[BlueM3Wagon]

Side skirt issues

[BlueM3Wagon]

Hood grille issue

[BlueM3Wagon]

Headlight issues

[NYBulldog]

I just DMed you with some pointers. All in all it looks great. Once you get the wheels on its a game changer. The details of fitment just requires some patience. Im sure you will get it all done. I like thst you tried using the DCT shifter. You are right, it needs more width at the base of the opening and probably an extra inch to work. I would get it redone. Get yourself a used M3 ebrake boot to match. The stock looks good enough until you notice how smooth the M3 boots are. Make sure your headlights are operating correctly. The M3 are adaptive so you may need to recode. Also misalignment can cause level difference and it seems like brightness difference. Park in front of a flat wall with a level floor, you will see it right away. I love where this is going. The interior looks fantastic.

[BlueM3Wagon]

Summer wheels on. Don't think I can get spacers on the rear, front need some for sure, got to measure to figure it out.

Interior is coming together...

[BlueM3Wagon]

1/4" to fender lip on rear and almost 1" on front. Haven't pulled the rears yet so maybe I can get away with 12mm rear and 15 or 18mm in front.

[BlueM3Wagon]

Ok so far we've fixed:

Side skirts: Had to drill out new bottom holes for the push screws to go through. When LTMW customized the OEM skirts they installed grommets for BMW Door panel retainers to slide in a secure to the chassis. The Problem was it pushed the skirts out and down too far so they looked pulled in, also the BMW retainers were too small for the holes so I had to get Jeep ones that are slightly bigger. Bringing the bottom of the skirts out also corrected the gap between the fender and the skirt.

Hood Vents: NYBulldog helped me with this one and told me how the plate slide on the tabs and the honeycomb pops in.

Side Market lights: Strangely RealOEM and BMW themselves have the wrong connector listed for the light! Its actually the connector that fits on to the AC Condenser. So weird. I still dont have a fix completely as the connector I've order through the dealership but that cant find the pins that fit inside it. Right now I have the wire hardwired onto the light pins to work.

Hood Gap: Just twisted the locks 2 1/2 turns to lower, perfect!

Light Color: They were new bulbs and were a little off height wise, all good now!

DCT Boot: Tried to work with Redline but he went me Nappaleather which was too thick to get around the base ring and snap in. I ended up breaking a tab trying to man handle it, luckily I was able to epoxy it back. I ended up getting a manual boot for an e46 M3, its absolutely perfect fit around the ring and allows for full throw of the shifter. Just need to Leatherique it to match a little better with the ebrake boot (same leather just a little more weathered)

The shop wet sanded and paint corrected to car to perfection, looks amazing in the sun. I still have some odds and ends to do with the body. I have the C Pillar shadowline installed, the B pillars installed but the window guides are going to take a whole lot of work to get swapped out. I temporarily put on Shadowline Vinyl but it does not match the glossiness of the real stuff. Also tried my hand at wrapping the window trim but need to remove the side mirrors to do the font correctly. Forget trying to wrap the large window trim, I cant stretch it without bubbles, just going to remove and have the shop paint black. I have to swap the rear window shades since the M3 ones contour too much for the window (had no idea e91 had different rear doors). Also need to code rear cam, fog light delete, autodim mirrors and headlights.

NEXT: Brakes and spacers. I have 17.5mm spacers from the front. I need to roll and pull the rears to determine how much I can get back there. Hoping 12.5mm but cant find a shop in the area who pulls correctly. I have the F30 Brembo kit ready to put on, trying to get it done Friday before cars and coffee Saturday.

Here are some pics. Will post more once the body work is closer to completion.

[BlueM3Wagon]

pics

[tlow98]

Secks!

Love the wheels and color combo with that wide front end. Do you have plans to widen the rear? Likely, you already mentioned that somewhere...

[NYBulldog]

Oh my goshhhh. It’s beautiful. Nice f-Ing job. Glad you stuck with ambers. O<

[BlueM3Wagon]

Originally Posted by tlow98

Secks!

Love the wheels and color combo with that wide front end. Do you have plans to widen the rear? Likely, you already mentioned that somewhere...

Right now I’m going to pull the rear and throw the DD quad diffuser on the M Sport bumper. I might be content for a while but have a feeling I’m going to throw the M3 quarters and Frankenstein rear bumper on. I just need to regroup financially as this conversion so far has cost about 25% more than I budgeted for (even with used parts) this project is not even close to bolt on, so much customization needed but it been fun. I think once the wheels are pushed out a little with the Brembos on and quad diffuser/exhaust complete I’ll feel better. I’ve even considered slapping a supercharger like NYBulldog has and flip it once I’ve established funds for the donor. Baby steps

[BlueM3Wagon]

Originally Posted by NYBulldog

Oh my goshhhh. It’s beautiful. Nice f-Ing job. Glad you stuck with ambers. O<

Thanks, and thanks for your help. Looking forward to next phase!

[BlueM3Wagon]

Got the 17.5mm spacers on the front. Couldn't get the brembos installed. I need to figure out a way to push the dust boots on, a clamp of some sort, definitely won't go on by hand (or my technique or finger strength is super weak). Fronts are perfect though what do you think?! Actually go really well with the rears without a pull and spacers but still want to do it and see what it looks like

[BlueM3Wagon]

Looking for temporary suggestions for quad exhaust to run to the Duke Dynamic diffuser. Right now thinking just 2 in-line glasspacks to tips similar to this but wondering if I should take advantage of the space since I'm replacing the trunk tray with the M3 one. What better sounding options might I have, any 335 options that fit the DD diffuser openings? I know the set inward more than stock

[tlow98]

M3 mufflers are cheap as chips and fit perfectly.

Just block off one of the inlet pipes.

[BlueM3Wagon]

Originally Posted by tlow98

M3 mufflers are cheap as chips and fit perfectly.

Just block off one of the inlet pipes.

They don't fit the diffuser cut outs. Not sure what it would sound like either?

[tlow98]

Originally Posted by Michaellcoates

They don't fit the diffuser cut outs. Not sure what it would sound like either?

Oh, thought you were using an M3 diffuser grafted to regular bumper.

My thoughts on OE mufflers:
You know it won't sound tinny and rattly. I'm guessing due to the excess volume of the M3 exhaust will have a better bass tone and only have some minor harmonic issues.

In general, moving to larger mufflers gives a more pleasant tone. Whereas, going to smaller mufflers results in less desirable harmonics. Of course, this is all subjective, but going smaller and aftermarket results in the following:
Loud
Lots of resonance
Tiresome

Some people want that, though, so what do i know

M3 mufflers aren't light, however.

[BlueM3Wagon]

Originally Posted by tlow98

Oh, thought you were using an M3 diffuser grafted to regular bumper.

My thoughts on OE mufflers:
You know it won't sound tinny and rattly. I'm guessing due to the excess volume of the M3 exhaust will have a better bass tone and only have some minor harmonic issues.

In general, moving to larger mufflers gives a more pleasant tone. Whereas, going to smaller mufflers results in less desirable harmonics. Of course, this is all subjective, but going smaller and aftermarket results in the following:
Loud
Lots of resonance
Tiresome

Some people want that, though, so what do i know

M3 mufflers aren't light, however.

I do plan to go M3 bumper when I tackle the rear quarters but need a breather probably mid summer or winter project. So for the time being I'll go quad diffuser with M-Sport bumper. I love love the way the performance exhaust sounds, thought about taking the tips and rerouting then to fit the diffuser but was reading it changed the sound and dynamics of the exhaust. Do you think I could do a 335 performance exhaust or install a modified 335 dual to sound like the PE? I guess opening up the rear with no limitation of the stock tray yield me many more options

And I hate droney tinny exhaust so maybe online glass packs are not the answer here

[tlow98]

Originally Posted by Michaellcoates

I do plan to go M3 bumper when I tackle the rear quarters but need a breather probably mid summer or winter project. So for the time being I'll go quad diffuser with M-Sport bumper. I love love the way the performance exhaust sounds, thought about taking the tips and rerouting then to fit the diffuser but was reading it changed the sound and dynamics of the exhaust. Do you think I could do a 335 performance exhaust or install a modified 335 dual to sound like the PE? I guess opening up the rear with no limitation of the stock tray yield me many more options

And I hate droney tinny exhaust so maybe online glass packs are not the answer here

I don't know anything about the 335i stuff. I don't think I've ever even seen an underbelly shot tbh.

If glasspacks are to be your only source of muffling it's going to hard to drive daily.

You could alway just install fake tips to mimic your PE system on the opposite side. Yes, sort of lame but lost of cars has those these days stock, cough, ahem Jeep Trailhawk... I'd sooner put fake tips on than ruin the exhaust note, personally, if I had to have dual exit points for aestethics. Plus, it saves weight.

[Jgilyard]

Following

[BlueM3Wagon]

Splitters on and finally converted exhaust to N54 PE. The sound is seriously way different than the N52 PE. Way deeper and more gurgles. Everything swapped over nicely besides that damn evap canister. Had one instance where it said gas cap was loose, might have a loose fitting somewhere I'll need to check out. Duke Dynamic diffuser is a Mona Lisa. Looks good from afar and terrible up close, need to tweak the fitment a little, might need new holes to bring the bottoms of the bumper in closer to diffuser to lessen gapping. High have convinced myself to pick up a 335 IS donor and swap a build motor instead of s65. It pains me that say this but more practical and way less expensive.

[kickserve]

really enjoying this transformation.

quad exhaust looks so awesome on the e91. I just got the n52 PE and now you have me wanting to go quad and get the n54 exhaust. haha.

remind me: 1) what suspension are you on? I thought I remember reading you were on coilovers but couldn't find that detail. 2) are you also going to swap to a manual?