Discussion
So I've finally been building myself up to the inevitable. I've had an e46 compact 316ti and my recent E46 330ci, so I've always been wanting to try the M3. I had thought of an E92 335i, but Ever since getting my 330 I've wanted to try an m3 and yes to some people it's may look like the same car but to me it's a totally different animal. And your only young once right.... so I've heard all the great reviews on them, and when I went out in my first one I was instantly determined to get one, the speed, the way it handles and of course so noise.
So I'd been searching for roughly just over 2 weeks, missed out on a few, went to look at a few which were just frankly not as advertised and were rubbish.
Was searching eBay just by chance due to being on nights and come across this one. Had only been up two hours ! Spoke to the guy, it's had 2 owners one was a bmw technician and the final one was a 40 year old who has clearly looked after it. The guy selling it had took it in px for a Porsche convertible...lucky guy. Spoke to the guy on the phone, and everything added up. FSH by dealer and specialists. Its had the dreaded subframe replaced by bmw. So I thought it was perfect. The paints looks inaccurate, no signs of rust he just said the wheels could do with a refurb. Guy seems like a genuine guy as he sells classic cars for a living, and just doesn't want this sitting around as he doesn't deal with them.
So the ad read as:
I have just taken this in PX today against one of my Classic Porsches.
Absolutely immaculate coachwork & equally pristine rare M-Texture Alcantara & Leather interior, seeing is believing
Specification;
. E46 M3 3.2
. 2004 (54 Plate)
. Only 2 owners
. SMG
. Silver Grey
. M -Texture Alcantara and half leather Interior with Gloss Black Trim
. 117k miles
. Full Service History (BMW & Specialist)
. MOT until May 17
. Electric Memory Seats with inflatable bolsters
. Aftermarket Sat Nav
. Bluetooth
. Polybushed Rear Suspension
. Upgraded JBL Speakers
. OEM Cupholders
. New Bonnet and Boot Badges
. Xenon Auto Lights and Auto Wipers
. The car is rust free.
. The car has very recently had a full oil change (including diff) and new spark plugs and filters at a BMW specialist.
. The car also has a pair of new rear coil springs and a brand new sub frame.
. The boot floor was replaced by BMW and inspected when the new subframe was installed.
. No problems with the SMG 'box
Points of interest :
. Front wheels need a refurb - lacquer bubbling and some kerbing marks
All seems perfect to me, I didn't ideally want alcantara seats but then I've not seen them very often and now I quite like the look of them. As there's no heated seats my bum won't be roasting or freezing cold. The seats don't look as though they've even been sat in. In fact the guy said someone had offered him £1000 plus his black leather.
He said he'd had 3 people message and I just knew as the price he had it up for to me its easily worth £10,000 so with that I left a £500 deposit and he's going to be delivering it to me in his race shuttle on Wednesday...going to be a very long day for me tomorrow.
Anyway pictures, only ones of his advert for now will update with more when it arrives Wednesday.
So got delivered today, wow is all I can say. A massive step up from my 330 obviously. Only been out in it for about half an hour due to having to work tonight. But I'm over the moon with it so far. Interior is really nice ! Will be giving it a clean tomorrow then will take some more pictures. Thinking I just need the csl software update. Which might be getting done Saturday. Guy was a genuinely nice guy glad to have purchased from him.
Just a comparison pic between my old 330
So today I swapped over the carbon fibre trim from my 330 and some of the trim that was in better condition. All I've got left to swap over is the lower steering wheel trim but cba today as have to take both steering wheels off and I'd had enough after basically removing and putting in two whole interiors. I have put the iPad in the m3 as I much prefer it to any system even tho it's not oem. But so much better to use and with the kenwood stereo and the Jbl speakers that have been put in this, sounds really good. Really impressed. Although not that I've had the music on tbh just enjoying the sound from the engine . Still got to put all the interior back in the 330 ready for sale so at least that will have a nice piano black interior and eonon unit.
Starting to get used to the smg and have to say I'm loving it. Already hating getting in a manual.
Few pictures they are terrible but I just pulled over and took a few.
Things I've noticed that need sorting soon are:
New headlight lenses
New fog light lenses
New side indicator lenses
Silvervision indicators
Sidelight led to match xenons
Alcantara steering wheel
Alcantara gear nob and handbrake gaitor
E60 m5 gearnob
Extended smg paddles
Wheel Refurb or two rear wheels for the front
Eurostyle exhaust tips
That should see it looking in perfect condition.
Also a good clean and some better pictures.
So with being off today I got a few more jobs sorted what I wanted to
First of all changed the side lights to led to match the xenons
Cleaned up the steering wheel and seats, still can't get over how immaculate the seats are, quite a bit of dirt came off. Think it's mainly the steering wheel. Also changed over my lower steering wheel trim as didn't like the piano black preferred the oem.
Then gave the outside a good clean, and a bit of autosol on the exhaust pipes.
So been and had the csl software installed and a few other little bits installed. Overall I'm so impressed with the software,made the gear shifts so much better. Would recommend anyone who's thinking of doing it to do it straight away.
Also just a small change got rid of the fried egg look. Always hate that.
So done a job I always do when I get a new car and with the weather being so nice thought yesterday was the perfect day. Reprinting the callipers. Nothing worse than seeing rusty callipers went with silver this time normally go black but I'm really pleased with how they've turned out. Really with it had a BBK on, maybe for the future. Anyway few pics, wheels desperately need returbing or swapping for csls. Cleaned behind them and sealed them anyway.
So big update... yes I've got with what everyone else usually does. Had the csls on my 330 and I loved them, and now I could get the deeper concave on the read I found myself wanting the csls back. I love how they look on the car !! Also when having the tyres swapped over they told me the spring on the back had snapped, luckily I was given one with the car but was told it didn't need replacing as it was okay. But anyway changed it over, was harder to get in because I've usually swapped for Coilovers and with the spring being much smaller it's much easier lol. Also had new bolts and wheel badges, always wished I'd got new bolts previously m, so pleased I've done it as makes the wheels look much cleaner. Also managed to get my private registration put on after a few initial problems. Anyway, pictures.....
Done one of my favourite mods to a bmw. Done it in everyone and it massively improves the interior but also the drive I find.
Was 50/50 between this one and alcantara but glad I've gone for the usual perforated sides and nappa leather on top and a bit thicker. Looks and feels so much better. Added some carbon fibre paddles to go with the carbon fibre inside, only thing that bugs me is it's a different weave so may look to send it off to the guy I got the other bits from. But I much prefer them bigger and easier to shift.
Csl diffuser painted and refitted
Suspension all sorted now thank god. And I'm really happy with how it's sitting much better than before.
With this lovely weather I done a few jobs I wanted to get done. I cleaned it first then got the trusty autosol out and cleaned a few bits up.
[pic]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170407/b94263ce425b4c7a2594d82901a5ac37.jpg[pic]
Gave the inside a full wet vac including taking the seats out, and also done the seats.
Was really clean...not
Finished
So stormworks knob is in.
[pic]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170629/2b9eebdda5b181d8abd80f6aadd999ef.jpg[pic]
So quite a few bits done over the last few days. Got all the storm interior bits installed and I must say now there all in I love them all. Especially the Paddles how the illuminate and have neoprene on the back, make the changes much nicer than the cheap carbon ones. I’ve sprayed the smg surround and wheel trim in a Matt black that’s pealable (plasti dip from Halfords) so if I didn’t like it I could remove it. But I’m really happy with it. And also changed the centre console to a brand new one as even though mine was in good condition I wanted it new to match the other new bits. Been bugging me for a while. I have to say I’m over the moon with the interior now I would say complete. As everything matches as I want it to. So pictures....
Old vs new Paddles
Old centre console and new
other pictures of the interior
stacks were fitted today. I’m over the moon with how they look at the sound!!!!!! So awesome. Really opens the sound up to how a m3 should sound.
Pics.
Small update but something that I always like to do. New side indicators from BMW.
Old driver side
New driver side
So few more updates done this week
Led interior lights
New passenger headlight
Powerfold mirrors fitted (still got to split my old ones down and put the motors in them as there in better condition)
So sorry for the overload of pics but gave it a good clean today. Usual process.
Not updated this for a while, decided to take the car off the road for the winter as I had a few things I wanted to get done on the car. Plus change in job meant travel has increased to 60 miles a day so decided to take it off the road and get the train to work.
Wheels are off being refurbed in hyper silver as ever since I purchased them they had kerb rash and some worse than others. So took the wheels off. Also purchased some new Michellin Pilot Sport 4S in CSL sizes. Expensive but will be worth it hopefully and the wheels did need new tyres. Will update with pictures once wheels are back.
Wheels back with new tyres mounted. Look fantastic, just gone for a basic shiny silver exactly the same as before. Quality is great and was only £160 with new tyres mounted and balanced and the blokes shop is literally at the back of my house was a new place so thought I’d give it a try. Also I know there only tyres but I really feel the Michelin’s add to look the look and make them look better. Also look much better with the correct CSL size tyres.
Also managed to spend £500 on bits at bmw. Nothing amazing just doing a bit of a tidy up underneath and new steering wheel trim as mine was painted and just didn’t like it. Also had to get a new headlight level sensor, AGAIN. Really are a bad design. And got a new engine cover plastic for underneath as mine was always missing.
Also took the underside plastics off, cleaned them and they look much better now.
So the bits from bmw arrived:
New underside engine cover (mine was always missing)
New v brace
New exhaust holders/ mounts
New steering wheel lower trim
New denim headlight level sensor
Amazing how quick the total price adds up lol.
Also cleaned my other underside plastics, this is by no means any form of underside restoration. Just bits I wanted to tidy up as they were badly corroded.
The new wheel trim in black, didn’t fancy the Titan as I have no other Titan silver pieces and personally feel it ties in better with all the other plastics, however colour looks a tiny bit different from the top controls but may have meant to be like that or if the top has wore.
So I’ve been doing a few bits since my new parts from bmw arrived. Mainly things that will never be seen. But wanted to get them tidied up for myself.
Fitted the new exhaust mount/holders. Fitted the underside panels that I’d cleaned up, as well as the new v brace. Gave the underside a snow foam and cleaned a few bits up. By no means perfect but as good as I’d like without going silly.
Fitted all the new bmw centre caps.
Gave under the bonnet a clean
So had the day off work today and as the weather was decent thought I’d do a few jobs I’ve been meaning to get done.
First off order 4 x jack rubbers, was only off eBay and at £12 thought I’d give them a go. They are fine apart from a bit smaller than original. But can’t see it being a problem. My old ones were either missing or badly damaged.
Then I had a fog light that wasnt working. So ordered two led ones. And new side lights. Should’ve ordered high beams as there still yellow.
Removed my rear bumper as I wanted to clean behind it and also try and make it align better.
Also had to change the headlight washer pump as that seemed to have failed. All back working now though. Although annoyed as I found I had a spare in the shed after buying one. God knows why, but I have loads of parts in the shed lol.
Then just gave her a clean
Next up will be doing an oil change at home with spark plugs, filter etc. Also have order the upgrated diff bolts, and will be changing the diff oil. Then have my mot. Hopefully passes.
I feel with a car of this age there’s constantly something you can do to be tinkering with. Everyone always says oh why don’t you get something newer, but truth is I love tinkering and improving things that no one but me will ever notice.
IF anyone has made it this far, I appologise for it being so long however it has been a 2 year project thread. Been really good for me to have a bit of a catch up on the mods/ maintainance that I've done over the two years. So thank you for reading. Feel free to comment, and I will continue to keep it updated.
So I'd been searching for roughly just over 2 weeks, missed out on a few, went to look at a few which were just frankly not as advertised and were rubbish.
Was searching eBay just by chance due to being on nights and come across this one. Had only been up two hours ! Spoke to the guy, it's had 2 owners one was a bmw technician and the final one was a 40 year old who has clearly looked after it. The guy selling it had took it in px for a Porsche convertible...lucky guy. Spoke to the guy on the phone, and everything added up. FSH by dealer and specialists. Its had the dreaded subframe replaced by bmw. So I thought it was perfect. The paints looks inaccurate, no signs of rust he just said the wheels could do with a refurb. Guy seems like a genuine guy as he sells classic cars for a living, and just doesn't want this sitting around as he doesn't deal with them.
So the ad read as:
I have just taken this in PX today against one of my Classic Porsches.
Absolutely immaculate coachwork & equally pristine rare M-Texture Alcantara & Leather interior, seeing is believing
Specification;
. E46 M3 3.2
. 2004 (54 Plate)
. Only 2 owners
. SMG
. Silver Grey
. M -Texture Alcantara and half leather Interior with Gloss Black Trim
. 117k miles
. Full Service History (BMW & Specialist)
. MOT until May 17
. Electric Memory Seats with inflatable bolsters
. Aftermarket Sat Nav
. Bluetooth
. Polybushed Rear Suspension
. Upgraded JBL Speakers
. OEM Cupholders
. New Bonnet and Boot Badges
. Xenon Auto Lights and Auto Wipers
. The car is rust free.
. The car has very recently had a full oil change (including diff) and new spark plugs and filters at a BMW specialist.
. The car also has a pair of new rear coil springs and a brand new sub frame.
. The boot floor was replaced by BMW and inspected when the new subframe was installed.
. No problems with the SMG 'box
Points of interest :
. Front wheels need a refurb - lacquer bubbling and some kerbing marks
All seems perfect to me, I didn't ideally want alcantara seats but then I've not seen them very often and now I quite like the look of them. As there's no heated seats my bum won't be roasting or freezing cold. The seats don't look as though they've even been sat in. In fact the guy said someone had offered him £1000 plus his black leather.
He said he'd had 3 people message and I just knew as the price he had it up for to me its easily worth £10,000 so with that I left a £500 deposit and he's going to be delivering it to me in his race shuttle on Wednesday...going to be a very long day for me tomorrow.
Anyway pictures, only ones of his advert for now will update with more when it arrives Wednesday.
So got delivered today, wow is all I can say. A massive step up from my 330 obviously. Only been out in it for about half an hour due to having to work tonight. But I'm over the moon with it so far. Interior is really nice ! Will be giving it a clean tomorrow then will take some more pictures. Thinking I just need the csl software update. Which might be getting done Saturday. Guy was a genuinely nice guy glad to have purchased from him.
Just a comparison pic between my old 330
So today I swapped over the carbon fibre trim from my 330 and some of the trim that was in better condition. All I've got left to swap over is the lower steering wheel trim but cba today as have to take both steering wheels off and I'd had enough after basically removing and putting in two whole interiors. I have put the iPad in the m3 as I much prefer it to any system even tho it's not oem. But so much better to use and with the kenwood stereo and the Jbl speakers that have been put in this, sounds really good. Really impressed. Although not that I've had the music on tbh just enjoying the sound from the engine . Still got to put all the interior back in the 330 ready for sale so at least that will have a nice piano black interior and eonon unit.
Starting to get used to the smg and have to say I'm loving it. Already hating getting in a manual.
Few pictures they are terrible but I just pulled over and took a few.
Things I've noticed that need sorting soon are:
New headlight lenses
New fog light lenses
New side indicator lenses
Silvervision indicators
Sidelight led to match xenons
Alcantara steering wheel
Alcantara gear nob and handbrake gaitor
E60 m5 gearnob
Extended smg paddles
Wheel Refurb or two rear wheels for the front
Eurostyle exhaust tips
That should see it looking in perfect condition.
Also a good clean and some better pictures.
So with being off today I got a few more jobs sorted what I wanted to
First of all changed the side lights to led to match the xenons
Cleaned up the steering wheel and seats, still can't get over how immaculate the seats are, quite a bit of dirt came off. Think it's mainly the steering wheel. Also changed over my lower steering wheel trim as didn't like the piano black preferred the oem.
Then gave the outside a good clean, and a bit of autosol on the exhaust pipes.
So been and had the csl software installed and a few other little bits installed. Overall I'm so impressed with the software,made the gear shifts so much better. Would recommend anyone who's thinking of doing it to do it straight away.
Also just a small change got rid of the fried egg look. Always hate that.
So done a job I always do when I get a new car and with the weather being so nice thought yesterday was the perfect day. Reprinting the callipers. Nothing worse than seeing rusty callipers went with silver this time normally go black but I'm really pleased with how they've turned out. Really with it had a BBK on, maybe for the future. Anyway few pics, wheels desperately need returbing or swapping for csls. Cleaned behind them and sealed them anyway.
So big update... yes I've got with what everyone else usually does. Had the csls on my 330 and I loved them, and now I could get the deeper concave on the read I found myself wanting the csls back. I love how they look on the car !! Also when having the tyres swapped over they told me the spring on the back had snapped, luckily I was given one with the car but was told it didn't need replacing as it was okay. But anyway changed it over, was harder to get in because I've usually swapped for Coilovers and with the spring being much smaller it's much easier lol. Also had new bolts and wheel badges, always wished I'd got new bolts previously m, so pleased I've done it as makes the wheels look much cleaner. Also managed to get my private registration put on after a few initial problems. Anyway, pictures.....
Done one of my favourite mods to a bmw. Done it in everyone and it massively improves the interior but also the drive I find.
Was 50/50 between this one and alcantara but glad I've gone for the usual perforated sides and nappa leather on top and a bit thicker. Looks and feels so much better. Added some carbon fibre paddles to go with the carbon fibre inside, only thing that bugs me is it's a different weave so may look to send it off to the guy I got the other bits from. But I much prefer them bigger and easier to shift.
Csl diffuser painted and refitted
Suspension all sorted now thank god. And I'm really happy with how it's sitting much better than before.
With this lovely weather I done a few jobs I wanted to get done. I cleaned it first then got the trusty autosol out and cleaned a few bits up.
[pic]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170407/b94263ce425b4c7a2594d82901a5ac37.jpg[pic]
Gave the inside a full wet vac including taking the seats out, and also done the seats.
Was really clean...not
Finished
So stormworks knob is in.
[pic]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170629/2b9eebdda5b181d8abd80f6aadd999ef.jpg[pic]
So quite a few bits done over the last few days. Got all the storm interior bits installed and I must say now there all in I love them all. Especially the Paddles how the illuminate and have neoprene on the back, make the changes much nicer than the cheap carbon ones. I’ve sprayed the smg surround and wheel trim in a Matt black that’s pealable (plasti dip from Halfords) so if I didn’t like it I could remove it. But I’m really happy with it. And also changed the centre console to a brand new one as even though mine was in good condition I wanted it new to match the other new bits. Been bugging me for a while. I have to say I’m over the moon with the interior now I would say complete. As everything matches as I want it to. So pictures....
Old vs new Paddles
Old centre console and new
other pictures of the interior
stacks were fitted today. I’m over the moon with how they look at the sound!!!!!! So awesome. Really opens the sound up to how a m3 should sound.
Pics.
Small update but something that I always like to do. New side indicators from BMW.
Old driver side
New driver side
So few more updates done this week
Led interior lights
New passenger headlight
Powerfold mirrors fitted (still got to split my old ones down and put the motors in them as there in better condition)
So sorry for the overload of pics but gave it a good clean today. Usual process.
Not updated this for a while, decided to take the car off the road for the winter as I had a few things I wanted to get done on the car. Plus change in job meant travel has increased to 60 miles a day so decided to take it off the road and get the train to work.
Wheels are off being refurbed in hyper silver as ever since I purchased them they had kerb rash and some worse than others. So took the wheels off. Also purchased some new Michellin Pilot Sport 4S in CSL sizes. Expensive but will be worth it hopefully and the wheels did need new tyres. Will update with pictures once wheels are back.
Wheels back with new tyres mounted. Look fantastic, just gone for a basic shiny silver exactly the same as before. Quality is great and was only £160 with new tyres mounted and balanced and the blokes shop is literally at the back of my house was a new place so thought I’d give it a try. Also I know there only tyres but I really feel the Michelin’s add to look the look and make them look better. Also look much better with the correct CSL size tyres.
Also managed to spend £500 on bits at bmw. Nothing amazing just doing a bit of a tidy up underneath and new steering wheel trim as mine was painted and just didn’t like it. Also had to get a new headlight level sensor, AGAIN. Really are a bad design. And got a new engine cover plastic for underneath as mine was always missing.
Also took the underside plastics off, cleaned them and they look much better now.
So the bits from bmw arrived:
New underside engine cover (mine was always missing)
New v brace
New exhaust holders/ mounts
New steering wheel lower trim
New denim headlight level sensor
Amazing how quick the total price adds up lol.
Also cleaned my other underside plastics, this is by no means any form of underside restoration. Just bits I wanted to tidy up as they were badly corroded.
The new wheel trim in black, didn’t fancy the Titan as I have no other Titan silver pieces and personally feel it ties in better with all the other plastics, however colour looks a tiny bit different from the top controls but may have meant to be like that or if the top has wore.
So I’ve been doing a few bits since my new parts from bmw arrived. Mainly things that will never be seen. But wanted to get them tidied up for myself.
Fitted the new exhaust mount/holders. Fitted the underside panels that I’d cleaned up, as well as the new v brace. Gave the underside a snow foam and cleaned a few bits up. By no means perfect but as good as I’d like without going silly.
Fitted all the new bmw centre caps.
Gave under the bonnet a clean
So had the day off work today and as the weather was decent thought I’d do a few jobs I’ve been meaning to get done.
First off order 4 x jack rubbers, was only off eBay and at £12 thought I’d give them a go. They are fine apart from a bit smaller than original. But can’t see it being a problem. My old ones were either missing or badly damaged.
Then I had a fog light that wasnt working. So ordered two led ones. And new side lights. Should’ve ordered high beams as there still yellow.
Removed my rear bumper as I wanted to clean behind it and also try and make it align better.
Also had to change the headlight washer pump as that seemed to have failed. All back working now though. Although annoyed as I found I had a spare in the shed after buying one. God knows why, but I have loads of parts in the shed lol.
Then just gave her a clean
Next up will be doing an oil change at home with spark plugs, filter etc. Also have order the upgrated diff bolts, and will be changing the diff oil. Then have my mot. Hopefully passes.
I feel with a car of this age there’s constantly something you can do to be tinkering with. Everyone always says oh why don’t you get something newer, but truth is I love tinkering and improving things that no one but me will ever notice.
IF anyone has made it this far, I appologise for it being so long however it has been a 2 year project thread. Been really good for me to have a bit of a catch up on the mods/ maintainance that I've done over the two years. So thank you for reading. Feel free to comment, and I will continue to keep it updated.
helix402 said:
Looks good with some tasteful mods. I think you may need some new front discs soon, your rear pads also look to be Eicher.
Some great attention to detail in your work.
Thank you. Yeah agreed it will need new discs and pads shortly. Just debating whether to go oem, get Csl discs and better pads, or Bbk. It is added to the ongoing list. Some great attention to detail in your work.
mholt1995 said:
Interested to know a bit more about the iPad setup!
iPad sits in the facia that must’ve been custom made, just has the lightening cable glued in. Which then has the usb running to a separate single din radio in the glove box which is used to run the iPad and charge it and put it through the speakers as it would if it was just radio fitted with a usb outlet. Managed to come across it on eBay, and I love it. Does everything I could need from a head unit. Even works with the steering controls.
I believe there was someone making them on Facebook. ‘Custom interiors’ I believe
Gmlgml said:
Cracking write up, really enjoyed that.
I’ve not owned one of these but looked on the likes of Auto trader on and off; never seen that interior before. It’s lovely. Really tasteful mods as well, and I’m a little bit jealous
Thank you mate. Appreciate that. It has been over two years on other forums. Don’t know why I’ve never put it on here as I do always come on here. Hence why it was so long. I’ve not owned one of these but looked on the likes of Auto trader on and off; never seen that interior before. It’s lovely. Really tasteful mods as well, and I’m a little bit jealous
Yeah I love the interior as I’ve never seen one the same. Plus ages better than leather. Thanks again.
(Even if I do have an E90 now). 
Escort3500 said:
With the possible exception of the E30, this is the best looking M3 by far. Nothing since can match its looks IMO. Great write and upgrades too. Please don’t add a black front grille 
Yeah I can agree the E30 is the best looking m3 tbh. Edited by Escort3500 on Monday 17th June 07:04
No black front grill will be going on this lol
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