Power Out E46 M3 manual build

[Andy OH]

binka1000 said:

Can i ask why you got rid of the M2? Am looking into these as possible purchase as for next car, be interesting to hear your views? Many thanks tom

I know I'm not the OP but I have owned every M3 apart from the F80 and currently own a M2. (See my profile)

The M2 is like the E30 M3 in terms of handling and very similar but better to the E46 M3 with more power and i would say a more usable power delivery as you don't have to rev the M2 like mad unlike how you did in the E46 M3. The power delivery in the M2 is very linear and doesn't feel like a turbo charged car. The M2 is quite nimble and i'd say a lot more controllable than the latest M3/M4.

I haven't tracked the M2 but on normal road the brakes are very good, if tracked they probably need more focused track pads and uprated brake fluid. Some people do not like the EPAS but it's something you get used to.

Also have a look on http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=86

Edited by Andy OH on Wednesday 10th January 13:40

[C7 JFW]

ds666 said:

+3 - why take a low mileage car and change everything .

Stock brakes - notoriously poor.
Stock subframe mounting points - notorious for cracking
Stock wheels - notorious for corrosion are relatively heavy in contrast to Rays TE37's

OP: Keep going - you're doing good things.

[e28525e]

Liking this, great work.

[Dr G]

That gear knob made me laugh out loud; what a cool little thing!

[PowerOut]

Only just checked this. So much hate, most things I will do to the car will be reversible but to be honest just wanted a super nice blank canvas to create a solid and hopefully good looking track/fast road/nurburgring car.

[PowerOut]

binka1000 said:

Can i ask why you got rid of the M2? Am looking into these as possible purchase as for next car, be interesting to hear your views? Many thanks tom

The M2 is a great car. I took mine round the ring and loved every minute of it however I think i over paid a bit for mine and didn't want to track a car of that much value. Also I didn't like how in the early days it seemed like it would be quite a limited number of cars being made and now with them probably releasing one with the engine from the M4 its a bit annoying. All that aside, its an amazing chassis and i loved the M2.

[PowerOut]

joema said:

There are plenty out there and it's not like he's doing it to a rare Ferrari 250. It's his money to lose and unless he makes it a complete track slag it'll go back to standard easily.

Any other plans bar wheels/suspension etc?

Half cage, seats, exhaust, possibly change to a shifter like CAE.

[PowerOut]

ds666 said:

+3 - why take a low mileage car and change everything .

Stock cars are boring

[PowerOut]

Gooly said:

Will look ballistic on TE37s, good choice. Ambers on the front would set it off nicely as well. What sort of jap stuff did you have before?
Curious to see how you find the E46 in comparison in terms of driving feel / response and balance

Supercharged GT86, Evo X, S14 for drift, a suzuki alto works kei car lol

[PowerOut]

Todd Bonzalez said:

Christ go and buy a barn full of E46s and never drive them if you're so arsed you freakin' dorks.

Hi Jonathan this car is cool as heck and the wheels rule!

J4CKO said:

Indeed there are thousands of them out there, and this is his one to do with as he wishes, and very nice it looks !

Thanks!

[C70R]

J4CKO said:

Todd Bonzalez said:

Christ go and buy a barn full of E46s and never drive them if you're so arsed you freakin' dorks.

Hi Jonathan this car is cool as heck and the wheels rule!

Indeed there are thousands of them out there, and this is his one to do with as he wishes, and very nice it looks !

Couldn't agree more. Generally the people who make this noise most often are not the ones who would put their money where their mouths are.
Keep it up OP - I'm giving serious thought to a 'lite' version of this project with an SMG box.

[Paracetamol]

PowerOut said:

Only just checked this. So much hate, most things I will do to the car will be reversible but to be honest just wanted a super nice blank canvas to create a solid and hopefully good looking track/fast road/nurburgring car.

I apologized ahead of my hate

I have nothing at all against modifying cars but to modify such a nice unmolested car (with no broken subframe etc etc) just seems wrong when there are so many already crap M3s out there. Or perhaps the car isn't as good as I perceive it to be?

Imagine doing what you are doing to a mint 205 GTi or a Z3M coupe etc etc as so many people did even 5 years ago..

[PowerOut]

car is an incredible example. Don't see the thrill of it sitting in a garage when it can be enjoyed. Its not like its got budget mods on it. Can you imagine owning a 34GTR a car thats value has rocketed and keeping it stock. It would be so boring.

Also now all can think about is how sick a modified Z3M would be

[Tommie38]

Must say that the comments about leaving it original are a little odd. This is an E46 M3 FFS, they made stacks of them.

No I can’t be bothered to find a list of them on Autotrader. If you want a low mileage original one, look harder and be prepared to pay for it when you find one...

[Tommie38]

OP what are your plans for suspension and interior?

I do think good suspension and a nice set of Recaros would really do wonders.

[Paracetamol]

PowerOut said:

car is an incredible example. Don't see the thrill of it sitting in a garage when it can be enjoyed. Its not like its got budget mods on it. Can you imagine owning a 34GTR a car thats value has rocketed and keeping it stock. It would be so boring.

Also now all can think about is how sick a modified Z3M would be

34 GTR and most Japanese turbos were designed from the outset to be modified. M sport cars are generally brilliantly engineered in the first place and benefit little from being modified as they are in a high state of tune.

I am not saying let it sit in the garage and not be enjoyed. I am saying that an M3 e46 manual in good original condition is in fact a rare car and one that BMW fans are looking for. So let this one be and take one of the ones that is not in such good original condition and modify that and let this one go to a good home..

anyway it seems to late now and its your car- but promise me you will never buy a grade 2 listed home and add UPVC windows to make it warmer :-)

Just kidding..enjoy it..be safe on the track.

[Todd Bonzalez]

Paracetamol said:

34 GTR and most Japanese turbos were designed from the outset to be modified. M sport cars are generally brilliantly engineered in the first place and benefit little from being modified as they are in a high state of tune.

I am not saying let it sit in the garage and not be enjoyed. I am saying that an M3 e46 manual in good original condition is in fact a rare car and one that BMW fans are looking for. So let this one be and take one of the ones that is not in such good original condition and modify that and let this one go to a good home..

anyway it seems to late now and its your car- but promise me you will never buy a grade 2 listed home and add UPVC windows to make it warmer :-)

Just kidding..enjoy it..be safe on the track.

This is total bks pal. OEMs have to consider component costing, NVH, serviceability and all the boring stuff.
A stock M3 won't see where a basic modified (brakes, square setup, suspension) went. "Brilliant engineering" like the subframe tearing through it's mount points also have to be fixed.
BMW ended up modifying it themselves for the CSL ffs.

[PowerOut]

Paracetamol said:

34 GTR and most Japanese turbos were designed from the outset to be modified. M sport cars are generally brilliantly engineered in the first place and benefit little from being modified as they are in a high state of tune.

I am not saying let it sit in the garage and not be enjoyed. I am saying that an M3 e46 manual in good original condition is in fact a rare car and one that BMW fans are looking for. So let this one be and take one of the ones that is not in such good original condition and modify that and let this one go to a good home..

anyway it seems to late now and its your car- but promise me you will never buy a grade 2 listed home and add UPVC windows to make it warmer :-)

Just kidding..enjoy it..be safe on the track.

If you're so hurt by me modifying an e46 m3 then make me a very strong offer for it before i mod it. Feel free to PM me. Id rather crash it on a track than it sit in a garage gathering dust in the hope of one day making a couple grand on it.

[PowerOut]

Tommie38 said:

OP what are your plans for suspension and interior?

I do think good suspension and a nice set of Recaros would really do wonders.

good suspension and seats should be on it February!

[Paracetamol]

PowerOut said:

If you're so hurt by me modifying an e46 m3 then make me a very strong offer for it before i mod it. Feel free to PM me. Id rather crash it on a track than it sit in a garage gathering dust in the hope of one day making a couple grand on it.

if I still lived in blighty I would bite your hand off..