Discussion
M3 went for boot floor strengthening and new rear subframe bushes today. I’ll most likely go with uprated items and will check brake lines, prop guibo etc whilst the rear subframe is out and on the floor. A lick of paint or powder coat wouldn’t hurt either.
I’ve been offered KW V2 coilover suspension but as said previously, I’d hoped to find some used Intrax in budget. I’ve also secured a Safety Devices rear cage but it’ll need painting in body colour before I fit it. Again it all comes down to cash as I’ll also need race seats and harnesses.
There’s no rush though.
I’ve been offered KW V2 coilover suspension but as said previously, I’d hoped to find some used Intrax in budget. I’ve also secured a Safety Devices rear cage but it’ll need painting in body colour before I fit it. Again it all comes down to cash as I’ll also need race seats and harnesses.
There’s no rush though.
Thanks guys.
It was the spec' that really swung it for me. That and the fact I've always just loved the chunky and aggressive styling of the E46. I was also surprised at just how different it felt to the E36, which really didn't do much for me when I put a few hundred miles on one early last year.
I also think the value of manual E46 M3's are set to continue to rise and it was a kind of 'now or never' scenario for my having one. The only thing lacking on my car was the boot floor strengthening and had anyone asked me, I would have probably said not to buy one that hadn't had the floor issues taken care of. I would have also said to look at as many different cars as you could and to certainly never buy the very first one you see! Clearly all that advice wasn't taken by me though, so I was lucky that it appears to have worked out OK. Well so far anyway. It's in having the boot floor strengthening now and although it's not a cheap job, I think it will reaffirm the value of the car, so it's money well spent. I didn't buy it as an investment though, so it's definitely going to get used as much as possible.
I'll definitely be taking it to Retro Rides this year but imagine it's way too young to make it past the car park. The guys that run the RR events are always great though and usually allow me to park somewhere to make it easier for me because of my dodgy leg. Asking if I can take it up the hill may be pushing my luck but fingers crossed.
I also want to clean and feed the leather trim, as well as swap out the steering wheel for something a bit nicer.
It was the spec' that really swung it for me. That and the fact I've always just loved the chunky and aggressive styling of the E46. I was also surprised at just how different it felt to the E36, which really didn't do much for me when I put a few hundred miles on one early last year.
I also think the value of manual E46 M3's are set to continue to rise and it was a kind of 'now or never' scenario for my having one. The only thing lacking on my car was the boot floor strengthening and had anyone asked me, I would have probably said not to buy one that hadn't had the floor issues taken care of. I would have also said to look at as many different cars as you could and to certainly never buy the very first one you see! Clearly all that advice wasn't taken by me though, so I was lucky that it appears to have worked out OK. Well so far anyway. It's in having the boot floor strengthening now and although it's not a cheap job, I think it will reaffirm the value of the car, so it's money well spent. I didn't buy it as an investment though, so it's definitely going to get used as much as possible.
I'll definitely be taking it to Retro Rides this year but imagine it's way too young to make it past the car park. The guys that run the RR events are always great though and usually allow me to park somewhere to make it easier for me because of my dodgy leg. Asking if I can take it up the hill may be pushing my luck but fingers crossed.
I also want to clean and feed the leather trim, as well as swap out the steering wheel for something a bit nicer.
The devil is in the detail and I treated myself to a new steering wheel. I just need to get a quick release boss.
I also got an induction air scoop from PS Design. They do some nice upgrades for E46 M3 and the quality seems really good.
I also got an induction air scoop from PS Design. They do some nice upgrades for E46 M3 and the quality seems really good.
Edited by e30m3Mark on Saturday 5th January 22:01
Patrick Bateman said:
Surprised nobody else has clocked this but that sounds extremely OTT.
VANOS and rod bearing replacement can both prove pretty costly I’m sure. I’m still trying to ascertain exactly what engine work mine has had over the years but it’s meant contacting the specific workshops detailed in the service book and some seem more helpful than others. I know the rod bearings were done (under recall) but I’m unsure when or where. Before the whole “data protection” thing I would have got all the previous keeper info from the DVLA but that’s no longer an option. My engine feels strong and for now I’ll just keep giving regular oil and filter changes. I intend having a Millers oil analysis done, which will hopefully mean I can prevent any failures. Well that’s the plan anyway.
Well the diff, trailing arms etc are all out and the weldathon of strengthening is set to start soon. The subframe etc is all off being powdercoated and the trailing arm bushes are all being replaced with polybushes.
The brake lines are a bit crusty so they'll be getting renewed and the flexi lines will be braided. Overall it's still pretty good for 16 years though, but it'll look way better after the scabs have been dealt with and some fresh underseal applied.
Apart from the fresh hard lines and braided flexis, will be sending the rear callipers off for a refurb'.
Am still thinking about some Recaros and there's a Momo wheel and quick release ready to go in next.
The brake lines are a bit crusty so they'll be getting renewed and the flexi lines will be braided. Overall it's still pretty good for 16 years though, but it'll look way better after the scabs have been dealt with and some fresh underseal applied.
Apart from the fresh hard lines and braided flexis, will be sending the rear callipers off for a refurb'.
Am still thinking about some Recaros and there's a Momo wheel and quick release ready to go in next.
Thanks, I'll take a look. I've also been watching some of the videos Reddish have posted online that cover the RACP repair / strengthening and rear suspension refresh, to see exactly what's needed. Mine is certainly considerably better than many I've seen but I imagine it would have deteriorated pretty quickly had I not caught it at the point I have?
I've also been looking at whether to fit coilovers (ideally Intrax) or stay with an OE type set up? It's currently on Eibach springs (lower than stock) and the original type Sachs shocks but I have no idea how old they are and it just feels like the right time to replace them.
I've also been looking at whether to fit coilovers (ideally Intrax) or stay with an OE type set up? It's currently on Eibach springs (lower than stock) and the original type Sachs shocks but I have no idea how old they are and it just feels like the right time to replace them.
I always do regular oil changes and more often than BMW usually suggest. I also run 10w60 although I've read some folk think 60 is too heavy for engines not used on track. Personally I disagree.
Anyway, have been doing some research online in my lunch break. https://www.langracing.com/s54-rod-bearing-and-bol...
I intend doing a Millers analysis within the next week or two.
Anyway, have been doing some research online in my lunch break. https://www.langracing.com/s54-rod-bearing-and-bol...
I intend doing a Millers analysis within the next week or two.
Funnily enough, according to the service records, my 'running in service' was done a little late. Mind you, the rod bearings were subsequently replaced as per the BMW recall.
I've always been a bit obsessive when it comes to oil and filter changes and drive with a good degree of mechanical sympathy. That said, I'm going to start saving to have the bearings and head gasket done sometime this coming summer. Meanwhile the KW's arrived today, along with the Safety Devices rear brace. I know the SD item isn't quite as substantial as some that are available but the CSL Cup cars ran them and there wasn't a single RACP failure despite their being driven far harder than I'm ever likely too.
I've always been a bit obsessive when it comes to oil and filter changes and drive with a good degree of mechanical sympathy. That said, I'm going to start saving to have the bearings and head gasket done sometime this coming summer. Meanwhile the KW's arrived today, along with the Safety Devices rear brace. I know the SD item isn't quite as substantial as some that are available but the CSL Cup cars ran them and there wasn't a single RACP failure despite their being driven far harder than I'm ever likely too.
shalmaneser said:
e46m3Mark said:
Funnily enough, according to the service records, my 'running in service' was done a little late. Mind you, the rod bearings were subsequently replaced as per the BMW recall.
I've always been a bit obsessive when it comes to oil and filter changes and drive with a good degree of mechanical sympathy. That said, I'm going to start saving to have the bearings and head gasket done sometime this coming summer. Meanwhile the KW's arrived today, along with the Safety Devices rear brace. I know the SD item isn't quite as substantial as some that are available but the CSL Cup cars ran them and there wasn't a single RACP failure despite their being driven far harder than I'm ever likely too.
Whats the deal with fitting this? I guess it requires bolting through to the subframe? Does it need additional weld on brackets?I've always been a bit obsessive when it comes to oil and filter changes and drive with a good degree of mechanical sympathy. That said, I'm going to start saving to have the bearings and head gasket done sometime this coming summer. Meanwhile the KW's arrived today, along with the Safety Devices rear brace. I know the SD item isn't quite as substantial as some that are available but the CSL Cup cars ran them and there wasn't a single RACP failure despite their being driven far harder than I'm ever likely too.
Powder coated parts arrived back and have fitted all new brake lines in the rear, along with all new bushes throughout.
Edited by e46m3Mark on Thursday 17th January 10:57
Well the welding is all done. It seems we actually got in there just in time, as it was looking a bit on the scabby side. Just to be sure we got rid of all signs of corrosion though, the fuel tanks also came out and some localised media blasting, followed by some schultz and it's all good once more. In fact, once the newly powder coated diff' carrier etc all go back in, it'll look better than ever. The rear KW's are also in (with new top mounts) and we're just waiting on the diff' carrier bush. All being well though, it should all be ready for the geo' to be done early next week. Hopefully anyway!
If anyone has any advice on geo' settings please feel free to share.
It seems we actually got in there just in time, as it was looking a bit on the scabby side. Just to be sure we got rid of all signs of corrosion though, the fuel tanks also came out and some localised media blasting, followed by some schultz and it's all good once more. In fact, once the newly powder coated diff' carrier etc all go back in, it'll look better than ever. The rear KW's are also in (with new top mounts) and we're just waiting on the diff' carrier bush. All being well though, it should all be ready for the geo' to be done early next week. Hopefully anyway!If anyone has any advice on geo' settings please feel free to share.
Well I got the M3 back today and have to say it feels transformed. I mean it was pretty good before but now (thanks to some decent suspension, new trailing arm bushes etc and geometry) it just feels like a different car. It's just so much more nimble now and turn in is much, much sharper. Weirdly it feels like a smaller car now too. I haven't got the shocks set exactly how I'd like them just yet but overall I'm really pleased with the changes I've made.
Edited by e46m3Mark on Saturday 26th January 12:20
Excuse me if I repeat myself but I figured I would post a brief summary of what I've done in the time I've owned the E46.
It's been a busy month or two and although the E46 doesn't look hugely different there have been some significant changes underneath. One of the well known weak spots are the brakes, so the fronts are now bigger and clamped by AP 6 pot callipers, with braided lines and new fluid obviously. They're simply brilliant and look pretty good behind those Apex alloys. There was also some corrosion starting at the bottom of the front wings, where they join the sill, so it made sense to sort that now rather than let the winter roads make matters worse. Now at that point I figured I would just put some miles on the E46 and enjoy its performance but I knew the other well known E46 weak point still needed addressing and ignoring it could be very expensive indeed. E46's are notorious for literally tearing the rear differential subframe mounts from the boot floor and BMW UK had offered a 'goodwill' repair up to 10 years from when the car was new. Unfortunately mine hadn't been done and buying any E46 M3, that hasn't had the problem sorted, is a very real risk. Fortunately for me, Reddish Motorsport in Bristol had done a thorough inspection (including using a camera to view inside box sections) and found just 2 small cracks in a couple of spot welds. They actually said it was one of the better ones they'd inspected but I still figured it would be cheaper to make preventative repairs now and not risk a hugely expensive repair further down the line.
So, out came the rear suspension, trailing arms and diff' subframe and we were able to get a proper look at the whole rear underside. Overall it was pretty good, but there were a couple of places that certainly looked a bit scabby, so it was good that we got in there early. In fact, we even removed the fuel tanks to make sure nothing was missed. Some localised blasting to remove the corrosion and they the subframe mounts were all strengthened with shiny fresh steel, before the whole rear underside was cleaned and resealed. We also had all the subframe, V brace etc powder coated and ran all new brake lines, poly bushes throughout etc etc. If a job's worth doing blah blah blah and who wants to save their wages anyway? Anyway, it's done now and should be good for another 20 years.
Now, at this point we could have just buttoned everything up and that would be that but someone then messaged me with pics of shiny things. These shiny things took the form of KW V3 coilovers, which are just what any sensible car enthusiast would buy just after Christmas and hide from their Mrs, rather than suffer days of sarcastic comments and snipes that start with 'that bloody car'. So with that in mind, the KW's duly arrived when she was at work.
Obviously it would be too easy if they just bolted straight in so, as is the way with these things, a further chunk of cash went on new adjustable top mounts from Millway Motorsport.
I ran KW's on my much missed E30 M3 and they were great. The only problem then though, was the rears were just far too hard for Cornish roads and simply didn't have enough compliance. It was great on track but way too skittish on bumpy Cornish lanes. The V3's on the E46 actually seem pretty good so far and the springs are actually their progressive option. The rears retain the OE type separate spring and shock, as opposed to being true coilovers, so there was no need to strengthen the shock tower. I still opted to fit some spreader plates though, just to make sure. In order to dial in some more camber and castor though, I had to get some front top mounts from Millway via the excellent Hack Engineering, who are simply excellent and (along with C3 BMW in Kent) supply just about everything I'm likely to want to keep an M car in fine fettle. I also ran Millway top mounts on the E30 and their quality is just excellent. The adjustable rear camber arms came from Eibach. The other change I made was to go from a 265/35r18 square set up to running 235/40's on the front. Ordinarily I would have stuck with the 265's all round but E46's have a tendency to tramline and 265's just made that worse, so I'll keep the square set up for the track. Anyway, I was finally at the point where I could have the geometry done.
Stock E46 M3 suspension (especially on the CSL) is very good. My own car came with pretty fresh OE shocks and -45mm lowering springs from Eibach and was far nicer than I'd expected, so replacing the whole suspension set-up hadn't been all that high on my list of improvements. Yes, it rolled a little more than I like and yes, a bit less altitude would be good from an aesthetic perspective, but I wasn't looking for the E46 to be as track focussed as the E30 had been, so I asked Martin at MS Motorsport for his advice, as I knew he'd run a beautiful E46 M3 that he'd built to club sport specification. He came back to me with a fast road geometry set-up which we dialled in, although I did wonder if -4 deg' of negative camber on the front may have been a little aggressive? In fact, the car has been pretty much transformed and is just so much sharper and responsive. Initial turn in is much improved and there is still plenty of compliance, despite being firmer overall. I still need to get some more time behind the wheel but it's not far off being my ideal. The whole suspension set-up thing is such a steep learning curve though and being mainly a road car, there's always a good degree of compromise needed. I'm definitely headed in the right direction, although my rubbish driveway may need me to raise the ride height a little.
Shame as I love how it sits right now.
Unfortunately, the weather has been awful and Cup 2's aren't exactly great in snow and ice. I just can't wait for springtime to arrive so that I can start putting some miles on it. Overall though I am really happy with how things have gone so far.
Opted to go for amber indicators so just waiting on fronts now.
It's been a busy month or two and although the E46 doesn't look hugely different there have been some significant changes underneath. One of the well known weak spots are the brakes, so the fronts are now bigger and clamped by AP 6 pot callipers, with braided lines and new fluid obviously. They're simply brilliant and look pretty good behind those Apex alloys. There was also some corrosion starting at the bottom of the front wings, where they join the sill, so it made sense to sort that now rather than let the winter roads make matters worse. Now at that point I figured I would just put some miles on the E46 and enjoy its performance but I knew the other well known E46 weak point still needed addressing and ignoring it could be very expensive indeed. E46's are notorious for literally tearing the rear differential subframe mounts from the boot floor and BMW UK had offered a 'goodwill' repair up to 10 years from when the car was new. Unfortunately mine hadn't been done and buying any E46 M3, that hasn't had the problem sorted, is a very real risk. Fortunately for me, Reddish Motorsport in Bristol had done a thorough inspection (including using a camera to view inside box sections) and found just 2 small cracks in a couple of spot welds. They actually said it was one of the better ones they'd inspected but I still figured it would be cheaper to make preventative repairs now and not risk a hugely expensive repair further down the line.
So, out came the rear suspension, trailing arms and diff' subframe and we were able to get a proper look at the whole rear underside. Overall it was pretty good, but there were a couple of places that certainly looked a bit scabby, so it was good that we got in there early. In fact, we even removed the fuel tanks to make sure nothing was missed. Some localised blasting to remove the corrosion and they the subframe mounts were all strengthened with shiny fresh steel, before the whole rear underside was cleaned and resealed. We also had all the subframe, V brace etc powder coated and ran all new brake lines, poly bushes throughout etc etc. If a job's worth doing blah blah blah and who wants to save their wages anyway? Anyway, it's done now and should be good for another 20 years.
Now, at this point we could have just buttoned everything up and that would be that but someone then messaged me with pics of shiny things. These shiny things took the form of KW V3 coilovers, which are just what any sensible car enthusiast would buy just after Christmas and hide from their Mrs, rather than suffer days of sarcastic comments and snipes that start with 'that bloody car'. So with that in mind, the KW's duly arrived when she was at work.
Obviously it would be too easy if they just bolted straight in so, as is the way with these things, a further chunk of cash went on new adjustable top mounts from Millway Motorsport. I ran KW's on my much missed E30 M3 and they were great. The only problem then though, was the rears were just far too hard for Cornish roads and simply didn't have enough compliance. It was great on track but way too skittish on bumpy Cornish lanes. The V3's on the E46 actually seem pretty good so far and the springs are actually their progressive option. The rears retain the OE type separate spring and shock, as opposed to being true coilovers, so there was no need to strengthen the shock tower. I still opted to fit some spreader plates though, just to make sure. In order to dial in some more camber and castor though, I had to get some front top mounts from Millway via the excellent Hack Engineering, who are simply excellent and (along with C3 BMW in Kent) supply just about everything I'm likely to want to keep an M car in fine fettle. I also ran Millway top mounts on the E30 and their quality is just excellent. The adjustable rear camber arms came from Eibach. The other change I made was to go from a 265/35r18 square set up to running 235/40's on the front. Ordinarily I would have stuck with the 265's all round but E46's have a tendency to tramline and 265's just made that worse, so I'll keep the square set up for the track. Anyway, I was finally at the point where I could have the geometry done.
Stock E46 M3 suspension (especially on the CSL) is very good. My own car came with pretty fresh OE shocks and -45mm lowering springs from Eibach and was far nicer than I'd expected, so replacing the whole suspension set-up hadn't been all that high on my list of improvements. Yes, it rolled a little more than I like and yes, a bit less altitude would be good from an aesthetic perspective, but I wasn't looking for the E46 to be as track focussed as the E30 had been, so I asked Martin at MS Motorsport for his advice, as I knew he'd run a beautiful E46 M3 that he'd built to club sport specification. He came back to me with a fast road geometry set-up which we dialled in, although I did wonder if -4 deg' of negative camber on the front may have been a little aggressive? In fact, the car has been pretty much transformed and is just so much sharper and responsive. Initial turn in is much improved and there is still plenty of compliance, despite being firmer overall. I still need to get some more time behind the wheel but it's not far off being my ideal. The whole suspension set-up thing is such a steep learning curve though and being mainly a road car, there's always a good degree of compromise needed. I'm definitely headed in the right direction, although my rubbish driveway may need me to raise the ride height a little.
Shame as I love how it sits right now.Unfortunately, the weather has been awful and Cup 2's aren't exactly great in snow and ice. I just can't wait for springtime to arrive so that I can start putting some miles on it. Overall though I am really happy with how things have gone so far.
Opted to go for amber indicators so just waiting on fronts now.
Edited by e46m3Mark on Friday 1st February 14:29
Euro car parts and with the January 20% discount they were about £45 inc delivery. The rears were considerably more though.
I'm trying to find some of the seat material so if anyone has any leads / suggestions please shout.
Anyway, the sun is finally out and I have a couple of hours spare, so I'm off to use some super unleaded.
I'm trying to find some of the seat material so if anyone has any leads / suggestions please shout.
Anyway, the sun is finally out and I have a couple of hours spare, so I'm off to use some super unleaded.
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