Erik's M3 track car thread
I finally decided to make a thread about my M3 build. I hope you enjoy the thread...
Here is the first pic of my M3 once I received it in May '06. I bought it from a forum member on s14.net as a rolling shell (body, suspension, and a couple boxes of misc parts).
If anyone local wants the wheels in the above pic, I still have them and you can have them for Cheap. PM me.
I originally planned on dropping in a low mileage s50US motor in the car but I ended up changing my mind, sold the US motor and had a Euro s50b32 shipped to me from the UK. I received the motor somewhere around September '07
Motor pics:
After removing the AC compressor and emissions pump, I had to make a plate to block off the opening on the exhaust side of the head where one of the emission piped bolted to.
As with the US motor swap, you must use the e34 m50 oilpan, pump, and pickup tube to clear the subframe. Some people have been able to keep the Euro dual pickup pan and pump setup, but it requires a lot of fabrication to the pan and subframe to get it to fit.
I installed the s54 crank pulley since it is smaller/lighter and will free up some extra power by underdriving all of the accessories.
s54 pulley on left. s50b32 pulley on right.
Installed a Z3 steering rack to my reinforced subframe. I put the spacers below the rack, in order to raise the rack up and reduce bump steer.
Got the motor in the car late one night. Was using the black cylindrical e28 m5 motor mounts. The motor dropped in so easily it was funny.
After doing all of the rewiring, I got the motor fired up at the beginning of '08. Still had a lot of work to do (still no brakes at this point). My goal was to get it running well enough to make it to Bimmerfest '08.
I decided I wanted to run a side-exit exhaust, so I started cutting away and building the tunnel for the exhaust. Our welder welded everything together and build me the exhaust. It is dual 2.25" all the way back to a 2 in- 2 out Magnaflow muffler
These pictures show the clearanceing needed for the headers to clear the subframe:
I bought the Brembo GT brake kit. (4 piston calipers, 13" rotors) To put over the brakes, I got a set of 18" BBS RC's wearing 245/35-18 tires.
I also got the dual master cylinder boosterless setup made by Mike B. I also removed ABS at this time.
I ended up not being able to take my car down to bimmerfest '08, so I borrowed the brother's 318is and drove down with that:
July '08
I finally got my car sorted out enough to drive it around the parking lot. I loaded it into the trailer and we headed up to Thunder Hill for a track day the next day. Let me emphasize the fact that I got the car driving around for the first time the day before I took it to the track. I didn't push it too hard at the track, as I was using it as more of a testing day. I expected things to break/fail/ or somehow go wrong. It lasted all day long with no failures besides the IE urethane motor mount melting and coming apart.
My M3 and brother's 318is:
The boss bought me a carbon fiber intake plenum. Here is the test fitment.
I had to fabricate a bracket to hold the throttle cable, and figure out a filter setup.
My boss also bought me the VAC billet oil filter housing. I built up my oil system as follows:
VAC piece > remote mount oil filter > e28 m5 oil cooler. Also, I plumbed in a 2qt Accusump oil accumulator. which I located in the back seat area. Everything is hooked up with AN10 stainless lines.
At this point, I decided to have a cage built in the car. It's a little basic right now, but I still plan on adding some more (gusseting/diff mount/strut towers).
I removed the whole sunroof cassette and bolted in a carbon fiber sunroof filler panel before doing the cage.
I started sanding and smoothing out any dings in the body.
Bought an MA Shaw evo rear wing
After many hours of sanding/priming/light body filler/more sanding/more priming, I finally trailered the car to Maaco. $300 later, I had the whole car sprayed including 2 spare fenders. I had all glass/trim removed, and had the fenders, bumpers, sideskirts, rear wing painted off the car. The results were excellent.
M3 is mine (obviously), white car with silver Borbets is my brother's, and white car with black Borbets is mine:
I had a windshield installed the day we left for Bimmerfest.
I took a big risk, and drove the car down to Santa Barbara for Bimmerfest '09.
Had lots of that ^^^
My M and the ladie's 135:
Just recently, I made a set of Lexan rear quarter windows.
I am currently working on an electric water pump setup, and an alternator relocation.
I am also working on a fuel surge tank in the trunk with all new AN lines, Bosch Motorsport 300 lph pump and an adjustable fuel pressure regulator.
Once I finish all my pending projects, I need to install my fiberglass dashboard, Stack instrument cluster, Tilton pedal box, and rear Brembos.
It's hard to know when to stop.
Here is the first pic of my M3 once I received it in May '06. I bought it from a forum member on s14.net as a rolling shell (body, suspension, and a couple boxes of misc parts).
If anyone local wants the wheels in the above pic, I still have them and you can have them for Cheap. PM me.
I originally planned on dropping in a low mileage s50US motor in the car but I ended up changing my mind, sold the US motor and had a Euro s50b32 shipped to me from the UK. I received the motor somewhere around September '07
Motor pics:
After removing the AC compressor and emissions pump, I had to make a plate to block off the opening on the exhaust side of the head where one of the emission piped bolted to.
As with the US motor swap, you must use the e34 m50 oilpan, pump, and pickup tube to clear the subframe. Some people have been able to keep the Euro dual pickup pan and pump setup, but it requires a lot of fabrication to the pan and subframe to get it to fit.
I installed the s54 crank pulley since it is smaller/lighter and will free up some extra power by underdriving all of the accessories.
s54 pulley on left. s50b32 pulley on right.
Installed a Z3 steering rack to my reinforced subframe. I put the spacers below the rack, in order to raise the rack up and reduce bump steer.
Got the motor in the car late one night. Was using the black cylindrical e28 m5 motor mounts. The motor dropped in so easily it was funny.
After doing all of the rewiring, I got the motor fired up at the beginning of '08. Still had a lot of work to do (still no brakes at this point). My goal was to get it running well enough to make it to Bimmerfest '08.
I decided I wanted to run a side-exit exhaust, so I started cutting away and building the tunnel for the exhaust. Our welder welded everything together and build me the exhaust. It is dual 2.25" all the way back to a 2 in- 2 out Magnaflow muffler
These pictures show the clearanceing needed for the headers to clear the subframe:
I bought the Brembo GT brake kit. (4 piston calipers, 13" rotors) To put over the brakes, I got a set of 18" BBS RC's wearing 245/35-18 tires.
I also got the dual master cylinder boosterless setup made by Mike B. I also removed ABS at this time.
I ended up not being able to take my car down to bimmerfest '08, so I borrowed the brother's 318is and drove down with that:
July '08
I finally got my car sorted out enough to drive it around the parking lot. I loaded it into the trailer and we headed up to Thunder Hill for a track day the next day. Let me emphasize the fact that I got the car driving around for the first time the day before I took it to the track. I didn't push it too hard at the track, as I was using it as more of a testing day. I expected things to break/fail/ or somehow go wrong. It lasted all day long with no failures besides the IE urethane motor mount melting and coming apart.
My M3 and brother's 318is:
The boss bought me a carbon fiber intake plenum. Here is the test fitment.
I had to fabricate a bracket to hold the throttle cable, and figure out a filter setup.
My boss also bought me the VAC billet oil filter housing. I built up my oil system as follows:
VAC piece > remote mount oil filter > e28 m5 oil cooler. Also, I plumbed in a 2qt Accusump oil accumulator. which I located in the back seat area. Everything is hooked up with AN10 stainless lines.
At this point, I decided to have a cage built in the car. It's a little basic right now, but I still plan on adding some more (gusseting/diff mount/strut towers).
I removed the whole sunroof cassette and bolted in a carbon fiber sunroof filler panel before doing the cage.
I started sanding and smoothing out any dings in the body.
Bought an MA Shaw evo rear wing
After many hours of sanding/priming/light body filler/more sanding/more priming, I finally trailered the car to Maaco. $300 later, I had the whole car sprayed including 2 spare fenders. I had all glass/trim removed, and had the fenders, bumpers, sideskirts, rear wing painted off the car. The results were excellent.
M3 is mine (obviously), white car with silver Borbets is my brother's, and white car with black Borbets is mine:
I had a windshield installed the day we left for Bimmerfest.
I took a big risk, and drove the car down to Santa Barbara for Bimmerfest '09.
Had lots of that ^^^
My M and the ladie's 135:
Just recently, I made a set of Lexan rear quarter windows.
I am currently working on an electric water pump setup, and an alternator relocation.
I am also working on a fuel surge tank in the trunk with all new AN lines, Bosch Motorsport 300 lph pump and an adjustable fuel pressure regulator.
Once I finish all my pending projects, I need to install my fiberglass dashboard, Stack instrument cluster, Tilton pedal box, and rear Brembos.
It's hard to know when to stop.
My LS1 swap thread:
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