2005 Imola Red E46 M3
Discussion
I've never done one of these threads before, but I do frequent this section of the forum a fair bit so I thought I might as well join in.
I bought this car in May 2014. I wasn't looking to buy at the time but I suppose like many people on here, I dip into the classified ads for no other reason than... well, just because. I've long been a sucker for Imola Red, and also for these cars in general. I came across the advert not long after it went up, and having thought about it for all of several minutes ("Imola... check. Manual gearbox... check. Facelift...check. Non-sunroof... check."), I got I touch with the seller and we had a good chat about the car.
Before I knew it, I'd paid a deposit over the phone (brave/stupid/clever/all three - delete as appropriate) and bought a single train ticket to Sevenoaks from deepest, darkest North East Lincolnshire.
My intentions were initially to keep it 100% OEM, however, the desire to tinker with things and make the car feel like mine soon began to take over. I'd like to think I've made relatively tasteful and sensible changes, but I'm sure there'll be many who think I should have just left it alone. I like it though, so tough titties.
This is how it stood when I got the car.
I liked the 19s at first, but I've always loved the OEM 18s too and the more I thought about it, the more I fancied changing them. Anyway, change them I did, and fast forward just over a year and I've made a few other alterations.
I didn't go with OEM 18s, though. The wheels I opted for are Apex ARC-8s, in 18x9.5 et35 and 18x10.5 et27. I didn't want to use spacers but wanted to improve the stance of the car (that word has forever been ruined by a certain section of the "modifying" community...) by widening the track. These wheels are also much lighter than the 19s, and I think they look great.
I wanted to lower the car a bit too, but not go mad. I chose a set of Bilstein PSS10 coilovers as I wanted a quality product with good UK back-up if I needed it. I've only just fitted these, and they still need a bit of fiddling to get the height bang on, and then I'll get a proper alignment. On these wheels, with this suspension, the car genuinely rides and feels better than it did as standard.
I was also looking at upgrading the brakes, and a seized front caliper forced my hand into doing so a bit earlier than I planned. I decided to go with the BMW Performance Brembo 6-pot calipers, CSL discs and 135i pads. These pads are supposedly a great fast road pad that can also take a bit of track stick, so they'll do me nicely. I also like the fact that these brakes are a kind of OEM+ upgrade, which I think is nice.
I also happened upon an OEM CSL boot lid in the right colour within minutes of the advert appearing, so I snapped that up too. Some may object to fitting it to a non-CSL car but I think they look great, so there.
That's it for the exterior. I'm sorting a few interior bits at the moment, I'll post those up once they're finished.
Here's how the car looks now:
I bought this car in May 2014. I wasn't looking to buy at the time but I suppose like many people on here, I dip into the classified ads for no other reason than... well, just because. I've long been a sucker for Imola Red, and also for these cars in general. I came across the advert not long after it went up, and having thought about it for all of several minutes ("Imola... check. Manual gearbox... check. Facelift...check. Non-sunroof... check."), I got I touch with the seller and we had a good chat about the car.
Before I knew it, I'd paid a deposit over the phone (brave/stupid/clever/all three - delete as appropriate) and bought a single train ticket to Sevenoaks from deepest, darkest North East Lincolnshire.
My intentions were initially to keep it 100% OEM, however, the desire to tinker with things and make the car feel like mine soon began to take over. I'd like to think I've made relatively tasteful and sensible changes, but I'm sure there'll be many who think I should have just left it alone. I like it though, so tough titties.
This is how it stood when I got the car.
I liked the 19s at first, but I've always loved the OEM 18s too and the more I thought about it, the more I fancied changing them. Anyway, change them I did, and fast forward just over a year and I've made a few other alterations.
I didn't go with OEM 18s, though. The wheels I opted for are Apex ARC-8s, in 18x9.5 et35 and 18x10.5 et27. I didn't want to use spacers but wanted to improve the stance of the car (that word has forever been ruined by a certain section of the "modifying" community...) by widening the track. These wheels are also much lighter than the 19s, and I think they look great.
I wanted to lower the car a bit too, but not go mad. I chose a set of Bilstein PSS10 coilovers as I wanted a quality product with good UK back-up if I needed it. I've only just fitted these, and they still need a bit of fiddling to get the height bang on, and then I'll get a proper alignment. On these wheels, with this suspension, the car genuinely rides and feels better than it did as standard.
I was also looking at upgrading the brakes, and a seized front caliper forced my hand into doing so a bit earlier than I planned. I decided to go with the BMW Performance Brembo 6-pot calipers, CSL discs and 135i pads. These pads are supposedly a great fast road pad that can also take a bit of track stick, so they'll do me nicely. I also like the fact that these brakes are a kind of OEM+ upgrade, which I think is nice.
I also happened upon an OEM CSL boot lid in the right colour within minutes of the advert appearing, so I snapped that up too. Some may object to fitting it to a non-CSL car but I think they look great, so there.
That's it for the exterior. I'm sorting a few interior bits at the moment, I'll post those up once they're finished.
Here's how the car looks now:
Hello fellow yellow belly 
What part of the shire are you from (north I take it Scunny, Brigg area?) .
I think the mods you have done are very tasteful, and all improve the overall driveability and the CSL boot lid I have always loved. Kinda jealous in a way with my 330ci but I love the E46 model.
What Goodyear tires are they? I slapped on some Michelin Pilot Sport 3's a few months back, superb so far.
What part of the shire are you from (north I take it Scunny, Brigg area?) . I think the mods you have done are very tasteful, and all improve the overall driveability and the CSL boot lid I have always loved. Kinda jealous in a way with my 330ci but I love the E46 model.
What Goodyear tires are they? I slapped on some Michelin Pilot Sport 3's a few months back, superb so far.
JimNotJon said:
Hello fellow yellow belly What part of the shire are you from (north I take it Scunny, Brigg area?) .
I think the mods you have done are very tasteful, and all improve the overall driveability and the CSL boot lid I have always loved. Kinda jealous in a way with my 330ci but I love the E46 model.
What Goodyear tires are they? I slapped on some Michelin Pilot Sport 3's a few months back, superb so far.
Hello there. You're not far off, carry on down the A180 a bit and you're in the right neck of the woods. Where are you from? What part of the shire are you from (north I take it Scunny, Brigg area?) . I think the mods you have done are very tasteful, and all improve the overall driveability and the CSL boot lid I have always loved. Kinda jealous in a way with my 330ci but I love the E46 model.
What Goodyear tires are they? I slapped on some Michelin Pilot Sport 3's a few months back, superb so far.
Thanks for the nice words. The tyres are Eagle F1 Asymmetric and they're pretty good. I actually wanted Michelin Pilot Super Sports but I was worried that, because they're a very chunky tyre (which I do like), I might struggle for clearance with the wider and lower offset wheels. I think I probably would have been ok though, so I might try those next time.
Swampy1982 said:
Yes... Just yes.
TheAngryDog said:
Excellent Smithers.
I like that alot.
Ta very much, I'm pleased to have not angered you I like that alot.
Mr Tidy said:
F
king wonderful OP - enjoy, especially at warp speed!
I have a 325ti Sport Compact in Imola Red as a daily and it is great - an M3 in that colour must be wonderful.
Think I saw your Compact I the other thread in this section? It's a great colour.king wonderful OP - enjoy, especially at warp speed!I have a 325ti Sport Compact in Imola Red as a daily and it is great - an M3 in that colour must be wonderful.
Nunga said:
I'm only sad because a CSL boot lid just happens to "pop up" in the UK but never here in Germany :-(
Love the colour and the wheels. The fitment and camber on the front is just about spot-on.
Cheers. They don't come up for sale all that often so I had to have it when it popped up.Love the colour and the wheels. The fitment and camber on the front is just about spot-on.
Coker said:
Hello there. You're not far off, carry on down the A180 a bit and you're in the right neck of the woods. Where are you from?
Thanks for the nice words. The tyres are Eagle F1 Asymmetric and they're pretty good. I actually wanted Michelin Pilot Super Sports but I was worried that, because they're a very chunky tyre (which I do like), I might struggle for clearance with the wider and lower offset wheels. I think I probably would have been ok though, so I might try those next time.
Ah very nice, there's a lovely stone arch nearby that I keep meaning to take mine to, to get some photos Thanks for the nice words. The tyres are Eagle F1 Asymmetric and they're pretty good. I actually wanted Michelin Pilot Super Sports but I was worried that, because they're a very chunky tyre (which I do like), I might struggle for clearance with the wider and lower offset wheels. I think I probably would have been ok though, so I might try those next time.
I am from Lincoln, well just off of the A46 Riseholme roundabout. Lovely car mate and I do like the CSL boot lid, it's what should have been on the E46 M3's as standard. The wheels look good too and not too over the top. The brakes again is what should have been standard as the OE callipers and pads were shockingly bad. I had a carbon black E46 M3 new in 2002 and I do miss it. I've been looking at E92 M3's but I still fancy another E46 
off to the classifieds to have a browse.
off to the classifieds to have a browse.The car just been into Darren Wood, Stockport, for a few jobs. I must say the chaps there are superb - incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and extremely enthusiastic when it comes to looking after these cars.
I've had an uprated steel clutch pipe fitted, which has replaced the standard rubber item. Should last a long time, and has also given the added bonus of getting rid of the clutch delay valve. The result is much improved clutch pedal feel, as a greater sense of connection with the car when changing gear. A worthwhile upgrade IMO.
Also just had valve clearances done. 17 out of 24 needed re-shimming... which is interesting to note as the car was in at BMW less then 2000 miles ago for that very job - and they reported that they were all absolutely fine. I'm not even convinced they had the rocker cover off. Anyway, I've just got off the phone with said BMW dealer. Let's see what happens... The car now sounds much smoother and drives nicer too. Very pleased.
The car also had a Vanos diagnostic check, and I'm pleased to report it passed with flying colours.
Another area I was worried about is the rear subframe mounting points, as these are prone to cracking on these cars. Thankfully, mine is 100% fit and healthy in this regard, which I was over the moon about!
The 2+ hour drive home from Stockport was very enjoyable indeed
Further tinkering will be limited, I think too much tampering with these cars and you end up ruining them. I won't be doing anything else aesthetically, but I'm just debating ordering some full leather Recaro Sportster CS seats with Recaro sliders and Macht Schnell bases (these bases get the seats nice and low, as the standard seats are way too high). That will probably be it for the foreseeable future.
Quite a late model too. I don't think you could have done any better with this car, good job!Yeah, it is one of the later ones, registered October 2005. Thanks for the kind words
It's a great all-rounder, that's for sure. For the money, I can't think of much else that does such a good job of covering all bases. The brakes are a bit crap as standard, probably fine for most people but since I've fitted this front brake kit, it's made a hell of a difference to both feel and stopping power.
I've had an uprated steel clutch pipe fitted, which has replaced the standard rubber item. Should last a long time, and has also given the added bonus of getting rid of the clutch delay valve. The result is much improved clutch pedal feel, as a greater sense of connection with the car when changing gear. A worthwhile upgrade IMO.
Also just had valve clearances done. 17 out of 24 needed re-shimming... which is interesting to note as the car was in at BMW less then 2000 miles ago for that very job - and they reported that they were all absolutely fine. I'm not even convinced they had the rocker cover off. Anyway, I've just got off the phone with said BMW dealer. Let's see what happens... The car now sounds much smoother and drives nicer too. Very pleased.
The car also had a Vanos diagnostic check, and I'm pleased to report it passed with flying colours.
Another area I was worried about is the rear subframe mounting points, as these are prone to cracking on these cars. Thankfully, mine is 100% fit and healthy in this regard, which I was over the moon about!
The 2+ hour drive home from Stockport was very enjoyable indeed
Podie said:
Never seen one in Imola Red!
Not so sure on the wheels, but makes a change from the CSLs. Love the other mods.
Any further tinkering planned?
They're not too common in Imola Red, at least compared to some other colours. It's not the rarest, there are more unusual colours out there, but a lot of them are Individual orders. Not so sure on the wheels, but makes a change from the CSLs. Love the other mods.
Any further tinkering planned?
Further tinkering will be limited, I think too much tampering with these cars and you end up ruining them. I won't be doing anything else aesthetically, but I'm just debating ordering some full leather Recaro Sportster CS seats with Recaro sliders and Macht Schnell bases (these bases get the seats nice and low, as the standard seats are way too high). That will probably be it for the foreseeable future.
MattHall91 said:
Love it OP.
My favourite colour with LSB in second. Enjoy!
Thanks, I also really like LSB.My favourite colour with LSB in second. Enjoy!
iacabu said:
Quite a late model too. I don't think you could have done any better with this car, good job!
mattknight1984 said:
That's lovely - difficult to improve on OE but you have, wheels suit it perfectly.
A lot of people do some right dodgy mods on these (albeit it's each to their own, of course), but I like to think I've been relatively tasteful with the alterations. Cheers fatman83 said:
Looks cracking, sure I've seen it locally too.
Ta very much, what do you drive? I'll keep an eye out for you.dave123456 said:
had one of these 6 years ago, sold it 3 years ago. wish I hadn't - I'd have one again if it ever came up.... trouble is they have risen in value over the last 3 years quite considerably.
lovely car.
I did toy with getting rid for something else, but I knew I'd regret it. Hence keeping it and treating it to a few nice bits.lovely car.
Andy OH said:
Lovely car mate and I do like the CSL boot lid, it's what should have been on the E46 M3's as standard. The wheels look good too and not too over the top. The brakes again is what should have been standard as the OE callipers and pads were shockingly bad. I had a carbon black E46 M3 new in 2002 and I do miss it. I've been looking at E92 M3's but I still fancy another E46 off to the classifieds to have a browse.
Thanks Andy. off to the classifieds to have a browse.It's a great all-rounder, that's for sure. For the money, I can't think of much else that does such a good job of covering all bases. The brakes are a bit crap as standard, probably fine for most people but since I've fitted this front brake kit, it's made a hell of a difference to both feel and stopping power.
Blayney said:
Well that is rather lovely isn't it?
Amirhussain said:
Beautiful 
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