I purchased this car in 2016 with 157000km and a lot of TLC needed. At first I focused on basic maintenance and fixing a few things – mostly leftovers from previous accident damage. Then in 2017 I had a major mechanical overhaul/upgrade project done on it at 164000km, which completely transformed the car and made it feel more like the ideal spiritual successor to my old E36. After the most recently completed mechanical upgrades I’m now looking ahead to a cosmetic refresh, using a CSL bumper to feed more air to the Karbonius CSL intake manifold along with a more aggressive front lip, and also some further weight reduction by way of a CF CSL style trunk and new rear diffuser setup. Stay tuned….
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The Basics
- 2002 BMW (E46) M3 Convertible
- S54B32 3.2L L-6 Engine (rebuilt in 2023 at 199,700km)
- 6-Speed Manual Gearbox (replaced in 2023 during engine rebuild with 103,000km used unit)
- Original Carbon Black Metallic Exterior
- Fully Automatic Black Softtop
- Black Nappa Leather Interior
- Silver Carbon Interior Trim
- Automatic Climate Control
- Cruise Control
- ABS, CBC, DSC, SRS
- Heated Front Seats
- Power Group/Central Locking/Heated Mirrors/Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror/Seat Memory
My Build
Engine (rebuilt at 199,700km)
- Karbonius CF CSL Intake & Snorkel with ITG Filter
- PS Designs CF Intake Scoop
- Dinan Throttle Bodies
- Schrick 288/280 Cams (12.5mm lift)
- Schrick DLC Coated Cam Followers
- Mahle PowerPak 87.25mm Forged Pistons
- WPC Treated Rod Bearings
- WPC Treated Crankshaft Bearings
- Beisan VANOS Upgrades
- ECS SS VANOS Oil Line
- CSF Oil Cooler
- Radium Engineering Oil Catch Can
- Deatschwerks DW300 Fuel Pump
- Radium Engineering Fuel Filter (Micro Fiberglass)
- Turner Motorsport Power Pulley Kit (2 pulleys)
- Mishimoto Radiator, E-Fan & Silicone Hoses
- Moroso Aluminum Coolant Expansion Tank & Overflow Tank
- Note that coolant level sensor is bypassed
- SAP Delete
- HTE Performance Tuning Custom Alpha N ECU Tune with the following features:
- Launch control
- Shift lights
- Sport mode memory
- Dyno mode
- Raised rev limit to 8300rpm
- Removed top speed limiter
- SAP delete
- AFD ProFlex Commander Flex Fuel Kit
- Safely runs up to ~E30 mixture with current configuration
- Bimmerworld E46 Fuel Starvation Kit
- MP Racing Oil Filter Housing Cap
- ECS Magnetic Oil Drain Plug
- Skyer Motorsport Vented CF Engine Cover
Exhaust
- Exhaust Headers: Supersprint V2 Stepped Headers 63.5mm
- Exhaust Section 1: Supersprint 63.5mm with HJS Cats
- Exhaust Section 2: Supersprint 63.5mm (Resonated)
- Exhaust Section 3: Agency Power SS with Titanium Tips
- Hack Engineering Exhaust Hangers
- MP Racing Exhaust Hanger Plate
Drivetrain
- Rogue Engineering Octane Short Shifter
- BMW Weighted Illuminated Shift Knob
- OEM (LUK) Clutch
- Replaced at 199,700km (when transmission replaced & engine rebuilt)
- Transmission replaced at 199,700km with 103,000km used unit
- JB Racing Aluminum Flywheel
- ECS SS Clutch Line
- UUC CDV Delete
- J Fiber CF Driveshaft
- DiffsOnline 4.10 Limited Slip Differential
- Garagistic Rear Differential Brace
Suspension, Steering, Bushings
- ST XTA Coilover Suspension
- ST Front & Rear Swaybars
- Whiteline Poly Front Control Arm Bushings & Mounts
- ECS Adjustable Rear Camber Arms
- ECS Ultimate Performance Rear Shock Mounts
- UUC Poly Engine Mounts (Street/Track)
- ECS Poly Transmission Mounts (Street, 70A)
- AKG Motorsport Poly Rear Trailing Arm Bushings (Street, 95A)
- AKG Motorsport Poly Subframe Bushings (Street/Track, 95A)
- ECS Poly Differential Bushings
- BMW Yellow Tag Steering Rack
Chassis Reinforcement, Protection
- BMW Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates
- Turner Subframe Reinforcement Plates
- CMP Auto Engineering Subframe Brace
- ECS Rear Shock Mount Reinforcement Plates
- Rogue Engineering Racebrace
- Motion Motorsport Aluminum Underpanel
Brakes
- ECS Drilled & Slotted 2-Piece Brake Rotors (345mm front, 328mm rear)
- ECS Performance Caliper Guide Bushings
- ECS SS Brake Lines
- Hawk HPS 5.0 Brake Pads
- Castrol React SRF Brake Fluid
Wheels & Tires
- Apex ARC-8 18×9.5et35 Wheels (squared) on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (265/35/18)
- ECS 17.5mm Wheel Spacers (rear)
Exterior
- *ECS CSL Front Bumper, 1-Piece CF Lip, CSL CF trunk
- CF Kidney Grilles
- CF Side Grilles
- *Streamline CF Rear Diffuser
- *Never Done Design Rear Centre Diffuser
- CF Roundel Overlays
- Depo Smoked Front Corner Lights
- Depo Smoked Side Marker Lights
- Eagle Eyes Smoked LED Taillights
- OEM Red Centre Brake Light
Interior, A/V
- BMW Rear Wind Deflector
- Pioneer AVIC-Z2 7″ Touchscreen Head Unit with GPS Navigation & Vehicle Dynamics (upgraded to 2012 software & 80GB HDD)
- Pioneer ND-BT1 Bluetooth Adapter
- Pioneer CD-RB10 Aux Input Adapter
- Rear View Camera
- Pioneer TS-A1606C Component Speakers
- PAC Steering Wheel Radio Control Interface