Sid's 2003.5 Silver Grey Speed Run

[Nate047]

Got rid of the surface rust in the battery tray and painted it in silver POR15.

I need to do this in my car, can you tell me the steps you used? I was planning on using a wire wheel on the rust, sanding, prime, and rattle can.

[ugaexploder]

That would be great. Realistically, it probably wouldn’t be until later this year. I want to try and get a Karbonius roof installed but they have a 12 week lead time.

[Sid_E46]

Hi Sid, really enjoyed this build journal. Just picked up my first e46 m3 last week in SGM as well.

I was wondering if you could provide some insight on who you used for your body shop as I am located in Norcross, GA and would want to eventually repaint the entire car.

My friend's brother has done the body work for me so far but he is moving locations relatively soon. I can ask if he would be willing to take on the job eventually.

[ugaexploder]

Hi Sid, really enjoyed this build journal. Just picked up my first e46 m3 last week in SGM as well.

I was wondering if you could provide some insight on who you used for your body shop as I am located in Norcross, GA and would want to eventually repaint the entire car.

[Sid_E46]

How have the Part Shop Max subframe bushings been? I know they are just bushings but didn't know if there was anything to report back like hard installation or noises coming from them.

They have been great, and pretty easy to install. No complaints really.

[Ubaderb]

How have the Part Shop Max subframe bushings been? I know they are just bushings but didn't know if there was anything to report back like hard installation or noises coming from them.

[Sid_E46]

But do you like BMWs?

Maybe.......

[K-Dawg]

Also finished rebuilding the E34 touring and put about 10k miles on it already. Couldn't resist throwing some BBS's on it.

But do you like BMWs?

[Sharocks]

The E34 fucks hard.

[Sid_E46]

Been a while since I posted here.....


Ended up uninstalling the Dinan S3r kit and replaced it with a Haimus Racing CSL box.










Had the injectors rebuilt while I was in there.





Traded my pretty good-condition cinnamon seats for some absolutely perfect ones from a friend.




My old CSL trunk is currently physically repaired and should be painted Silver Grey soon.






Also finished rebuilding the E34 touring and put about 10k miles on it already. Couldn't resist throwing some BBS's on it.

[Sid_E46]

Another mini journal.....

So I decided to swap out my 2006 X3 for a 1993 525i touring as my new "old" daily, only issue is I have to rebuild the front end of the E34.


Bought it from Portland IAAI and had it shipped to pretty much the other corner of the US; Atlanta.






Immediately got to tearing apart the wrecked front end and getting rid of 29 years of grime.




I found an E34 part out in Alabama with all the parts I needed, and in the same color as well.

I also changed out the VCG and painted the cover black.

[Sid_E46]

Gave up looking for a CSL diffuser that was already painted SG and decided to go with a "Ameoba Wings" (Taiwan) diffuser.

My friend's body shop had it paint matched and it looks great.

[Sid_E46]

Back to the M3.....

My Carbon Black M3 had an OE CSL trunk that was damaged in the accident, and with current prices, I didn't want to even try to purchase another one.

I thought the trunk was gone for good but a friend assured me that it was most definitely fixable by his body shop.

Still currently in the process of being fixed but here are a few images of the procedure.








Here it is previously.....

[Sid_E46]

Small update....

Haven't done all that much on the M3 lately but have added another car to the fleet, so here is a mini journal for our new 2015 X5M.




Flew down to Miami and drove it back to Atlanta all in a day's time.

On the way back from Miami, I noticed the front right wheel bearing was making some noise so that was the first thing I swapped out.




Also swapped out the blower motor due to the original one making some squeaking noise.

[Sid_E46]

Small update....

Decided to pull off the supercharger and rebuild it with some nicer ceramic bearings. It has been a slow process since the only time I get to work on the car is the weekends I come back from school.





I was having trouble trying to find which version supercharger I had so that I could order the correct bearings, but to my surprise, Vortech still has records for this exact blower.