Discussion
The Rotrex Kid said:
Looks great mark, it’s interesting how these have aged, I remember thinking they looked a bit naff but they actually look really good now. That black one in penryn has got me doing man maths!!
I really like them. Especially lowered a bit on some wider rims. The only negative are those Rover headlights but there are wings available now that will work with coupe bumper, slam panel etc. Ordered a few parts today. New wheel speed sensors, AC Schnitzer lowering springs, adjustable drop links, lower wishbones and track rod ends. I'm also considering M3 lollipops and strut top mounts but wanted to make sure that they'll fit? I read that you need to swap sides and rotate them one bolt hole but as I've never done it myself I figured it's best to check first. I was also wondering if I should fit a pair of rear camber arms? Mind you, having checked the weather forecast it might be a while till I'm able to fit them!
If anyone has any advice re basic steering / suspension upgrades using the BMW parts bin please chime in.
If anyone has any advice re basic steering / suspension upgrades using the BMW parts bin please chime in.
Mark-insert old BMW said:
Well the rain has stopped so I'm going to see if I can change the springs before it starts again.
Have been looking at rear spoilers for the E46 Compact but there's never been much available. I do like this from Lumma but with fitting and painting it'll be around £400!
It does look good though.... Have been looking at rear spoilers for the E46 Compact but there's never been much available. I do like this from Lumma but with fitting and painting it'll be around £400!
Court_S said:
The little compact is looking grand. It’s nice to see one being saved rather than turned into a track slag.
I know the aesthetics were pillared at the time, but I think time has been quite kind too the sport variants.
^^ that's a bit harsh Sam.....when they were originally designed they obviously had ulterior motives with the spec but the bean counters must have said "no" to anythingbigger than a 2.5. My shared 325ti is probably better looked after/maintained than most BMWs of its age BTW I know the aesthetics were pillared at the time, but I think time has been quite kind too the sport variants.
MrC986 said:
^^ that's a bit harsh Sam.....when they were originally designed they obviously had ulterior motives with the spec but the bean counters must have said "no" to anythingbigger than a 2.5. My shared 325ti is probably better looked after/maintained than most BMWs of its age BTW
I’ve got a soft spot for them having had a 325ti a while ago for which I got no end of stick for. I thought my 2.5 sounded sweeter than my mates 330i.A lot are now getting gutted and turned into track slags though, much like the E36 328’s were at one point.
I actually prefer mine over my old E46 M3. Were money no object I'd put an S54 in there, or possibly supercharge the 2.5 instead. I'm going to swap out the black leather for red and bit the Lumma rear wing, with the final thing being the swap to a regular E46 front end.
This fooled me for a moment...
This fooled me for a moment...
Court_S said:
MrC986 said:
^^ that's a bit harsh Sam.....when they were originally designed they obviously had ulterior motives with the spec but the bean counters must have said "no" to anythingbigger than a 2.5. My shared 325ti is probably better looked after/maintained than most BMWs of its age BTW
I’ve got a soft spot for them having had a 325ti a while ago for which I got no end of stick for. I thought my 2.5 sounded sweeter than my mates 330i.A lot are now getting gutted and turned into track slags though, much like the E36 328’s were at one point.
I remember one of the F1 drivers at the time trying Top Gear mag’s long termer and liking the sound too
Mine sounds exactly like an E30 325i with a full Supersprint exhaust. I've had 2 or 3 people at petrol stations tell me how good it sounds.
This is my ideal version though. I'm not sure if Adam posts here anymore though.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
This is my ideal version though. I'm not sure if Adam posts here anymore though.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
s m said:
I’d agree with you re the sound Sam - had a 330 and think the 325ti sounds nicer
I remember one of the F1 drivers at the time trying Top Gear mag’s long termer and liking the sound too
I loved the noise mine made, even on the stock exhaust. Other than the clear lights, it looks pretty good too. I remember one of the F1 drivers at the time trying Top Gear mag’s long termer and liking the sound too
I've really been enjoying using mine over the past few days. The suspension has improved things and although lowered, there have been no clearance issues or grounding over speed humps and the like. I really like how it sits now but that's purely subjective I know.
The LSD conversion kit arrived from Racing Diffs yesterday, so am searching for a diff to have converted.
Given that the exhaust is totally stock it sounds lovely. A proper six cylinder noise with some subtle pops on overrun. I did toy with the idea of an aftermarket back box or removing the resonator but it really doesn't need it.
I'm gradually removing many of the mods done by previous owners and the LED sidelight bulbs are next for the bin. They trigger the warning dash lights and once sorted it'll only be the airbag light remaining. I have a resistor to wire in for that but am waiting for a quick release steering boss to arrive. I have a weakness in my legs and removing the steering wheel makes it so much easier for me to get in/out of the car.
There are a few minor parking dings and scratches I would like to deal with but I'll wait till spring for that. I'd quite like to fit a coupe front end and M3 bonnet so might do that at the same time. I need to find a supplier for the modified front wings first though. I found some in mainland Europe but they won't ship to the UK.
The LSD conversion kit arrived from Racing Diffs yesterday, so am searching for a diff to have converted.
Given that the exhaust is totally stock it sounds lovely. A proper six cylinder noise with some subtle pops on overrun. I did toy with the idea of an aftermarket back box or removing the resonator but it really doesn't need it.
I'm gradually removing many of the mods done by previous owners and the LED sidelight bulbs are next for the bin. They trigger the warning dash lights and once sorted it'll only be the airbag light remaining. I have a resistor to wire in for that but am waiting for a quick release steering boss to arrive. I have a weakness in my legs and removing the steering wheel makes it so much easier for me to get in/out of the car.
There are a few minor parking dings and scratches I would like to deal with but I'll wait till spring for that. I'd quite like to fit a coupe front end and M3 bonnet so might do that at the same time. I need to find a supplier for the modified front wings first though. I found some in mainland Europe but they won't ship to the UK.
Edited by Mark-insert old BMW on Tuesday 24th October 12:13
Hi Mark,
The car is looking good!
I had a fair go with one of these a few years back and ended up with a pretty well rounded car, I've forgotten more than I remember about the work I did now but i found the for sale ad for the car which refreshed my memory somewhat! If you have any questions on any of the upgrades let me know, albeit there was nothing ground breaking, but added up it was a hell of a difference over standard.
Koni STRT shocks and H&R springs all round
Meyle front top mounts
Rogue Engineering rear top mounts with new bushes
New rear spring pads
New Meyle alloy lower arms with new ball joints
New Meyle inner and outer track rod ends with gen BMW gaiters and clips
E9X M3 engine mounts new from BMW
Rogue Engineering gearbox mounts
Rogue Engineering clutch and brake pedal bushings
CDV delete with HEL braided clutch line
Meyle propshaft donut
Meyle prop centre bearing
Front anti roll bar rebuilt with adjustable droplinks, powerflex bushes and new brackets
Rear anti roll bar rebuilt with Meyle droplinks, powerflex bushes and new brackets
Fully polybushed diff carrier
Powerflex front wishbone brackets
Powerflex rear trailing arm bushes
Powerflex adjustable rear camber arms
Rear hubs fitted with Meyle ball joints top and bottom (as per E46 M3)
330 Clubsport weighted gearnob
Brembo High Carbon discs and Brembo pads all round
Hel braided front brake hoses
BMW E92 staggered wheels 17 x 8 front and 17 x 8.5 rear
Michelin PS4 tyres in original sizes all round
The car is looking good!
I had a fair go with one of these a few years back and ended up with a pretty well rounded car, I've forgotten more than I remember about the work I did now but i found the for sale ad for the car which refreshed my memory somewhat! If you have any questions on any of the upgrades let me know, albeit there was nothing ground breaking, but added up it was a hell of a difference over standard.
Koni STRT shocks and H&R springs all round
Meyle front top mounts
Rogue Engineering rear top mounts with new bushes
New rear spring pads
New Meyle alloy lower arms with new ball joints
New Meyle inner and outer track rod ends with gen BMW gaiters and clips
E9X M3 engine mounts new from BMW
Rogue Engineering gearbox mounts
Rogue Engineering clutch and brake pedal bushings
CDV delete with HEL braided clutch line
Meyle propshaft donut
Meyle prop centre bearing
Front anti roll bar rebuilt with adjustable droplinks, powerflex bushes and new brackets
Rear anti roll bar rebuilt with Meyle droplinks, powerflex bushes and new brackets
Fully polybushed diff carrier
Powerflex front wishbone brackets
Powerflex rear trailing arm bushes
Powerflex adjustable rear camber arms
Rear hubs fitted with Meyle ball joints top and bottom (as per E46 M3)
330 Clubsport weighted gearnob
Brembo High Carbon discs and Brembo pads all round
Hel braided front brake hoses
BMW E92 staggered wheels 17 x 8 front and 17 x 8.5 rear
Michelin PS4 tyres in original sizes all round
daniel-5zjw7 said:
Hi Mark,
The car is looking good!
I had a fair go with one of these a few years back and ended up with a pretty well rounded car, I've forgotten more than I remember about the work I did now but i found the for sale ad for the car which refreshed my memory somewhat! If you have any questions on any of the upgrades let me know, albeit there was nothing ground breaking, but added up it was a hell of a difference over standard.
Koni STRT shocks and H&R springs all round
Meyle front top mounts
Rogue Engineering rear top mounts with new bushes
New rear spring pads
New Meyle alloy lower arms with new ball joints
New Meyle inner and outer track rod ends with gen BMW gaiters and clips
E9X M3 engine mounts new from BMW
Rogue Engineering gearbox mounts
Rogue Engineering clutch and brake pedal bushings
CDV delete with HEL braided clutch line
Meyle propshaft donut
Meyle prop centre bearing
Front anti roll bar rebuilt with adjustable droplinks, powerflex bushes and new brackets
Rear anti roll bar rebuilt with Meyle droplinks, powerflex bushes and new brackets
Fully polybushed diff carrier
Powerflex front wishbone brackets
Powerflex rear trailing arm bushes
Powerflex adjustable rear camber arms
Rear hubs fitted with Meyle ball joints top and bottom (as per E46 M3)
330 Clubsport weighted gearnob
Brembo High Carbon discs and Brembo pads all round
Hel braided front brake hoses
BMW E92 staggered wheels 17 x 8 front and 17 x 8.5 rear
Michelin PS4 tyres in original sizes all round
Hi and thanks for this. I've got all new arms, top mounts etc coming from Meyle once they're back in stock but definitely keen to upgrade to M3 spec stuff wherever possible so if you can elaborate on that it would be a huge help. I'm on the lookout for some used rear camber arms as I'm on a really really tight budget. ( Parts donations welcome! The car is looking good!
I had a fair go with one of these a few years back and ended up with a pretty well rounded car, I've forgotten more than I remember about the work I did now but i found the for sale ad for the car which refreshed my memory somewhat! If you have any questions on any of the upgrades let me know, albeit there was nothing ground breaking, but added up it was a hell of a difference over standard.
Koni STRT shocks and H&R springs all round
Meyle front top mounts
Rogue Engineering rear top mounts with new bushes
New rear spring pads
New Meyle alloy lower arms with new ball joints
New Meyle inner and outer track rod ends with gen BMW gaiters and clips
E9X M3 engine mounts new from BMW
Rogue Engineering gearbox mounts
Rogue Engineering clutch and brake pedal bushings
CDV delete with HEL braided clutch line
Meyle propshaft donut
Meyle prop centre bearing
Front anti roll bar rebuilt with adjustable droplinks, powerflex bushes and new brackets
Rear anti roll bar rebuilt with Meyle droplinks, powerflex bushes and new brackets
Fully polybushed diff carrier
Powerflex front wishbone brackets
Powerflex rear trailing arm bushes
Powerflex adjustable rear camber arms
Rear hubs fitted with Meyle ball joints top and bottom (as per E46 M3)
330 Clubsport weighted gearnob
Brembo High Carbon discs and Brembo pads all round
Hel braided front brake hoses
BMW E92 staggered wheels 17 x 8 front and 17 x 8.5 rear
Michelin PS4 tyres in original sizes all round
)I'd really have liked to fit a Samsona shifter, as I had one in my E30 M3 and it transformed how the shift felt. Especially the dog leg first to second shift. That said, the stainless gear knob from Storm is really nice to use. Mind you, in the depths of winter that stainless can feel pretty cold and uncomfortable.
I've only just replaced all the discs and pads as they were in the boot when I bought the car, but hopefully I can get some braided lines and Hawk PB pads on the front come spring next year. I had them in both the E46 and E30 M3 and they're great from cold and easily cope with occasional track or speed event use. I want a braided clutch flexi too, so plan on doing that at the same time.
Although my E46 M3 was very nice, with some lovely bits such as the carbon airbox, I just never jelled with it. I'm no next level driver anyway but with the limits of performance being so high I just never felt able to enjoy it. Whereas my E30 was just so much fun and the performance far more accessible, if that makes any sense? It was the same with the E92 M3 (as the E46) where any mistake would mean paying a far higher price, as you'd be going that much faster. The Compact though, just feels way more like the E30 M3 and is just a lot of fun at much lower speeds. I enjoy driving it just for the sake of driving.
Anyway, any pointers you can give re fitting M3 upgrades would be much appreciated. That said, I'm conscious of not making too many changes as I don't want to lose that fun factor, which I prefer over outright performance.
Mark
Edited by Mark-insert old BMW on Thursday 26th October 17:27
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