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

[ugaexploder]

Some of the stickers inside the door card have been through enough thermal cycling or whatever to turn into green crack

[ugaexploder]

I figured if I wait to do the carbon fiber roof before the interior, I might be waiting a while...so I figured I'll knock out the interior in sections so I can get rid of some of the boxes that's been in my office for months.

My plan was to take off the door cards since I can knock out speakers, trim, and fixing wobbly mirror. Also need to solder a new battery for the key as well...

[ugaexploder]

Car's been on the ground for a month or so now, no exhaust leaks from what I can tell. Exhaust system is a lot quieter than I thought with the sport muffler. Below are some pictures to update the state of the car after getting it off jack stands and giving it a quick wash.

I tried messing with the passenger side muffler tip, but a combination of cheap diffuser and rubber bushing getting kinked...it looks off. I ordered (1) rogue engineering muffler mount that doesn't have any give so I'm hoping that fixes it.

[ugaexploder]

Great build and beautiful color!

thank you! hope to have some time later to update the thread

[0-60motorsports]

Great build and beautiful color!

[ugaexploder]

I'm probably going to do the job myself when the time comes. There are some nice walkthroughs on Youtube.

DNA auto glass is local and they can remove and reinstall the windshields at your house if you don't want to mess with glass.

But there is always the option of not doing it and selling the roof to me .

Haha! My sunroof is toast so I gotta install it

[Sid_E46]

having a hard time finding a body shop willing to take it on for less than 3500…thinking about tackling myself but still unsure 😅…not really a body guy, novice at electrical and can swap parts but i feel out of my element doing body work

I'm probably going to do the job myself when the time comes. There are some nice walkthroughs on Youtube.

DNA auto glass is local and they can remove and reinstall the windshields at your house if you don't want to mess with glass.

But there is always the option of not doing it and selling the roof to me .

[ugaexploder]

having a hard time finding a body shop willing to take it on for less than 3500…thinking about tackling myself but still unsure 😅…not really a body guy, novice at electrical and can swap parts but i feel out of my element doing body work

[Casa de Mesa]

Carbon roof is gonna be dope!!! It's just such a kick ass mod.

[ugaexploder]

Appreciate it man, will do my best to make it to the next one. Really hoping I can get the CF roof installed before the next group drive 💪💪💪

[Casa de Mesa]

Nice car!! Just seeing this build thread for the first time. Hope to see it in person sometime.

[ugaexploder]

Ambers on SG all day

Got the inspiration from you bro!

[Sid_E46]

I've been working at a snail's pace just due to a combination of having to go out of town during the week for work, waiting on parts, and trying not to get too into the weeds with this car.

I was able to source some amber tail lights, since I've seen some other members have some on their SG and it looks great. While I was waiting on parts to finish the exhaust system, I changed the front sway bar and end links, rear sway end links, new headlight level sensors front and back with new brackets or bushings.

Ambers on SG all day

[ugaexploder]

Car's been apart for over a month now which sucks but I don't imagine it will be like this in the future. There were many missing components that I found my constantly jumping on FCP euro to order parts. Or even something simple as the camshaft position sensor leaking on the exhaust side, tools to do CPV, or finding the bushings for the headlight level sensor completely gone.

Section 1's were clamped down a bit tight making it really difficult to slip them on to the headers so I am just waiting on a 1/2" drive 1-1/8" impact socket to use a pipe expander to make my life easier. I didn't want to be that guy driving with open headers to an exhaust shop...

In the meantime, my trusty minivan and m40i has me farting around town.

[ugaexploder]

Below are some pictures of the CPI headers side-by-side with the SS V1's. To be honest, I feel quite dumb for even starting this endeavor. Mainly because the car sounded pretty good already and i was happy with the headers. But I was able to snag sections 1-3 for a great deal so I said screw it, let's go slip-on!