BMW E46 M3 - Touring Build

[yavz]

Gus265 said:

So pleased you decided to finish this project - I’d wondered if it had been abandoned- I am utterly and entirely jealous! Looks fantastic. For what it’s worth on the wheels, I think you need to keep it stock and agree with others to keep the 18s. Also the one the factory made was on 18s. I had a couple of E46 M3s and tried all the options - 18s looked best although I did like my CSLs too. I still think 18s.

Edited by Gus265 on Saturday 11th September 08:08

I'm strongly leaning towards the oem 18's for now, . Only question is what spacers does everyone run as they look a little lost in the arches in my opinion.

[V1nce Fox]

Christ that looks spot on. Non-CSL wheels definitely make it look more like it came straight from BMW.

They really missed a trick not making these.

[yavz]

shalmaneser said:

Wrt the big brake thing you can fit csl discs (345mm) and Porsche calipers under the oem M3 18" wheels. I had this setup on my car and the brakes were tremendous.

I've now sold my 380mm brake setup as I really like the look of the 18's. I have a set of AP racing calipers which I believe work with 18's. I just need to add a few bits to complete them and then paint them.
I may look into the porsche setup. Does the pad sweep the entire disc or is there an obvious lip that remains?

[Sf_Manta]

yavz said:

shalmaneser said:

Wrt the big brake thing you can fit csl discs (345mm) and Porsche calipers under the oem M3 18" wheels. I had this setup on my car and the brakes were tremendous.

I've now sold my 380mm brake setup as I really like the look of the 18's. I have a set of AP racing calipers which I believe work with 18's. I just need to add a few bits to complete them and then paint them.
I may look into the porsche setup. Does the pad sweep the entire disc or is there an obvious lip that remains?

I've done this mod, using the Boxster 3.2 calipers on my 330i. The dust shelds only need trimming below the mounting points in a straight line from them to allow the bracket and caliper to clear otherwise nothing else needs touching to fit the 345mm CSL discs

[yavz]

V1nce Fox said:

Christ that looks spot on. Non-CSL wheels definitely make it look more like it came straight from BMW.

They really missed a trick not making these.

Thanks.

I find it interesting how the wheel Preferences have changed over time. Initially when new everyone wanted to optional 19 inch wheels, then it moved over to the csl modded era and now, it seems at least, that most prefer the 18's.

If own a set of oem csl's too so they will be rotated as and when I get bored.

[therusterman]

I've always had the 18s on my M3, and they just suit the lines of the car so well. I've also read in a few places how the car was developed using the 18 inch wheel which may be optimal for the ride and handling of the car.

[yavz]

Those brakes look lovely on your car. Especially tucked up behind the bbs wheels

Edited by yavz on Sunday 12th September 19:20

[Sf_Manta]

yavz said:

Those brakes look lovely on your car. Especially tucked up behind the bbs wheels

Edited by yavz on Sunday 12th September 19:20

Thank you, full build thread here https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I don't think mine can hold a candle to your M3 swap though.

[Court_S]

yavz said:

Thanks.

I find it interesting how the wheel Preferences have changed over time. Initially when new everyone wanted to optional 19 inch wheels, then it moved over to the csl modded era and now, it seems at least, that most prefer the 18's.

If own a set of oem csl's too so they will be rotated as and when I get bored.

There was an E46 M3 at C&M on Saturday on 18’s a d it did look good.

I know the CSL wheel thing has been done to death, but there’s a reason for it. They just look so damn good.

Either wheel will look ace on the touring though.

[yavz]

I managed to spare a few hours and work on the touring today. I bolted up the front end and put the arch liners back on along with various small bits of trim.

I also put some spacers on to stop the wheels looking so lost in the boosted arches.

I'm loving the look of it now. Especially on the 18's.

Just the interior, tints and a wheel refurb left now.

[ZX10R NIN]

Looking good, great project.

[shalmaneser]

yavz said:

shalmaneser said:

Wrt the big brake thing you can fit csl discs (345mm) and Porsche calipers under the oem M3 18" wheels. I had this setup on my car and the brakes were tremendous.

I've now sold my 380mm brake setup as I really like the look of the 18's. I have a set of AP racing calipers which I believe work with 18's. I just need to add a few bits to complete them and then paint them.
I may look into the porsche setup. Does the pad sweep the entire disc or is there an obvious lip that remains?

To clarify here - there is no unswept area the assembly looks OEM (apart from the Porsche script!).



I didn't need to do any trimming of the splash guards - can't actually remember if there were any installed on the M3?

[darreni]

Had the pleasure of seeing this in the flesh a couple of weeks ago, its proper, really nice work.

[Court_S]

That looks lovely. Top work.

[d_a_n1979]

That looks fantastic

What a superb project!

[PurpleTurtle]

Lovely car OP - is that Jet Black or Carbon Black you've gone for? I'm slightly colour blind so can't tell from the pics.

Like others, I really can't understand why BMW didn't make these from the factory. Was it all about protecting the ///M brand?

Don't see the logic myself, given that Audi was selling a shedload of tasty RS Avants at the same time.

[yavz]

darreni said:

Had the pleasure of seeing this in the flesh a couple of weeks ago, its proper, really nice work.

Hey Darren, i did enjoy the chin wag. Thanks for the kind words.

[yavz]

Court_S said:

That looks lovely. Top work.

Thank you I've definately done some extra trips to the front garden just to have a look. Get the old steps up.

[yavz]

d_a_n1979 said:

That looks fantastic

What a superb project!

Thank you. I am happy (to say the least) with the way it turned out)

[yavz]

PurpleTurtle said:

Lovely car OP - is that Jet Black or Carbon Black you've gone for? I'm slightly colour blind so can't tell from the pics.

Like others, I really can't understand why BMW didn't make these from the factory. Was it all about protecting the ///M brand?

Don't see the logic myself, given that Audi was selling a shedload of tasty RS Avants at the same time.

Thanks, This is actually metallic sapphire black. Same as the M3 csl.

It really doesn't make sense given how easy it would have been for them to put into production after they proved the concept.