Cockroach Individual M3 2/13 bench flash sidequest

[samthejam]

Nice! Why don't you run 17s? The tire bill is much lower. Falken 660s in 275/40R17 are $276 per tire. You can even run 255/40R17s although they may be a little stretched on a 10" wheel. The only bad thing about 17x10s is you can run apex wheels or...apex wheels. More options in a 17x9.5...more streetable too.

Sorry I didn't stop back by at the track...I was screwing with my car until 6pm. At that point I just wanted to go home.

You're good. I know how it goes!

I just have a lot of 18" wheels, what I ended up with.

George Hill does have some 17" SSRs... . I think also the selection in 17s, I only looked at 275s and the selection wasn't that great. However on the 255s that would open up quite a few options... hmm.

I also really enjoy how the car felt on the 265/35R18. The lower sidewall also had some clearance benefits. It is expensive to get all those things I like about the 265s though.

I was also betting on my used tire guy having a decent supply of 245 A052s to get me through the year. Doesn't look so

[bigjae46]

Nice! Why don't you run 17s? The tire bill is much lower. Falken 660s in 275/40R17 are $276 per tire. You can even run 255/40R17s although they may be a little stretched on a 10" wheel. The only bad thing about 17x10s is you can run apex wheels or...apex wheels. More options in a 17x9.5...more streetable too.

Sorry I didn't stop back by at the track...I was screwing with my car until 6pm. At that point I just wanted to go home.

[samthejam]

New PB at my local track, still on those used 245 A052s. They gave up the ghost a session after this one.

Biggest slip and slide bloopers from that.

You can roast 3rd gear with 200tws!

How much track out? All of it

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

As of this post still driving to work on this tire.
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

Unsure what tires to order next, I still have those ECFs that are bricks if it comes to it.

I also got the bumper securely mounted and both side plastics in.

Definitely wearing out rears before fronts on this car on track, however the fronts are pretty dead too.

The 245s are so fun to drive on, but you can tell they're combined loading struggles. However it's a blast. They also just can't wick away the heat for how I drive and the weight. These yokos arent known for liking that anyways, but from my E28 experience these feel too small. Compound is doing all the work until it gets too hot.

[discoelk]

getting kinda burnt out tho

So real with an E46M. I don't remember my ZHP street/track car being as needy.

[Loopyspec]

The CSL bumper looks great! i wish i was more mechanically inclined as you are. I know I can do a lot, but I lack the confidence when it comes to engine work (rod bearings, vanos), which is the pricier of maintenance items.

[samthejam]

getting kinda burnt out tho

[samthejam]

I had to buy a new passenger side lower inner fender liner. There were no used ones on Ebay. I have a left one from Jay, and that center rad ducting I will repair. It just needs that divider from the one that has already somehow got smashed up on my car. I really should get that new but I have this one for right now.

Also getting non, washing headlight trim pieces. New hood trim for the windshield sprayers, and got a used front grill to cut up to make it fit the CSL rep bumper. Also ordered all the screws and clips. Bumper will basically just be a cover that fits over the kevlar thing. I will have it so it can be removed without jack and only turning the wheels for servicability.

I will not be converting to 2001 alu support or fixing the washer bottle reservoir on this go around.

[samthejam]

CSL Bumper project has begun. Someone had one for $250, it didn't come with the carbon splitters or the grille. Which will be its own problem that I will work through.

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

[samthejam]

Just need to fix the roof or replace with a carbon roof. I'll trade a carbon roof for your slicktop headliner...just saying...

I need a slicktop headliner if I delete sunroof or go carbon roof

[bigjae46]

Just need to fix the roof or replace with a carbon roof. I'll trade a carbon roof for your slicktop headliner...just saying...

[samthejam]

The roof will probably just get wipe on clearcoat. I want to try that stuff, another friend used that on a Suburban with good success.

[samthejam]

We were up until 4am working on the hood last night. Just need to order a bumper and headlight bezels now and spray them. Very very very happy for a driveway paintjob. I have seen worse Maacos

The car has had a rep non-m sedan(?) bumper since I have owned it so will be glad to see that go.


Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

Lessons learned dont use a cheap spray gun for the clearcoat or at all. When wetsanding down any crimes on the clearcoat, never go down to 1000. Theres a lot of microscratches we spent forever trying to get out. We had a fancy sonax cutting compound that said it would go to 1000 it did for the most part. They probably won't ever come out but it's more than good enough for me.

[samthejam]

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

Brand used Ebox fan. I had a code for this not showing a CEL but when I did scans on the DME was flagging a code a lot of times. The "bad" one didn't show the usual signs of a tired electric motor. Anyways, It wasn't that bad of a job, I'd though it would be worse. We'll see if the intermittent code goes away for $30.

[samthejam]

So one of my goals for 2026, was to try and working on how I present myself to the world. That meant trying to clean up the E46 M3. The top surfaces on the car are pretty fucked as you all know.

Anyways with ignorance and borrowing some stuff, I went straight ahead into totaling one of the most important panels on the car. My friend has done a lot of DIY paint and wraps for his car, I decided to just go straight ahead into spraying it myself on Friday at 3pm. He had all the tools and knowledge, and IMO if you have that and someone willing to help you jump in. So we did.

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

We took the gas cap to a local shop, gave them the paint code and they did a quick eyeball color match. It's just one buisness day for as near perfect as they can get it, but we aren't repairing a perfect paint car so I didnt wait.

All this was done with a spray gun. I sanded it down with 400 until it was smooth. Then we did 3-1 primer. Then we wet sanded that down with 600 before doing the base coat.

All these layers came out smooth with good coverage.

The following day we waited to do the clearcoat and the cheap gun started acting up, I should be able to fix the clearcoat with wet sanding and polishing but a little disappointing as due to how long it took to get the clear down we got a lot of crap in the paint and splatter of clear from the damn gun. I am gonna wait a week for it to cure before doing that, they were confident it will clean up pretty well once we wet sand and polish.

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

Color has a lot of flake in it.

Yes the top of the fenders, will be mismatched we are going to wetsand that, cut and buff as well and see how it comes out. Yes the whole car needs a repaint but I dont trust anyone, and I want to learn something. I can fuck it up myself for cheaper than paying a cheap paint shop.

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr



We also were able to bring some life back to the trunklid.
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

Just a quick update of what is still in progress. Since this car is 1/7, I'll never be able to find used panels with original paint in good shape. The fenders honestly need to be replaced and painted.

I am also going to do a CSL bumper, not sure if Bimmerworld or ECS

[samthejam]

Girodisc installed!

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

I cannot really bed this on the street, there is a trackday in about 2 weeks though.

Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

These were the rotors that came with the kit when I bought it. So we'll see how these new ones do and can gauge service life of the disc.

Also washed the car before the year ended.
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr

To celebrate the new year did a valve adjustment. Scored a genuine BMW shim set for $200 off Ebay. It took me most of the day, but it wasn't too bad. Just a lot of double and triple checking. 6 valves were out of adjustment, mostly just being a touch too tight. Exception of cyl one, that was super tight.
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam DaJam, on Flickr