ugaexploder's 2004 SG/IR - 1st e46 M3

[karter16]

I was able to secure one of those bendy tubes for the CSL intake. I absolutely hate myself for how much I spent on it...but that's just a common theme at this point with this car 😂

I feel you, but great call securing these parts given you have the CSL bumper!

[ugaexploder]

I was able to secure one of those bendy tubes for the CSL intake. I absolutely hate myself for how much I spent on it...but that's just a common theme at this point with this car 😂

[ugaexploder]

I should have taken some pictures last time I was at the body shop (~3 weeks ago), but left my phone in the car. They've bonded the roof, and the car is prepped for paint...I think it should be ready within the next 2-3 weeks.

Once I get the car from them, I have to fix the window tint on the rear glass while everything is still out and then put the interior back in. I've been pretty bored waiting on the car to get painted, so I've been ordering some parts I've wanted like new axles, water pump, fuel pump, etc.

The best/worst part about doing all this, is trying to find space to store parts.

[ugaexploder]

There hasn't been too much to report since it's been a waiting game for me. The car probably would have been ready by now if I would have stayed with the OE bumper, but decided to get on gt4's list. While I was on the waiting list, I was able to find one locally so I decided to go that route. I should have probably just stayed on the list since the local one was a fiberglass version. Regardless, I got a pretty decent deal on it. I just felt bad for backing out on the waiting list for an MEC bumper through gt4 more than anything.

The pictures below are when the bumper was on the seller's car. His car is also SG, but I am still having the front bumper prepped to be painted again to match the car. I was definitely a bit bummed when I found out it was the fiberglass version, but it still seems to be well made.

[ugaexploder]

Nice build!!!

appreciate the kind words, looking forward to your build thread man!!

[Projecte46m3]

Nice build!!!

[D-O]

I'd also join if I'm free. Kinda over caffeine and octane and 5000 dodge chargers.

Agreed.

Have you been to Morning Worship in Roswell? First Sunday of the month. Always a nice turnout. Lots of variety and laid back. 1135 Woodstock Rd. Roswell 30075

[discoelk]

I'd also join if I'm free. Kinda over caffeine and octane and 5000 dodge chargers.

[ugaexploder]

Sounds good. We could do our own thing if there are enough of us, or meet up at the BMW CCA in Alpharetta or maybe the Sunday Morning Worship cars and coffee in Roswell.

That sounds good, I'll take a look at the schedule and give you a heads up. Will shoot you a PM.

[D-O]

Sounds good. We could do our own thing if there are enough of us, or meet up at the BMW CCA in Alpharetta or maybe the Sunday Morning Worship cars and coffee in Roswell.

[ugaexploder]

In Marietta and down for a meet up.

I'm amazed at how many active members we have in the ATL area, I love it. We definitely need to schedule a meet, see if we can get a nice little crew from the forums together. A great friend of mine is a cinematographer, and while car videos aren't really his thing, I'm sure he could put together something for us that would be pretty cool.

[D-O]

In Marietta and down for a meet up.

[ugaexploder]

I asked about the sun visors to see if he could wrap those and he told me it would be a monumental effort and time to do it properly. He mentioned that most places just cover the entire thing making the mirror unusable. I didn't like that idea so I just decided to blast it with some more that duplicolor flat black fabric and vinyl paint. Some pics of the before and after, reminded me of the similar faded color of the rear decklid. Taping up the little plastic pieces was fun, it turned out okay...I should have probably cleaned up the residue from the airbag sticker a bit better before painting. I decided to order some new stickers to cover that area up 😂

[ugaexploder]

You can buy Alcantara fabric from a few places online, all similar in price around ~$150/yd...doesn't seem to matter if it's foam-backed or not which is probably just the price for everyone who's not a retailer. After reading around it seemed like safe side would be 2 yards of foam-backed, and 1 yard of unbacked fabric...which comes out to $450, plus still need adhesive, and some other materials to remove the old foam from the headliner. I figured it would probably not cost much more going to an upholstery shop, and I wasn't far off. Dropped off the headliner, pillars, and other pieces to be wrapped by SR Auto Upholstery off Buford Hwy. Really good folks over there, and he has all sorts of different options...almost went for the OE type fabric but just did the safe thing and did the Alcantara...looks like 9040.

Some pics of the slicktop headliner I sourced on FB.

[ugaexploder]

Well, that escalated quickly. It went from tri-stitch seatbelts to full on respray with CSL parts in one post!

I'm just jealous that I don't have a bodyshop I trust in my area.

I'm not gonna lie, I was going back and forth with myself on whether I was going to take it to them all the way until I dropped it off. Thankfully, they've been great to work with so far but it seems like a crapshoot.

I really wanted to get a euro bumper or the holy grail, one of the MEC ones but decided I'd just respray the one I have since it's in okay condition. Maybe I'll spring for the MEC bumper down the road, it's so sweet. Looking forward to seeing yours on the car.