Jimbo's E46 M3 LSB
Discussion
You'd have to be very good indeed to stay with one on a twisty wet road. I think the Impreza could be driven quickly and safe by any Tom dick or Harry (I.e. Me) but it would take a very competent driver to catch in the m3 in the same conditions. The Impreza would lose on track though, I did a day at Blyton in the RB5 and an E46 M3 was the only car quicker than me.
Looks like, at 320 quid at BMW, with discount, for both lines, I'm going to go to Pirtek for the PAS lines. I've had them done before on my e30 and they're fairly simple hose runs actually, the complexity is in the hard lines.
Looks like, at 320 quid at BMW, with discount, for both lines, I'm going to go to Pirtek for the PAS lines. I've had them done before on my e30 and they're fairly simple hose runs actually, the complexity is in the hard lines.
Lovely car. Personally I've never liked the Subaru (apart from the noise) but I'd like an E46 M3 myself next year. Absolutely love LSB too. It varies so much too, dependent on the light in which you see it. In fact, I'm painting my E21 project in it. 
Have you got any plans for yours?
Have you got any plans for yours?
Edited by e21Mark on Monday 16th February 16:56
DanielSan said:
Gorgeous looking M3. By far the best colour for the E46, and in perfect spec with the 19's.
Thanks all! Yes I did buy it off Steve, great guy to deal with.
I've seen your E21, looks great. It's a lovely colour, glad I waited to get an LSB one (I was looking at Carbon Black to start with)
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Try here mate, although a quick glance suggests Facebook has changed the links to photos, thereby removing the pics 😠
Try here mate, although a quick glance suggests Facebook has changed the links to photos, thereby removing the pics 😠
So another quick update - it's back on the road! Whilst I was waiting for the pipe to be made up at Pirtek I got my armrest fitted (seats had been fitted Saturday before the ATF incident)
-Just need the control panel and loom from BMW to get them heated
New passenger sunvisor without a crack in - Another helpful M3cutter obtained part!
also plastic welded the undertray back together, the top section was starting to come away when I washed it (as it was covered in ATF after my ATF incident
) really easy to do with soldering iron and a cable tie as filler rod and it's surprisingly strong!
So I got my ruptured PS lines all redone by Pirtek, £56 better than £350 from BMW! - ignore the bolts/nuts the rubber vibration isolators are on order
Now my plans are to take a look at the PS hoses when the rubber isolators arrive, just to check hose runs etc are all OK - flush the ATF and refill with new and fit my poly ARB bushes. Also starting to wonder if the prop guibo needs replacing and the RTABs, which will probably be Poly if so.
-Just need the control panel and loom from BMW to get them heated
New passenger sunvisor without a crack in - Another helpful M3cutter obtained part!
also plastic welded the undertray back together, the top section was starting to come away when I washed it (as it was covered in ATF after my ATF incident
) really easy to do with soldering iron and a cable tie as filler rod and it's surprisingly strong!So I got my ruptured PS lines all redone by Pirtek, £56 better than £350 from BMW! - ignore the bolts/nuts the rubber vibration isolators are on order
Now my plans are to take a look at the PS hoses when the rubber isolators arrive, just to check hose runs etc are all OK - flush the ATF and refill with new and fit my poly ARB bushes. Also starting to wonder if the prop guibo needs replacing and the RTABs, which will probably be Poly if so.
Edited by Mr.Jimbo on Tuesday 10th October 09:23
Few pictures (the first proper ones I've taken since getting her) after a clean in today's lovely sunshine 
Things I've done recently
Removed illegal front tints (left the rears and back screen as is)
Replaced the dodgy dash tweeters and speakers in the door with components and crossovers - Much better sound
New Goodyear Eagle F1 front tyres
New OEM drop links (old seller had helpfully left the coilover specific short ones on and they were knocking like mad)
Replaced the Milltek backbox with an OEM box with 'Euro' tips
James
Things I've done recently
Removed illegal front tints (left the rears and back screen as is)
Replaced the dodgy dash tweeters and speakers in the door with components and crossovers - Much better sound
New Goodyear Eagle F1 front tyres
New OEM drop links (old seller had helpfully left the coilover specific short ones on and they were knocking like mad)
Replaced the Milltek backbox with an OEM box with 'Euro' tips
James
Edited by Mr.Jimbo on Sunday 5th April 21:45
Edited by Mr.Jimbo on Tuesday 10th October 09:26
e21Mark said:
Looks great.
Can you post a pic of the OE tips please? How do they attach?
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/BMW_M3_Exhaust_System.pdfCan you post a pic of the OE tips please? How do they attach?
Have a look at that. It's a white paper that Arvin produced when they created the exhaust for the E46. Quite interesting, to me at least, but it shows how the tips fit and their purpose as a crash structure.
I got a really good deal on a backbox with the tips fitted already so never changed them myself.
Mr.Jimbo said:
e21Mark said:
Looks great.
Can you post a pic of the OE tips please? How do they attach?
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/BMW_M3_Exhaust_System.pdfCan you post a pic of the OE tips please? How do they attach?
Have a look at that. It's a white paper that Arvin produced when they created the exhaust for the E46. Quite interesting, to me at least, but it shows how the tips fit and their purpose as a crash structure.
I got a really good deal on a backbox with the tips fitted already so never changed them myself.
Few little updates, I'm properly into cleaning this car at the moment, so I got some Autoglym HD wax which is excellent (it's easy to use, no idea on the technical side of things, but it looks shiny, smells fantastic and is lasting well!)
A while ago, whilst cleaning and protecting my seats, I attempted to clean the leather wheel in the same fashion, which didn't go well, as it lifted some of the black off the surface, exposing the greyer natural leather beneath. As it was pretty tired I opted to have it reconditioned, on an exchange basis with Jack at Royal steering wheels - went for slightly thicker padding, dark grey alcantara with M-stitch and a set of matching gaiters, well chuffed with the result. Jack has done an excellent job. I originally asked for a blue chapter ring at 12pm, he recovered the wheel and forgot, but once I'd seen the pictures I much preferred without. Feels really nice to use, will be interesting to see how it holds up.
Also got my heated switch panel (took me a while to find one with all the right options) - so just need a loom from BMW (£20) and I'll have fully OEM heated seats
Fitted braided clutch line and deleted the CDV, and 3/4 of the brakes now have braided lines, passenger rear union just won't budge, so it's going to a friends garage to have the pipe cut and reflared before fitting. New 5.1 fluid, but I was surprised how good the old (presumably) Dot 4 was. After a bit of a scare with no pedal after the swap and loads of bleeding, a quick ABS bleed in INPA sorted it.
Finally I've got a CSL diffuser on the way, and I'm looking to ditch the dated Alpine head unit/nav system for an android unit (probably Avin's Avant 2) - just a lot of money to pay without having a play with it first! A re-gas has sorted the HVAC out as well, now works much better (not surprising as they found it had bugger all refrigerant in!)
A while ago, whilst cleaning and protecting my seats, I attempted to clean the leather wheel in the same fashion, which didn't go well, as it lifted some of the black off the surface, exposing the greyer natural leather beneath. As it was pretty tired I opted to have it reconditioned, on an exchange basis with Jack at Royal steering wheels - went for slightly thicker padding, dark grey alcantara with M-stitch and a set of matching gaiters, well chuffed with the result. Jack has done an excellent job. I originally asked for a blue chapter ring at 12pm, he recovered the wheel and forgot, but once I'd seen the pictures I much preferred without. Feels really nice to use, will be interesting to see how it holds up.
Also got my heated switch panel (took me a while to find one with all the right options) - so just need a loom from BMW (£20) and I'll have fully OEM heated seats
Fitted braided clutch line and deleted the CDV, and 3/4 of the brakes now have braided lines, passenger rear union just won't budge, so it's going to a friends garage to have the pipe cut and reflared before fitting. New 5.1 fluid, but I was surprised how good the old (presumably) Dot 4 was. After a bit of a scare with no pedal after the swap and loads of bleeding, a quick ABS bleed in INPA sorted it.
Finally I've got a CSL diffuser on the way, and I'm looking to ditch the dated Alpine head unit/nav system for an android unit (probably Avin's Avant 2) - just a lot of money to pay without having a play with it first! A re-gas has sorted the HVAC out as well, now works much better (not surprising as they found it had bugger all refrigerant in!)
Edited by Mr.Jimbo on Tuesday 10th October 09:26
Shiny bits, after a great run down to LeMans (the car is amazingly comfortable to sleep in whilst someone else is driving, by the way) my CSL style diffuser is here. I chose 1x1 weave instead of the usual 2x2 which is what the CSL originally had, and the smaller weave suits it better I think.
Car looks amazingly clean considering it's got 1000 miles of flies and filth on it!
Annoyingly it highlights how wonky the exhaust is, which I think is being caused by the milltek centre section. Ordered all new hangers for the back box so when I can get it in the air we'll hopefully have it sorted.
Car looks amazingly clean considering it's got 1000 miles of flies and filth on it!
Annoyingly it highlights how wonky the exhaust is, which I think is being caused by the milltek centre section. Ordered all new hangers for the back box so when I can get it in the air we'll hopefully have it sorted.
Edited by Mr.Jimbo on Tuesday 10th October 09:27
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