E46 M3 road legal track car

E46 M3 road legal track car

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Track_M3

Original Poster:

296 posts

115 months

Monday 12th March 2018
quotequote all
Had a lengthy-ish build thread on here before the greedy b******s at photobucked destroyed it.

(As Photobucket has done over my last build, here's a new one)

Brought this car bone stock in late 2012 and never had intentions on turning it into a fully fledge track car.

First track outing was November 2014 and has been a steady stream of modifications and track days since.


IMG_5933 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

IMG_5955 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

IMG_5941 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

IMG_5934 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

And now (summer 2017)

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

This is as the car stands today, I've just picked up a CSF oil cooler and a Motorsport 4.10 diff ratio to rebuild a spare diff, just need to decided on what LSD to go for.

________________________________

Been a while since updated this;

Haven't had a dry track day since June last year

Snetterton... managed a 2:08 with a knacked stock diff that was no longer locking

CH_170608_SN_Cars_0226 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

CH_170608_SN_Cars_0808 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

CH_170608_SN_Cars_1655 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

CH_170608_SN_Cars_1679 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Goodwood.. only managed to match my best of a 1:27, no matter how much pushed on was still the same time; was an extremely hot day so I blame that

PBWPIX by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

PBWPIX by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Got given some GSR carbon wings so chucked them on to see how the fit was before painting them (which in the end took about 5 months)

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

4.10 and Wavetrac going in

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Had two 20 min sessions around Castle Combe... first time on the circuit and first time on AD08R, not a track I enjoyed but could of just been down to conditions, best was only a 1:20

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Plumbing in the CSF oil cooler, my stock lines had cracked so used the end OEM fittings that went into the oil cooler itself with some AN10 fittings welded on so I could use braided lines

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Done Bedford GT again to see if my custom exhaust with 3 boxes would pass noise regs... first session out black flagged frown was 0.7 db below the limit so spent the rest of the day short shifting and lifting out, not ideal but was a freezing, wet and to start icy day but still had fun... temps never went above 2 degrees, best was only 2:57

by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Being 6'3 I like my seat low but the steering wheel was left a little high, so I made a 5 to 10mm shim which has lowered it perfectly!

by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Jan 2018... Wings and some other little bits of body work finally painted

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

New PF front rotors with black bells and RSL29 pads

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Side note bought some 3 piece splits to put the AD08R on, there all built and tyred up but yet to see the car

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Refitted a stock exhaust system to pass noise regs at Bedford GT with no lift, and I've never done Thruxton which is even more strict so this downgrade should get me in there no problems (fingers crossed)

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

I for one actually love the sound of the stock system and have even missed the rasp/rattle.

Lastly carried out a full service so I'm all ready for track days 2018

First one booked is Bedford GT this Saturday coming 17/2/18

___________________________________________________________

Some onboard footage

https://youtu.be/r5O0fZoR9Vo

https://youtu.be/jnoeu6ip9HY

https://youtu.be/josfeMxLtx0

___________________________________________________________

So Bedford GT on 17th Feb went okay-ish. Was sunny and dry but a cold day, managed 4 session in the morning and on the 4th got the dreaded black flag for going over the driveby db limit...game over frown

Turns out when I installed my stock exhaust system I clearly hadn't done up from my cats to centre section tight enough, only 3 out of the 6 bolts were left and they were obviously loose too, had also blow out the gasket.
We only realised this after we'd loaded up the car and was driving out of the pits with the windows open, couldn't tell at all with windows up and helmet on.

I've since fitted new gaskets, bolts that are done up FT and also double nutted it just to be sure it never happens again.

Some pictures and video from the day

1DX25626 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Run-of-the-mill GTR holding up braking zones and corners

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

1DX25514 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

1DX25561 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Fun lap chasing an Aerial Atom

https://youtu.be/nnEAdr4yoPA

Got my hand on some Image billet 60 motorsport wheels that needed a refurb.
Had the centres done in Satin black and lips in Gloss black to break it up a little then bought a new set of bolts and built them in my lounge.

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Finished off with some Ti studs from PSdesign

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Wheels have directional centres for added brake cooling. 9.5" up front and 11" out back, which I may reduce down to 10.5 or even 10 to make tyres fit little better.

________

Just gave the car a quick wip over and a nut & bolt check to make sure all is well for Rockingham on the 24th March

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Untitled by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Also have a few session around Silverstone on Easter Monday at the PistonHeads meet was rebooked due to snow.


AmosMoses

4,039 posts

164 months

Monday 12th March 2018
quotequote all
Good god man! That is fabulous, bet this thing can really move on track, awesome.

Bowen86

239 posts

110 months

Monday 12th March 2018
quotequote all
Absolutely love this. Pretty sure I saw it at Castle Combe, in the monsoon conditions.

Keep up the good work mate.

ManOpener

12,467 posts

168 months

Monday 12th March 2018
quotequote all
Love the Apex ARC-8s, such a fantastic looking wheel.

Bright Halo

2,950 posts

234 months

Monday 12th March 2018
quotequote all
I bet that is superb fun on track and looks superb as well!

How you getting on with the extended gearstick? I did the same thing with my RX8 much to others critism, I find it so natural to move your hand from wheel to gearknob and back again without reaching down.

Keep up the good work!

Track_M3

Original Poster:

296 posts

115 months

Monday 12th March 2018
quotequote all
AmosMoses said:
Good god man! That is fabulous, bet this thing can really move on track, awesome.
Thank you... does okay on track, trying to do as many days as possible this year to get all the seat time in

Bowen86 said:
Absolutely love this. Pretty sure I saw it at Castle Combe, in the monsoon conditions.

Keep up the good work mate.
Yeah think it was the forge action day ?

Here's a onboard of how bad it was out there https://instagram.com/p/BY4KwfNBR_4/

ManOpener said:
Love the Apex ARC-8s, such a fantastic looking wheel.
They are my fav wheel, any other wheel that goes on the car has to complete with Apex's and it's tough.

C2james

4,685 posts

164 months

Monday 12th March 2018
quotequote all
Do slightly love this car, follow it on Instagram and 197.net when you had the Clio (AG 200). I’ve only had my M3 a week and already started in small things haha

m3jappa

6,391 posts

217 months

Monday 12th March 2018
quotequote all
Im loving this! Especially the wheels!

What is that shifter? is it sequential or just higher up normal. I had a geoff steel one in my old e36 m3 and it was excellent.

james_gt3rs

4,816 posts

190 months

Tuesday 13th March 2018
quotequote all
Ah I know this car, flew passed me at Bedford last time I went (yellow VX220, December ish). Quick car!

Jay_87

1,051 posts

203 months

Tuesday 13th March 2018
quotequote all
MEGA car, can't wait to see it on track at Rockingham... i'm coming a passenger ride!

Track_M3

Original Poster:

296 posts

115 months

Tuesday 13th March 2018
quotequote all
C2james said:
Do slightly love this car, follow it on Instagram and 197.net when you had the Clio (AG 200). I’ve only had my M3 a week and already started in small things haha
Good man... do kind of miss that clio cup.

m3jappa said:
Im loving this! Especially the wheels!

What is that shifter? is it sequential or just higher up normal. I had a geoff steel one in my old e36 m3 and it was excellent.
It's a CAE shifter, so still a normal H pattern but just up higher and sprung loaded so always centrals to neutral.

Check it out on some onboards... https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7gbiMdKGGcV0P24Z...

james_gt3rs said:
Ah I know this car, flew passed me at Bedford last time I went (yellow VX220, December ish). Quick car!
The wet and icy day ? Bad conditions and had to short shift for noise but still had fun!

Jay_87 said:
MEGA car, can't wait to see it on track at Rockingham... i'm coming a passenger ride!
Looking forward to it mate.

Track_M3

Original Poster:

296 posts

115 months

Thursday 5th April 2018
quotequote all
Haven't managed to upload any footage or photos from Rockingham yet... but did buy a few photos from a couple of Silverstone session on Easter monday

This event was first schedule for the beginning of March but was snowed off, a month on and typically snow was forecasted again... but thankfully we only got heavy rain, and I was not going to let that stop me.

Silverstone National 2-4-18 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Silverstone National 2-4-18 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Silverstone National 2-4-18 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Silverstone National 2-4-18 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

Silverstone National 2-4-18 by Sam Ratcliffe, on Flickr

They've actually resurfaced Silverstone start to finish, on first impression grip level is up in the wet so hopefully the same in the dry, biggest thing noticed was how much louder it was through the car, especially in braking.

Car performed pretty faultlessly, will try get around to uploading GoPro footage.

shalmaneser

5,930 posts

194 months

Thursday 5th April 2018
quotequote all
Whats the deal with the machined cam cover, reduces the strain on the coil packs?

Are the Apex wheels 18's? I've always thought e46 M3's look a bit over-wheeled on 19's, especially the overly blingy OEM ones.

MX6

5,983 posts

212 months

Thursday 5th April 2018
quotequote all
Great machine, almost looks too clean for a track car! All the additions look tasteful, I really like those purposeful looking split rims...

tomkingshott

54 posts

144 months

Friday 6th April 2018
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this is an absolutely gorgeous looking machine fair play to you mate! great to see it getting some abuse on track too absolutely adore an e46

h3nde

107 posts

88 months

Friday 6th April 2018
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Seen the car a few times at the Akeman Inn and at Kop Hill. Really nice clean build, I liked the single exit exhaust you had then. I even hear DannyDC2 talk about your car in his videos spin

E30M3ZONE

82 posts

102 months

Friday 6th April 2018
quotequote all
Fantastic.

Why oh why did I sell mine?

Edited by E30M3ZONE on Friday 6th April 12:17

573

309 posts

200 months

Friday 6th April 2018
quotequote all
As I've said elsewhere, love this car Sam. cool

Owlwood

251 posts

155 months

Friday 6th April 2018
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Great read, thanks for sharing.

SebringMan

1,773 posts

185 months

Friday 6th April 2018
quotequote all
As always it's a great read.

For the Google Chrome users with a plug-in your old thread isn't dead and still very much visible smile.

I saw the wheels at Silverstone and felt they looked superb! How do the AD08Rs compare to the NS-2Rs and AR-1s you had?

Another thing I wish to know is how come you didn't go to the CSL airbox? I know they are not cheap but am also aware Eventuris and gold leaf isn't exactly bargainous either smile.

The whole package looks superb.