Board member AWE46M3 Rod-Bearings Service/Concept

[BRiley]

Yea. If you're going to do anything at all, get in and drive for a while. Otherwise, leave it off. The oil film won't disappear.

If you're super paranoid (like me), pull the fuel pump fuse and give it a few start cycles to get the oil flowing before you start the engine. I mean after it sits for a long, long time.

[AWE46M3]

Not as lengthy as ChapterM3's S54 rebuild thread, but my project has come to completion. I wanted to take a moment to share my experience with the group—not because I received any discounts or compensation, but to highlight a valuable resource available to the community, especially for those in Southern California looking for expert work outside of the typical shops many of us frequent.

As some of you know, I had my Big 3, along with all deferred maintenance and wear-and-tear items, serviced by a well-known shop that had worked on Build Journal’s car. Being new to the scene, I did my research, picked what I thought was the best shop near me, and spared no expense to have the work done. Unfortunately, the finished product left a lot to be desired. The car leaked oil like a faucet, had a mysterious rattle under load, and exhibited strange behaviors that made me question its reliability. I didn’t trust it, rarely drove it, and felt stuck—too much had been invested in maintenance and mods to justify selling it at a loss, but I also didn’t feel confident enough to truly enjoy the car.

Like many of you, I saw Anri become more active on the forums in 2023 and followed his contributions closely. I subscribed to Jonathan’s S54 rebuild thread and was really impressed by his work. After consulting multiple shops and well-known forum members—most of whom either ghosted me or dismissed my concerns—I decided to get in Anri’s queue. He was upfront about his backlog but willing to take on the job when his schedule allowed. So, I stockpiled parts, created an extensive issues list, and waited.

I got my car to Anri the week before Thanksgiving and picked it up yesterday. What started as a long list of needed repairs, fixes, and upgrades turned into a meticulous, in-depth mechanical audit and restoration of critical systems throughout the car.

Anri tackled everything with patience, precision, and an insane level of detail. Instead of just patching things up, he properly diagnosed and addressed issues at their source. The car had leaks everywhere, missing or incorrect hardware, and an exhaust that rattled like crazy (known issues for Super Sprint + Scorza/SCZA). He refreshed the oiling system, resealed the transmission, sorted out all the prior shop’s mistakes, upgraded key components, and provided custom, one-off solutions when off-the-shelf parts were insufficent to get the job done.

Beyond just the repairs, what impressed me most was Anri’s communication and problem-solving. He didn’t just replace parts—he took the time to analyze, recommend, and execute the best possible solutions. We discussed every step along the way, giving me the assurance I needed that my car was in good hands. When unexpected challenges came up (as they always do on these cars), Anri handled them with the kind of knowledge and craftsmanship you’d expect from someone who’s been doing this for decades.

The end result? The car is finally where it should be. The rattles are gone, the leaks are fixed, and the drivability is night-and-day better. I actually trust the car—something I haven’t been able to say since I purchased it in August of 2022.

One small detail that really left an impression on me was how clean my car was upon pickup. Anri thoroughly cleaned the engine bay and undercarriage—something no other shop has ever bothered to do. My interior was just as clean as I left it—no smudges or grime anywhere. He was incredibly conscientious and, at his own detriment, kept my car stored inside his shop per my request—I really didn’t want it sitting outside under a cover when it wasn't actively worked on.

If you’ve followed this thread or Jonathan’s rebuild thread and are considering having Anri work on your car, don’t hesitate. He’s thorough, honest, and incredibly skilled.

Anri - I can’t thank you enough for bringing my M3 back to life. I’m beyond grateful for all the hard work and dedication you put into it.


Summary of work performed:


Engine & Oil System:

- Performed compression test - engine passed with flying colors

- Replaced oil pan mesh strainer & gasket

- Rethreaded stripped oil pan bolt contributing to my oil pan leak

- Removed copious amounts of silcone from the mating surface of their oil pan to ensure a proper reseal

- Replaced oil return line (from valve cover, down the headers, to the oil pan - this required removing the headers)

- Installed upgraded high-flow oil pump

- Replaced WPC coated rod bearings with custom Moly-coated ACL Bearings

- Replaced front main seal

- Replaced leaking Vanos pressure line

- Refreshed PCV system (all parts replaced)

- Refreshed ICV system (all parts replaced)

- Secondary Air Pump delete (installed block off plate)

- Installed 70° thermostat

- Installed Sachs fan clutch and new fan

- Switched to 5W-50 oil

- Addressed additional oil leaks and cleaned excessive buildup in the oil pan


Transmission & Drivetrain:

- Diagnosed & resealed transmission to fix case joint leak

- Identified & replaced end of life components for the transmission

- Secured shifter assembly for Autosolutions 20% SSK (previously held together by a zip-tie)

- Reinstalled transmission with proper hardware and seals


Exhaust & Underbody

- Installed exhaust stabilizing brackets and clamps (more work to be done here)

- Installed new section 2 supporting plates & rubber hangers

- Modified the Charcoal Evap housing to create additional clearance for my Scorza (it was slightly touching either the diffuser or the heat shield previously - common issue for the OM Scorza or the SGT SCZA)

- Adjusted section 1 & section 2 exhaust to address rattle (known issue for Super Sprint section 1 and 2)

- Installed new V-brace

- Installed new belly pan

- Addressed clearance issues near driveshaft and axle for the section 2


Suspension & Steering:

- Installed Hotchkis sway bar (medium setting)

- Replaced front control arm bushings with OEM rubber (Previous shop chose for me and installed AKG, which ruined the ride quality).


CSL Airbox and Related Items:

- Cleaned throttle bodies

- Installed Karbonius Race CSL airbox

- Installed new throttle position sensors

- Relocated dip stick

- COVID19 MAP Sensor Install (by the brake booster)

- US Style IAT relocated to bumper snorkel ducting

- Installed CF Eventuri Air Scoop and modified it to fit the bumper snorkel ducting

- Installed new DMG 3-piece strut tower brace



Wish me luck as I attempt to place the BMW M Power Sticker 😅

[0-60motorsports]

Looks great! That strutbar is awesome. Hope you get to enjoy the car now.

[ChapterM3]

Just thrilled to read this Nick! So glad that Anri took care of you and so happy to read about yet another success story with him. He is so damn good, mad scientist of a guy and I'm glad that you had the experience you had this go around when giving someone your baby, especially what sounds like a headache after headache before hand. Imagine if you sold the car over that past $hit!!! So glad you're back ripping with it, can't wait to see the videos and more photos when you get to know it more Welcome back to the M3!!!!

[bavarian3]

AWE46M3 Love to see it. Curious who on earth could do that shoddy of work.

Nice work Anri.

I need to remove my trans and bring it you for a reseal, but the clutch is still good =(

[AWE46M3]

Looks great! That strutbar is awesome. Hope you get to enjoy the car now.

Thank you, sir! Hand made by @ dmg_autosport on Instagram. Brandon is a great guy - check him out!

Just thrilled to read this Nick! So glad that Anri took care of you and so happy to read about yet another success story with him. He is so damn good, mad scientist of a guy and I'm glad that you had the experience you had this go around when giving someone your baby, especially what sounds like a headache after headache before hand. Imagine if you sold the car over that past $hit!!! So glad you're back ripping with it, can't wait to see the videos and more photos when you get to know it more Welcome back to the M3!!!!

Appreciate you paving the way for us and documenting your journey. Made my decision to reach Anri a no brainer. He's an invaluable resource - feeling great about the investment I made in the car. Can't wait to crank the AC on full blast in bumper to bumper traffic this summer 😂