B C 4585 Report post Posted April 11 Chapter One ended with some soul searching that lead to pulling the plug on a dream. Chapter Two reignites the dream under a different guise. If not readily apparent, I bought it from Jordan, who did an amazing job tending to all the maintenance ignored by the previous owner and adding some excellent mods to make it track-worthy. It is nice to finally buy a car from someone who has high standards. I very nearly bought a similar car with mods from Arizona back in December but something inside just told me it wasnt the one and the seller was a total bro that wouldn't work with me on the price at all. Overall this car is a natural evolution from my E30: Black, mechanically sorted, in good condition cosmetically but certainly not something that would be on the lot at EAG/not something that will ruin my year if it gets the inevitable ding or scratch. Unlike the E30, this is bought, not built. There are plenty of opportunities for slight cosmetic restoration on this car that such as paint correction and replacing trim or interior bits with fresher ones but there isn't much need for mechanical tinkering or spilling the guts of the car onto my garage floor for the winter. Being able to focus on driving enjoyment is always my goal. Updates to this thread will probably NOT be very interesting and I will refrain from posting too many photos of the car. There really are no bad angles on an E46 M3 and it is very photogenic. Very much looking forward to doing car things with my bimmer buddies this year 👍🏼 11 DrLeadFoot, wasnt m3, HipMF and 8 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
suspenceful 699 Report post Posted April 12 Yay. Not sure why you'd want to refrain from posting "too many photos of the car". We love photos here! I'm a sucker for black E46 M3 on ARC-8s Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteelBlue 468 Report post Posted April 12 oh yes bb Having a car that's not a project all the time will be very enjoyable. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
P_Roloff 182 Report post Posted April 12 You already know how I feel about this. Congrats, I'm looking forward to seeing it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungCR 1030 Report post Posted April 12 12 hours ago, suspenceful said: Yay. Not sure why you'd want to refrain from posting "too many photos of the car". We love photos here! I'm a sucker for black E46 M3 on ARC-8s I second this. There's no limit on good photos around here! Congrats again. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
straight6pwr 1969 Report post Posted April 12 this is awesome! i'd love to see this thing rip at least one time at autox this year. thread title 🤙 1 m42b32 reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Full Banana 245 Report post Posted April 12 Oh snap! Congrats! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jc43089 816 Report post Posted April 12 Hot dog! That looks so good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
patsbimmer1 1598 Report post Posted April 12 Way to go Brian! Thanks for bringing on winter #2. 3 B C, Jdesign and m42b32 reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rekpoint 389 Report post Posted April 12 So when are the CSL trunk, diffuser and lip coming? Also exhaust setup? 😆😆😆 Let's see how long he lasts not messing with it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B C 4585 Report post Posted April 12 2 minutes ago, patsbimmer1 said: Way to go Brian! Thanks for bringing on winter #2. I accept full blame. Rekpoint is now absolved. 1 2 Jdesign, m42b32 and Rekpoint reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B C 4585 Report post Posted April 12 2 minutes ago, Rekpoint said: So when are the CSL trunk, diffuser and lip coming? Also exhaust setup? 😆😆😆 Let's see how long he lasts not messing with it. I would LOVE a CSL decklid. Exhaust is stock, car is very quiet. Im reluctant to open that can of raspberries anytime soon. I think a good intake may be one of the only other aftermarket things that happens. 1 Rekpoint reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
patsbimmer1 1598 Report post Posted April 12 39 minutes ago, B C said: I would LOVE a CSL decklid. Exhaust is stock, car is very quiet. Im reluctant to open that can of raspberries anytime soon. I think a good intake may be one of the only other aftermarket things that happens. Brian I gothcu boo- this for the low low price of $8200! https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-european-bmw-parts/euro-csl-intake/11617833496kt/ 1 B C reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B C 4585 Report post Posted April 13 I have started the cleaning and detailing process. I use the term “detailing” loosely as I operate to the best of my ability. I started by wiping/scrubbing the leather on the seats with some Mequiars leather cleaner and conditioner to help add some moisture to the leather. Then began vacuuming thoroughly, removed the cup holders, trunk trays, and ash trays to take them to the sink and scrub them good with soap, warm water, and Simple Green. There is a passenger floormat in good shape but not a drivers mat so I will be shopping for a good set. A previous owner (not Jordan) replaced all the bulbs with some very old and weak 8000K LEDs. They are barely useful and I will be collecting a list to replace. When I dug through the trunk I discovered 4 stray oval lock nuts that got tossed, the battery hold down bar loose and the actual hold down plate that goes under the bar was chillin under the trunk carpet with deez nuts. I snugged the battery, secured a couple other small bits and will be steam cleaning at least the trunk carpet tomorrow if not the interior also. Either the horn is not working or I am deaf. i will check the fuse on that tomorrow side note: E46 factory infotainment is unintuitive junk. Many of the buttons seem to do nothing at all. 2 Jdesign and patsbimmer1 reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
i_love_cars 729 Report post Posted April 13 I lost 8k on this car after all the mods. Worth it to see a friend back in a BMW where he belongs. Me putting 500 miles a year on the car wasn't going to do it justice. That infotainment screen is indeed the worst travesty I have seen I think as far as that sort of thing is concerned. I'd rather have a non-nav unit in the car but at this point just get a modern double din for it and call it a day. 6 B C, Rekpoint, Jdesign and 3 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rekpoint 389 Report post Posted April 13 Both wallets are slightly lighter, sounds like a common BMW thing to me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungCR 1030 Report post Posted April 13 More pricey that a standard double DIN but it’s basically plug n play with all the modern features. https://avinusa.com/avant-4-for-bmw-3-series-e46-m3-multimedia-navigation-system.html 1 patsbimmer1 reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B C 4585 Report post Posted April 13 There are 2 horn fuses, one is missing. Hopefully thats all I need to remedy to get the horn going again. I replaced the air filter. Much to my wife's dismay, she came out into the garage and saw the hood up and parts removed (airbox) . I gave her the least effective advice ever: “calm down” I also added a bottle of Techron for good measure. (I swear the stuff works) The carpets were shampooed. The trunk mat could use another attempt later on but its much better The low quality license plate LEDs were replaced with some better/brighter LEDs and an interior LED kit was ordered thanks to a recommendation from @patsbimmer1 2 1 P_Roloff, patsbimmer1 and DrLeadFoot reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
patsbimmer1 1598 Report post Posted April 13 My wife has stopped asking. Between customer parts and my own parts shipping to my house she just accepts that things will be taken apart and things will be put back together. Then again, I've never owned an E30 so she hasn't been conditioned like your wife has. 1 3 SteelBlue, Rekpoint, straight6pwr and 1 other reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B C 4585 Report post Posted April 13 Woohoo! The horn works! some previous owner must have needed a 15A fuse in a pinch and never replaced it. I may need to comb through the fuse list and make sure there isnt a 15A in a 5 or 10A spot though. Never hurts to check. I found the tow hook bumper plug in the glovebox and snapped that in place. I still need headlight washer nozzles, they have been deleted. I also need a factory lug wrench, jack, and tow hook to complete the trunk kit. Im guessing the E46 only ever came with a can of tire foam instead of a spare. I would like to buy a spare kit eventually. 1 straight6pwr reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rekpoint 389 Report post Posted April 13 I should have a lug wrench laying around Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B C 4585 Report post Posted April 13 Did some more driving. Onramps can be taken a little faster than is possible in my van 10 timmer, Jdesign, patsbimmer1 and 7 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
i_love_cars 729 Report post Posted April 14 I love knowing the car is being driven EDIT: i think I have the tow hook for you still it's in my garage I'm pretty sure 2 Earl and patsbimmer1 reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B C 4585 Report post Posted April 16 Quick car wash. Checked wheel lug torque. I got to try out the newly replaced horn fuse on someone drunk on Culvers Butterburgers 5 Jdesign, m42b32, P_Roloff and 2 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B C 4585 Report post Posted April 18 The S54 sounds like a chainsaw cutting through a pile of beer cans. That’s all 4 i_love_cars, P_Roloff, patsbimmer1 and 1 other reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
