Phoenix Yellow E46 M3

[paul080803]

As my M3 is taking priority over the Nova at the moment I though I would post a project thread.

Had it since Feb 2012

Currently has:

- Tinted windows
- Lowered on BC Racing coilovers with camber top plates and 32 way damping adjustment
- Eurotips (exhaust tips)
- Genuine BBS CH-R alloys in black with chrome rim protector. 19x10J rear ET20 and 19x8.5J front ET35
- Re trimmed steering wheel with extra 2mm padding by Jack at Royal Steering Wheels
- Fully specced except for electric rear blind

In progress:

- K Sport 356mm 8 pot front brake conversion in a custom colour
- Porsche Brembo 4pot rear brake conversion in a custom colour

To do:

- Carbon fibre front splitter
- Front number plate delete
- Complete boot install
- Upgraded audio front and rear plus head unit
- Evolve remap

Day I picked it up (previous owners personal plate was still on it)

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/36C96452-5D21-4994-8843-199C78C1F033-119-00000002262BBB71.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/7BCDF165-F06D-45A4-B017-7884E83F9417-119-000000022CB83C46.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/A075B90E-AF9F-484D-A5A9-D819390F90B9-119-0000000231CFC986.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/D0300A1D-2BE1-4FD8-AB9E-6994985ABAB7-119-0000000236DCFD9D.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/6EAD9481-03E9-416F-B6DB-6C13135B42AD-119-000000023C0207A7.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/357D3706-E3D7-41CE-A06B-08DD25258D72-119-0000000240C8BF74.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/P1020634.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/P1020633.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/P1020632.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/P1020631.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/P1020630.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/P1020629.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/P1020628.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/P1020627.jpg

[paul080803]

Car was then diagnosed with the dreaded subframe axle carrier failure, fortunately BMW authorised it as a good will gesture but the car had to go back to standard for the claim and repair

Only photo I have of it on standard suspension and wheels

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/10d386d5.jpg

While it was in having the repair I ordered the coilovers (previously car was lowered on apex springs and standard shocks)

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/D1DF1DAF-0759-4C30-A7B8-628FB306E8BA-119-00000003DFCE98D8.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/4F1B4B4C-3AC8-47A6-B5DA-6166273F01C9-119-00000003F3343C73.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/34E3034D-5637-425D-AC4C-BB45AC193909-119-0000000400DFC505.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/D0172049-53F7-4634-AC1A-66FFE5525AC0-119-000000040B617B48.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/4A5BF7E9-7004-4CEA-B659-FBEE7D593C27-119-0000000416D89B0B.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/8F88B27D-6D23-403F-9111-4E1C5F07F22F-119-0000000421AE7893.jpg

[paul080803]

Before it went in the bodyshop a local car forum had organised a rolling road day so i thought i would see what it is running.

Standard cars usually run 320-325bhp. Mine was 308bhp however the chamber was extremely hot and it took 5 runs to get the reading as they are really hard to fully disable the traction control and rev limiters. It drives the same as all others I have been in and driven so I am happy.

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/B07FC9A5-80A6-4C32-84AC-6DC8CE49A64B-119-0000000308257127.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/D75A2A57-4900-4864-A6E1-AAD5171843EC-119-000000035206C188.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/B75DB8A8-C775-43FD-AFE7-AE7A25AF210B-119-0000000363BA3B99.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/9F84441B-0191-4162-B974-5A8EC4E10A7D-119-00000003797447A0.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/A75C6470-4930-4E46-B6D0-67E90B7041E3-119-000000038511280D.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/E7344F37-7433-4661-A36C-6292114BBA08-119-00000003ACBEABA7.jpg

Whilst in having the warranty work done I got BMW to paint the entire bootlid and blend the rear wings (boot had a rust spot by the number plate)

I then fitted a German flag style black badge and carbon fibre roundels. Undecided on size of the M3 badge yet!

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/E957A9E7-4500-441E-AE58-83001BBBCF6C-119-000000043AE83ABB.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/1396C9DB-6A1F-40C6-8957-3C8FF44F0036-119-0000000446F9ED76.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/EE70ED2A-1C7A-4F39-9EFE-3A877FCC7553-119-000000045107EC84.jpg

[paul080803]

I am now doing the brakes. Rear callipers have arrived and are stripped ready for sand blasting and powder coating

Before stripping

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/CE96722F-1C9C-4DA3-A0F1-FD8A02E2E6FD-119-000000047EAC1F40.jpg

Stripped

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/30999452-52E2-4B5B-9FE7-17CD0E29D109-119-0000000483D1A266.jpg

Just waiting on the fronts to arrive, get them stripped and then decide the colour to go.........

[steviegsi]

As soon as I am in a position to get one of these i will be getting one, i just couldn't justify/afford maintaining one properly at the minute.... Definitely on my must own list.

Nice to see one not on csl's for a change too!

[BRoadGhost]

Put those babies on a nova :)

[paul080803]

As soon as I am in a position to get one of these i will be getting one, i just couldn't justify/afford maintaining one properly at the minute.... Definitely on my must own list.

Nice to see one not on csl's for a change too!

Yeah I know what you mean, most have CSL/CSL reps on them!

Get one, they are fantastic!!!

[paul080803]

Put those babies on a nova :)

Would be pretty awesome, they are for the back

[Angus Closier]

Which rolling road was it? Company?

[pie]

looking good :)

were did you get it from?

first pics are in a services up my way im sure f lol lol lol

[paul080803]

Which rolling road was it? Company?

Veysport in Verwood

[paul080803]

looking good :)

were did you get it from?

first pics are in a services up my way im sure f lol lol lol

Pie, it was.

I got it from South Wales.

[paul080803]

Went and had the tracking done last Friday. Opted for a custom set up, really glad I did as it handles so well now!

Front brakes arrived today too

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/4c3d3a9d0c8b6d100b4d1433f7bb6cab.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/7e3e06be318bcc30a59416e27616624c.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/2e1d9cd6c08bd1d77b094c1a16bfa157.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/e0abfda007e32de6e554dc05d3349f46.jpg

[pie]

brakes look sweeeeeeeeeeet :)

[Mazz]

wow! thats massive (oo-er)

[paul080803]

Brakes are nearly ready to be fitted and service was due so I made a start today.

Ready to start, picture with the nova too. Bit greedy and taking up the whole drive!


http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/A522C96B-CE25-416E-9D4B-52BF5E3A376F-534-00000030C4F41B13.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/EFA5439F-D2EA-45C3-8C1F-42743231EF4B-534-00000030C94852E4.jpg

Before picture of the brakes

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/85132143-A0C6-435F-AB4A-677671BE16BC-534-00000030CE20004F.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/B4EA3677-A92A-4F09-A838-5D37A1C50437-534-00000030D24C58DB.jpg

Up on axle stands to start

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/3B4074AE-4193-45F0-8D5C-4A67BD5324DB-534-00000030D63AACF2.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/79A92FDC-92EB-44FF-9EA3-B0C1C1666162-534-00000030DA5CEA9D.jpg

Fitted all this, didn't get a real start on the brakes so hopefully can spend some time on it tomorrow morning.

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/34A98846-B0DB-4B4C-9686-A0B34EB76FD6-2123-00000121BBC27539.jpg

[8valve-craig]

Very nice Paul. I see it around from time to time.

Spent about 2 hours last night looking for a good one, but most are either abused, modified, convertible or SMG.

[Benn]

Love the wheels on it, will look great with the brakes filling the space too.

[paul080803]

Craig what spec are you after and what budget? I know of a few available, plus some that may be available for the right buyer.

[8valve-craig]

Wanting a manual coupe in either Black or Grey with black leather, LED lights, Sat nav.

Not really sure on budget to be honest as they vary massively. Just been offered an 03 Laguna Seca Blue one on 60k with all the options for £3800, but its horrible and also has the LSB leather in it too, which is a terrible combination.

Ideally i want something i can drive for a little while, then break, so nothing too pricey.

[paul080803]

Jesus that is crazy cheap, it must have faults or be on the register!

None of the cars I know would even be twice that price, they are all genuine minters and not for breaking

Good luck

[8valve-craig]

No luck needed. There are currently 4x M3's on Trade it under 4k.

Will PM you the links if you want. Cheapest is an 83k silver 02 vert on CSL's for £3600

Admittedly though one to be proud of would be £7k, but it would stand whoever bought it at a loss when they came to sell it, wheras whatever i buy will give me free motoring, and turn a profit when i break it.

[paul080803]

I wouldn't entertain one for less than 7-8k, if it was for me to keep and cherish. But my requirements are very choosy and would be closer to 9-10k. However mine ticks all the boxes so would not change it unless going Porsche

But your situation is completely different for what you want and what you plan to use it for.

I reckon though if you compared mine with a trade sale sub 6k car the differences would be night and day. Yet again that doesn't matter when you break them. In terms of breaking a smg will get you more money!!

[8valve-craig]

Yeah thats a fair point. Yours is very nice, so as you say the differences between a "used" one and a cherished one will be instantly noticable.

I dont think i could live with the SMG.

Another thing Paul. Howcome some of them dont have M3 leather? I have seen a few for sale with just M-sport leather in? did that happen? or is it a sign of heavy use and a cheaper replacement interior at some point in the cars past?

[paul080803]

SMG is a bit like marmite, either love it or hate it. It is probably worth driving one of each, because if you can enjoy an SMG then it will return you more money when you break them. Unless of course it breaks whislt you are using it lol

The early models could be specced with half leather, I beleive that the seats were still the same and literally the centre was cloth not leather. If it has leather seats then they will be M3 seats and not M-sport. The coupe and convertible seats are different with M3 convertible being very similar to non M3 sports seats. The headrests on the front seats have the M logo embossed in them, you dont get this on M-sport seats.

Perhaps some have been partially stripped/changed already to recoup some money from them. Fully loaded M3 interior (full electric, hk speaker grills etc) will get close to £800 if mint and in black, red or cinammon. I am after a kiwi interior if you come accross one but must be mint and fully loaded with electric inflatable bolsters etc.

[8valve-craig]

Cheers Paul, il look into them a little further.

Keep up the good work

[The Simps]

Nice car Paul, gotta love the e46 M3, best of the M3s imo. I've owned mine a little over a year now. In that year I had rtab's and headgasket done, vanos stripped and checked and subframe had already been done so pretty sure I've got most bases covered! lol

Have you got a pic of your rear ride height? Are they all the way down? I'm running HSDs and they're all the way down on the back and although it gives a nice rake I woudn't mind it a touch lower tbh.

Here's mine atm, running the usual CSL reps! lol But trying on some new boots weds of which i'm yet to see on another M3 but might not work! Time will tell....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/TheSimps/The%20M3/IMG_2906.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/TheSimps/The%20M3/file-1.jpg

[paul080803]

The Simps, your on cutters? I have seen your car before!

What front splitter is that?

The rear on mine is all they way down, with the collars and spring perch still fitted. It can go lower but the height is perfect for me. I run slight bit of estra neg rear camber on 10j ET20 wheel with 265 tyres. Arches are rolled slightly and I get no rubbing.

I dont have any good pics of rear ride height, when the brakes are on then I will get some for you.

I checked my headgasket recently and was really strong, subframe has just been done (sept 2012) and RTAB done about 7k miles ago. Only vanos left for me :roll:

[The Simps]

Dam vanos! lol

Yep, on cutters. Splitter is one piece CSL. Seems you can only really get them new from the states and I was about to order one when a 2nd hand one came up! ModBargains who sell them in the states are a pita when it comes to international shipping.

Ive had my rears rolled and sealed and will be running 10.5" on et22 all going well. Tyre choice is yet to be decided!

[paul080803]

I would have thought a 265/30 would squeeze under the arches without any problems.

I know what front splitter I am getting, full carbon fibre hamann style. Will be removing the front plate and holder, smoothing the bumper and painting it at the same time. Going to run no front plate, for how long who knows though! lol

[The Simps]

265 should be fine yeah. I like to see a lil stretch tho too.

Re no front plate, I've thought about it loads as it does look good but then whats the point of having my private plate! lol

[paul080803]

Re no front plate, I've thought about it loads as it does look good but then whats the point of having my private plate! lol

People should only be able to see the rear one anyway!

[paul080803]

Got all the brakes sorted and took some half decent pics today at a local VAG meet I decided to invade lol

Front with standard brakes

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/85132143-A0C6-435F-AB4A-677671BE16BC-534-00000030CE20004F.jpg

And with new brakes :thumb:

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/P1070142_zpsb5be557d.jpg

Rear standard brakes

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/B4EA3677-A92A-4F09-A838-5D37A1C50437-534-00000030D24C58DB.jpg

and the new ones :d

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/P1070141_zps2c5d3757.jpg

Plus some random pics against a graffiti wall

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/P1070140_zpsf8ba05f7.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/P1070134_zpsda2dc4a0.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/P1070132_zpse317ef84.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/P1070139_zpsc6123931.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/paul080803/Yellow%20M3/P1070145_zpsc48389b7.jpg

[turbojolt]

that looks the mutts nuts matey

[Benn]

Oh they look much better. Fill the rims nicely.

[Pistol Pete]

Just goes to show ho a drop and a decent set of rims can transform the look of a car.

An awesome example, mucho jealous!!!

[paul080803]

Cheers guys, got a leaky headlight so that is a job for tomorrow

[The Simps]

What kit is that and sizes Paul? Car looks great!

[davidfox280585]

the best colour of the m3s in my opinion looks awesome

[paul080803]

What kit is that and sizes Paul? Car looks great!

Brakes?

Fronts are k sport with 356mm discs and rears are Porsche brembo but with stoptech rear discs.

[The Simps]

Did you paint the k sports then as they normally have the logo?

[paul080803]

Did you paint the k sports then as they normally have the logo?

Yeah had them powdercoated. The logo is still there as it is etched into the calliper but you can hardly see it now

[paul080803]

Car is sold now, will start a new thread when and if I buy a decent new toy!

[The Simps]

Why did you sell Paul?