My E46 M3 Coupe
Discussion
Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:
The leather I did still holding out well I trust? Are you still running Horsepower ATH btw? If so could you ping me over some meet dates, as in to 2020 I'd like to get attending some car meets, with two before and after car seats (I'm a poet and I didn't know it..) to try and drum up some business (if this CV lurgy doesn't get us all!)
Hi mate yes it's still holding up very well thanks.We moved away from Lincoln last year so I passed the show on to a local club who ran a couple last year. Unfortunately they've had to cancel them all this year now, but send them a message on the Facebook page because they're always looking for exhibitors
Nik Gnashers said:
Good to see you still have the car, and are still enjoying it !
Just wondering where you had your servicing done ?
I used Forrest Motors for many years myself, but when Derrick died, it was taken over by somebody else, and I don't think it was quite the same.
I work close to Sopers myself, but they are a bit pricey !
Hope you enjoy the car for many more years
Hi Nik, yes I use Forrests too. Didn't know them when Derrick was around so can't compare but always seemed ok to me.Just wondering where you had your servicing done ?
I used Forrest Motors for many years myself, but when Derrick died, it was taken over by somebody else, and I don't think it was quite the same.
I work close to Sopers myself, but they are a bit pricey !
Hope you enjoy the car for many more years
If you're Lincoln way on you could try Geoff Steel racing who are Gainsborough way and know their E46s very well.
So, to the interior... A few changes of late. Firstly replaced the carbon-dipped trim with OEM carbon cube. Much better in my eyes. Then fitted a Jaffster v2 gearknob, imported from the US, which has massively improved the shift feel. It's weighted at 0.5lb and an inch or so taller than the standard knob, and really helps to get rid of the famous E46 M3 shift clunk. Then fitted suede gaiters for the gearknob and handbrake, and finally got the wheel retrimmed in alcantara.
Really pleased with the interior overall now. The steering wheel trim always looks much lighter than it is in photos, but could perhaps do with being a little darker grey.
Last thing is seats. I really fancy fitting some grey leather 911 seats. I love Porsche seats and think they will suit this car very well, given they are from the same era and a similarly rounded design.
Some pics...
Really pleased with the interior overall now. The steering wheel trim always looks much lighter than it is in photos, but could perhaps do with being a little darker grey.
Last thing is seats. I really fancy fitting some grey leather 911 seats. I love Porsche seats and think they will suit this car very well, given they are from the same era and a similarly rounded design.
Some pics...
Edited by rainmasterb on Saturday 4th April 12:56
Get what you're saying but I really like 90s/00s BMW interiors, certainly more than the modern ones, and the little M touches here and there remind me that I'm in something special.
The aesthetics of the gearknob are indeed questionable, but worth it for the improved feel. It even makes a satisfying mechanical 'click' when you slot a gear home!
The aesthetics of the gearknob are indeed questionable, but worth it for the improved feel. It even makes a satisfying mechanical 'click' when you slot a gear home!
I've got a bit of a thing for nice seats, but struggle to justify spending a lot of money on 'nice to haves'. I've got grey leather in my M3 (which I happen to really like!) so wanted to stick with grey for the front seats, and also 3 kids and back issues, so needed recliners. Going new was going to cost a small fortune. So I started looking at possible 'used' alternatives...
I've always been a fan of Porsche seats. I think they strike a great compromise between good looks and comfort, having had a 944 Turbo with the optional Sports Seats which were superb. Additionally, they are relatively available on ebay, and can often be found in good condition for a good price.
But I got really lucky with these! They are grey leather with Alcantara centres - exactly what I wanted as I have other alcantara bits and generally love the stuff. And they are in stunning condition, with just the smallest hint of use on the drivers RHS bolster. The colour match to the grey plastics in the cabin is actually better than the standard M3 items! They are manual adjustment for forward and back, and up and down, but have electrical backrest. This is fine for me as I drive the car 99% of the time.
I took a bit of a gamble buying them before knowing if I could fit them, but the condition was so good I was certain I could sell them on for a profit if I couldn't make it work. I paid £170 for the pair (there is currently an identical set on ebay for £450!).
Got them home and started to scope it out. Searched for a suitable set of mounts and found some from born2drift - sounds a but dodgy but generally good reviews of their products and they looked to be well-made. £100 the pair.
After working out where everything needed to go, and having put them in now, I reckon I could do it again in about 2 hours. It was actually really simple, with no fabrication required at all. I swapped over the seatbelt receivers and mounted them to the new mounts, and swapped over the passenger seat occupancy sensor (already had the bypass fitted). Electrical adjustment currently handled by a 12V battery that works a treat.
Really, really pleased with the outcome. I think they look great, they match the interior really well, and they are a good balance of comfort and support. They have more lower lateral support than the standard seats, and the alcantara helps to keep you still in cornering. Access to the back is actually better as they are thinner in the backrest, and they are significantly lighter, even with the mounts. Best of all they cost me less than £300 all in! Chuffed!
Pics to follow...
Cheers
I've always been a fan of Porsche seats. I think they strike a great compromise between good looks and comfort, having had a 944 Turbo with the optional Sports Seats which were superb. Additionally, they are relatively available on ebay, and can often be found in good condition for a good price.
But I got really lucky with these! They are grey leather with Alcantara centres - exactly what I wanted as I have other alcantara bits and generally love the stuff. And they are in stunning condition, with just the smallest hint of use on the drivers RHS bolster. The colour match to the grey plastics in the cabin is actually better than the standard M3 items! They are manual adjustment for forward and back, and up and down, but have electrical backrest. This is fine for me as I drive the car 99% of the time.
I took a bit of a gamble buying them before knowing if I could fit them, but the condition was so good I was certain I could sell them on for a profit if I couldn't make it work. I paid £170 for the pair (there is currently an identical set on ebay for £450!).
Got them home and started to scope it out. Searched for a suitable set of mounts and found some from born2drift - sounds a but dodgy but generally good reviews of their products and they looked to be well-made. £100 the pair.
After working out where everything needed to go, and having put them in now, I reckon I could do it again in about 2 hours. It was actually really simple, with no fabrication required at all. I swapped over the seatbelt receivers and mounted them to the new mounts, and swapped over the passenger seat occupancy sensor (already had the bypass fitted). Electrical adjustment currently handled by a 12V battery that works a treat.
Really, really pleased with the outcome. I think they look great, they match the interior really well, and they are a good balance of comfort and support. They have more lower lateral support than the standard seats, and the alcantara helps to keep you still in cornering. Access to the back is actually better as they are thinner in the backrest, and they are significantly lighter, even with the mounts. Best of all they cost me less than £300 all in! Chuffed!
Pics to follow...
Cheers
Edited by rainmasterb on Friday 5th June 15:21
CousinDupree said:
DoubleTime said:
I think that works well.
Whats the weight savings?
Not much, they are really heavy. That era hardback Porsche sports seats were great, but the standard ones lack support. Whats the weight savings?
Tried the sports seats but they are a little tight for me across the shoulders, and they are a lot more expensive!
daniel-5zjw7 said:
Great job on the seats! Never even thought about porsche seats in a 46 :-) they 'look' less supportive than the stock seats but from what you say it sounds like the reality is different?
I have the alacantara/cloth m sport seats in my 46 which i do like but they just arent very comfortable for me. Unfortunately there doesnt seem to be a porsche trim that would work with the interior i have.
Thanks. I would say there isn't much in it support wise. The M seats are much softer, so you sit deeper in them, but the Porsche bolsters are definitely firmer, so give less when you lean on them. I think the bigger difference is actually the alcantara centres. I used to be able to simply swivel and slide out of the M seats. These I have to list myself up and turn!I have the alacantara/cloth m sport seats in my 46 which i do like but they just arent very comfortable for me. Unfortunately there doesnt seem to be a porsche trim that would work with the interior i have.
Just clocked over 5 years with this wonderful car now, so time for an update...
I've been working from home for over a year, so mileage has slowed right down, but the car is still used regularly to pick the (3) kids up from school, and performs this role admirably - it's a 5 mile cross-country run (one way), so fun for me on the way there, and plenty big and comfortable enough on the way home. They take it in turns to sit in the front passenger seat, and the lucky occupant is allowed to change gears! All 3 of them love this, as you can imagine...
Maintenance-wise it has recently had....
- new Bilstein B4 dampers (one failed and was knocking, the other was on it's way out...) - £73/ea from Demon Tweeks
- new rear Eagle F1 tires - well more or less new, £80 the pair from FB market place
- new front discs, pads and sensors - £300 ebay
Mods-wise...
- Tegiwa Carbon Air Intake - £275, FB market place
- Custom interior trim - £40 ebay, plus paint etc...
- Dodgy sticker
- Remap
Carbon Intake
Have always fancied one of these, purely for the added noise. This one came up on facebook at a bargain price so I went for it. Extra noise on full whack is addictive, and looks great in the engine bay too....
D3882FA4-D4BA-44FB-8477-D0638B5F85DF by ben chambers, on Flickr
Custom Interior Trims
Wanted a little project over lockdown, to set to the interior trims. Bought some in reasonable condition off ebay, rubbed them down, few coats of grey primer (good match to the grey plastics in the dash), M tricolor 'splashing', few coats of clear. Done. Wont be to all tastes but I'm really pleased with it. subsequently found a chap selling sets for $250 in the US!
8FFF3AFE-5142-47BD-AE13-586DDECE46CD by ben chambers, on Flickr
Dodgy Sticker
Wanted the M tricolor on the front of the car. Got the M badge on the rear, grill emblem on the wings and plenty on the inside, so wanted something on the front. Not a big fan of the coloured grill elements, but saw this and thought it added a little something without going OTT. Again, wont be to all tastes but I like it...
A9AE575F-9623-41C7-91A3-474FB41E8DED by ben chambers, on Flickr
Remap
Pushed the button on a black Friday remap offer by a well-known expert. Possibly a little extra oomph at full chat now, but main improvement is much smoother running when cold and much smoother power curve through the range. Very worthwhile if you're thinking about it.
Pretty much how I want it now - possibly adding a CSL diffuser at some stage. Will need to have the known big issues addressed in the coming months to make sure I can keep enjoying it for years to come. Boot floor has a hairline crack but doesn't appear to be getting worse, so that'll be addressed after the typical preventative engine stuff like rod bearings etc...
Happy Easter all!
I've been working from home for over a year, so mileage has slowed right down, but the car is still used regularly to pick the (3) kids up from school, and performs this role admirably - it's a 5 mile cross-country run (one way), so fun for me on the way there, and plenty big and comfortable enough on the way home. They take it in turns to sit in the front passenger seat, and the lucky occupant is allowed to change gears! All 3 of them love this, as you can imagine...
Maintenance-wise it has recently had....
- new Bilstein B4 dampers (one failed and was knocking, the other was on it's way out...) - £73/ea from Demon Tweeks
- new rear Eagle F1 tires - well more or less new, £80 the pair from FB market place
- new front discs, pads and sensors - £300 ebay
Mods-wise...
- Tegiwa Carbon Air Intake - £275, FB market place
- Custom interior trim - £40 ebay, plus paint etc...
- Dodgy sticker
- Remap
Carbon Intake
Have always fancied one of these, purely for the added noise. This one came up on facebook at a bargain price so I went for it. Extra noise on full whack is addictive, and looks great in the engine bay too....
D3882FA4-D4BA-44FB-8477-D0638B5F85DF by ben chambers, on FlickrCustom Interior Trims
Wanted a little project over lockdown, to set to the interior trims. Bought some in reasonable condition off ebay, rubbed them down, few coats of grey primer (good match to the grey plastics in the dash), M tricolor 'splashing', few coats of clear. Done. Wont be to all tastes but I'm really pleased with it. subsequently found a chap selling sets for $250 in the US!
8FFF3AFE-5142-47BD-AE13-586DDECE46CD by ben chambers, on FlickrDodgy Sticker
Wanted the M tricolor on the front of the car. Got the M badge on the rear, grill emblem on the wings and plenty on the inside, so wanted something on the front. Not a big fan of the coloured grill elements, but saw this and thought it added a little something without going OTT. Again, wont be to all tastes but I like it...
A9AE575F-9623-41C7-91A3-474FB41E8DED by ben chambers, on FlickrRemap
Pushed the button on a black Friday remap offer by a well-known expert. Possibly a little extra oomph at full chat now, but main improvement is much smoother running when cold and much smoother power curve through the range. Very worthwhile if you're thinking about it.
Pretty much how I want it now - possibly adding a CSL diffuser at some stage. Will need to have the known big issues addressed in the coming months to make sure I can keep enjoying it for years to come. Boot floor has a hairline crack but doesn't appear to be getting worse, so that'll be addressed after the typical preventative engine stuff like rod bearings etc...
Happy Easter all!
Mr Tidy said:
A great update, and it's good to see you are still enjoying your M3 5 years later. It sounds like it has become part of your family!
Your remap sounds interesting as my Z4M Coupe doesn't run too smoothly from cold - I'd appreciate it if you'd message me to say who did it.
On the rod bearing shell issue from what I've read how the car is driven before it is fully warmed up seems to be a major factor, and as my car had 7 previous owners (1st was BMW UK) I suspected maybe at least one of them may have been less than sympathetic so I got my shells replaced last August at 76K miles.
And looking at the old ones I was glad I did!
Yes it certainly is part of the family and that was very much what I had hoped for when I bought it - could easily have gone for something more exotic with less seats etc but I wanted something we can all enjoy for a long time - I’m not sure there are many better at playing this role.Your remap sounds interesting as my Z4M Coupe doesn't run too smoothly from cold - I'd appreciate it if you'd message me to say who did it.
On the rod bearing shell issue from what I've read how the car is driven before it is fully warmed up seems to be a major factor, and as my car had 7 previous owners (1st was BMW UK) I suspected maybe at least one of them may have been less than sympathetic so I got my shells replaced last August at 76K miles.
And looking at the old ones I was glad I did!
Will message you the details of the guy who mapped my car, it’s a worthwhile upgrade for sure.
You’re right about the shells - i’m the 11th owner of my car so could easily be even worse! Though 4 in the same family and car is generally in great condition, so fingers crossed they last until I can get them done.
shalmaneser said:
I like the idea with Porsche seats but it needs Sports seats really. The standard ones aren't much good.
I think you’d be surprised. The alcantara centred Porsche seats vs the old leather M3 seats is a big difference, the Porsche seats being much grippier. Plus I’m 6’5 and have always found the Sports seats a little narrow across the shouldersThanks for the kind comments all.
Now I’ve got it how I want I’m talking to Darragh at Everything M3 about ‘the big jobs’.
My RACP is fine for now so I’m leaving that, but I’m in the window for rod bearings and then need to get the Vanos and Head Gasket done.
Not cheap but should be good for another 100k miles after that!
Now I’ve got it how I want I’m talking to Darragh at Everything M3 about ‘the big jobs’.
My RACP is fine for now so I’m leaving that, but I’m in the window for rod bearings and then need to get the Vanos and Head Gasket done.
Not cheap but should be good for another 100k miles after that!
The recent spate of new E46 M3 owners on here reminded me I haven’t updated this for a while. Car was in regular use until a month ago but the only thing to report of any note is a recent trip to Darragh at Everything M3 for Rod Bearings and new RTABs. Rod bearings were in reasonable condition but new RTABs have made a noticeable difference.
I picked up a Volvo V70 Cross Country a month back in view to giving the M3 a bit of a break during the grim winter months (and because we recently got a Lab and I really don’t want him chewing up the Porsche seats!) - will still be used but only when the weather is decent and there’s no salt on the roads.
Still love it to pieces and can’t think what I would ever replace it with, and very pleased to see their values continue to climb…
Happy and safe motoring to all in 2022!
I picked up a Volvo V70 Cross Country a month back in view to giving the M3 a bit of a break during the grim winter months (and because we recently got a Lab and I really don’t want him chewing up the Porsche seats!) - will still be used but only when the weather is decent and there’s no salt on the roads.
Still love it to pieces and can’t think what I would ever replace it with, and very pleased to see their values continue to climb…
Happy and safe motoring to all in 2022!
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