Has anyone here actually weighed their vehicle?

[discoelk]

When comparing to non-Ms(specE46), it's important to remember the engine/trans/diff are significantly lighter. An M54 is ~350lbs dressed.

[S54330Ci]

How much gas did you have in the tank when you got that weight?

Half tank.

[Obioban]

Thank you for commenting, I was really hoping that you would comment in this thread. I have read a lot about your weight reduction in other threads in my research for weight reduction.

Yeah, I agree the full tank of gas was kind of a bone head move didn't think about that when weighting the car. I figure that I should deduct like 50lb off the weight figure that I posted from 3341lb down to 3291lbs which is where I am sitting with a half tank. With all the comments on here about the OEM CSL trunk, maybe I might go a different route with the Karbonius CSL Trunk. Just sucks that I already have the OEM CSL. I plan on replacing the HARD Motorpsort door panels with the OEM CSL door panels because I am not really a fan of them. The question, becomes what would I do with the front door speakers? Do I keep them deleted or reinstall them, I do want to listen to music while driving, so this is kinda of a tough one.

Regarding your car, I know you did some thinning of the interior wiring harness that shaved some pounds. What are some other small things that you did to shave a few pounds here and a few pounds there?

I am researching possibly fabricating a titanium rear muffler but one that will actually quiet down the exhaust unlike what is currently available on the market. I am like you, not a fan of a loud muffler on the e46.

If you're going to have speakers, IMO you should just run the factory door cards.
Big ticket weight loses on my car with specific amounts as accurate as my memory is:
Roof (CF), 44 lbs
Seats, 62 lbs
battery, ~50 lbs (lithium ion-- I'm on year 11 with the battery, and no issues yet!)
Stereo project, ~50 lbs (my stereo is an Xtrons head unit with two (light) speakers plugged directly into it-- entire factory harness removed, all the modules, and the scaffolding that holds them. Completely gutted/removed the factory stereo harness)

And then a bunch of little stuff that is probably another 50-100 lbs total-- LATCH removal, middle seat belt removal, CF trunk full exhaust (but with not super light muffler), BBK, wheels, tires (people never mention this, but huge variety here), CSL intake, SPAL fan in place of aux and clutch fan, second air pump, small/relocated washer tank, battery cable, CF cabin air filter housing and strut tower brace, aux water pump, tool kit, mobility kit, suspension, hollow sways, fog lights, bla bla bla. There's lots of other little things but that's all I got off the top of my head.

But, no roll bar weight adder.

If I ever get in a front end collision, I'd like to do CF fenders. I'd also like to do the CF door skins at some point. And, I have a notion of doing LED headlights to take some weight out of them, as my car is currently front heavy and they're on the nose.

[mtpktz]

Thank you for commenting, I was really hoping that you would comment in this thread. I have read a lot about your weight reduction in other threads in my research for weight reduction.

Yeah, I agree the full tank of gas was kind of a bone head move didn't think about that when weighting the car. I figure that I should deduct like 50lb off the weight figure that I posted from 3341lb down to 3291lbs which is where I am sitting with a half tank. With all the comments on here about the OEM CSL trunk, maybe I might go a different route with the Karbonius CSL Trunk. Just sucks that I already have the OEM CSL. I plan on replacing the HARD Motorpsort door panels with the OEM CSL door panels because I am not really a fan of them. The question, becomes what would I do with the front door speakers? Do I keep them deleted or reinstall them, I do want to listen to music while driving, so this is kinda of a tough one.

Regarding your car, I know you did some thinning of the interior wiring harness that shaved some pounds. What are some other small things that you did to shave a few pounds here and a few pounds there?

I am researching possibly fabricating a titanium rear muffler but one that will actually quiet down the exhaust unlike what is currently available on the market. I am like you, not a fan of a loud muffler on the e46.

Interesting thread with a lot of great information.

If you decide to swap your OEM CSL bootlid with one from Karb, I'd be interested in purchasing the OEM piece. Feel free to PM me.

[bmw m3 s50]

Really curious how much mine ways after reading this thread:

(-):
- Sparco Evo Driver/Passenger (no sliders, directly bolted to chassis)
- Monotube coilovers
- BBS Motorsport RE/GT4 18x10 / Yokohama A052
- Slicktop
- Carbon fiber front door cards
- Rear seat delete
- Rear door card delete
- Door speaker delete
- Rear speaker delete (sides+rear shelf)
- Carbon fiber CSL Trunk
- Carbon fiber CSL Diffuser (not that the stock one weighs anything)
- CSL bumper + kevlar brace delete
- Windshield washer fluid reservoir delete
- Tire inflater delete
- Armrest delete
- CSL Airbox
- Euro headers/cats
- Mini/CSL Battery
- Hollow F/R sway bars
- Poly bushings
- No Nav stock

(+)
- Autopower 4-point bolt-in half cage
- Aluminum rear panels + some sound deadening attached since the car was so loud without it. And I don't mean exhaust noise, but like annoying noises like picking up stones/pebbles and like the diff/transmission

(No change/room for opportunity)
- Stock Section 3 / muffler because I like a quiet exhaust paired with the CSL Airbox. Maybe I would switch to a Eisenmann or Supersprint Street if I ran into one
- Stock brakes, hoping to install a BBK soon
- Hoping to go with an electric fan conversion in the future

Probably not going to touch the wiring / AC / radio (even though the radio doesn't make any sounds with all the speakers removed lol)

If I put it on a scale with 1/2 a tank I'm hoping it'd at least be in the high 3200s.

Definitely worth weighting the car to actually get an accurate weight. I thought that I would be in the low 3200's Lbs but I was mistaken.

[bmw m3 s50]

I have an S54 powered 330Ci that is configured very similar to yours:

• Carbon fiber roof
• OMP HTE XL seats (driver and passenger)
• Rear seat delete with all sound deadening removed
• Armrest delete
• Hard Motorsport front door panels with front speaker delete
• Removal of all trunk trim
• 17" Bimmerworld TA16 forged wheels
• AP Racing CP8350 BBK (front) and CP5144 BBK (rear)
• Half cage (by TC Designs)

My weights are below:





Getting a street car below 3000 pounds is going to be very difficult without fully stripping the interior, removing all sound deadening, thinning the wiring harness, removing the entire HVAC system, etc.

SPECE46 cars run a minimum weight of 2850 with driver. Those cars have all the above removed and more.

Good luck.

How much gas did you have in the tank when you got that weight?

[bmw m3 s50]

Battery, exhaust, seats, and roof are the big ticket easy weight loss areas. You didn't list battery or exhaust, and the sportsters pretty much stock weight once you put them on slides. So, really you've done roof, which is good (if you're starting with a sunroof car)., but added a roll bar. And, the full tank of gas is pretty much a wash with everything else you listed-- which has taken you back to stock weight.

All seems about right to me.

.. Don't bother with the OEM CSL trunk or door cards if you're doing them for weight. There's lighter trunks out there, and the doors cards are basically only heavier in the speakers (so could just remove the speakers). That said, those full CF doors would save real weight.

To the original question, mine was 3121 with 5/8 full gas tank last time I corner balanced it, without driver. With back seat, factory door cards, and AC
(and a quiet muffler, which is where I'm giving up on weight savings the most-- but I hate a loud muffler on the e46M)

Thank you for commenting, I was really hoping that you would comment in this thread. I have read a lot about your weight reduction in other threads in my research for weight reduction.

Yeah, I agree the full tank of gas was kind of a bone head move didn't think about that when weighting the car. I figure that I should deduct like 50lb off the weight figure that I posted from 3341lb down to 3291lbs which is where I am sitting with a half tank. With all the comments on here about the OEM CSL trunk, maybe I might go a different route with the Karbonius CSL Trunk. Just sucks that I already have the OEM CSL. I plan on replacing the HARD Motorpsort door panels with the OEM CSL door panels because I am not really a fan of them. The question, becomes what would I do with the front door speakers? Do I keep them deleted or reinstall them, I do want to listen to music while driving, so this is kinda of a tough one.

Regarding your car, I know you did some thinning of the interior wiring harness that shaved some pounds. What are some other small things that you did to shave a few pounds here and a few pounds there?

I am researching possibly fabricating a titanium rear muffler but one that will actually quiet down the exhaust unlike what is currently available on the market. I am like you, not a fan of a loud muffler on the e46.

[bmw m3 s50]

Right on, so yea, that does look really nice honestly. I can imagine someone wanted a clean show ready / track style car, as opposed to a more purpose based track build. Nothing wrong with that. But you are maintaining a lot of weight by having all the misc rear seat components still in there, plus the stuff in the trunk, you could drop some weight that way but it won't look as good. After reading what you've said about the goal for the car though, I would just leave it and do the seats and battery. It's so hard to balance what you want looks wise vs ultimate weight loss. The two don't really go hand in hand. Especially if you want to be able to just get in the car and drive it around town.

Thank you, sir.

Yeah, I was pretty happy the prior owner didn't really go crazy and strip the car.

I think you nailed it honestly. It is difficult to get that clean OEM look as well as the light weight design. I am trying to do like a CSL / GTS or GT3 / GT3 RS type of build. Anti Gravity ATX30 Battery and Pole Position ABEs (hopefully in CF) is definitely happening which should cut close to 70-80 lbs. Also going to remove the rear seat bottom cushion and build a lightweight shelf in it's place. I know the trunk still has the NAV system and the bracket that holds the radio and NAV components. I may get rid of the NAV system since it is kinda useless. I figure between the NAV system and the bracket that should like like 10-12lbs right there.

[shibui]

Really curious how much mine ways after reading this thread:

(-):
- Sparco Evo Driver/Passenger (no sliders, directly bolted to chassis)
- Monotube coilovers
- BBS Motorsport RE/GT4 18x10 / Yokohama A052
- Slicktop
- Carbon fiber front door cards
- Rear seat delete
- Rear door card delete
- Door speaker delete
- Rear speaker delete (sides+rear shelf)
- Carbon fiber CSL Trunk
- Carbon fiber CSL Diffuser (not that the stock one weighs anything)
- CSL bumper + kevlar brace delete
- Windshield washer fluid reservoir delete
- Tire inflater delete
- Armrest delete
- CSL Airbox
- Euro headers/cats
- Mini/CSL Battery
- Hollow F/R sway bars
- Poly bushings
- No Nav stock

(+)
- Autopower 4-point bolt-in half cage
- Aluminum rear panels + some sound deadening attached since the car was so loud without it. And I don't mean exhaust noise, but like annoying noises like picking up stones/pebbles and like the diff/transmission

(No change/room for opportunity)
- Stock Section 3 / muffler because I like a quiet exhaust paired with the CSL Airbox. Maybe I would switch to a Eisenmann or Supersprint Street if I ran into one
- Stock brakes, hoping to install a BBK soon
- Hoping to go with an electric fan conversion in the future

Probably not going to touch the wiring / AC / radio (even though the radio doesn't make any sounds with all the speakers removed lol)

If I put it on a scale with 1/2 a tank I'm hoping it'd at least be in the high 3200s.

[S54330Ci]

For those who have weighed their cars, what results have you experienced?

I have an S54 powered 330Ci that is configured very similar to yours:

• Carbon fiber roof
• OMP HTE XL seats (driver and passenger)
• Rear seat delete with all sound deadening removed
• Armrest delete
• Hard Motorsport front door panels with front speaker delete
• Removal of all trunk trim
• 17" Bimmerworld TA16 forged wheels
• AP Racing CP8350 BBK (front) and CP5144 BBK (rear)
• Half cage (by TC Designs)

My weights are below:





Getting a street car below 3000 pounds is going to be very difficult without fully stripping the interior, removing all sound deadening, thinning the wiring harness, removing the entire HVAC system, etc.

SPECE46 cars run a minimum weight of 2850 with driver. Those cars have all the above removed and more.

Good luck.

[Obioban]

Battery, exhaust, seats, and roof are the big ticket easy weight loss areas. You didn't list battery or exhaust, and the sportsters pretty much stock weight once you put them on slides. So, really you've done roof, which is good (if you're starting with a sunroof car)., but added a roll bar. And, the full tank of gas is pretty much a wash with everything else you listed-- which has taken you back to stock weight.

All seems about right to me.

.. Don't bother with the OEM CSL trunk or door cards if you're doing them for weight. There's lighter trunks out there, and the doors cards are basically only heavier in the speakers (so could just remove the speakers). That said, those full CF doors would save real weight.

To the original question, mine was 3121 with 5/8 full gas tank last time I corner balanced it, without driver. With back seat, factory door cards, and AC
(and a quiet muffler, which is where I'm giving up on weight savings the most-- but I hate a loud muffler on the e46M)

[samthejam]

Yeah the damn thing is like 3400lbs with a CF trunk LID, BW exhaust and a bucket seat.

I had half a tank and my spare tire and tools.

[Nate047]

I would agree with you on that. I have no clue why the previous owner did reclinable seats with the half cage. It might have been due to Turner’s recommendation since they did the majority of the work.

Here is the half cage:

Right on, so yea, that does look really nice honestly. I can imagine someone wanted a clean show ready / track style car, as opposed to a more purpose based track build. Nothing wrong with that. But you are maintaining a lot of weight by having all the misc rear seat components still in there, plus the stuff in the trunk, you could drop some weight that way but it won't look as good. After reading what you've said about the goal for the car though, I would just leave it and do the seats and battery. It's so hard to balance what you want looks wise vs ultimate weight loss. The two don't really go hand in hand. Especially if you want to be able to just get in the car and drive it around town.

[bmw m3 s50]

Ah I see, you already purchased the OEM CSL parts. Makes sense.


What’s to say the aftermarket CSL parts don’t look clean though? Don’t get me wrong, I get wanting to have that cool (rare) OEM piece, but there’s been plenty of praise for Karb/Sloan/MEC/GT4 for their quality craftsmanship. It’s a known thing that even OEM CSL parts didn’t fit perfectly, so if you’re shaving as much as possible wouldn’t it make more sense to go CF?

Again, not trying to shoot down your decisions if you’ve already bought the parts(if anything I’m jealous lol), just find it odd for one to say they’re trying to shave weight but won’t go aftermarket/CF by saying they look (objectively) worse.

I would have to agree with your comment. You are 100% correct, there are aftermarket parts that would provide greater weight reduction than OEM CSL parts for sure and some parts that would have fitment equal to the CSL parts.

I think with my build, it is a balance of a clean OEM and cool look with weight reduction in mind. As I mentioned, I would love to get the car into the 3000 to 3050 lbs mark but I do want to also want to retain that OEM e46 feel of originality. It is getting harder and harder to come across the feel of originality as these cars get older. I would like to keep the exterior as OEM as possible with the exception of the CF roof which is already installed and CSL front splitters for the non-CSL front bumper. I would have gone as far as buying an OEM CSL Front Bumper but I can't stand the single intake hole look.

For the engine, I currently have a Karb CSL airbox which I will be installing. Odds are in the future I will be looking for an OEM CSL airbox just for that cool factor.

I may decide later on to buy jump to the aftermarket exterior parts but in reality, it would only be the trunk since everything else is OEM. I don't think the diffuser would make any difference in weight.

[dHam_Slow.46M]

For me it's a fine line between weight reduction and building a perfect clean m3. The exterior parts that I have are all OEM CSL parts - the trunk and diffuser. I am trying to get the most in weight reduction but I also want a clean looking car.

HA, and no that is not NOS.

Ah I see, you already purchased the OEM CSL parts. Makes sense.


What’s to say the aftermarket CSL parts don’t look clean though? Don’t get me wrong, I get wanting to have that cool (rare) OEM piece, but there’s been plenty of praise for Karb/Sloan/MEC/GT4 for their quality craftsmanship. It’s a known thing that even OEM CSL parts didn’t fit perfectly, so if you’re shaving as much as possible wouldn’t it make more sense to go CF?

Again, not trying to shoot down your decisions if you’ve already bought the parts(if anything I’m jealous lol), just find it odd for one to say they’re trying to shave weight but won’t go aftermarket/CF by saying they look (objectively) worse.