[flipm3]

Car History
We ordered the M3 during the summer of 2001. After being set on picking up a used E36 M3, we decided to take the plunge on an E46 M3 without ever test driving one and only seeing one in person. Several months later, the car finally arrived at our driveway in October, 2001. For the past almost near decade, the car never had an mechanical problems or mishaps. It was a true testament to BMW's amazing engineering. It has gone through countless array of weather conditions, yet still is in amazing shape. It wasn't until recently the car began to show it's age. With the car being babied and well maintained all these years, it was finally time to start replacing worn parts. The car has been left 100% stock since October 2001, and finally saw it's first modification once the OE suspension decided to call it quits. And so the modification list began to grow...

Vehicle Specifications
2002 BMW E46 M3
Build Date: 09.03.01
Delivery Date: 10.23.01
Jet Black . Black Nappa Leather
6 Speed Manual
Bi-Xenon Headlights . CD Player . Manual Seats . No Sunroof

Engine . Exhaust
Evolve Automotive CF Airbox
Evolve Automotive Stage 3 Alpha-N Tune
Supersprint V1 Stepped Headers
Supersprint V1 S Pipe
Schrick 288 Standard Lift Intake Camshaft
Schrick 280 Standard Lift Exhaust Camshaft
Beisan Systems S54 VANOS Solenoid Coil Pack
Beisan Systems S54 VANOS Solenoid Plate O-Rings
BMW E46 M3 CSL Airbox Ducting
BMW E90 M3 Motor Mounts
BMW E86 Z4M VANOS Camshaft Bolts
BMW E36 M3 EGR Block Off Plate
High Temperature CPV O-Ring
SAP Delete

Suspension
KW Suspensions Variant II Coilovers
Rogue Engineering Rear Trail Arm Bushings (Street)
AKG Motorsport Rear Shock Mounts
AKG Motorsport Rear Shock Mounts Reinforcement Plate
AKG Motorsport Front Control Arm Bushings (90A)
BMW Front Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates
Fall-Line Motorsports Alignment

Transmission . Driveline
Rogue Engineering OCTANE Short Shift Kit
Rogue Engineering Transmission Mounts
Rogue Engineering Clutch Stop
Turner Motorsport Front Subframe Reinforcement
Turner Motorsport Rear Subframe Reinforcement
AKG Motorsport Differential Mount and Bushings (95A)
AKG Motorsport Clutch Pedal Bushing (Delrin)
AKG Motorsport Shifter Housing Bushing (Delrin)
CDV Delete

Brakes
DBA 4200 Rotors
StopTech Stainless Steel Brake Lines
StopTech Street Performance Brake Pads
Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid
AKG Motorsport Brake Pedal Bushing (Delrin)

Wheels . Tires
Volk Racing TE37 18x9.5 +28mm Mercury Silver (Street)
Michelin Pilot Super Sport 265/35/18 (Street)
BMW Style 67 18x9 +26 (Winter)
Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 245/40/18 (Winter)
Bimmerworld Premium Race 82mm Wheel Stud Conversion
Bimmerworld Black 17mm Lug Nuts

Lighting
Lightwerkz FXR 3.0 Retrofit
Philips D2S 85122+ Bulbs
Cree LED Reverse Lights
BMW LED Tail Light Retrofit

[mkPOTO]

Looking good alex

[jeff@autocouture]

very tasteful modifications, how many miles are on it?

[flipm3]

Originally Posted by mkPOTO

Looking good alex

Thanks Mark!

Will you be at the VSM Open House?

Originally Posted by Alex@AUTOcouture

very tasteful modifications, how many miles are on it?

Thanks! I just tipped over the 80,000 mile marker hehe

[Tarmac_E46_M3]

Love the wheels.

Love the roof.

Love the airbox.

Can I just have your M3? I'm basically in love with it, haha. :P

[VSmotorsports]

Nice Alex. The build is coming along nicely

[THE TECH]

Looks clean.

[M3SQRD]

Alex, your e46 M3 build is coming along nicely

[thirdlobe]

looks great man!

[flipm3]

So here's the history of my E46 M3, starting from the beginning.

*RESERVED FOR PICS WHEN IT WAS STOCK*

[flipm3]

August 2009

A local shop helped me sell the Mag Blue CE28N's from my past G35, so I decided to use the money on CE28Ns for the M3

Modification:
Volk Racing CE28N's 08' Formula Silver19x8.5 +30mm & 19x10.5 +25mm
Toyo Tires T1R255/35/19 & 275/35/19

Pros:
1. Lightweight for 19" wheels
2. Forged wheels
3. Look freaking hot!
4. I'm Volks #1 fan boy

Cons:
1. Not cheap
2. 8.5" and 30mm front was not very aggressive, nor wide
3. I didn't have proper tire sizing for the E46 M3, since these were left over tires from my G35. Rear tires were too tall and fronts were too wide for an 8.5"














Sold in March 2010 to save money for my upcoming wheels

[flipm3]

September 2009

At around 65,000 miles the OE suspension was starting to see the end of it's lifetime. It took quite a beating over it's lifetime from the nasty streets of Chicago. I started looking into many of the popular street applicable, but track focussed coilovers out there; AST 4100, GC Street/Track, TC Kline, and KW Clubsport.

With great timing though, Stance USA just finished R&D on their E46 M3 application. I ran their GR+ Plus coilovers on my previous G35 and only had great experiences with them. In addition, they are local to where I live. I figured that I would take a leap of faith and hope that their M3 application would be as good as their Nissan ones.

Modification:
Stance GR+ Plus Coilovers

Inverted Monotube Front, Standard Monotube Rear
15 Level Single Adjustable
Height adjustable
Front camber pillowball plates
Rear pillowball shock mounts
360lbs (front) / 420lbs (rear) linear springs
Adjustable sway bar end links
Aluminum construction

Pros:
1. A ton of features for a very competitive price
2. Linear springs
3. Stance USA is local to Chicago, IL
4. Options to upgrade to higher spring rates with Swift Springs
5. Height adjustability is separated from the coilover making it easy to change heights and not mess with preload of springs.
6. Amazing performance on the track and very streetable on the terrible streets of Chicago.

Cons:
1. I wish it had higher spring rates out of the box, but adjustable valving can compensate for it.
2. With all the features they have, I wouldn't have minded if they included or added a rear spring perch plate and access to the rear shock mounts from underneath the car instead of the trunk.
3. Not many E46 M3's using these in the market. More should definitely try them out!!








purchased from: Stance USA
installed/alignment by: Touge Factory

[flipm3]

November 2009

Started to prep the car for more track usage, so I began to toy with the idea of running bucket seats. I got a great deal on a Bride Vios III, the only problem was finding a sure way of getting them mounted in the car. I called up a bunch of shops and searched every forum I could find to find a solution. Apparently, at the time it wasn't very common to through in a Bride in a BMW. Fortunately, VAC Motorsports had their floor mounts and slider that they thought were pretty confident to fit a Bride seat.

Modifications:
Bride Vios III: Gradiation Cloth + Carbon Kevlar shell
Takata MPH341
VAC Motorsports Floor Mounts
VAC Motorsports Universal Slider
Touge Facotry Universal Side Brackets

Pros:
1. EXTREMELY lightweight compared to an OE manual, no heated seat
2. Good comfortable snug fit
3. Absolutely no back pain, unlike using my OE seats
4. Very easy installation
5. I never found myself fighting my seating position throughout aggressive turns.

Cons:
1. I kept getting the Airbag and Seatbelt light
2. Bride Vios III is not FIA
3. I did not properly install the harness (did not truly mount the harness to the tunnel of the car, nor onto a roll bar/cage)







Sold in April 2010

[flipm3]

April 2010

I wanted to get a more track-ideal sized wheel. The Volk Racing fan that I am, I had to get 18" TE37s. I custom ordered these in November 2009 and they finally arrived April 2010! They are significantly lighter than the already featherweight CE28Ns I had previously. I also wanted to make sure I had a good aggressive looking wheel, so I ordered the lowest offset wheel offered at the time. Knowing that the car would still be seeing primarily daily driving, I decided to go with a more street focussed tire, Dunlop DZ101. In the future, I plan on picking up AD08 or NT05 for the track.

Modifications:
Volk Racing TE37 18x9.5 +22 White
Dunlop DZ101 265/35/18

Pros:
1. VERY lightweight
2. VERY strong
3. I've been dying for white wheels all my life and they're truly unique
4. The tires actually faired pretty well at Gingerman Raceway and got better as they began to heat up
5. Treadlife is great for the tires and they're fairly affordable
6. I love the concave face and it fits my whole JDM theme

Cons:
1. The tires could be stickier, but they are primarily an all-purpose type of tire
2. The tires are naturally pretty narrow, so there is more stretch than I expected
3. Volks are pretty pricey
4. I ordered these WAY before the new TE37SLs were announced and they arrived literally the week Volk made the huge announcement...:lolhit:
5. White wheels sure love brake dust, haha

[flipm3]

August 2010

It was about time to finally change out my original brakes after tons and tons of mileage! I thought about upgrading to a BBK, but I realized that I can get the same performance with just basic rotors, lines, fluid, and eventually track-dedicated pads. My RTAB and FCAB were also just about shot and needed some good replacement. My goal with these were to go with something stronger and longer lasting that OE, but still very streetable. Finally, I decided to reinforce my rear subframe and replace the subframe bushings with new OE.

Modifications:
Rogue Engineering FCAB (street)
Rogue Engineering RTAB (street)
Rogue Engineering Clutch Stop
CDV removed
Turner Motorsports Rear Subframe Reinforcement
Turner Motorsports 90mm Studs
BMW OE Rear Subframe Bushings
Macht Schnell 18mm Spacer (rear)
DBA 4200 Rotors
StopTech Stainless Steel Brake Lines
Hawk HPS Brake Pads
ATE Super Blue Brake Fluid

Pros:
1. Much better steering response and stability with the new bushings. Felt like a whole new vehicle!
2. Shifting felt a littler smoother with the CDV removed
3. No subframe cracks, but added sense of security with the reinforcement
4. Braking was much more consistent with the new parts
5. Much less brake fade compared to OE parts.
6. The longer studs can now accomodate my rear spacers.
7. Much less brake dust
8. No added NVH from bushings

Cons:
1. Hawk HPS are pretty terrible. Poor cold bite. Poor initial bite. Poor performance all the together.
2. I used the HPS pads at Gingerman Raceway since I couldn't order track pads. I'm sure I completely fried the pads because they just perform terribly right now.

Touge Factory performed the whole install for everything and I highly recommend them! Their fabricator makes some of the most BEAUTIFUL welds I've ever seen. They truly are a one stop shop for all your automotive needs.

Pics taken by Touge Factory:

[flipm3]

December 2010

I have been dying for a short shifter kit for quite some time, literally since the first day ever drove the car back in 2001. I was almost set on getting the Autosolutions SSK, but I had a hard time getting a hold of one. Fortunately, IND is literally 25 min away from and they are a Master Distributor of Rogue Engineering. I read a ton of reviews and couldn't find a single bad thing about them. I love how it is complete kit including the WSR. While getting the SSK done, I decided to throw in the RE Tranny Mounts to replace the worn original ones.

Modifications:
Rogue Engineering OCTANE Short Shifter Kit
Rogue Engineering Transmission Mounts

Pros:
1. Amazing shifting feel! It is very smooth, very direct, and short!
2. No added NVH from the stiffer transmission mounts
3. IND did a great install and were insanely fast!

Cons:
1. I should have done this 9 years and 70,000 miles ago...

[flipm3]

December 2010

I noticed that there was A LOT of drivetrain slop when driving. At the track, I had great difficult shifting in 2nd gear. I could literally feel the engine and transmission move. The transmission mounts helped stiffen the drivetrain a fair amount, but still not enough. These were clear symptoms that my engine mounts were pretty worn out. I decided to invest in the Rogue Engineering Engine Mounts since they're mocked off the Grouppe N style and lower the drivetrain about 5mm. Since my front had to be dropped a little to throw in the engine mounts, I figured that I might as well get the front subframe reinforced as well. Fortunately, local race shop, VS Motorsports, were offering some great discounts on subframe reinforcements for the winter season.

Modifications:
Rogue Engineering Engine Mounts
Turner Motorsports Front Subframe Reinforcement

Pros:
1. Absolutely NO drivetrain slop with this engine mounts. Throttle response literally feels instantaneous. No more "Big Block V8" rocking of the engine when I tap the gas at idle.
2. Downshifting and rev-matching is SO MUCH easier. I was absolutely shocked by the drastic difference these engine mounts made.
3. With the stiffer engine mounts and with plans to own this car forever, the added security of the front subframe reinforcement is kind of nice. I will admit that it is a little overkill for a street driven car.

Cons:
1. Holy NVH Batman!! At idle, the interior of the car rocks a fair amount. With this being my daily driver, I would not enjoy the added NVH.

The engine mounts are currently up for sale as I have decided to move back to OE Engine Mounts. Unfortunately, I have to make a compromise in performance for comfort. These engine mounts truly made a huge difference and I really loved the performance. Again, with it being my daily driver, I couldn't stand the NVH at idle.

Pics taken by VS Motorsports:

[flipm3]

BACKGROUND: I have been craving to start bumping up the power of my M3 for many years now. My indecisiveness has led me towards so many different potential paths. Ultimately, I chose that in the long run, I want to build a strong reliable NA motor. Although it will be significantly more expensive than going forced induction, I feel that it suits my driving style and the personality of the car better. Despite the many and even more affordable options on the market, I chose to go with companies that I felt were very honest and offered proven power.

SETUP CHOSEN:

• Supersprint V2 Stepped Headers
• Custom Performance Euro200
• Evolve Automotive evolve-r Tune

CONCISE REVIEWS:

Supersprint V2 Stepped Headers

• Known to be the best headers offered on the market
• 100% spot on fitment
• Beautiful welds and fabrication
• Felt no loss in low/mid torque, but actually a gain
• Felt a great amount of highend horsepower
• After 3000RPM, the car felt all around stronger and quicker

Custom Performance Euro200 Section I

• I wanted cats to keep some backpressure to maintain low/mid torque
• I knew they would also help mellow out the rasp and volume of the headers
• They also help filter emissions
• Jack truly offers a great product for an amazing price
• His product has very clean TIG and MIG welds
• No fitment problems at all

Evolve Automotive Evolve-R Remote Flash

• I chose to go with Sal@Evolve due to his amazing and endless experience with tuning almost every single type of E46 M3 out there. He has such vast experience with different setups, many Alpha-N conversions, and CSLs.
• I got a complete custom live dyno tune. So this tune is truly designed for my specific car.
• I have quite noticeable gains in horsepower from about 4000RPM and above.
• I feel like there is a very tangible increase in torque throughout the whole power band.
• He offered me the capability to flash my own DME with a provided computer software and OBDII cable called the evolve-R. This offers me the ability to change up my tune if I ever need tweaking as I add new mods.
• Eventually the evolve-R computer software will allow read/clear fault codes, data logging, and reading live data.
• I gained a very honest and substantial bump in power. It was quite a sight to see as he slowly tuned my car throughout the day and my dyno graphs just got better and better.
• Power was so consistent on the dyno. We did a total of 26 dyno runs and car consistently made around the same power, if not more. This clearly shows that Evolve’s tune gives reliable and consistent power despite being driven hard. Truly a great asset.
• Driving Impressions: Shift lights are SO COOL!! The car seriously pulls all the way through the powerband until the new redline at 8100RPM. I noticed some flat spots prior to the tune. These were completely rid of. The car not just continues to pull and pull. The new power is also very useable. There is much more power under pedal in the midrange. Third and fourth gears pull significantly stronger than before. I honestly was not expecting the tune to make this much of a difference. Everything is just so smooth, predictable and controllable. These were all features I need for track driving and street driving.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: The combination of headers, cats, and tune has truly transformed my car. Now I feel first hand what everyone talks about on the forums when they add similar modifications. I feel like I have a new vehicle. The car is much more enjoyable to drive on the street. Nothing is overbearing, I just feel like the original great characteristics of the M3 were augmented. If I could go back, I would not change a single thing. I truly do recommend the following setup to everyone who is looking to invest in a simple setup or for those who are questioning their current one. You will not regret a single thing.

By studying the dyno graphs on my WinPEP7, there are quite a few great things to notice. As I mentioned before, the one great thing is that power is consistent run after run. I did pull after pull within just a few minutes of one another; one would expect loss of power from heat soak and such. Not with this tune, thanks to the dyno location and Sal’s tune, power was very consistent pull after pull. I have many dyno graphs over 300whp!! In the graph provided, you’ll notice a constant increased in power above 4500RPM. This is very noticeable on the street, especially in 3rd and 4th gear! What should be appreciated is that this is in a very useable range, but also very honest and realistic. Looking at the torque curves as well, there is an increase pretty much throughout the whole powerband, even in the low end. I was concerned with losing bottom end torque, but clearly with the headers, cats, and tune, I gained torque.

I have driven some tuned E46 M3’s in my past. One thing that I found in other cars somewhat troublesome was the choppy or hesitant transition between partial and full throttle. This was a huge reason why I strayed away from power modifications all these years. Sal at Evolve told me that I would not experience such things with his tune. With my car driven on the track and street, I didn’t want to have inconsistencies in my throttle. I did not want to have to deal with such interruptions and imbalance. On the street, I did quite a few pulls from partial throttle to full throttle back to partial, etc. The throttle is very smooth! It is really unlike anything else I’ve driven. As I mentioned, there are no flat spots in the powerband and no delays. It’s like the car and your mind are linked together. It goes when you tell it to go, no hesitation.

I am trying to drive the car as much as I can to continue learning the changes. Overall, I am very pleased with how everything turned out. I am not sure how the car’s adaptations work or if the car will continue getting stronger. All I know is that the more I drive it, the more I feel it gets stronger.

THANKS: Thank you Sal at Evolve Automotive. You have been a true mentor and tuning guru. Your knowledge and advice is what brought my car to where it is today. Thank you spending many hours over the phone and online to get my car running the way it is now. Thank you to Jack at Custom Performance. You offered some of the best pricing on the products. Your craftsmanship with your Section I is one to greatly recognized. Thank you to the guys at TFWorks and VS Motorsports for helping with the installation. Thank you to ASpec Tuning for letting me use the dyno and internet for tuning.

DynoJet Information

• Location: A Spec Tuning
• Model: DynoJet 224LC

Conditions:

• Temperature: 64.75ºF
• Atmospheric Pressure: 29.35 inHg
• Humidity: 29%
• SAE Correction: 0.99

Dyno Runs:

• RunFile_009.drf: Supersprint V2 Stepped Headers + CPI Euro200
• RunFile_026.drf: Evolve Automotive Tune + Supersprint V2 Stepped Headers + CPI Euro200

Evolve-R Flashing Process:

[flipm3]

When I was last at Gingerman Raceway, I didn't have time swap my street pads for a dedicated track pad. So went through the event with my Hawk HPS brake pads. To say the least, I obliterated those pads and had to take it easy for the remainder of the event. I have been looking into getting a fairly competent and quiet street pad for awhile now. A lot of people have been recommending the StopTech Street Performance brake pads. I decided to pick up a set considering they are fairly affordable to replace my crumbled Hawks which I swore to never buy again. I also decided to flush out my nasty ATE Super Blue with some Motul RBF600. Unfortunately the ATE Super Blue loves to stay in my lines, so it may take a few flushes to completely rid of that bluish color.

Modifications:
StopTech Street Performance Brake Pades
Motul RBF600

Pros:
1. Very quiet
2. Low dust
3. Good initial bite

Cons:
1. Still a street pad so it won't have the stopping power of track dedicated pads

Some other updates:
I am back out of the country for the next few months and am starting to plan out what I want to finish during the Winter down time. Fortunately, I now have a Honda Civic EX Coupe to daily for the winter :rulaiz: So I can actually get a good amount of work done.

I really want to tackle the whole cooling system along with an Inspection I and Valve Adjustment. I have been discussing things with VS Motorsports and they keep telling me to get a Bimmerworld Radiator since I'll be tracking it often this summer. I noticed that a lot of serious track guys still do well with a complete OEM system.

My goal for 2012 is to make sure that my car is 100% reliable, so another area I want to address is the VANOS. Purchasing full VANOS rebuilds is insanely expensive, so I am looking into various parts to replace to make it more robust. Although it may not be a common point of failure in the big scheme of things, seeing it pop up often on the forums is slightly frightening.

That's pretty much it for now. I still have my Evolve CF Airbox awaiting it's production, but I probably won't install that until Spring time. There are a few more dyno runs I want to accomplish prior to converting to Alpha-N.

If you guys have any other recommendations or suggestions on preventative maintenance, feel free to let me know. I promise that 2012 will have much more exciting updates. :thumbsup2:

[flipm3]

I finally received my Evolve CF Airbox!

I won't be installing this until after my SS V1 Stepped Headers and SPipe arrive from Italy.

Here's a quick first impression of finally seeing this firsthand. It is so damn light! It came in this huge 3f tx 2f tx 2ft box and I was getting ready to lift something heavy for some reason and literally, I almost threw it in the air. I'm curious how much weight, if any, it'll drop in the front of the car.

The CF weave is very clean and prominent. With the gloss finish I chose, it really provides a deep 3D look. I am very happy I chose to go with gloss instead of matte. As many of you know, it is not easy laying down CF for very contour and curved shapes like this Airbox. So I was expecting to see some slight imperfections and to my surprise, it was better than expected and near OEM quality.

I'll keep the rest of my impressions for when I have more time to really analyze the product and be able to use my dSLR to take better pics.

Until then, enjoy some of these shots from different angles.

[flipm3]

I finally had a chance to get a new "baseline" dyno after replacing my pre-cat O2 sensors and EGT sensor. I also decided to utilize the dyno shop that VS Motorsports and a few M3Forum/ChiTownM members use.

I went there with the intention of dynoing before and after the tune. Unfortunately, silly me, I forgot to re-install Windows on my MacBookPro after reformatting it with Lion OSX. So I was only able to get a dyno of just the SS V2 Stepped Headers and CPI Euro200.

Here are the results. I am very pleased considering that my last dyno showed a gain of 17whp and 5wtq with the tune. So I figure I should be hovering around the 310whp and 245wtq range with the Evolve Stage 2 Tune on this specific dyno. The dyno operator showed me a couple other E46 M3s with different bolt ons and tunes that put down a range of 305whp to 315whp.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to dyno the Evolve Stage 2 tune on this car considering that I will be uninstalling the headers and section 1 tomorrow to revert back to stock. I sold my SS V2 Stepped and Euro200 and promised the buyers I'd ship it out before the Holidays. Unfortunately, my SS V1 Stepped Headers and SPipe are delayed in Italy, so I will be having a couple header installs done this season. :shifty:

Well enjoy the dynos. The next dyno will be 100% stock, then VAC Pulleys, then SS V1 Stepped/SPipe, then finally the Evolve CF Airbox/Alpha-N Tune. I am really hoping to hit the 315-320whp range. :thumbsup2:

• Supersprint V2 Stepped Headers + CPI Euro200
• Dynojet 248X at Dean's Peformance, St. Charles, IL
• 4th Gear

SAE


STD


UNCORRECTED


SAE w/ Conditions - Notice the correction factor!


SAE w/ Speed - Depicts that same gear was used on all runs

[flipm3]

I got this big box this afternoon from the UPS Santa...


I figured now was a good time to take a few photos comparing the SS V1 Stepped with the SS V2 Stepped, in addition to the Euro200 to the SS V1 SPipe. Enjoy some of the quick photos.

Supersprint V2 Stepped Headers



Well crafted collector. Notice how seamless everything is merged together.


~1.5" Primaries that step up to ~2" before meeting at the collector


Close up of collector and EGT bung. Notice the beautiful TIG welding.


Both Pre and Post Cat O2 Bungs and 2.36" outlet piping.


More Pre and Post Cat O2 Bungs


More fancy stepped goodness


Perfect flanges


Etched Supersprint shameless plug

Custom Performance Innovations Euro200



TIG welded flanges


MIG welded cats and O2 bungs


MIG welded cats and O2 bungs


SS V2 Stepped + CPI Euro200

Supersprint V1 Stepped Headers



Primaries with incredibly TIG welds


~1.5" stepped up to ~2"


Sexy collector and welds


Full 2.5" outlet flange!!


Internal portion of Post Cat O2 sensor


SS V1 Stepped vs SS V2 Stepped


2.36" vs 2.5"


Notice the different pathways


2.36" vs 2.5"


Slip On vs OEM style


Massive full 2.5" piping for SS V1 SPipe


Post Cat O2 Sensor