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

[ugaexploder]

I'm glad I don't get paid to be a planner because it seems like I'm always waiting on parts or ordering the wrong parts. I'm going to give myself a pass here since it was like the first month of ownership, but I ordered the armrest delete console and also the sliding insert is for the car phone 🤣🤣🤣 so there is a gaping hole in there...didn't realize the true sliding console was NLA, so I'm waiting on cupholders




Was going to go with the oe alcantara shifter boot when I realized I'm going to have like 30 shades of alcantara in there...decided to reach out to maar-shop and order the proper shade of boots. I also purchased my steering wheel, lower wheel trim, and armrest through them. They have the best stitching in my opinion...I ordered through others and the stitching is very inconsistent. Therefore, if you are intent on having M-stitching, I would 100000% order through them. I've wasted hundreds buying crap I can't use or in return shipping buying from other shops.

[ugaexploder]

Looking good, sir.

I ordered the E46 phone mic from Enfig. Fits it the stock location very nicely.

Agreed, they really made the audio portion a breeze. Thanks!

[D-O]

Looking good, sir.

I ordered the E46 phone mic from Enfig. Fits it the stock location very nicely.

[ejendow]

I was absolutely amazed at how fast it arrived since estimates had it at 30-45 working days or something like that...probably just to cover their ass in case FedEx or DHL drops the ball. It arrived on one of those big FedEx trucks used to drop off pallet loads. Packaging is really good, top notch. So much so that I haven't even bothered undoing everything since it will make it harder to keep before the car is ready for the body shop.

I still need to get through Thanksgiving and possibly the holidays before I respray the car. Also need to buy bumpers and maybe the Karb hood as well. But yeah, I look forward to buying more through Schmiedmann, they are awesome.

good to know! I'll probably go through them when I get one

[ugaexploder]

That trunk shipped so quick! How was the packaging from Schmiedmann?

I was absolutely amazed at how fast it arrived since estimates had it at 30-45 working days or something like that...probably just to cover their ass in case FedEx or DHL drops the ball. It arrived on one of those big FedEx trucks used to drop off pallet loads. Packaging is really good, top notch. So much so that I haven't even bothered undoing everything since it will make it harder to keep before the car is ready for the body shop.

I still need to get through Thanksgiving and possibly the holidays before I respray the car. Also need to buy bumpers and maybe the Karb hood as well. But yeah, I look forward to buying more through Schmiedmann, they are awesome.

[ejendow]

That trunk shipped so quick! How was the packaging from Schmiedmann?

[ugaexploder]

Was putting together the center dash/console when I realized I purchased an armrest delete console....waiting on the proper one right now. The OE CSL trunk from Schmiedmann already came in...ordered on 11/10, arrived on 11/14...nuts



Got the head unit installed, everything seems to be working fine...except the speakers. Working on replacing the amp and whatever the other unit is above that. The trim I ordered on eBay looks a little wonky on the transition to the passenger side trim...pretty annoying and may look in to replacing in the future...looks okay at night though 😂

[ugaexploder]

Pretty good price on the boot lid compared to US prices, is that price shipped to US?

After currency exchange it came out to $2,591.66 shipped to the US which was similar to the Karbonius lid in terms of price shipped so I said screw it, I'd rather have OE fitment. Yeah, I think ECS/Turner charges way more, along the lines of $3,400 USD shipped if I recall...but you do get the benefit of their newly-stated lifetime program. I'm just not sure if the extra $800 is worth that for me.

[dreamdrivedrift]

Pretty good price on the boot lid compared to US prices, is that price shipped to US?

[ugaexploder]

I finally was able to unsheathe the Sword of Excalibur that is the fucking shift knob, holy mother of hell.

OId new next to new.



New knob and boot



I've been going back and forth between Karb and OE for the bootlid...decided to pick up the OE one through Schmiedmann.

[ugaexploder]

I ordered an extra pair of rear armrest trim just in case I screwed up prying them apart. Went ahead and gave them a nice little hot wash and scrubbed off the soft-touch paint.



Little paint setup outside




Decided to go ahead and remove the logo in case I messed up, and I did!






I was afraid I was going to eat in to the plastic too much so I stopped right about here and decided I was going to paint it to help blend things.



Good enough for gov't work

[ugaexploder]

Had to glue some things up. I feel like it's almost impossible not to break some of the plastic near the double-holes in the lower plastic part of the armrest on all sides.

I may go back later and put some more glue on the speaker to fill the seam between the 3, 6, 9, 12 points. Waiting on the loctite super glue to cure on the armrest part so I can give it a wash and prep it for paint.

[ugaexploder]

Pulled the rear seats to make my life easier getting the rear door cards out. In my haste to rip out the degrading sound deadening under the rear seats, I think I accidentally started ripping out the sound deadening under the rear bolsters which are different part numbers 51488204059 and 51488204060. The one under the seat is 51488252759 which has been ordered and apparently different from the ones we get from the factory (it has carpet on it).







Also changed out the upper portion of the rear armrests with the new trim. One thing I noticed is that there are many videos and DIY guides on separating armrest trim, and I think they are mostly wrong on the approach or strategy.

The guides always start by removing the padded portion by prying from the trim. I think the best way is to actually pry the plastic lower portion from the trim first by using trim tools as wedges and of course the most important tool when doing this is actually a 90-degree pick/trim tool. I've seen people try pushing on the tabs inside...this is not possible. What you need to do is pull on what those tabs are latching to using the 90-degree pick tool while also prying or using a trim tool to wedge the trim and plastic apart.

I used a glue gun to keep the padded part attached to the new trim. I'm probably going to have to cut some of the glue off so the plastic lower portion can fit I noticed...

[ugaexploder]

Decided to take a break from the fitment annoyance with the final stage resistor install so decided to route some cable.

Route aftermarket mic and phone cable (main radar line) up A-pillar, video component cable from head unit to trunk, and phone cable from power block near fuse box to head unit area. Wanted to start with the a-pillar area since I knew it was going to be a pain since it's a tight fit. In hindsight, I should have started with the mic cable since they are more difficult to remake connections. The phone cable I decided to cut it and recrimp a RJ-11 connector since I could not wirefish it through the hole.

[ugaexploder]

Decided to throw on the passenger side door card after tightening up the wobbly side view mirror. Also needed to apply some new butyl adhesive for the vapor barrier as there were several spots where the previous adhesive was either pulled back or failed over time.

Also decided to go with a black airbag logo since the red ones are NLA and the ones I have look like ass. The contrast and proportion actually looks decent