Akshon's CB to MB e46 m3

[akshon]

One e46 m3 was not enough so I purchased another with the intention to restore it to new condition. Picked up this 2002 carbon black smg with 88K miles on the clock for under 15k last year.

Car was clean mechanically with no accidents but in terrible cosmetic condition due to being outside for a few years in the California sun not a big deal for me considering the price I paid since most parts would be changed.
This car is meant to be minimally modified focusing more on restoring the car to new condition over modifications.

- Color change to Miami Blue with double clear coat
- New rear bumper
- New front bumper
- New side skirts and trim
- New rear diffuser
- New side moldings
- New fender liners and bolts
- New OEM BMW front and rear windshield
- 330 CI Grill
- New OEM Side grills
- New BMW Emblems
- New headlight lense, corner lights, sidemarkers, fog lights
- New OEM LED Tail lights
- F80 black m3 badge
- Coby BMW Steering wheel with alcantara trim
- OEM BMW individual side sills
- All new exterior rubber and gaskets (Literally every single piece $$$)
- Refurbished door panels
- Refurbished rear seats
- Rear Deck refinished in alcantara
- Carbon interior trim
- All new interior trim bits (Everything was falling apart from sun damage)
- BMW Golf Ball shift knob
- New headunit with upgraded speakers
- RKP Carbon Roof
- Euro Headliner
- Cobra Nogaro (on order)
- Dinan exhaust with new OEM exhaust mounts
- ST XTA coil overs
- ST sway bars with new bushings
- BBS RGR with Michelin PS4 255/35/18 and 275/35/18
- All new OEM suspension bushings (FCAB, Control arms, RTAB, Rear control arm upper and lower)
- Yellow tag steering rack
- New OEM tie rods
- Rogue transmission mounts
- New OEM Engine mounts
- All Fluids flushed
- Stop tech brake rotors and pads with refurbished calipers

TO DO
- Color sand and ceramic coating
- Cooling system refresh
- Dry ice under panels
- New OEM underpanel plastics
- Subframe reinforcement with aluminum bushings


Pics of car the day I brought it home.

[akshon]

Lets get the party started













Matte underside just like OEM



Ready to go!





Anyone know how to make the pictures not sideways?

[akshon]

BBS RGR from the white car painted in porsche white gold metallic




Borrowing the seats from the white car.














RKP Roof with stock sunroof rails painted black.

[akshon]

Color is very difficult to capture in pictures. Almost looks fluorescent in person.

Pic with all 3 of my carbon slick top m3.

[Casa de Mesa]

Yeeeessssss!!!! Car looks amazing! Love the color choice.

[robgill]

Color change club!

[akshon]

The full color change members on this forum first to post. Any more? Really enjoying the m3 in a different color. Rosso and shark blue are also very great color choices. Enjoying the cosmetically new car.

[enjoy_m3]

Wow, awesome color and work. Mind me asking what does a color change like that cost? Feel free to PM me.

[Maxima SE]

Nice job ! Did you do the paint and bodywork yourself?

[DJAM3]

Looks great! Love the Porsche white gold. I painted my ARC-8s white gold over plastidip a couple years ago just to see if I would like it.

[akshon]

Wow, awesome color and work. Mind me asking what does a color change like that cost? Feel free to PM me.

About the same price as i paid for the car. However that included the CF roof install and various seals.

[akshon]

Updates. Rid bearings and recaro ABE with some dry ice and laser cleaning.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=d0lwGjq6YM08GBg0&v=VHWsh5By1uw&feature=youtu.be

[maupineda]

How much to budget for a cleaning of that nature?

[0-60motorsports]

I thought that wouldnt look as good but it looks really good.