E46 M3 fast road - track car

[5harp3y]

PBMWsam said:

Thanks, square set up works lot better for turn in.

Thanks Sam, thinking about going square on my Z3

[PBMWsam]

First delivery of solid 'bushes'



After looking at Steven build and chatting to a few others I decided to plunge into solid bushes. Seeing as I'm going to be getting it geo & corner weighted thought be best to finish on re-beefing up everything first.

Bit of tinkering yesterday

While swapping back to road wheels to drive home after Silverstone I noticed rather a lot of brake pad on the inside of the rear wheels



These were EBC yellow after 3 day (2 wet, 1 dry) shows how much better braking power you get changing to brass caliper slider inserts.

Front RS29 that have done same amount of days are fine.

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Also chopped up the front reinforcement plates to fit, I brought the ones with round holes instead of oval so they can be welded in the max camber position on the chassis, then just leave adjustment down to the top mount. Think it will be stronger that way too.



Fit dual fuel pumps & solid bush is next on the list.

Nitron's should be back from Spires tomorrow.

Rest of my solid bushes turn up





Attempted to plum in my second M3 pump into the passenger side.. Didn't fit



The end of the sender sits in this location hole in the tank, thus meaning theres not enough depth for a pump to fit in.



Not sure what the aftermarket kits are like but may be a reason why I couldn't find any info on dual pump for an e46.

While the sender was out stuffed another cube of baffle foam in and going to change my fuel filter and run a cleaner though then hope for the best.

Nitrons back from Spires, look good for 5 years old



Chucked them on last night so ride height and geo is miles out, doing my bushes the off for geo and corner weight.

[e21Mark]

I know you cleaned them but that's still quite a transformation in the Nitrons. You'd certainly never think they were 5 years old!

The EBC I took out of the back of my M3 literally fell apart. I have to say I'm not a fan. I've only ever had them when they were already fitted in cars I have bought (the EBC that is) but even so, I've never seen it with Hawk, which have always performed well given they're not particularly expensive.

Are you going to the PBMW evening at Brands?

[stevesingo]

EBC pads do wear significantly when used hard. Not really a track pad IME.

[PBMWsam]

e21Mark said:

I know you cleaned them but that's still quite a transformation in the Nitrons. You'd certainly never think they were 5 years old!

The EBC I took out of the back of my M3 literally fell apart. I have to say I'm not a fan. I've only ever had them when they were already fitted in cars I have bought (the EBC that is) but even so, I've never seen it with Hawk, which have always performed well given they're not particularly expensive.

Are you going to the PBMW evening at Brands?

Brand new springs but the rest is old.

Thinking about Brands as still never done it before, if I can get a support vehicle alone I'll defiantly book.

stevesingo said:

EBC pads do wear significantly when used hard. Not really a track pad IME.

Sticking with RS29's all round for now, was thinking of upgrading to an AP 4 pot rear but it's really not needed.

[PBMWsam]

Back on the ground after what seemed like a very long month.

Next week its going into Absolute Customs for a little bit of welding and solid bushes fitting.

[Timbuktu]

Great thread and watching with interest as I am just about to have my new suspension fitted to my own E46 M3 which will complete the build for this seasons track days I hope!

[longun]

Amazing build thread.

Quick question if you don't mind. What tyre sizes are you running on the OEM square setup? I'm looking to get some 18" OEM wheels, go square but can't find the NS2R in the stock 255/40/18 size. Did you drop to a 255/35/18 or go up to a 265/35/18?

Also any issues with rubbing on the fronts with the square setup?

Here is what I've just got. E46 M3 with 149K on the clock. Its got decent upgrades already, just need to sort some body niggles (Like the splitter) fit a cage, upgrade the brakes and enjoy it. Although I know once I start it'll never be finished

[PBMWsam]

longun said:

Amazing build thread.

Quick question if you don't mind. What tyre sizes are you running on the OEM square setup? I'm looking to get some 18" OEM wheels, go square but can't find the NS2R in the stock 255/40/18 size. Did you drop to a 255/35/18 or go up to a 265/35/18?

Also any issues with rubbing on the fronts with the square setup?

Ran a 265/35/18 all round. Need at least -3 camber up front to not rub.

[PBMWsam]

Mid week update, been working evenings on the car to get it all done and off to Spires this Saturday of a corner weight setup.



Plated and welded the cracks on the front turrets





Also seam welded around the rear boot floor area on the inside as I was getting some creaking under load.

Rear frame dropped



Axel complete, ready to be stripped down and solid bush on the Diff, Subframe, RTAB and the upper inner joint of the spring perch.

[PBMWsam]

Cracked on with stripping down rear subframe last night

Some of the bushes went straight in but most were a real pain in the butt, even with a bluepoint multi bush took.









Glad I went solid on the diff as this is what a 2 year old powerflex looks like









Another late night tomorrow and it should all be back together and on the road.

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Only started on the car last night at 10pm, so didn't spend long on it.

Got the whole frame ect bolted up, just trims and exhaust to do then its a well earned beer.



Oh and I've also had my tail pipes reworked eace:


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All the underside done and popped to Spires for a corner weight and geo, current weight was 1315kg with no fuel (over 200kg lighter than stock)







May notice I've now got dual 3" tailpipes, dropped the car in at Walton fabrication before I took it all apart. Tips are sitting a little low as my mounts have seen better days.

Also brought a Quaife knob which has raised the shifter by best part of an inch

[5harp3y]

loving the progress and the new exhaust looks spot on

[SebringMan]

This is looking very special now, but it always did look spot on!

You should have called around for a cup of tea! I live literally 5 minutes away from Spires .

It's a shame about the diff bushes! I'm about to get my RACP reinforced and was debating going with SuperPro bushes on that application, but my car is predominantly a road car.

[PBMWsam]

New setup felt very good, was only 3 seconds a lap of my PB around Silverstone national in the wet.

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Had a bit of a funny run in with an M4 :roflmao:

https://youtu.be/jyVLWxhdHsk

And that wasn't the first time it happened to me that day.


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Nothing major to update

Few final track prep for Rockingham on the 25th

Checked fluids and replaced fuel filter (hopefully stopping surge)

Keep on thinking about chopping a dirty big hole in my engine cover to prevent coilpacks from getting too hot. Mid way round Silverstone last week had the EML come on and loss of power, sorted itself out by the end of the straight and plugged in after was multiple of misfires.

Know most people are going to say remove it all together but I don't like how it looks without. Example below



Picked up an Recaro SPA that had just gone out of date, was a co-driver seat in a for fun rally car, things like brand new. Vast improvements over the SPG





Lastly I replaced my 2 fooked exhaust mounts for 3 new ones, sits 100x better now

[SlimJim16v]

Remove the cover, cos 'race car, innit'. Looks great with the twin exhausts.

Or some vents in the front 1/3rd of bonnet to reduce the temp. May reduce drag a bit too.

Edited by SlimJim16v on Monday 13th March 18:29

[Timbuktu]

Ha what a bell in the M4! Why to people on trackdays "let you past" and then out accelerate you!

Yer - exhaust looks good!

Edited by Timbuktu on Monday 13th March 16:06

[e21Mark]

Exhaust looks great.

I'm with you on coil pack cover. I'd definitely drill it though.

Hope to see this in the metal this year. I'm still pushing to make Brands v

[LanceRS]

I saw one last year with a cold air feed to the coil packs, under the cover, home made but well done, apparently it worked well. I spent a while trying to figure out what it was, had to give in and ask in the end.
The twin exhausts definitely look better too. Keep p the good work.

[PBMWsam]

SlimJim16v said:

Remove the cover, cos 'race car, innit'. Looks great with the twin exhausts.

Or some vents in the front 1/3rd of bonnet to reduce the temp. May reduce drag a bit too.

Edited by SlimJim16v on Monday 13th March 18:29

All for things being practical but I also want things to still look good, and really don't like it without the cover. I've set up my pollen filter to be easily removable track side, that will allow air flow over the engine and out the factory bonnet vent.

Timbuktu said:

Ha what a bell in the M4! Why to people on trackdays "let you past" and then out accelerate you!

Yer - exhaust looks good!

Edited by Timbuktu on Monday 13th March 16:06

Second time that happened to me that day. Why I found it so funny.

e21Mark said:

Exhaust looks great.

I'm with you on coil pack cover. I'd definitely drill it though.

Hope to see this in the metal this year. I'm still pushing to make Brands v

That the PBMW Brands evening event ? I'd rather do a full day there as my first experance

LanceRS said:

I saw one last year with a cold air feed to the coil packs, under the cover, home made but well done, apparently it worked well. I spent a while trying to figure out what it was, had to give in and ask in the end.
The twin exhausts definitely look better too. Keep p the good work.

Yeah I've seen that with ducting too, not a fan of that either.

Have a new idea on the chop up cover plan, lot more low key than a huge hole in the middle.

Watch this space

[CombineHarvester]

PBMWsam said:

CSL lid and rear parking sensors deleted



Proper pictures to follow

Such a nice car, lovely work, very tastefully done.

Is it a Cockapoo?