E46 M3 Project

[mwstewart]

_Batty_ said:

any reason for the Supersprint exhaust?
I've an Eisenmann, and it sounds superb. Not too droney or too ASBO, but with plenty of pops and bangs.

The R&D they put in and the results. Some good reading: http://supersprintlabs.com/portfolio/taking-a-look...

A genuine 20bhp is possible with the SS V1 stepped manifolds, metallic cats, and centre section. The best bit for me is that the additional power can be gained without a significant increase in drone or noise overall, depending on back box choice - which doesn't affect power output on the M3.

SS ofer 'street', 'sport', 'race' back boxes, but I'm going with an OEM CSL back box as it's more in line with what I'm after.

[mwstewart]

All, I am looking for another E46 M3 Coupe. The criteria are:

- Immaculate
- Under 20k miles
- Ideally Silver Grey, but I will consider other colours.

I am aware of two cars on Autotrader: a Titanium Silver manual for sale by Hexagon, which I consider to be 3k over priced, and an Individual orange car which reputably has undergone a lot of repair work.

Cash is waiting for the right car and any leads are appreciated.

[mwstewart]

I like my current one so much that I want another to keep perfect and ultra low mileage.

The new generation of Turbo M cars don't do it for me.

[mwstewart]

richtea78 said:

Is there any news on the Fiesta front?

I am working on it today Just stopped for a pub lunch and quick search for M3's

[mwstewart]

ATM said:

Orange one: That's a pity because I was thinking of going for a look. How definite is this info?

It's an account from someone who already went to look. It's had replacement panels and even the roof has been repainted.

[mwstewart]

Not much has happened with the M3. I spoke to Hexagon about the Silver car they have in stock and they are willing to negotiate, but I am torn. I have a real hankering for something Italian and bright red at the moment so it's seeming more sensible to keep with my M3 and add to the savings fund rather than sink quite a bit more into the same type of car just to get one with 11k less miles. I have bought some more bits, though.

Supersprint V1 'Stepped' manifolds. These are oversized and make the most power of any non-race manifolds I've seen for the S54 engine. This version supposedly doesn't fit RHD cars - for what reason I don't know - so I've bought some stainless filler rods for my TIG welder in anticipation.


I sold the GSR Airbox earlier this year. It is perfectly OK but not really up to the standard of my showroom standard car. In its place is a Karbonius Composites CSL airbox which is within 90% of OEM quality and a near perfect match - save for a black band near the snorkel and satin black fixings, both easily rectified - plus less than half the price some people advertise OEM boxes for.

[mwstewart]

olly22n said:

I don't know for sure, but would guess the steering coloum will get in the way.

I have a feeling it's just the flexible 'guibo' which is around 70mm in diameter, compared to the 25mm shaft itself. If it is just that it's not a problem as I have already converted to a solid steering shaft to improve feel. There are no LHD/RHD specific manifolds from the factory so if it's not the guibo I don't expect to have to do anything too serious - famous last words

alclark said:

Very interested to see the results of the manifolds.

I also had a hankering for some Italian metal but the prices of the amount
in: amount returned on modifying 46 M3's at the moment is so bad I'm keeping mine!

An E46 M3 is going to remain with me whatever happens. I think they will become ever more interesting as time goes by

The Superprint manifolds with section 1 and 2 add at least 20bhp, and there are gains throughout the rev range not just at the top. Incredible really. I am going to add the airbox, ECU, SS exhaust, and change the final drive ratio to 3.91:1. Given standard cars never make anywhere near 343, more like 325, the 370ish I'll end up with should transform the car.

Here is some info on the Supersprint: http://supersprintlabs.com/portfolio/taking-a-look... it was found that changing the OEM back box doesn't add any power but obviously there are big weight savings to be had by ditching it. Personally I have a CSL version of the standard box to keep the sound near OEM.

[mwstewart]

Thanks both.

Nick, I should have just that. I kept a spreadsheet with descriptions and prices to make it easier when ordering from BMW. Give me the rest of the week and I'll dig it out.

[mwstewart]

Captainawesome said:

Lovely build. I bought my M3 with the same mies at nearly the same time as you (The one from Buckingham High Performance). Just wondering how you are managing to order genuine CSL parts?? My local BMW place was having none of it and wanted to see a V5 in my name before they would order anything for me.

Thank you. I remember your car with the Imola interior, and I also remember you bought a supercharged E46 in addition. How are you getting on with that?

I had a contact for CSL parts but it's become near impossible to get them now.

[mwstewart]

HairyChineseKid said:

Hi Mark,

Love the car, really like how you've gone for OEM CSL suspension over other stuff

Just wondered offhand if you had like a previous order or something of all the part numbers i'd need to replace the suspension on my e46 m3 to CSL.

Cheers

Nick

Nick, I found the list in my email:

CSL Front suspension
2 x 31332282631 (Front spring with air con)
1 x 31312282505 (Front strut left)
1 x 31312282505 (Front strut right)
2 x 31332283038 (Front Support)
2 x 31332282508 (Front Additional damper

CSL/Z4M Rear ARB
2 x 33556780707 (STABILIZER SUPPORT/ARB brackets)
4 x 07119904295 (Self-locking collar nut - ARB bracket nuts)
2 x 33552283743 (Stabilizer link - ARB links)
2 x 07119903076 (top link mount bolt)
2 x 07129964655 (Self-locking hex nut / top mount link nut)

CSL Rear Suspension Struts
2 x 33531136387 (Spring Pad 10MM2)
2 x 51718413359 (Reinforcement plate)
2 x 33522282507 (Rear CSL Shocks)
2 x 07119900402 (Rear shock lower bolts)
2 x 33532282509 (Additional damper, rear)
2 x 33532282503 (Rubber adapter with disc)
2 x 33526772864 (WASHER-GASKET / strut top gasket)
4 x 07119905374 (strut mount top nuts)
2 x 33526773882 (strut piston top nut)

CSL Rear Suspension Arms
2 x 33322283074 (CSL rear arms)
2 x 33171090824 (Hex Bolt with washer / inner bolt)
2 x 33326760364 (Lock plate / inner bolt lock)
2 x 33321095102 (ECCENTRIC BOLT / outer camber bolt)
2 x 33306786186 (ECCENTRIC flat washer / outer camber washer)
2 x 33326760668 (Self-locking collar nut / outer lock nut)

Cost is somewhere in the region of £1500 so similar to a set of coilovers. I didn't buy the front ARB new as it's $400 +VAT on it's own. It makes more sense to source second hand.

[mwstewart]

LanceRS said:

I definitely remember reading somewhere that it's a problem with clearing the steering on RHD cars. Although I am sure that in the same article said the Supersprint did make a RHD version.

Makes sense, though I've also read that the V1 does actually fit straight on to some RHD cars. The version that is sold for LHD & RHD is called the V2 but is around 5bhp down on the V1 that I've gone for.

[mwstewart]

Cheers.

[mwstewart]

Nick, the bump stops do come into play so occasionally it is well worth fitting everything as a package. The roll bars can come later, though.

You could try to find a CSL owner who has gone to coilovers and is willing to sell the standard suspension complete.

Cheers,
Mark

[mwstewart]

Today I left a deposit on another E46 M3. It will be delivered by the dealer on Friday 28th.

It's been a while since I was this excited about a car.

More info when it arrives

[mwstewart]

The white M3...the price

[mwstewart]

dom9 said:

This! There are cheaper M3 CSLs!

I'm interested to hear about what you've bought and see some pictures.

I'm guessing it's low mileage and will be kept that way?

It is very low mileage, and will only see occasional summer use. The other one will be modified and used

[mwstewart]

ATM said:

This one looks nice

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

Agreed! Beautiful example.

[mwstewart]

The aforementioned deal fell through. I have my deposit back but do now feel a bit of a prat for posting the news! C'est la vie Although I was really disappointed at first, on reflection the car would have been an ornament unless I was prepared to take a big financial hit as the mileage went into the high teens/twenties, so I'm now looking at a completely different car altogether which I will get more enjoyment from. Every cloud has a silver lining and all that!

So back to the silver M3: I now have a CSL bumper. The splitters aren't in fantastic condition but I know of a company in Spain who make perfect replicas for a modest price, so I shall order a set of those.


The air intake. The part that so many replica bumpers get entirely wrong.


Now that I'm keeping the silver car I can plough on with the remaining modifications. I'm visiting a local paint shop this evening for a quote, so hopefully all the CSL body parts will be painted fairly soon.

[mwstewart]

You're both absolutely right. Whatever I buy next will be 'ready made' () and something I can just jump in and enjoy.

I still love working on the projects but really wouldn't have time for another at the moment, though the M3 isn't far off once the body parts have been painted.

[mwstewart]

Front Bumper
The CSL bumper mounts using shock absorbers from the -ironically named - pre-lightweight bumper mounting system fitted to '01-'02 E46's. Standard E46's in this age range had an aluminium carrier 'crash bar' inside the bumper which is replaced on the CSL bumper by an integrated carbon structure.

Here are the shock absorbers I bought to mount the CSL bumper:


Standard M3's post '02 were fitted with a single piece (bonded) kevlar carrier that BMW term the 'lightweight bumper' (which I guess makes the CSL system the ultra lightweight bumper), which replaces the early shock absorber and carrier arrangement. Here are some photos of my car with its bumper removed.


Packing is wonderful.


The lightweight bumper has foam moulded to its reverse with small sockets which push over studs screwed into the kevlar carrier.


Here's the CSL bumper fitted and perfectly adjusted:




CSL Boot Lid & Diffuser
The CSL does not have a tailgate release button (or motor?). That's no good for what I'm trying to achieve with this car, so as previously mentioned I bought the OEM reverse camera kit that replaces the 'soft feel' boot release switch with a plinth that houses the reverse camera and a new boot release switch.

The first approach I took to mount the plinth was directly on top of the CSL boot lid, and the following photo shows the apertures I cut for the camera and switch.


I wasn't happy with how visible it was from the rear of the car.


The next approach I took was to recess the plinth so it sat flush with the surface of the boot lid. To achieve this, I cut an aperture to allow the entire plinth to sit within the boot lid.


I then cut some aluminium plate to use as backing to mount the plinth. The plate overlaps the plinth and sits on the inside of the tailgate - I bonded it on with PU adhesive.


Here's the aluminium plate affixed, and the camera & switch plinth screwed to the plate. Looks OEM.


New M3 emblem, and a CSL emblem shortened to 'CS'.



Boot lid adjusted and diffuser fitted. The colour match is perfect and the camera plinth is invisible; I'm pleased with the result.