E46 M3 Carbon Black - Road + Trackcar - So Far
Discussion
Thought I would do a thread on my E46, I haven't done a forum build thread in years, last one would have been on a Fiesta I reckon!
Around Xmas 2015 I decided to start looking for a E46 M3, after wanting one for a few years, I had a E92 from new as a leased car, but shared usage. Loved it, but I do tend to like slightly older cars, smaller is better I think!
Found this car in march, good history at just over 100k and the right price, the paint lets it down a bit and is still on the list of things to sort. I have bought a DA so will see how a good cut back and polish helps!
Since buying it I have done a few maintainance and servicing bits, and a few cosmetic bits, now its going in a more track biased direction.
When I first picked the car up:
Around Xmas 2015 I decided to start looking for a E46 M3, after wanting one for a few years, I had a E92 from new as a leased car, but shared usage. Loved it, but I do tend to like slightly older cars, smaller is better I think!
Found this car in march, good history at just over 100k and the right price, the paint lets it down a bit and is still on the list of things to sort. I have bought a DA so will see how a good cut back and polish helps!
Since buying it I have done a few maintainance and servicing bits, and a few cosmetic bits, now its going in a more track biased direction.
When I first picked the car up:
Then a trip to the Ring in August, very hot and showed up the limitations of the car on track!
On my return I decided to get looking for some bigger brakes, and to order the bits to get the seats from Clio into the M3.
I managed to find a set of Alcons on here, so collect and fitted those. Once they were on I wasn't happy with the lenth of the wheelbolts, and decided to do a stud conversion all round. These have always been my preference on cars I use on track.
Compared to the OE brakes, much bigger and lighter too!
Behind the wheel. Studs not yet fitted in this pic.
On my return I decided to get looking for some bigger brakes, and to order the bits to get the seats from Clio into the M3.
I managed to find a set of Alcons on here, so collect and fitted those. Once they were on I wasn't happy with the lenth of the wheelbolts, and decided to do a stud conversion all round. These have always been my preference on cars I use on track.
Compared to the OE brakes, much bigger and lighter too!
Behind the wheel. Studs not yet fitted in this pic.
Fitted my seats, ordered a pair of bases and rails. Once fitted I wasn't happy at all. The seats were just to narrow for me when driving, making it very uncomfy, and the drivers seat wasn't low enough. One of the main reasons I changed was my head nearly touching the headlining.
So I went back to the drawing board, went to Silverstone and tried out some seats, and ended up ordering a pair of Corbeau Pro seats, in Carbon Kevlar. I also ordered a pair of direct mount sidemounts, and bolted them in. Bit gutted to lose the adjustability of the drivers seat as I like to let my mates drive the car! But overall this is far better, seats are wide enough for my arse, and low enough to be just about perfect for me.
This does mean I have a pair of OMP bases for sale, designed to bolt straight in (you actually have to take a bit off each which has been done)
Thats the car ready to go to Bedford for a shakedown on Monday, before another Ring trip at the end of the month.
As it stands at the moment it has:
Eibach Springs (forgot to mention doing these), ultimately I want coilovers.
Alcon BBK
CSL 19s, I want to go for a square setup 18s however
Stud conversion.
SMG Software mods
K&N panel airfilter.
Corbeau Pro seats
Next up I want to strip the rear out, get alcantara retrim on the steering wheel, fit rear cage, brace and harnesses and hopefully coilovers. I am trying to do things one at a time so the car doesn't end up off the road for ages!
So I went back to the drawing board, went to Silverstone and tried out some seats, and ended up ordering a pair of Corbeau Pro seats, in Carbon Kevlar. I also ordered a pair of direct mount sidemounts, and bolted them in. Bit gutted to lose the adjustability of the drivers seat as I like to let my mates drive the car! But overall this is far better, seats are wide enough for my arse, and low enough to be just about perfect for me.
This does mean I have a pair of OMP bases for sale, designed to bolt straight in (you actually have to take a bit off each which has been done)
Thats the car ready to go to Bedford for a shakedown on Monday, before another Ring trip at the end of the month.
As it stands at the moment it has:
Eibach Springs (forgot to mention doing these), ultimately I want coilovers.
Alcon BBK
CSL 19s, I want to go for a square setup 18s however
Stud conversion.
SMG Software mods
K&N panel airfilter.
Corbeau Pro seats
Next up I want to strip the rear out, get alcantara retrim on the steering wheel, fit rear cage, brace and harnesses and hopefully coilovers. I am trying to do things one at a time so the car doesn't end up off the road for ages!
AshBurrows said:
Hello mate I like it a lot!
My advice would be to ditch the 19s and get a square 18 setup. Absolutely changes the dynamics of the car for the better.
Good luck!
Thanks! Yeah plan is to go for a square set up, but probably not until after cage/polybushing/arbs/coilovers! So a while!My advice would be to ditch the 19s and get a square 18 setup. Absolutely changes the dynamics of the car for the better.
Good luck!
A friend of mine has one of these that's track prepped, Nitrons, stripped, APs, square set up etc. It is very quick on track (track tutoring helps a lot too).
He's removed a huge amount of weight but the car is unusable on the road now. The set up is too stiff and the interior is loud enough to need earplugs. It now only gets driven about three times a year.
The point of all this is, decide how far you want to go with it. If you enjoy it on the road, don't get too carried away.
It's a lovely car though and I shall look forward to see how you get on with it.
He has also fitted some extended carbon paddles which look much better and seem to be a practical improvement too.
He's removed a huge amount of weight but the car is unusable on the road now. The set up is too stiff and the interior is loud enough to need earplugs. It now only gets driven about three times a year.
The point of all this is, decide how far you want to go with it. If you enjoy it on the road, don't get too carried away.
It's a lovely car though and I shall look forward to see how you get on with it.
He has also fitted some extended carbon paddles which look much better and seem to be a practical improvement too.
Sheetmaself said:
Looked at the first photo and thought awesome car, but completely ruined by the silver kidney grille. I mean what is the owner thinking, by photo five i was smitten, lovely looking thing enjoy in good health.
haha, funny enough I looked at those pics when I dug them up for the thread and kinda thought I had ruined it a bit by removing the grills!carbonblack said:
Great thread - I saw you yesterday at Bedford, I was in the other black M3. Those brakes look awesome!!
The chap I chatted to? Was a few e46s there, were you all together? Happy to say none got past me, and I managed to overtake a few, the Alcons certainly helped with that!LanceRS said:
A friend of mine has one of these that's track prepped, Nitrons, stripped, APs, square set up etc. It is very quick on track (track tutoring helps a lot too).
He's removed a huge amount of weight but the car is unusable on the road now. The set up is too stiff and the interior is loud enough to need earplugs. It now only gets driven about three times a year.
The point of all this is, decide how far you want to go with it. If you enjoy it on the road, don't get too carried away.
It's a lovely car though and I shall look forward to see how you get on with it.
He has also fitted some extended carbon paddles which look much better and seem to be a practical improvement too.
Hi, yeah the plan is more of in the GT3 mould, so usable on the road but good on track too, it will remain trimmed in the front etc. He's removed a huge amount of weight but the car is unusable on the road now. The set up is too stiff and the interior is loud enough to need earplugs. It now only gets driven about three times a year.
The point of all this is, decide how far you want to go with it. If you enjoy it on the road, don't get too carried away.
It's a lovely car though and I shall look forward to see how you get on with it.
He has also fitted some extended carbon paddles which look much better and seem to be a practical improvement too.
I do actually have the Storm extended paddles, very worthwhile mod for sure!
mwstewart said:
Rear airbags and HK so there will be a decent amount of weight to come out when you start stripping. Looks like a good base!
Yeah plenty to come out of it! I have an after market headunit, plan is to run just the front speakers off of that, and lose the other speakers, wiring and amp at the same time. Need to have some sounds for long drives to Ring etc!Too the M3 to a Trackday at Bedford yesterday, first UK trackday and I was overall very pleased with the car! It has also helped highlight which modifications are next on the agenda!
There is certainly more bodyroll than I would like, but overall I was pleased with the balance of the car, it was very easy to judge the traction, until the tyres went off, which happened quite quick into each session, and got worse through the day, until they just ceased to function and I finally span the car. There is a strong case for coilovers, ARBs and full polybushing, so thats the next mod sorted, just need to gather the parts!
The P Zeros certainly found their limit yesterday, they coped ok for a road tyre, but clearly I need to find something better! I think they issue is that once the heat is into them and they start finding real grip, they then get too hot and give up quite quickly. They are certainly rolling alot too, the sidewall of the fronts are pretty damn polished!
There is certainly more bodyroll than I would like, but overall I was pleased with the balance of the car, it was very easy to judge the traction, until the tyres went off, which happened quite quick into each session, and got worse through the day, until they just ceased to function and I finally span the car. There is a strong case for coilovers, ARBs and full polybushing, so thats the next mod sorted, just need to gather the parts!
The P Zeros certainly found their limit yesterday, they coped ok for a road tyre, but clearly I need to find something better! I think they issue is that once the heat is into them and they start finding real grip, they then get too hot and give up quite quickly. They are certainly rolling alot too, the sidewall of the fronts are pretty damn polished!
Some video from Bedford
General bit of tracktime
https://youtu.be/SeMhDvXQodg
One of my quicker laps.
https://youtu.be/an7_FiTNJmg
Spin!
https://youtu.be/0Auy2A7NN6o
General bit of tracktime
https://youtu.be/SeMhDvXQodg
One of my quicker laps.
https://youtu.be/an7_FiTNJmg
Spin!
https://youtu.be/0Auy2A7NN6o
H20DJY said:
Sheetmaself said:
Looked at the first photo and thought awesome car, but completely ruined by the silver kidney grille. I mean what is the owner thinking, by photo five i was smitten, lovely looking thing enjoy in good health.
haha, funny enough I looked at those pics when I dug them up for the thread and kinda thought I had ruined it a bit by removing the grills!
Try the chrome back on 
I have to admit to being really tempted to get into an E46 M3 as a track and daily car before the prices go completely mental. My commute is now down to under 10k miles a year so I don't need to run a cheap snotter any more, but I'm still not sure about the wisdom of also using a track car as a daily, the requirements are so different. Maybe I'm just old
Watching with interest, nice project.
Watching with interest, nice project.
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