ECS News

Massive rotors, multiple-piston brakes, and advanced pads are glamorous, eye-catching upgrades to your vehicle. But experienced enthusiasts know that all that stopping power relies on adequately bled brake lines. Your brake fluid is incompressible, like a metal; but air is compressible, so ridding your lines of this gas is imperative for fully realized braking power and response. ECS has an array of solutions to tighten up your braking system, including a Power Brake Bleeder, multiple synthetic Brake Fluid options, and a premium Schwaben Brake Bleeder Wrench.

The average home mechanic might not even realize the benefit of having a sturdy, hand-height shelf to place tools on in the heat of a project. Instead of carelessly leaving tools on the ground or mixed up in a pile, Schwaben Service Carts bring the professionalism of a reliable mechanic's cart to your own garage. Three series of carts are offered, each featuring a stunning, durable high-gloss powder-coated finish, chrome plated steel handles, and large 4" casters. Heavy-duty Deluxe units are also available, with a third product adding a locking top lid and drawer.

Within the wishbone suspension design, camber and caster are specified by the wishbones, while toe-in is secured by the trailing arm. Bushings support the trailing arms, securing them to the chassis. Over time, the trailing arm bushings wear down, leaving toe-in under-regulated and suspension geometry altered. Every facet of handling performance is harmed, making the driving experience unpredictable and imprecise. A clever and simple solution to trailing arm deflection is the ECS Trailing Arm Bushing Limiter Set, a brilliant investment for all E36 3 Series owners.

Make it right. Get it tight. ECS has parts and kits to repair or restore your E36 suspension and steering. Choose from individual bushings, control arm assemblies with factory-installed ball joints, tie rod ends and stabilizer links, or packaged suspension kits in three stages. Fix front. Fix rear. Fix it all with a complete suspension refresh kit. Pick packages priced to match your budget, from OEM to ECS tuning aftermarket kits Make your E36 go where you aim it.

There are tools that any serious technician will regard as essential to their work - tools that make so many projects faster and simpler that access to a quality set is critical. Schwaben Specialty Tools recognized the need for better designed, more fully-featured puller tool kits; this variety of tool is so frequently used across such a wide variety of projects, mechanics deserve the best engineered product possible. Schwaben Pry Bar and Twin-Arm Puller Kits are highly adjustable, exceptionally durable sets of some of the most versatile tools in any home or professional garage.

If you care enough to service your BMW regularly, you demand premium oil and filters. We appreciate your high standards. That's why we've packaged a pair of service kits for M52/54 engines with everything you need to perform a professional quality oil change maintenance. Start with a MANN premium filter cartridge and BMW brand synthetic oil. Then add a new stock drain plug and washer, or move up to the added protection of an ECS magnetic drain plug. Be prepared in advance; order before your next change is due.

Wheel Hubs are one of the most crucial components of your BMW's suspension. The wheel hubs are used to support the wheel on the axle shaft and spin with very little friction. Wheel bearings within the hub should rotate freely as the car travels down the road. Problems with wheel bearings arise from wear, which can be caused by a variety of factors. Symptoms of a bad bearing are noisy rubbing as the car is driven and that usually gets louder as speeds increase. If you are having these issues, and dont have a press, ECS offers are complete hubs.

Replacing cooling system components and performing a proper coolant flush will ensure a long life for your cooling system. Most of the cooling system components are exposed to very high temperatures and repeated thermal cycling. Heat-hardening causes warping and cracking that leads to coolant loss and possible engine damage from overheating. Avoid headaches altogether and replace all problematic items at once to keep your cooling system running efficiently.

The primary appeal of new wheels is in the new, shiny appearance they offer. The majority of the time, a different style, size, or color isn't really the ultimate goal. With such a deep catalog of staggeringly effective wheel cleaning and restoration products from specialists Sonax and Chemical Guys, getting what you really want from your wheel setup is fast and easy - and it's all available now from ECS. Acid-free and pH balanced rim and wheel cleaners effortlessly dissolve grease, brake dust and dirt, while safely preserving your wheel's finish.

KW V-Series Coilovers have been engineered to perfectly suit the BMW E36 318/323/325/328 chassis, while allowing the driver the flexibility to choose a variety of damping, rebound, and ride height adjustments. KW "inox-line" coilovers feature stainless steel technology that is superior to galvanizing, better resisting corrosion while maintaining smooth operation over the long term. V-Series coilovers also utilize trapezoidal threading to facilitate height-adjustment and increase load tolerance. Three kit levels are available to suit your particular tuning needs.

A frequent dilemma when fitting an upgraded seat belt to track-prepared street cars is how to balance the needs of daily driving with the demands of performance driving. A dedicated track-day setup is typically impractical, while running without a substantial harness forces the driver to use the steering wheel to hold themselves in place. Schroth Racing Quick Fit Harnesses are fully reversible and anchor to the factory seat belt pre-tensioner, allowing the airbags to deploy as the BMW engineers intended. Both left (driver) and right (passenger) harnesses are available.

Schwaben products are characterized by simple, clever designs. Their wheel storage solutions may be the best examples of these qualities. The Schwaben Wheel Tree holds up to 275lbs and allows you to safely stack your wheels without the risk of scuffing and scratching. Convenient locking casters allow you to easily move the whole set anywhere in your garage or shop at one time. And when saving floor space is the highest priority, the Schwaben Wall-Mounted Wheel Rack allows you to securely store up to four 11½" wide wheels and tires against the wall, away from your work space.

Say goodbye to damaged rocker panels, floor pans, and paint. Worry no more about jack clearance or the need to use ramps to lift your lowered vehicle. Introducing the new and improved Schwaben Rocker Jack Pad Adapter. Specially designed to be stronger than alternatives on the market, this jack pad adapter makes the vehicle lifting procedure faster, safer, and easier than ever before. Simply remove the rocker jack point access plug, fully insert the Schwaben Jack Pad Adapter, and lift securely using your hydraulic floor jack.

No more Mister Nice Guy. Fire your under-achieving stock pump and replace it with a High Performance water pump from EMP Stewart. This is the pump your BMW should have had from day one. Designed for performance and durability, EMP decided to do it right the first time, increasing flow a full 20 percent over stock, while reducing parasitic draw with a highly efficient stainless steel impeller. Add a heavy-duty bearing and high quality water seal, and you have a pump durable enough for daily driving; tough enough for the track.

ECS Black Out Grille Sets are distinguished by their full matte black ABS plastic construction. This design means that any chips or scratches on the grille will not reveal a while surface underneath black paint, as the parts are integrally black. Engineered to exact OEM dimensions for precise fitment into the BMW E36 3 series, these grilles are available in a carbon fiber-look, gloss black, or matte black finish.

Avoid finding yourself without a key trim fastener - stock up for good with the Vaico BMW/MINI Fastener Assortment Kit. Designed with the DIY enthusiast or body shop in mind, this assortment comes stocked with clips for fender liners, interior trim, and body mouldings, all in a convenient storage case.

This set of Alzor Style 020 wheels will not only change the look of your vehicle, but also capture the attention of others. The split spoke design will give your car a sleek appearance that will keep people looking as you pass. Designed to bolt right up to your car, these wheels fit without any modifications or hassle. Of course, if you want to achieve an extreme look, don't forget to check out our large assortment of ECS Tuning wheel spacers and lug bolts.

The E36 has a hard time keeping fog lights from getting cracked or broken mostly from road debris due to their low to the ground location. Why just replace your fog lights when you can get that European look with Ziza yellow lens fog lamps. This is a popular look desired by many BMW enthusiasts, now available from ECS Tuning.

Quit fussing with wood blocks, ramps, and the like with the Schwaben Low Boy floor jack. The Low Boy is low-profile, allowing you to sneak it under the ground-hugging rockers on your lowered car. Constructed of lightweight aluminum, this floor jack features a front central roller for increased ease of use and maneuverability. If you work on your car, you'll be doing some lifting. Get the right equipment with the Schwaben Low Boy floor jack, a great compliment to the other Schwaben tools in your arsenal. Atta' Boy.

The E36 3 series features highly individualized design elements that make successfully complementing the vehicle with aftermarket wheels a serious challenge. Alzor Style 010 wheels features a split-spoke mesh design that accentuates rather than distracts from the BMW's natural steel musculature. Staggered and square sets of four 18" wheels are available with 2" or 2.5" lips, and include 72.6mm hubcentric rings to ensure vibration-free fitment on your vehicle. The included convenient threaded center cap perfectly matches the wheel design.

Fresh coolant is paramount to safe & reliable engine operation. Unfortunately, the process of bleeding air out of your cooling system during a coolant refresh is tedious and therefore often neglected. ECS offers a highly convenient solution to the tedium & frustration associated with a coolant servicing – the Schwaben Coolant Evacuation Kit. The unique kit resolves several common cooling system issues: - No heat, overheating, or erratic temperature gauge readings after a cooling system service - Problems with coolant uptake or circulation - Cooling system leaks

Whenever experiencing problems maintaining a steady idle speed, the first part to check is the idle control valve. This part allows a small amount of air around your shut throttle body, keeping your engine running at a steady rpm. When the part becomes worn or fails, rough idling or frequent stalling is probable. ECS offers genuine OEM, Vemo and Bosch Idle Control Valves - each a high quality, direct-fit replacement for the factory supplied unit.

Why a strut nut socket? To secure shocks and struts to their mounts, the retaining nut must be torqued to its proper specification with the use of a torque wrench. Strut nut sockets allow for the use of an Allen wrench to hold the damper shaft while utilizing a torque wrench on the socket to achieve proper torque. Schwaben, a company known for exceptionally crafted specialty tools, now offers 18mm, 19mm, 21mm, 22mm, and 24mm Strut Nut Sockets for your own suspension project. A superb addition to any home mechanic's tool arsenal, this latest Schwaben release is built to last.

For years, ECS Tuning has been your trusted source for original, aftermarket, and performance parts for your European car. Our team of enthusiasts have worked hard to build the best catalog in the industry, providing you with the knowledge and expertise to keep your car looking, sounding, and performing great year after year.

The specialty tool experts at Schwaben have released a series of superbly engineered, exceptionally reliable car ramps, ramp extensions, wheel stands, & wheel chocks - now available from ECS tuning. 30" to 67" Low Profile Car Ramps are specially made to accommodate vehicles with low bumper clearance, eliminating the risk of body damage & sliding ramps. Schwaben Wheel Stands feature a cradled wheel support for superior stability compared to jack stands, supporting up to 3000 lbs. And when lifting your vehicle or placing it on an incline, Wheel Chocks are a wise investment.

For the E36 M models, BMW Motorsport chose to make a discreet, tasteful departure from the existing 3-Series' appearance. One area they wisely decided to address was the side moulding - unnecessarily thick and bulky, the M3's svelte, race-oriented styling deserved a slimmed down version. A Genuine OEM ///M Side Moulding replacement is one of the simplest and most significant aesthetic enhancements possible for the E36, bringing the Motorsport look to your BMW while eliminating signs of sun discoloration and scuffing.

Take a second to check out the impressive E36 3 series Shifter Components available from ECS. Whether you're concerned with improving shifting performance or hoping to bring a fresh design element to your interior, it's highly likely you'll find the perfect addition in our catalog. Ultra-rare ZHP, M-Technic, and genuine BMW Performance parts can be found amongst OEM and ECS Shifter Rebuild Kits and Shift Boot replacements. Automatic transmissions are served as well, with a selection of aftermarket and OEM Gear Selectors.

Whenever pushing your car past the factory-designated limits of operation, whether it be through hard driving or performance modifications, adequate engine cooling should always be a high concern. In fact, improving performance by increasing engine work is only possible when engine temperatures are kept within a reasonable range. The Mishimoto Performance Radiator is capable of a 35% increase in cooling capacity due to a fully-brazed, two-row aluminum core that's 25% thicker than stock. The direct-fit radiator also uses CNC-machined quick-disconnect fittings for perfect fitment.

Want to do something bold? Bodacious, even? Check out this line of 3M Scotchprint films. Add texture and style to interior and exterior surfaces by applying these durable adhesive backed films to body panels or trim. Want variety? Channel Darth Vader with gloss black or carbon fiber, or go sci-fi-starship with brushed aluminum or titanium. Buy rolls five feet wide in lengths from one to 20 feet. Hi-tech look. Low tech installation. User friendly and easy to apply using simple tools, 3M 1080 film lets anyone get professional results on the first try.

Throughout the project of upgrading or replacing factory coilovers, rusted & seized bolts will be damaged during suspension removal, while strut mounts & reinforcement plates will be found corroded, worn & of no use. The wisest approach when attempting the project is to invest in a thorough Cup Kit/Coilover Installation Kit - The ECS Kit includes OEM BMW rear shock mount bolts, camber correction bolt, hex bolt w/ washer, & self locking nut, pad wear sensor bracket, self locking hex nut, ECS rear reinforcement plate, Elring shock mount gasket, & Vaico upper and rear strut mounts.