5 Mods you loved / 5 Mods you didn't

[Lavatoad]

A lot of good info in here. I've thinking about diff gearing as a next project. 3.91 or 4.11 sound fun, but I have a 45 minute to hour drive to reach any sort od fun roads, and frequently take the car on road trips. I worry the gearing would driving me insane in the freeway.

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[Obioban]

The stock 3.62 is great. I just upgraded the diff but kept it 3.62– zero regrets.

[jvit27]

what didnt you like about the Ohlins? I love them!

Same, I loved them at the track today and even more over garbage New England roads on the way there and home without rattling my teeth out or car apart. Just like the name suggests

The low speed velocity behaves nicely below 45mph and the DFV really makes the high speed velocity react quickly, but the medium speed valving for spirited street driving -particularly on the rear dampers- has way too much rebound, car pitches A LOT at fun speeds. Even with flatride-like spring rates, the car really doesn't settle well and in effect feels like a cheap kit. Blasphemy I know.

K how come 3.91 and ohlins make it on the do not like list. Curious.

3.91 did make the car a bit more fun on the street, especially mine being SMG, but one of the best things about the S54 is the top end pull in 3rd. Highway rpm's are obviously a little buzzier, but the actual gear whine bothers me more. Since 3.91 is a Motorsport gearset this is just the nature of it.

Is it bad? Not at all. But I don't think the mild concessions were worth it for my use case scenario. If I were to do it again i'd go 3.73 (rare) or 3.85 (E9x M3). But FWIW I always liked the stock 3.62 to begin with; IMO putting the car on a 250+ lb diet is a better route.

[fattycharged]

Likes:
manual Cloth interior swap, such an underrated interior choice
4.1's
V3's till they leak
stock section 3 following SS bits
CSL airbox

Dislike:
GC coilovers
SS Race sec3; everyone who runs this should be embarrassed
rep CSL trunk
V3's when they leak
Mishimoto radiator

Honorable mention shoutout goes to those fresh headlight lenses

[jbfrancis3]

K how come 3.91 and ohlins make it on the do not like list. Curious.

Same here.

[CrisSilberGrau]

Likes:
-Better seats
-Carplay
-Dinan exhaust
-faster steering rack
-weight loss

Dislike:
-Ohlins R&T
-Supersprint exhaust
-3.91 gears
-Cold air intake
-new OEM floormats (quality has gone to shit)

K how come 3.91 and ohlins make it on the do not like list. Curious.

[Toby22]

Not many on this forum are installing junk parts on their car. We are definitely a cut above and there is a healthy amount of mechanical and computer expertise here as well since most all of us are so inclined. This place is not stance nation, not even close.

you’re right about the cars here 🙌🏼

[maw1124]

This^^^ is of course the reason I'm paying attention.

That said, I’m wondering where all the extra midrange torque comes from with a simple flash, and whether Euro headers will help or harm that effect.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

maw

[oceansize]

Agreed. I’m really a stock kind of guy for this car because I believe BMW Motorsport got this one pretty damned correct from the box. And because most of what’s been considered an improvement over its run has turned out not to be so much. That’s why I love this thread and the contributions of experienced devotees.

All that said, I’m really intrigued by OEM euro headers and raspX midpipe to complement my existing ECU tune. I’m wondering where all the extra midrange torque came from with a simple flash, and whether Euro headers will help or harm that effect. Most tunes are just timing advance and A/F ratios, but they don’t typically change the shape of the torque curve. Please PM me if you have any direct knowledge or experience on this, especially Euro headers with RaspX and stock muffler.

A bit more torque and a deeper, throatier voice and then I think I just enjoy driving and “restoring” this one (refinish the polished 19’s, extended leather interior bits, weight loss from decommissioned OEM stereo, etc.).

maw

Stock is better than cheap aftermarket parts. Just keep the car in good condition inside and out and you’ll have a much more desirable car than most modded ones

Gonna have to +1 this. I’d rather keep my car stock than put junk parts on it and if I don’t have the chips I’d rather not settle.

Not many on this forum are installing junk parts on their car. We are definitely a cut above and there is a healthy amount of mechanical and computer expertise here as well since most all of us are so inclined. This place is not stance nation, not even close.

[jet_dogg]

Stock is better than cheap aftermarket parts. Just keep the car in good condition inside and out and you’ll have a much more desirable car than most modded ones

Gonna have to +1 this. I’d rather keep my car stock than put junk parts on it and if I don’t have the chips I’d rather not settle.

[Toby22]

This thread makes me realize how stock my car is. I consider myself an E46 enthusiast yet my car isn't even modded, maybe because I appreciate it so much in stock form...

By far the best upgrade has been wheels and tires. Improved performance and looks by a large margin.

Would like to improve shifting precision next. Always hated the inconsistent 1-2 shift.

Stock is better than cheap aftermarket parts. Just keep the car in good condition inside and out and you’ll have a much more desirable car than most modded ones

[maw1124]

I think some people derive their pleasure from tinkering and improving (though sometimes the latter doesn't end up true, lol), and some derive the pleasure from experiencing it as it is. Or a mix of the two. No wrong way to enjoy an E46 M3, unless you bag it or go hellaflush of course.

Agreed. I’m really a stock kind of guy for this car because I believe BMW Motorsport got this one pretty damned correct from the box. And because most of what’s been considered an improvement over its run has turned out not to be so much. That’s why I love this thread and the contributions of experienced devotees.

All that said, I’m really intrigued by OEM euro headers and raspX midpipe to complement my existing ECU tune. I’m wondering where all the extra midrange torque came from with a simple flash, and whether Euro headers will help or harm that effect. Most tunes are just timing advance and A/F ratios, but they don’t typically change the shape of the torque curve. Please PM me if you have any direct knowledge or experience on this, especially Euro headers with RaspX and stock muffler.

A bit more torque and a deeper, throatier voice and then I think I just enjoy driving and “restoring” this one (refinish the polished 19’s, extended leather interior bits, weight loss from decommissioned OEM stereo, etc.).

maw

[repoman89]

what didnt you like about the Ohlins? I love them!

Same, I loved them at the track today and even more over garbage New England roads on the way there and home without rattling my teeth out or car apart. Just like the name suggests

[Onefastsicilian]

Likes:
-Better seats
-Carplay
-Dinan exhaust
-faster steering rack
-weight loss

Dislike:
-Ohlins R&T
-Supersprint exhaust
-3.91 gears
-Cold air intake
-new OEM floormats (quality has gone to shit)

what didnt you like about the Ohlins? I love them!

[jvit27]

Likes:
-Better seats
-Carplay
-Dinan exhaust
-faster steering rack
-weight loss

Dislike:
-Ohlins R&T
-Supersprint exhaust
-3.91 gears
-Cold air intake
-new OEM floormats (quality has gone to shit)