E46 M3 SMG CONVERTIBLE - 2004
Discussion
Mo28 said:
What is it like in terms of day to day running costs
Well that’s pretty hard to gauge, you see on one hand, I drive it maybe 3 days a week, can see 31mpg on a long run, or 18 round town. On the other hand, this car is so aggressive and fun, I tend to drive it harder than a daily driver probably would.
I get out of my company Skoda Octavia 1.6 diesel estate and into the M3... my heart starts racing and not long after a spirited drive I have shaking adrenaline hands struggling to put my key in my garage door lock !!!
Apart from fuel, parts are reasonable, except brake discs are ridiculously priced.
kin quick said:
Hi Cliff,
The car is looking awesome, love the square setup!
Remember me??
20171231_113033 by ROSS HALSEY, on Flickr
Ross
Hey Ross, of course mate, we’re destined to walk through life together The car is looking awesome, love the square setup!
Remember me??
20171231_113033 by ROSS HALSEY, on FlickrRoss
How you getting on with your M3?
Missing the Impreza life?
So today, I took on a challenge of fitting my new Eurostyle tips, bought in the Group buy, with thanks to M3cutters member NVUM3
It shouldn't have been that hard, but I found it not as easy as suggested, possibly due to substandard tools, probably also my lack of patience
This is the before shot:
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
Step 1: I removed the rear bumper for better access to the top rivets
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
Step 2: I tried to drill out the rivets but my drill bits kept breaking and they generally were not up to the job... So I used my angle grinder to take off the heads of the rivets..
I will be throwing away my old tips, I don't suggest this if you intend to keep them or sell on...
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
Step 3: once all of the rivet heads had been removed, I used a small screw driver and hammer to knock out the final part of the rivet, removed the old tips with brute force and this is where I got to...
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
Step 4: 4mm pop rivets used and riveted on..... 3 per tip.
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
Step 5: Admire and take photos after bumper refitted....
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/23gBBBm]
[/url] Untitled by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/HTLop5]
[/url] Untitled by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
and a comparison of before and after....
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
It shouldn't have been that hard, but I found it not as easy as suggested, possibly due to substandard tools, probably also my lack of patience
This is the before shot:
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on FlickrStep 1: I removed the rear bumper for better access to the top rivets
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on FlickrStep 2: I tried to drill out the rivets but my drill bits kept breaking and they generally were not up to the job... So I used my angle grinder to take off the heads of the rivets..
I will be throwing away my old tips, I don't suggest this if you intend to keep them or sell on...
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on FlickrStep 3: once all of the rivet heads had been removed, I used a small screw driver and hammer to knock out the final part of the rivet, removed the old tips with brute force and this is where I got to...
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on FlickrStep 4: 4mm pop rivets used and riveted on..... 3 per tip.
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on FlickrUntitled by Cliff Judson, on FlickrStep 5: Admire and take photos after bumper refitted....
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on Flickr[url=https://flic.kr/p/23gBBBm]
[/url] Untitled by Cliff Judson, on Flickr[url=https://flic.kr/p/HTLop5]
[/url] Untitled by Cliff Judson, on Flickrand a comparison of before and after....
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on FlickrHSD coilovers now fitted, using OEM length drop links 
BEFORE:
BMW E46 M3 CONVERTIBLE SMGII by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
AFTER:
BMW E46 M3 CONVERTIBLE CARBON BLACK SMG by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
Further adjustment might happen, just standing back and looking right now.
This is a photo from last week...
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
You can see the back was high.... the car had serious rake issues!!!
and today...
BMW E46 M3 CONVERTIBLE CARBON BLACK SMG by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
Here are a few more I took today...
BMW E46 M3 CONVERTIBLE CARBON BLACK SMG by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
BMW E46 M3 CONVERTIBLE CARBON BLACK SMG by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
BMW E46 M3 CONVERTIBLE CARBON BLACK SMG by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
BMW E46 M3 CONVERTIBLE CARBON BLACK SMG by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
BMW E46 M3 CONVERTIBLE CARBON BLACK SMG by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
Comments and feedback on the stance are very welcome, I'm contemplating going 10-15mm lower on the front?
BEFORE:
BMW E46 M3 CONVERTIBLE SMGII by Cliff Judson, on FlickrAFTER:
BMW E46 M3 CONVERTIBLE CARBON BLACK SMG by Cliff Judson, on FlickrFurther adjustment might happen, just standing back and looking right now.
This is a photo from last week...
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on FlickrYou can see the back was high.... the car had serious rake issues!!!
and today...
BMW E46 M3 CONVERTIBLE CARBON BLACK SMG by Cliff Judson, on FlickrHere are a few more I took today...
BMW E46 M3 CONVERTIBLE CARBON BLACK SMG by Cliff Judson, on FlickrBMW E46 M3 CONVERTIBLE CARBON BLACK SMG by Cliff Judson, on FlickrBMW E46 M3 CONVERTIBLE CARBON BLACK SMG by Cliff Judson, on FlickrBMW E46 M3 CONVERTIBLE CARBON BLACK SMG by Cliff Judson, on FlickrBMW E46 M3 CONVERTIBLE CARBON BLACK SMG by Cliff Judson, on FlickrComments and feedback on the stance are very welcome, I'm contemplating going 10-15mm lower on the front?
Just returned from a short break in Cornwall, we stayed in a bizarre place called Camelot Castle Hotel in Tintagel.
Why bizarre I hear you cry? Well think of the Hotel California song lyrics and you'll get the picture
It's basically a place which is very much outdated, full of eccentricity, but also a home for Church of Scientology enthusiasts
The people are lovely but you always feel like you're being watched
Anyhow, arrived in Cornwall, approx 240 miles and my car was looking in good shape... freshly washed and polished....
31408313_10155504391207944_2653904749404880896_o by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
31230527_10155498766002944_5183015092265943040_o by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
We went into Tintagel town, also to Boscastle, Bude, Polzeath, Widemouth bay, Harlyn Bay, Trevone bay, to name a few, and also had a lot of rain, muddy country lanes and seemed to always be behind a tractor
My car got wrecked inside and out to be honest and saw a lot of sand
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
POL 2 by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
and finally...
Dirty BMW E46 M3 convertible in Cornwall by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
Hopefully I can find some time tomorrow to at least snow foam it 17 times
Apologies for the crappy iPhone pictures!
Why bizarre I hear you cry? Well think of the Hotel California song lyrics and you'll get the picture
It's basically a place which is very much outdated, full of eccentricity, but also a home for Church of Scientology enthusiasts
The people are lovely but you always feel like you're being watched
Anyhow, arrived in Cornwall, approx 240 miles and my car was looking in good shape... freshly washed and polished....
31408313_10155504391207944_2653904749404880896_o by Cliff Judson, on Flickr31230527_10155498766002944_5183015092265943040_o by Cliff Judson, on FlickrWe went into Tintagel town, also to Boscastle, Bude, Polzeath, Widemouth bay, Harlyn Bay, Trevone bay, to name a few, and also had a lot of rain, muddy country lanes and seemed to always be behind a tractor
My car got wrecked inside and out to be honest and saw a lot of sand
Untitled by Cliff Judson, on FlickrUntitled by Cliff Judson, on FlickrUntitled by Cliff Judson, on FlickrUntitled by Cliff Judson, on FlickrUntitled by Cliff Judson, on FlickrPOL 2 by Cliff Judson, on Flickrand finally...
Dirty BMW E46 M3 convertible in Cornwall by Cliff Judson, on FlickrHopefully I can find some time tomorrow to at least snow foam it 17 times
Apologies for the crappy iPhone pictures!
Lets have an update...
I eventually took the hardtop off, it weighs an absolute ton and raised my rear suspension slightly!!!
BMW E46 M3 CARBON BLACK CONVERTIBLE by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
BMW E46 M3 CARBON BLACK CONVERTIBLE by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
BMW E46 M3 CARBON BLACK CONVERTIBLE by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
BMW E46 M3 CARBON BLACK CONVERTIBLE by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
BMW E46 M3 CARBON BLACK CONVERTIBLE by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
I eventually took the hardtop off, it weighs an absolute ton and raised my rear suspension slightly!!!
BMW E46 M3 CARBON BLACK CONVERTIBLE by Cliff Judson, on FlickrBMW E46 M3 CARBON BLACK CONVERTIBLE by Cliff Judson, on FlickrBMW E46 M3 CARBON BLACK CONVERTIBLE by Cliff Judson, on FlickrBMW E46 M3 CARBON BLACK CONVERTIBLE by Cliff Judson, on FlickrBMW E46 M3 CARBON BLACK CONVERTIBLE by Cliff Judson, on FlickrGassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff