zps71ab8b54.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/BigShooter86/media/E36/018_zps71ab8b54.jpg.html)

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a51/BigShooter86/E36/017_zps116ce5a4.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/BigShooter86/media/E36/017_zps116ce5a4.jpg.html)

I can't wait until spring to give it a proper polish and get off all the residue from sitting in Japan for so many years.

I need some daytime running lights and sidemarker lights to pass safety inspection, as well as a third brake light, so I installed some LED strips. Turned out pretty well IMO.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a51/BigShooter86/E36/026_zps91a419c7.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/BigShooter86/media/E36/026_zps91a419c7.jpg.html)

I also had an ABS light which required me having to disassemble the ABS pump and replace the electrical ribbon inside with 16 ga. wires as it must have degraded over time. Kind of a pain in the ass, but if that's the worst of my problems, I'm laughing. So far, this car is easily the most pristine I've ever owned (only 44,000 km on it), and drives like an absolute dream. I was also pleased to discover it came equipped with Bilstein Racing Dynamics struts and springs, a strut tower bar, and stainless braided brake lines. And a fully upgraded stereo system! Aside from a few little quirks here and there, I am absolutely in love with my new daily driver.

I also got lucky in that it came with all of the keys for the center caps! (Albeit, 3 different ones which is kind of inconvenient) As far as I can tell, these appear to be legitimate Alpina wheels. They have Alpina part numbers engraved and everything.

Scooter, I contemplated selling my JZX81 to buy a stock-ish 5 speed JZX100 to use as a drift beater. They actually aren't all that expensive, you just have to know where to look. I've purchased my cars through a number of different exporters over the years. I got this E36 through JPC Trade, and needless to say I won't be dealing with them again. Totally incompetent service. But yes, I got into it before it really became a big thing, probably around 2004 is when I imported my first car.

[Lord Vader]

Awesome pictures!! Almost to hard to believe its a replica!

As for the DRL's, under the steering column is where the DRL relay plugs in. I have an extra DRL relay from an E36 sedan I parted out. If yours has the plug (I believe they all should) I can sell you the relay. The guy who owned the E36 Touring here in Calgary had a shop do some wierd hack job wiring setup in the fuse box and I thought it looked terrible. I rather see someone do it properly.

[Big Shooter]

Thanks! I feel like a bit of a poser driving it, but it's probably the closest I will get to owning a genuine Alpina until I'm done school. And also, I don't care. I love it.

Hmm that's interesting. I have my doubts as to whether the socket would actually be there though. I already found out that there is no OBD port under the dash (only in the engine bay) which seems unusual to me. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if there was no provision for the DRL relay. I'm happy with the LED's anyways, and believe I did a good job of wiring them in (if you couldn't tell by looking at my Toyota, I am a firm believer in doing things the right way and absolutely despise corner-cutting).

Next time I'm under the dash I'll have a peek.

[Scooter]

No, it doesn't work. I assumed it would be there for my car, so I bought the relay and the two wires only to find out it didn't have the plug for it. I guess it's just a North American thing to have the plug.

Great looking car though Bigshooter. It sound like the previous owner loved it just as much as you do :)

You're not the first person I've heard complain about JPC Trade. Have you had any other deals with them? I know of an exporter that had a partnership with them where things didn't go well as well.

[Lord Vader]

Don't worry Big Shooter, your a lot closer to owning a real Alpina then I am lol.

I know all Canadian and US E36's have the socket for the relay. Theirs lots of US guys wanting the relays so they can have DRL's. Some US guys will pay up to $80 for the relay from what I have seen. I guess in Japan DRL's are not mandatory?

[jrsmitchell]

The car looks great!

On my B3 the fog lights were wired to be "always on", I assume as a cheap fix for the DRL issue when importing. I look forward to coming across those wires one day so I can remove them :D

Anyone have a link to info on the DRL relay socket so I can see if my car has it?

For the side marker light I replaced the bulb socket in the corner light with the North American 3 wire variety so they were always on with the lights. That was acceptable for the Ontario safety cert.

[Lord Vader]

Anyone have a link to info on the DRL relay socket so I can see if my car has it?



The DRL Module is a blue relay underneath the steering column. This link contains a picture of where it can usually be found:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=708365

[Badge]

Hey Big Shooter - I think I saw this in Regina late last year or early this year. Can't recall. I was pretty confused at the time at why someone went through all the work but now I get it.

I'm in Regina and have a B3 3.0. If you're ever interested in getting the real thing or just checking it out, feel free to reach out.

[bimmerfan]

damn, never thought I will see an oldskool jdm dorifto weapon, mark 2 x81, I love those cars so much if I had a chance to find something like this for a cheaper price, I'd definitely buy it