[PORTMOODY]

Hi All,

I had an e90 a couple years ago and had a couple E39's in the meantime. I love the availability of parts for the E90, the styling and the overall drive feel of the car. I could have easily bought a 335i or an M3 but I want something dead reliable and relatively good on gas. I also had some parts kicking around from my old car, so I went with a 328i. Picked it up today with 66,000KM on it, thats 47,000 miles for our neighbours in the south.

Here are my plans:

Engine:

• Euro Air Box
• Headers (Have A Set Already)
• Silicone Inlet
• 3 Stage IM
• BPC Tune

Suspension:

• OEM M3 LSD (Have It Already)
• M3 Half Shafts (Have Them Already)
• 330i Knuckles
• Coilovers
• Swaybars
• Aluminum Subframe Bushings
• Delrin Diff Mounts
• V8 Drive Shaft

I can forego the 330i knuckles if I can find a way to fit the halfshafts into my 328i knuckle but I know its a straight bolt into the 330i/335i knuckle

Brakes:

• 135i rear calipers (Have Them Already)
• 135i Front Calipers

Interior (Plan to dye red):

• Rear Leather Seats
• Leather Door Cards
• Sparco Evo Seats

Body: (Use this link for reference on parts and issues on the front end conversion http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1427742)

• M3 hood
• M3 Front bumper
• M3 Fenders
• M3 Fender Liners
• M3 Fluid Reservoir
• M3 Brake Ducts
• M3 Rad Duct
• M3 bumper reinforcement
• M3 upper support bar
• E92 Headlights and Brackets
• M3 Mirrors
• M3 side skirts

Wheels & Tires:

• TSW Bathurst 18x10.5 ET27 Square (Already Have Them)
• 275/35/18 Square

Any advice anyone has, I'm all ears.

[PORTMOODY]

M3 front end parts have started building up. I got the following right now:

• front bumper
• front fenders
• hood
• brake ducts
• radiator support bar
• fluid reservoir
• one side fender liner
• side skirts
• side mirrors

I don't know what are all the pieces I need but I'm just going to start bolting things on and seeing what else is missing.

[NYBulldog]

Originally Posted by PORTMOODY

M3 front end parts have started building up. I got the following right now:

• front bumper
• front fenders
• hood
• brake ducts
• radiator support bar
• fluid reservoir
• one side fender liner
• side skirts
• side mirrors

I don't know what are all the pieces I need but I'm just going to start bolting things on and seeing what else is missing.

Nice dude! You can use almost all your stock hardware. The best strategy is as you said, bolt it up until you see what you need. Some things can be adapted. You will need some brackets for the fender front and back. RealOEM is super helpful when you hit a wall. Good luck with your build.

[6ixSpd]

I mean, after all that work/mods you'll likely end up where you could've just had a M3 for less

[PORTMOODY]

Originally Posted by 6ixSpd

I mean, after all that work/mods you'll likely end up where you could've just had a M3 for less

I agree based on what i've seen of some people getting crazy deals on salvaged M3s but deals like that are a lot harder to come by in Canada. Cheapest i've seen an M3 with remotely the same kms is in the 35k range. I got a good deal on this 328i. Also I have a good deal of parts already i.e. lsd, headers, brake calipers and the ones I don't have I'd likely want whether I had an m3 or not, i.e. the seats, coilovers, aluminum bushings etc.

At the end of the day I will have a fairly light weight car around 3200lbs, super reliable and about 280-290hp.

I don't have the money to drop all at once on an m3 either without a loan. I'd have to take a partial loan and it's not something im into.

[mashimarho]

Wow! I'd love to see this in person! My office in is Richmond, BC. Let's get you hooked up on a dash cam haha.

[Hobbs64]

Nice build. I will be following as I am looking at the same mods on my car.

[Alex_323i]

Sub'd

good luck OP!

[PORTMOODY]

Originally Posted by Hobbs64

Nice build. I will be following as I am looking at the same mods on my car.

I put a link in my first post about the issues with the front end conversion. Make sure to take a read if you haven't already. It will give you some warning about parts and issues. There is little information available by way of part numbers and specific roadblocks you will hit. That link is the best I have seen so far.

Originally Posted by Alex_323i

Sub'd

good luck OP!

Thanks for the support.

[feuer]

Originally Posted by PORTMOODY

Wheels & Tires:

• TSW Bathurst 18x10.5 ET27 Square (Already Have Them)
• 275/35/18 Square

Those won't fit unless you have M3 rear quarter panels that I don't see on your list.

[PORTMOODY]

Originally Posted by feuer

Those won't fit unless you have M3 rear quarter panels that I don't see on your list.

I've been rethinking this. I thought I could get by with a fender roll. I might go 265 square

[Digitalize]

Doing M3 front without doing the rear just looks bizarre IMO.

You can fit a 275 in standard rear arches too. Offsets need to be pretty spot on though. Much easier if you fully rolled the rear arch flat. I've got a 275 in mine.

[#Tee]

I think youll enjoy the modding process and learning exp overall at the end. have fun!

[PORTMOODY]

Originally Posted by Digitalize

Doing M3 front without doing the rear just looks bizarre IMO.

You can fit a 275 in standard rear arches too. Offsets need to be pretty spot on though. Much easier if you fully rolled the rear arch flat. I've got a 275 in mine.

You are pre-lci I believe so I think there is more clearance. I would have no issue having my fenders rolled. What are your wheel specs? I couldn't find pics of your car.

Originally Posted by #Tee

I think youll enjoy the modding process and learning exp overall at the end. have fun!

Thanks for the support.

As a small update I purchased a 3 stage intake manifold and I have decided to not use the m3 diff. I rather sell it and get something like an mfactory lsd with the money. A lot less hassle.

[Hobbs64]

Port:

Did I miss something? Idon't see a link in your first post above. Can you post it again please.

[PORTMOODY]

Originally Posted by Hobbs64

Port:

Did I miss something? Idon't see a link in your first post above. Can you post it again please.

its there beside the body section.

[BM3Rrrr]

.

[BM3Rrrr]

Originally Posted by PORTMOODY

You are pre-lci I believe so I think there is more clearance. I would have no issue having my fenders rolled. What are your wheel specs? I couldn't find pics of your car.

Pre-Lci has 8mm more room in the rear then Lci.

[PORTMOODY]

Originally Posted by BM3Rrrr

Pre-Lci has 8mm more room in the rear then Lci.

Thnx for confirming. I knew there was more. Couldn't remember how much exactly.