Let's make an E30 M3! (M3 S14 cabrio clone project)

[cbouchez]

[Kershaw]

[IronJoe]

Took her out for the maiden voyage today - a few short shakedown runs in the neighborhood, nothing more. So far so good, no leaks or major issues.

Loving the way the front end looks.



Front half M3, back half 325i. Don't be rude, she's "transitioning".




I freaking love the hardtop though. BBS RS are okay I guess.




The heart.



The rear is pretty underwhelming... not for long!







Also managed to squeeze on the Garagistic strut bar.

[MrBurgundy]

I won't assume your car's trim level, but I can tell you this... I like..

[WestCoastEta]

Love this thing so much. Congrats on getting it rolling again

[delamaize]

I'm so glad to see everything is starting to go right again! I thought for sure last year it was going to be a race to see which one of us would make the picnic with our cars. Not gonna lie, It sucked that I made it, and you didn't, and I felt like shit about it. Can't wait to see her in person when she is done!

[Shock(/\)ave]

Front half M3, back half 325i. Don't be rude, she's "transitioning".



[snip]

The rear is pretty underwhelming... not for long!

Given your extremely high attention to details thus far and your pursuit of doing everything correctly, I'm very interested in seeing how you tackle the rear of the car.

Every M3 replica build I've seen (at least that I can recall) has always been let down for me in one area: the rear quarter panel modifications. Typically the rear flares are either riveted on top of the existing quarter panels or attached with fibreglass extensions, and copious amounts of filler is used to blend the end result and make it look good. Little attention is paid to the areas which aren't visible, such as inside the wheel well. All I think about with those builds is the long term potential for frightening corrosion, cracking, and other major problems resulting from the methods used.

It would take a lot of careful work to correctly graft on the rear fender flares, but I would love to see it done well someday. :)

[IronJoe]

Given your extremely high attention to details thus far and your pursuit of doing everything correctly, I'm very interested in seeing how you tackle the rear of the car.

Every M3 replica build I've seen (at least that I can recall) has always been let down for me in one area: the rear quarter panel modifications. Typically the rear flares are either riveted on top of the existing quarter panels or attached with fibreglass extensions, and copious amounts of filler is used to blend the end result and make it look good. Little attention is paid to the areas which aren't visible, such as inside the wheel well. All I think about with those builds is the long term potential for frightening corrosion, cracking, and other major problems resulting from the methods used.

It would take a lot of careful work to correctly graft on the rear fender flares, but I would love to see it done well someday. :)

I agree 100%. I see photos of other M3 bodied cars online and once I start asking questions, I feel the same disappointment. So many cars are running around with fiberglass over fenders and poorly crafted wheel well connections. I'm not quite ready to share yet because things are still in the works, but rest assured this will be done "right".

[Shock(/\)ave]

I agree 100%. I see photos of other M3 bodied cars online and once I start asking questions, I feel the same disappointment. So many cars are running around with fiberglass over fenders and poorly crafted wheel well connections. I'm not quite ready to share yet because things are still in the works, but rest assured this will be done "right".

You most certainly have my attention.

[mike.bmw]

I've read through this thread a few times. Very enjoyable. Excellent work!

[flyboyx]

just make sure you get the quarters done and doors lined up before you start cutting on those fenders.

looking good man. really happy to see the progress.....

[IronJoe]

You most certainly have my attention.

To add some detail - I've been agonizing over this part of the project for the better part of a year. Like you mentioned, I've seen a few of these cars done poorly and I definitely don't want to add my car to that list. I've saved every photo I've found on the internet of these conversions and have studied what was done right, and what was done wrong.

First, and most obvious: to do this right you have to use OEM quarter panels. The cars with fiberglass over fenders not only vary in degrees of quality, but also they don't actually widen the inside dimensions of the wheel housing (which was the entire point of the box flares in the first place!)

The other area where people cut corners is as you said, the wheel housing. BMW built wider arches to accommodate the wider wheels, and mate up to the wider quarter panel. Without this extra width, the gap extends all the way down to the bottom of the quarter panel. There are only two cars I have seen that have handled this properly. One of which is Vazbro's amazing Alpine convertible tribute with the S52 swap.

And lastly, the details. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, you *can* modify the M3 coupe side skirts to fit, but they aren't tall enough and can look funny IMHO. I am using M3 cabrio skirts and all OEM hardware. Also some builds continue to use the standard E30 fuel filler, but that's a problem as well because you've moved the gas door two inches outward! I was lucky enough to get a E30 M3 fuel filler from a generous S14 forum member.
E30 M3 fuel filler:


I've poured over the part numbers, drawings, etc so many times that I have identified every part and piece that is different, and I'm doing my best to not cut any corners. Here's hoping it turns out!

[Shock(/\)ave]

To add some detail - I've been agonizing over this part of the project for the better part of a year. Like you mentioned, I've seen a few of these cars done poorly and I definitely don't want to add my car to that list. I've saved every photo I've found on the internet of these conversions and have studied what was done right, and what was done wrong.

First, and most obvious: to do this right you have to use OEM quarter panels. The cars with fiberglass over fenders not only vary in degrees of quality, but also they don't actually widen the inside dimensions of the wheel housing (which was the entire point of the box flares in the first place!)

The other area where people cut corners is as you said, the wheel housing. BMW built wider arches to accommodate the wider wheels, and mate up to the wider quarter panel. Without this extra width, the gap extends all the way down to the bottom of the quarter panel. There are only two cars I have seen that have handled this properly. One of which is Vazbro's amazing Alpine convertible tribute with the S52 swap.

And lastly, the details. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, you *can* modify the M3 coupe side skirts to fit, but they aren't tall enough and can look funny IMHO. I am using M3 cabrio skirts and all OEM hardware. Also some builds continue to use the standard E30 fuel filler, but that's a problem as well because you've moved the gas door two inches outward! I was lucky enough to get a E30 M3 fuel filler from a generous S14 forum member.
E30 M3 fuel filler:


I've poured over the part numbers, drawings, etc so many times that I have identified every part and piece that is different, and I'm doing my best to not cut any corners. Here's hoping it turns out!

Fantastic. :D

I really enjoy any of these projects, but to see one done to the factory standard that I would want it done on my own car (though I currently lack both the talent and budget to do this myself) is really satisfying. You'll know your car is correct and will endure for as long as you own it, and for a car that you plan long term ownership of that's really worth something.

Just make sure you insure the hell out of it once it's finished. ;)

[CorvallisBMW]

Looking great! Don't forget a x-brace for the underside, they do wonders on convertibles :up:

[IronJoe]

Looking great! Don't forget a x-brace for the underside, they do wonders on convertibles :up:

Thanks! Got one from Garagistic! Haven't installed yet.