Slavik's 2002 Carbon Schwarz M3 6 Speed Build

[slavik1988]

Great work!

Thank You!

[slavik1988]

Yeah, super clean vincebar install. Mine is just covered in black POR15 - functional but not pretty

Thanks,

The main thing is to install it correctly and make sure it doesn't rust there.

[Tbonem3]

Great work!

[timmo]

Yeah, super clean vincebar install. Mine is just covered in black POR15 - functional but not pretty

[slavik1988]

With the help of my brothers welding skills, we finished the RACP reinforcement. On Thursday we installed the Vincebar and the front gussets. All of the exposed metal was either etch primed or weld through primed where we were to weld. I also set the center section of the Vincebar on panel bond.





On Friday we welded the cover panel and put on some seam sealer.










Next on was the etch primer, primer and paint to match the factory as close I could.






Finished result with the rear pad/carpet installed. Only thing left to do is to drill out the holes for the nuts holding the rear subframe bolts.




On Sunday, I decided to wash all of the undercarriage pieces. I want them clean prior to installation. Made a mess out of the garage.

Before:

After:

[RoyalFlushness]

Amazing work here wow

[slavik1988]

Over the weekend, I got everything ready to start the welding process.
Weld through primer for the gussets



The rear brace was test fitted and a donor cover panel was sourced. My panel had windows cut out from the previous subframe reinforcement




Also, since the plates did not need any attention, I went through with etch primer, primer and a couple of coats of light green paint to try match the underneath of the original e-coat. Didn't quite match but better than leaving it grey or black. There will be some beige seam sealer later to further try match it.

[slavik1988]

What's that module in the middle, where the armrest would be, basically?

That's the air bag module.

[slavik1988]

Took a road trip at the beginning of January to The BMW Part Store. I couldn't pass up on the 10% that they offered until New Years. I needed a new windshield and a slicktop headliner for the carbon roof anyway and the $100 off was a nice bonus. My sister lives in Lexington, KY so it was sort of kill 2 birds with one stone.

All loaded up and ready to take it back. Yep, took my older son with me 😀:



They had a nice collection of classic BMW's. 🤤


Moved to the rear end of the car. Decided to tackle the Vincebar reinforcement before continuing assembly...
I first checked the plates that were previously installed for cracking and thankfully there were none.





Next, I removed the seam sealer from the apron that I saw a crack forming on the driver side rear wheel well. This revealed two popped spot welds.




Now onto to top side reinforcement...
Brace panel cutout and test fitted the stealth bar


Front gussets cutout and ground down to bare metal



A bit of etch primer


Back of the gussets treated with weld-through primer

[Tbonem3]

What's that module in the middle, where the armrest would be, basically?

[slavik1988]

Amazing work. Did you figure out a way to code out the PDC? I also removed mine and would like to clean up those codes permanently if possible.

Edit: answered my own question! Completely removing the PDC module removed the codes.

Thanks,

Mine never showed codes since I pulled all of the wires anyway and there was no fuse associated with it. Also, I ended up using my old GM5 module to be sure my key would work.

[slavik1988]

Curious to know the final weight, once the car is put back together.

I will definitely be weighing it with fluids and without. I will try put together a list of what was done to achieve the weight.

[robgill]

Amazing work. Did you figure out a way to code out the PDC? I also removed mine and would like to clean up those codes permanently if possible.

Edit: answered my own question! Completely removing the PDC module removed the codes.

[Loopyspec]

Curious to know the final weight, once the car is put back together.

[slavik1988]

Thanks guys...

Put in a little bit more work over the course of the month.



Wiring is all buttoned up with OEM tape:




All of the electrical components installed and checked to see if everything is functioning properly... All components work but the DME needs to be flashed to manual:





Installing the Mk60 hardware...


Happy to save 10.55 lbs from the Mk20 and have a better braking system...😁

Had to source a 2003 Mk60 DSC Sensor bracket since the mounting holes of the 2005 do not align:



Finally, some carpeting is going back in...