The Phoenix: My Build Journal Excerpts

[Tbonem3]

I wouldn't waste $ re-upholstering your current seat- I saw their condition on IG. Even if they were in perfect shape, the $ might be better spent on buckets no?

[Epoustouflant]

That's awesome! Yeah fronts should also be M-texture too with leather bolsters and headrest.

Thanks for the tip!

To the upholstery shop it goes then.

[PipeUy]

I’m actually working on this *right* now!

We’re doing a BMW Performance seat replica in Speed Cloth for the E92 and I’m hoping to connect with the upholstery shop to do an AMX style service with new seats that are more affordable.

I just ran the VIN, confirmed this is OEM M-Texture & Alcantara finish. Supposedly 1 of 6 in Canada. Saying I’m excited about this build is an understatement.

What I’m struggling with is the front seats. They are all leather.

Should they be M Texture as well?

That's awesome! Yeah fronts should also be M-texture too with leather bolsters and headrest.

[Epoustouflant]

If you have M texture door cards, I think you have no choice but to grab some ABEs from your group buy and do up the centers in M texture to match. There's a site currently selling M texture material that I'm blanking on ATM...

I’m actually working on this *right* now!

We’re doing a BMW Performance seat replica in Speed Cloth for the E92 and I’m hoping to connect with the upholstery shop to do an AMX style service with new seats that are more affordable.

I just ran the VIN, confirmed this is OEM M-Texture & Alcantara finish. Supposedly 1 of 6 in Canada. Saying I’m excited about this build is an understatement.

What I’m struggling with is the front seats. They are all leather and the centers seem visibly reupholstered.

Should they be M Texture as well?

[Obioban]

What is the best way to do a slicktop in an E39? Just order the roof panel and install like an E46?

Because it was a metal roof (OE BMW), we didn't DIY it-- just sent it to a body shop and had them install it.

[EthanolTurbo]

Strangely (by car size), I had more stock vs stock (power seats and sunroof in both) head room in my M3 than M5. These days, with the slicktop and buckets in the M3 it's not even close.

But, I never would have been able to wear a helmet in the M5 with any sort of reasonable seat position.

My friend that did the CSs in his e39 M5 is 6'6. Because he did a slicktop on it at the same time, he can how fit in the car without reclining... but no thanks to the seats for that.

What is the best way to do a slicktop in an E39? Just order the roof panel and install like an E46?

[keljos]

I wish you guys didn't post this lol. I've been wanting to do that since I got my car.

I'm in the same boat. Really like the design of those seats, particularly with the M Texture

[BMWahba]

This could be another option, they look insane.

Owner: https://www.instagram.com/bluebullet.m3/

I wish you guys didn't post this lol. I've been wanting to do that since I got my car.

[Obioban]

Agreed 100% on all accounts. I'm thinking about putting my Sportster CS in the E39 M5 and putting Recaro PP or Cobra Nogaros in the M3 because they're so much lighter and sit lower but it does really really suck that they are almost the same weight as stock.

Strangely (by car size), I had more stock vs stock (power seats and sunroof in both) head room in my M3 than M5. These days, with the slicktop and buckets in the M3 it's not even close.

But, I never would have been able to wear a helmet in the M5 with any sort of reasonable seat position.

My friend that did the CSs in his e39 M5 is 6'6. Because he did a slicktop on it at the same time, he can how fit in the car without reclining... but no thanks to the seats for that.

[Toby22]

Very nice color! Top 3 m3 color in my eyes

[EthanolTurbo]

I was much more enthused with the CSs until a friend of mine got a set of them recently for his M5 and I got some real seat time in them. The harness holes are way to low for anyone in the normal height spectrum, being bottom mounted means they sit about as high as stock, they're not particularly more bolstered than stock, and they're not that much lighter than stock once you get them mounted in the car. They are pretty and comfortable, but... not that much functionally better than stock, IMO.

Agreed 100% on all accounts. I'm thinking about putting my Sportster CS in the E39 M5 and putting Recaro PP or Cobra Nogaros in the M3 because they're so much lighter and sit lower but it does really really suck that they are almost the same weight as stock.

[Obioban]

This could be another option, they look insane.

Owner: https://www.instagram.com/bluebullet.m3/

I was much more enthused with the CSs until a friend of mine got a set of them recently for his e39 M5 and I got some real seat time in them. The harness holes are way to low for anyone in the normal height spectrum, being bottom mounted means they sit about as high as stock, they're not particularly more bolstered than stock, and they're not that much lighter than stock once you get them mounted in the car. They are pretty and comfortable, but... not that much functionally better than stock, IMO.

Interesting to see Avus on an e46M.

[PipeUy]

If you have M texture door cards, I think you have no choice but to grab some ABEs from your group buy and do up the centers in M texture to match. There's a site currently selling M texture material that I'm blanking on ATM...

This could be another option, they look insane.

Owner: https://www.instagram.com/bluebullet.m3/

[Obioban]

If you have M texture door cards, I think you have no choice but to grab some ABEs from your group buy and do up the centers in M texture to match. There's a site currently selling M texture material that I'm blanking on ATM...

[Obioban]

Woot!

Welcome.

390rwhp is about the upper end of a bolt on NA build, so if you want that power without the supercharger... it could be yours
(well, counting cams and TBs as bolt ons-- but stock heads, valves, springs, and bottom end)

Combine with lightness for excellence (should be easy to lose a lot of weight quickly, as the air to water cooler on the VF SC is a hefty bit of kit)