DepthPatrol’s 2002 Japanrot M3 Build/Restore Journal

[DepthPatrol]

Found a steal of a deal on a beefy GSP (gen 3) forged aluminum pedal set specifically for the SMG cars. Wasn’t planning on this in particular but was shopping for pedal sets and this kit was on Ebay for cheaper than pedal cover kits. Installation with Turner instructions found online was straightforward and the pedal feel is fantastic. Zero play direct feel, can brake with left foot (because race car), and looks great in the cabin.

[0-60motorsports]

Found a steal of a deal on a beefy GSP (gen 3) forged aluminum pedal set specifically for the SMG cars. Wasn’t planning on this in particular but was shopping for pedal sets and this kit was on Ebay for cheaper than pedal cover kits. Installation with Turner instructions found online was straightforward and the pedal feel is fantastic. Zero play direct feel, can brake with left foot (because race car), and looks great in the cabin.

I have my old skool GSP pedal which i just removed to swap in the Hamann pedals sets I had lying around LOL.

Will probably go back to the GSP one day as it is perfect.

[Arclitgold]

Nice work!

[DepthPatrol]

Nice work!

Thanks! I am admittedly sub-par on the quality of photos in this thread and am due for a proper photoshoot to showcase the amount of progress the car has seen in the short few months i’ve owned it. Planning on a fun photoshoot when the fall leaves hit here soon. Maybe a trip up to Shenandoah/blue ridge for photos. In the meantime, took the car for a coffee run over the weekend with good views.

[DepthPatrol]

Tackled the cpv valve with a viton o-ring this evening. Kit from mpower22 came with a beefy flathead that fits perfectly. Bit of a hassle to get it out but wrapped up in an hour. Going to do some extensive cleaning before getting the car back on the ground so I can determine if that cpv location was the oil leak on passenger side of transmission. Really hoping it’s blown oil from driving. Driver side block onto transmission looks oil free.

[Arclitgold]

Tackled the cpv valve with a viton o-ring this evening. Kit from mpower22 came with a beefy flathead that fits perfectly. Bit of a hassle to get it out but wrapped up in an hour. Going to do some extensive cleaning before getting the car back on the ground so I can determine if that cpv location was the oil leak on passenger side of transmission. Really hoping it’s blown oil from driving. Driver side block onto transmission looks oil free.

I have this on my list as well. Any tips?

[DepthPatrol]

I have this on my list as well. Any tips?

I just had an hour to burn and went for it. Lay on a towel as some dribbles of oil will come out. I had to find the right length extension for the ratchet to let me get leverage to loosen in small increments. I removed one of the sensors in the exhaust manifold for more working room. If you want a really roomy area to turn the ratchet, the O2 sensor could be removed but it was too much hassle so I gave up on that. Just some trial and error and you can find the best way to get the ratchet in there to loosen it.

This video helped me a lot speed up the process and he captured a great view of the cpv on camera. Best of luck!

https://youtu.be/6oyiAxO75hU?si=NxPjgp8QVn6XtILg

[DepthPatrol]

Chilly morning in Virginia and an unexpected delivery days early of something fun! Not really planning on installing an aftermarket muffler but the Turner Motorsports Racing Ebay page had a Supersprint sport muffler in like new condition for sale from a project car. Pulled the trigger after a ton of research as I want to get a carbon airbox in the near future and enjoy those sweet induction noises over a muffler upgrade. Installed this afternoon with new hardware and took the car out for a spin. Wow, perfect level of noise and very refined, super happy with the result. The fitment was what worried me most but this is the best fitting aftermarket muffler I’ve ever used on a car. Lots of adjustability to get the tips sitting perfectly in the bumper opening and high and tight with zero sag.





Couple other parts arrived today for tidying up the rotting plastics on the windshield and engine bay corners to keep water where it should be. The original cowl was completely deteriorating. I won’t lie, I caved and ordered a knockoff windshield cowl from Amazon because it was 1/3 the price of the BMW part. It fit ok and may not be a forever solution, but for the price, the fitment was decent. My only complaint was that the overall length is short and dos not extend all the way to the windshield gaskt trim. Maybe a quarter inch short on both sides… we’ll see how long my OCD let’s me live with it like this. Also replaced the rubber pieces in the corners while I was in there. Now all back together and can wash the car without worrying about water going in nooks and crannies of the engine bay and fie wall area under the windshield. Took some time to detail the body from decades of grime while the plastic trims were out.






Next up is some driving in wine country and enjoying peak fall here in Charlottesville. Waiting for the 27th to decide if I pull the trigger on a carbon airbox from Eventuri or go CSL. Worse ways to spend October 🤘

[DepthPatrol]

Picked up a pair of new wipers from Costco today and installed. Baby steps.

[Arclitgold]

Progress is progress

[DepthPatrol]

Cars & Coffee 11/1.