My BMW E46 ///M3 - Evolve Carbon Airbox

[Craigwww]

Hi folks

I've had the M3 for a few years now and managed to get around to getting all the parts fitted that had been collecting dust in the garage for a while.

The car has already been breathed on by EVOLVE and fitted with their Carbon Fibre CSL Airbox, Alpha N tune and a Supersprint SS exhaust and resonated mid section. So it was time to get the looks of the car to match the amazing sound and performance of it!

Well I picked up the M3 a few months ago after MJ Racing in Motherwell (Scotland) had completed the following work on the car.

Paint & Fitting:

Genuine CSL Bootlid
Genuine CSL Rear Diffuser
Genuine CSL Wheels and new Vreds (+ 12mm rear, 15mm front spacers, supplied by Circmcn)
Genuine ACS Front Splitter
Front end & rear bumper respray

Mechanicals:

Fit and setup HSD Coilovers
Install Porsche Brembo Front BBK (incl. custom brackets, new pads and CSL discs)


I was like a kid at Christmas when I picked the car up and handed over the readies for all the work. The quality of the paintwork is better than OEM in my opinion and theres only a few minor things I want tweaked, which I will get Ali to address in the near future.

Anyway, I managed to get 2 miles into my journey home when the SMG box decided that 'N' was the only gear it wanted to select. The car was recovered to Parks of Hamilton BMW who duely diagnosed the problem as SMG Pump failure and fitted a new one during the week, along with new bonnet sensors, new + paddle microswitch and a new washer pump.

Also got around to fitting the Storm Motorwerks parts I had, the quality and fit is outstanding and really transform the interior. Next trip home I will be fitting the rest of the Piano Black trim, colour coded grills, new front lenses and new Depos to finish it off.


Here's a few pics for your perusal.

[Craigwww]

wackojacko said:

Nice ! Evolve stuff is ££££ but exceptional quality.

Any videos of the air box ?

No sorry no videos of the box on my car but there's a few on YouTube from other installations.

It sounds insane though at WOT !

[Craigwww]

SMcP114 said:

Stunning car. I'd be good mates with Chris who supplied your wheels, or possibly just spacers?

Edited by SMcP114 on Tuesday 13th November 01:43

Cheers!

Just the spacers were supplied by Chris, although I would trust him to supply anything. The CSl wheels are genuine and sourced through ebay.

[Craigwww]

tbc said:

nice car

why do they not make garages in new homes big enough to fit your car in these days

Actually I get my car in fairly easily, due to local planning laws they had to build the duble garage bigger than standard. However, as soon as the warranty expires on this house, I will be converting it to one single door and removing the existing support which seperates the two doors just now. Plenty of room after that !

[Craigwww]

FELIX_5 said:

Having just read the thread, I agree with this. Still stunning though!

Thanks for the kind comments :-)

Ha dont knock the SMG until you have tried it! I have always been a 'manual' guy but the SMG on the M3 still retains a mechanical feel and has to be drive like a manual to make the most of it. In my mind it makes it a little more of an event driving it... oh and those throttle blips on down change... heaven lol

[Craigwww]

SBN said:

Oh dear, why am I on autotrader looking at chopping in my e90 for one of these.

Just stunning, love it, we'll done

Do it! You won't regret it! But check 'M3 Cutters' owners forum first, that's where you will find the genuine looked after cars.

Or make me an offer on mine...:-)

[Craigwww]

themanwithnoname said:

Very nice. I have promised myself one of these when I find a job closer to home. Mods are pretty much exactly what I would do. Fantastic.

Any chance of an in-car video for the noise?

Thanks mate, trust me, these are amazing cars and at the low prices they go for these days, worth every penny.

I might do a video when I am next at home but I'm out in Saudi until Xmas.

[Craigwww]

petrolveins said:

Love that, and that front splitter really sets it off, looks fantastic.

Thanks man, the splitter is a bit marmite but at the moment I like it lol

[Craigwww]

rumple said:

Stunning car op, the CSL boot really set these off, youve pretty much got it bang on.

Cheers, the CSL boot was a 'must have' lol

[Craigwww]

Thanks for the comments!

[Craigwww]

jon- said:

We have similar M3s, only mine is chav blue and I don't have the wheels Same splitter / boot / coilovers I think.

Anyway, do you have any more pictures of the interior? I'm thinking of doing my inserts piano black, and it looks like yours are that colour from your gear stick.

Sorry I dont have any more photos of the interior, I will take some when I am next home.

Have a look on M3 Cutters forum and use the search function, I'm sure there are plenty of photos you can find on there.

[Craigwww]

Ferosferio said:

Pretty much spot on. An E46 M3 with CSL wheels and bootlid is probably one of the most purposeful looking things on the road. Call it blaspheme/sacrilege but I'm not usually a fan of most things ACS however the splitter looks fantastic

Ha I'm glad someone likes it then !