Tyler's 04 slicktop 6spd Silvergrey MCS/Brembo/CSL/Karbonius/Nogaros/Supersprint

[0-60motorsports]

Those like great Tyler! Nice one

[Tbonem3]

08/2020 to 06/2021

I had a SGT SCZA muffler that I traded away last year in acquiring the CSL wheels. I had a spare set of tips to include with it, so that I was able to retain my 82mm raw ti SCZA tips that I slashed cut ala "lemans" style Eisenmann or Supersprint sport/race tips.

At this point, I was settled with the sounds the car was making and didn't want another muffler. My rear end is pretty gutted, so I wasn't even bothered about the weight of the stock muffler, esp being so low and so far back, to balance me out. The only thing I really wanted was better tips.

So, I set out to adapt the SCZA tips onto the stock muffler. I had no clue if it would work or what type of fab/mod I would need to do, but I just dove in by drilling out the rivets on the stock tips:




Once the tips were off, I was able to see how the SCZA tips might fit on. The ID of the SCZA tips was wayyyy too big to sit over the smaller, protruding stock pipes, but it was very close to fitting over the larger stock piping that the OE tips were riveted to.

They were going to need some material removed, however, and not so little that I'd be able to do it and fit the tips all on in one sitting. Thus, I put the muffler back on the car for the time being:



I used a drum sander bit in a high power/rpm drill to open the IDs of the tips up, so that they could slip over the stock outlets. The SCZA tips secure with 3 set screws (clamping).




The thickness of the rolled exh tips, at the end, was about 3mm or 1/8". I had to take it down by half (1/16") in order for them to slip on.

This took numerous trips/efforts at my dad's house. On the last visit, I polished them:




So, several months had passed at this point, plus I bought another M3 which was keeping me really busy. Fast forward to June, 2021, I was finally ready to finish this project because I had to drop the muffler to install a GTR rear brace in the boot. I bought new suspension, partially in order to put the bilsteins on the second M3, and was trying to time the install with the GTR brace.

My next entry in this journal will be about the suspension/chassis upgrade, and that'll bring me to present day basically. Here are the rest of the photos of the exhaust tip install and muffler re-install.




Not only did I slash cut these tips and polish them (going for the OE chrome look), but I also staggered them upon install. I don't think the SCZA tip method of securing with set screws is necessarily the best, but it did allow me to install these exactly how I wanted. My trick: Get it 90% of where you want it. Tighten all 3 set screws well. Then, pull the tips in the direction you think they should move a little in order to be perfect and knock the opposite side with a rubber mallet. The force, plus your pulling, will move them just a little in the direction you want. Might take a few tries, but I'm very pleased with my fitment.

Ready

[Tbonem3]

Torin Big Reds. Also sold by sunex and schwaben and maybe one other company (in blue), can't remember who. $65 a pair when I got them after the HF recall.

[S3diment]

What jack stands are you using?

[Tbonem3]

Thanks hehe

[robgill]

Nice update, now I have to order new button cap's 😆.

[jet_dogg]

Man it's like old forum days when you're on 56k waiting for pics to load with your picture heavy thread bro hahaa.

The fluted lenses occurred with the 2003.5 update and at first I didn't like them but to me they look a little more high end because you can't see the bulb imho. I prefer it on my because it's period correct but I obviously don't dislike the clear pre-lift one. Always love little touches like plastic trim caps, etc. and such.

[Tbonem3]

March 2021

Almost caught up to present day. This is the point where I was buying the 2002 Steelgrey coupe. Had some mods/maint just sitting around that I had intended to install for a little while, but became quite busy with the neglected steelgrey car as you can imagine. As I was making progress on steelgrey, I noticed and remembered that there was a change somewhere in production where cars got fluted fog lights over clear ones. The silvergrey's fog lights had about 150k on them (they were uninstalled for ~30k), and were pretty pitted and hazy. Not horribly, but no longer equal to the condition of the rest of the car.

The steel grey had a single fog light replaced recently (and the black ring), and it was the clear type. I immediately liked the look of the clear vs. fluted. It also seems to match better with my double halogens. So, I set off to buy one more OE ZKW clear fog, and a new ring, for the other side, and put them on silvergrey. Then move the fluted lights and decent condition rings to steelgrey.





The driver side rear quarter glass' black button cap's paint had stared to chip. I touched it up for a few years, but finally dug through RealOEM and, sure enough, you can buy a replacement kit. I didn't need the kit, just the cap, but the kit was only $15 anyway.




Easy enough of an install. I used pliers to squeeze the spring washer back on, was a little hairy - take care doing so.



Steelgrey didn't have a belly pan, and silvergrey's was also no longer equal in condition to the rest of the car like the fogs. I love these hand-me-downs!



Lastly, as I was checking adaptations and codes on steelgrey, I figured I'd have a looksee at how silvergrey is doing



Ahaha you motherfucker! Fucking perfect, just like it feels. (EWS is a bad key I later replaced)

My neighbors, knowing my care for these cars, graciously offered a space in their garage (The live out of state usually) for me to park silvergrey as I work on steelgrey

So here she sits safe and sound



Decent shot of the clear fog light look:

[jet_dogg]

Love the wobbles.

[Tbonem3]

Quality/fit

I also got the cooler when FCP had it on clearance

[Loopyspec]

Curious to know why you didn't opt for a CSF oil cooler over OE, assuming OE is more expensive.

[Tbonem3]

December 2020

On canyon runs, in the summer, even though my cooling system is new, and I use proper oil, my oil temps would creep higher than I thought acceptable. My car has 179k miles, so I was sure the oil cooler was the issue. I also noticed the lines' crimps weeping oil.

Timed everything with my yearly oil change.




Dropped the cooler. Ya, it looks pretty done.



Some oil will come out. Center bolt is a 6mm hex iirc (maybe 5mm)



Not much oil to worry about up top at the housing. I had to bring the lines up through the rack and frame rail, couldn't go down. Might depend on your airbox situation.



Old



New cooler, lines, o rings. Cleaned housing. Didn't take a pic, but cooler is made by OEM Modine just like our coolant cooler (radiator)



Lube the o-rings



New lines going in. O-rings lubed and rolled on



Had to use a swivel on my 3/8



Same below



And also used the swivel here as sway bar makes it a little awkward.



New OE Mahle oil filter. Gasket also pre-lubed



OE spec fill



peekaboo



Done



Lol that first drive I was waiting and waiting and waiting for the oil to come up to temp. Took forever. Doesn't even hit center until you give it the beans.

Some time has passed and I've been able to beat on it. Doesn't budge from center. Wasn't until we had a 96 degree day recently (2021), that it finally crept up at all after numerous redlines.

-------

The center HVAC filter cover clip had been bothering me for years, but I never took the time to see if I could buy one/replace it. Turns out you can:




I think the center one gets faded as it's the most bathed in sunlight (if outdoors). Side ones look good. Simple, but important:

[WOLFN8TR]

“Wipers for Less Weight” Awesome!! 😎
It actually looks really good wiper less. I rarely use mine as well, hardly ever rains out here in the desert, but when it does it pours so hard they don’t really help anyway.

[loudspeaker69]

For safety reasons if something ever spills on your windshield, you won’t have complete vision if you don’t have wipers.

Small risk it will be non-clear substance, but just an FYI.

It’s happened to someone I know.
Paint spilled on their E36 M3 on the road !

Looks beautiful nonetheless !

[Tbonem3]

Thanks Gary!

Moving right along...

December 2020

I was pretty sure at this point that I was buying my wife's uncle's early e46 M3 with no strut bar, and I wanted a front bar with a better "footprint" esp before I upgraded the suspension/chassis any further. I love being able to upgrade one car, and then the "hand-me-downs" can go to the other car.

I had already taken note of some newer fabricators like DMG & SME, because I wanted to further reinforce my RACP. While on IG, I saw Brandon (DMG) post about a GTR style rear bar that he had painted yellow for someone, but they didn't want it, so he listed it at a discount. I took the opportunity to buy it, but also have him throw in the front strut brace at a discount too!

Here's the "comp-v" before paint. Really nice work.




Didn't take pics of the front bar, you've all seen it before. Here I've got the stock bar off. You can see the 3 little "feet" that the stock bar's mounts use to sit on top of the strut tower. The DMG bar, and others of similar design (Mason might be the oldest, RE too), sit flat on the surface for better distribution of forces.



Good time for a light polish




Bar on and secured. A pretty tight fit, don't tighten one side without getting the other 3 nuts on the other side.



Uh oh, my bent dipstick is now in a bad spot I'll rectify that when the bar comes off again for suspension changes.

Some more shots of the front bar installed:







Before finishing, I wanted to remove the wipers for less weight and a clean look. I never drive in the rain, I barely drive the car much at all.

Take care when removing the arms. They'll likely be pretty stuck on the splines. Some penetrant helps, but I think it's best to use a puller, at least at first to get it started, then wiggle it off or leverage it off with a flat head. You can crack you glass if you're not careful.