[RealJ22]

Originally Posted by dakine_surf

Care to share who you got the bumper from? Sounds like a decent connection if they make it right.

Looking forward to the progress, I have to live vicariously through you for a couple months until I can make it back stateside.

I got it from a company called "Car connections" on eBay. Excellent customer service.

Car is getting there. Hood looks SO MUCH BETTER now. I will have to take a few pictures.

Unfortunately, I am going to be dipping the car. At least until the temperature comes down a bit and my friend / painter has some more time. It sucks to do this much work, but it will still look excellent.

Anthracite with the factory roof I am thinking.

[colorado.e9x]

Why not vinyl wrap? Looks more like paint and can lay over everything without them being painted

[RealJ22]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

Why not vinyl wrap? Looks more like paint and can lay over everything without them being painted

I already have the material. Everything is nice and smooth already. I am not a huge fan of Vinyl. I am not a huge fan of dip either. It's just the current circumstance.

It will have good paint over winter. Summer's here are brutal. Especially when most shops do not have AC. I am okay with having the vehicle prepped and ready. I can peel it and have a perfect surface again.

Not to mention Vinyl is what ruined this paint in the first place

[dakine_surf]

Originally Posted by RealJ22

I already have the material. Everything is nice and smooth already. I am not a huge fan of Vinyl. I am not a huge fan of dip either. It's just the current circumstance.

It will have good paint over winter. Summer's here are brutal. Especially when most shops do not have AC. I am okay with having the vehicle prepped and ready. I can peel it and have a perfect surface again.

Not to mention Vinyl is what ruined this paint in the first place

Interested in how this turns out... gonna go for a crazy color?

I've seen dipped cars that look amazing and ones that look like shit... but all in all if you take your time and prep it should look great... I have a feeling the bad dip jobs I've seen are due to half-assed prep

[colorado.e9x]

I wonder if he'll use glossifier too

[RealJ22]

Originally Posted by dakine_surf

Interested in how this turns out... gonna go for a crazy color?

I've seen dipped cars that look amazing and ones that look like shit... but all in all if you take your time and prep it should look great... I have a feeling the bad dip jobs I've seen are due to half-assed prep

I had my E46 done in pearl white for a little while. I would have spent more time masking if I knew that the over spray literally ruins seals and can make its way everywhere. Also, white on gray, everything shows.

This thing is already 99% better prepped than that one was.

Since this is gray to gray, it will not be as crazy. I am leaving the roof stock for now because I want some contrast with it. It will be prepped VERY well. Its already 99% of the way there

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

I wonder if he'll use glossifier too

Keeping it "Flat" for now. It will have some shine because it is a metallic.

[colorado.e9x]

Very nice. So almost like a satin Im guessing?

[RealJ22]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

Very nice. So almost like a satin Im guessing?

Its going the Anthracite color with keeping the roof and door handles gloss factory gray. I will actually be spraying it today, so I will have some updates tonight!

I have no idea how people get these fenders on without a struggle. I thought originally I did it correctly, but there is a "slide" that is literally impossible to get on. I ended up taking it off and the headlights as well. Now fitment is 100%. Just have to pick up a clip from BMW this morning.

[RealJ22]

IT'S FINALLY TIME!

Replacement rear bumper came in. Fit's Unusually well actually. Cut off the mufflers and now I need to weld on the tips!

I should be spraying her tonight!!!!

[mweisdorfer]

Are you going straight pipe?

Or are you just re-routing your muffler tips.

I wish they would make an M3 style rear bumper but one that would accommodate the stock location of the 335 mufflers.

If someone did that, they would probably sell a lot of replica m3 mufflers to 335i owners. I think a lot of 335 owners just get the m-sport bumper because they would rather not deal with paying a muffler shop to re-route the tips of the mufflers to fit the center opening of the M3 bumper.

[RealJ22]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

Are you going straight pipe?

Or are you just re-routing your muffler tips.

I wish they would make an M3 style rear bumper but one that would accommodate the stock location of the 335 mufflers.

If someone did that, they would probably sell a lot of replica m3 mufflers to 335i owners. I think a lot of 335 owners just get the m-sport bumper because they would rather not deal with paying a muffler shop to re-route the tips of the mufflers to fit the center opening of the M3 bumper.

I am going to be going straight pipe for now with the tips that I have on the previous page.

The hanger is in the way, so I will have to cut that.

I was going to finish everything tonight, but I got super tired. Working out in the 115* heat takes A LOT out of you. Fitment was good on most of the aftermarket parts, but it took hours of adjustments.

It is finally prepped and ready. I will be spraying it tomorrow night. Ran into a few little things that ended up taking me far longer than I anticipated.

[RealJ22]

The conditions for me painting were TERRIBLE. Right around 90 degrees. I have a few touch up's to do, but it turned out pretty damn well. Sorry for the potato pictures.

[colorado.e9x]

That's gonna look so aggressive with LCI taillights Love the color

[ranthum]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

You got those wheels for an absolute steal btw, I haven't found a set for anything less than 2500

What's a good price for these? I about bought a set for $600 and there's a real nice set locally for $1k.

[RealJ22]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

That's gonna look so aggressive with LCI taillights Love the color

Thank you. I have to re-do some of it. But overall I am content for now. It's just sitting currently anyways!

Originally Posted by ranthum

What's a good price for these? I about bought a set for $600 and there's a real nice set locally for $1k.

I would say anything under a grand is decent. I got VERY lucky on mine. Granted, one was cracked.

Here are some updated photos. I still have A LOT of work to do.

[RealJ22]

Found a donor hood for the car! I will be picking it up tomorrow. It's a 2 hour drive and then a lot of fabrication. Super Excited!...

[dakine_surf]

Looks good bud, what did you use to spray it? Dyc sprayer or something else?

Maybe I'll have to roadtrip out and spray the wagon

[RealJ22]

Originally Posted by dakine_surf

Looks good bud, what did you use to spray it? Dyc sprayer or something else?

Maybe I'll have to roadtrip out and spray the wagon

Thanks man! I used the Earlex one that is literally the same exact thing. I have to touch up a few spots and obviously re-do the hood once I get the parts for the donor welded on.

I cannot believe it is coming together so quickly. Things are not going to be moving quite as fast because I am not currently employed. lol.

[RealJ22]

Just picked up an E46 M3 hood with light damage for $10. Can you say "Metal power dome?". Had to hack off the side already to fit in my little wagon.

This means the hood will have to be re-done very soon

[RealJ22]

Gonna start hacking it up again tomorrow

Question!

Should I keep the vents in the back and have them functional? They could easily be incorporated....

Or should I stick with the OEM look and do the bulge and two smaller vents? Or use the vents I had earlier? Or both? Or no vents at all and just the hood bulge?

So many decisions.....

[colorado.e9x]

After seeing this it gave me the nasty idea to see a hellcat swapped E92 with this E46 M3 hood bulge right over the supercharger, no hacked up hood

Anyway imho I think it would look great with just the E46 M3 hood bulge with it's included vents. I think anything more would be too much and anything less just isn't enough. That's my take on it at least

[RealJ22]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

After seeing this it gave me the nasty idea to see a hellcat swapped E92 with this E46 M3 hood bulge right over the supercharger, no hacked up hood

Anyway imho I think it would look great with just the E46 M3 hood bulge with it's included vents. I think anything more would be too much and anything less just isn't enough. That's my take on it at least

I think that is a good idea as well. I know these tend to get hot towards the firewall so any way to extract heat would be a good thing. As well as the Cowl delete.

I am thinking the E46 vent and bulge only. Especially because the way it contours, the cut would be much easier to make. I just have to make sure it is there. I want this car to look like an M3, but not necessarily BE an M3.