Robs E46M Rosso Corsa Street Build

[Phoenix///M3]

Wow nice work. Love the color. Has anyone else even done a full resto on an E46 like this?

[Exclusivs]

Fantastic work Rob!

The new Cams you installed; not Shrick? Asking because you posted you didn't replace lifters, which I believe (don't quote me) Shrick requires new lifters.

Keep it up

[robgill]

If money were no object, I'd be building my car just like this. Incredible work as usual Rob!

Nice update. Going to look stunning under the sun.

Looks like you have achived your goal of the perfect street car to me! Perfect!

Thanks guys, it's getting close! Major milestone this week 👍

You can relocate the driver side ballast under the headlight, same as passanger side. It will look better IMO.

That was my original plan, to move it to the mounting slots that already exist in the back of the headlight. Unfortunately that still interfered with the snorkel. Mounted on the rail it is now basically hidden under the snorkel.

This is turning into an awesome build!! So tempted to get a 2nd M3 and turn it into a street car lol

Do it, get 'em while they are cheap!

Wow nice work. Love the color. Has anyone else even done a full resto on an E46 like this?

There was a thread a few years ago where on M3Cutters where a guy really did a full job on the interior, that got idea going. Then I've always liked the Redish and Restore It YouTube channels.

Fantastic work Rob! The new Cams you installed; not Shrick? Asking because you posted you didn't replace lifters, which I believe (don't quote me) Shrick requires new lifters. Keep it up

Yeah they are Cat Cams, same specs as CSL and got a deal on black Friday. For bigger cams (like on my track car) I have used the coated lifters and upgraded springs. For this spec I don't think it is necessary.

This is awesome Rob. IF you ever sell it, let me know because I’m in love with it. What’s the plan with the interior?

All OE replacement as needed for the trim and some customized seats and doorcards. Here is a preview, more to come!

[robgill]

Successful test drive! Took it out for a couple laps around the block for some basic checks. Motor and SMG seem to be running great and there were no major issues or leaks. Still on stock suspension, old wheels and no trim or interior:



I didn't go past 4k rpm or so until I get the tune sorted out. I think it currently has a canned tune loaded on it and it is read blocked (I'll skip my canned tunes are absurd rant...). Current plan is to use MSSFlasher (anyone heard from Paffy lately?!?!?) to get a stock tune loaded and then have Jordan at RK Tunes to tweak it for the airbox and cams. Then I'll drive it to him in the coming weeks for a proper dyno tune. Before I do that it's heading back to Mario on Tuesday for final paint touchups and polish 👍.

[robgill]

With the exterior basically done I started on the interior. I'm installing an Avin Avant head unit with a backup camera. This car had nav installed which means I have to run a bunch of wires to the trunk. Normally a serious hassle but pretty easy with the interior out! First ran the wire for the camera, what a pain... took forever to fish it though the trunk loom.



Next I cleaned up the trunk space used to mount the nav, cd changer etc. All of that is coming out so I removed all of the hardware and brackets so only thing left is the amp. I ordered the OE bracket to mount just the amp but it actually bolts up nicely to existing holes. With all if that removed I can use new base trim and free up a bunch of trunk space:





Ran the harness extension and and antenna wire under the trunk shelf, along the passenger side then behind the glove box to the head unit.



I got everything to work except for the backup camera. Avin instructions suck... I can't get the camera to come on in reverse. Will take some more research to sort that out. While I had the dash apart I'm also putting in a different accessories button module. I removed the heated seats and rear window shade so don't need those buttons! Hunted around on ebay and found a replacement with just DSC, HK, TPS and Sport.



Lastly got the rear shelf reinstalled. Went with a version that deletes the hooks for a cleaner look.



With the car going back to Mario next week I'm going to focus on rebuilding the seats and door cards with all the new trim. Unfortunately also have a new side project. Took the track car out for a spin on Friday and someone backed into it in a parking lot 😫 (and fled...)!!! Fortunately the only real damage is to the hood and I have the parts to fix everything else. Hoping I can find a used silver hood or maybe time for a GTR or vented style hood???

[ZHPizza]

Wow I didn't know there was a version of trunk trim that reclaims all of that space! Did you cut out that big wad of wiring harness for the cd changer too?

[heinzboehmer]

Current plan is to use MSSFlasher (anyone heard from Paffy lately?!?!?) to get a stock tune loaded and then have Jordan at RK Tunes to tweak it for the airbox and cams.

With your airbox and cams, a stock CSL tune will work perfectly without any modifications. Then you can get a dyno tune on top of that.

[Sharocks]

Nooo not the track car! I hate NYC lol

[0-60motorsports]

You should got the HTE tune. Works coming along nicely.

[timmo]

Oh wow sorry to hear that... why do people suck so much

[robgill]

Wow I didn't know there was a version of trunk trim that reclaims all of that space! Did you cut out that big wad of wiring harness for the cd changer too?

Part # 51478266567 👍. For now I've wrapped up the wires and tucked them away. But yeah, there is A LOT of them.

With your airbox and cams, a stock CSL tune will work perfectly without any modifications. Then you can get a dyno tune on top of that.

You should got the HTE tune. Works coming along nicely.

I've been around the block a few times with these cars and tunes, feel like I tried them all 😂 . The CSL tune would be convenient with these mods but I ruled it out for a couple reasons based on my experience with it in the past:

• NY state yearly inspection can not read the CSL tune. There is no way around this and its a huge hassle to swap DMEs.
• Low speed drivability sucks. This can probably be improved but search "CSL hesitation"; it's real.
• I absolutely love the current RK Tunes Alpha-N custom tune on my track car. Its 100% drivable, makes great power, and passes NY inspection with no BS. So going the same route with this car.

Nooo not the track car! I hate NYC lol

Oh wow sorry to hear that... why do people suck so much

Seriously. Just to add to a crappy week for the track car I got two no front plate tickets in 24hrs...

[S14]

Part # 51478266567 👍. For now I've wrapped up the wires and tucked them away. But yeah, there is A LOT of them.

Save that part number for later! I put the xtrons version of that head unit (they are all the same I think) in my car and notice how many wires are back there!

What are you doing for the Ohlins adjusters on the rear shock towers?

[HighSchoolDream]

Part # 51478266567 👍. For now I've wrapped up the wires and tucked them away. But yeah, there is A LOT of them.

Thanks for this! Looks great and surprisingly not too expensive. Can’t seem to find in stock anywhere though. Where did you order from?

[robgill]

What are you doing for the Ohlins adjusters on the rear shock towers?

You are ahead of me in that one. I'm still debating how/when I'm going to get the Ohlins installed for a couple reasons. I want to add a strut tower brace (PureTech Sweden)as well as some sound deadening to the trunk. The will require cutting the floor and the trim; so I may add some kind of access flap at that time. Something like this https://www.instagram.com/p/B6JE3bvJNrJ/

Thanks for this! Looks great and surprisingly not too expensive. Can’t seem to find in stock anywhere though. Where did you order from?

Try getbmwparts.com, they are awesome! Also if parts become no longer available in the US a lot of times you can still get them in Europe from schmiedmann.com

[robgill]

After a week delay was able to drop off the M3 at Marios for final touchups and polish! Should have is back within a week and then it will be the final push to get the interior and suspension installed. Its only a couple miles drive up to the body shop but the engine and SMG felt and ran great so pretty confident I've got that completely sorted.