Project: 2003 BMW M3

[RawrImAMonster]

Welp, I picked up another BMW over the weekend. For the price I paid for it, it is in great shape. It runs perfectly, the interior looks like it has half the miles that it actually does and the paint is pretty good as well. There are some areas that I need to have touched up on the paint, but overall it's not bad at all.

As far as immediate plans go, I need to do an oil change and a valve adjustment as soon as I get a chance. The valves aren't clicking or anything, it's just time to do one. I think it may have a bad transmission mount, it has a little bit of a clunk when you shift it into first gear. I might be able to get it up on a lift this evening and take a look. Otherwise, I think everything else is sound mechanically.

Overall, I'm really happy with it for now. It handles way better than the 135i and is just more responsive in every way. The way this motor revs is fun as hell and the amount of power works for this car. It absolutely screams at the top of 3rd gear. Having said that, I'll probably do headers and a tune at some point to squeeze out another 30 hp or so. I'm going to try to source exhaust parts used as they come up for sale, so we'll see. There aren't a whole lot of exhaust combinations that sound good on these cars, but there is one I've found that I love.

Since I really didn't pay too much for this car I'm going to try to get it out on the track at some point. Track insurance is only $150 a day so that's not too bad. It has all seasons on it at the moment, so I'll have to find some better tires before next spring.

[D_Eclipse9916]

Nice pickup.

I got a track y-pipe for $200 for this car, also some black-out grills brand new in box for $40.

The epic tunes and headers really wake up the S54, making up some of the torque deficit the motor has.

[SlimKlim]

ONE OF US. ONE OF US.

[WRXtranceformed]

Very nice, like the color! How many miles?

[ScottyB]

that's an awesome color on that car. looks great!

i had a chance to drive an E46 M3 for the first time back in the spring and i get what the hype's about now. they're one of BMW's finest efforts.

[RawrImAMonster]

I'm probably interested in those black-out grills. Are they matte black or gloss?

As far as exhaust goes, I think I'm just going to go for some sort of catless headers (probably AP or Status Gruppe) + Rogue El Diablo. With everything else stock, that setup makes a really good sounding exhaust note.

I was surprised at the gas mileage on the trip back. I averaged 28 mpg on the interstate cruising along at 80mph most of the way. After I got off the interstate and onto some back roads, the mileage dropped a lot... for some reason.

It has 125,000 which I'm not worried about in the slightest. This car runs and drives perfectly. Just really solid in general.

[Beej]

Hey awwwright! Car looks great! Cool to hear of your first impression compared to the 135, can't wait to see what you think of it medium/long term. Interior shots?

That clunk when shifting into first is what I think is referred to the M-clunk. Get used to it. :-)

[RawrImAMonster]

I'll grab some interior shots tonight. The center console/cupholder area is a little rough, but they're cheap to replace. Everything else is in great shape.

[D_Eclipse9916]

I'm probably interested in those black-out grills. Are they matte black or gloss?

Matte

[SlimKlim]

I'll grab some interior shots tonight. The center console/cupholder area is a little rough, but they're cheap to replace. Everything else is in great shape.

My dad and I got excellent results by stripping that rubberized shit off of them, spraying them with regular trim paint and reinstalling them, if you're looking to save a few bucks.

[RawrImAMonster]

I mean, I'm sure it wouldn't look any worse than it does now. What did you use to strip the rubber off? I might try that as a temp fix.

Also, does anyone have whatever coding tool you need to disable the daytime running lights? If not, I might check with midatlantic and see how much they'll charge.

[JPolen01]

y u no like DRLS?

[RawrImAMonster]

I don't like the way they look and I'm going to be putting angel eyes on it before too long anyway.

[RawrImAMonster]

Also, who did you guys get to do your subframe reinforcement?

[Beej]

I spoke with the two main local shops (Delta V and PAS) and neither really seemed experienced with the job or too eager to take it on. Probably worth calling them again as that was over a year ago. PAS did give me the name of a welder who seemed popular in the area - can't seem to recall it at the moment. In the end, I epoxied plates on myself, and it's not a job I'd be too excited about doing again.

Personally, I'd need to be super comfortable with the welder. That's thin sheet metal, it's exposed to the elements (who's to say the inside of the cavity is properly rust proofed?), and it's not easy to inspect. There are even reports of properly reinforced cars not failing at the subframe mounting points, but where the rear axle carrier is welded to the chassis (think on the sides over by the shocks). There's a lot of info out there if you want to really get into it...from the OG Turner plates to Redish Motorsports' version (too bad they're in the UK, they rock) to BMW foam to some really cool home-engineered solutions.

Anyway, enough rambling. My point is I'd want it to go to a shop that has done it more than a few times before. It'd be interesting to see what Bimmerworld/RRT had to say.

[JPolen01]

PAS is no more so you can cross them off the list.

[D_Eclipse9916]

Price out Bimmerworld and RRT.

If you can get it done quick, Calvin Brandt is a good guy to do it in Norfolk, VA. If my welds were prettier, I could do it; working on getting them nicer this winter with some projects.

[ispoonwithmugen]

I used Southern Auto Body in Fredericksburg... they did a great job on mine for the E36.

[RawrImAMonster]

Ok, I sent both RRT and Bimmerworld an email as well as called Mid-atlantic. Apparently their service manager has done it before as well. We'll see what prices they get back to me with.

The other cheaper option I have is tearing the car apart at my house and getting one of my friends to bring his welder over and do that part. He works in a shop where he welds a bunch, but I don't know if I want someone that hasn't done the job before to do it.

Edit: RRT wants $2200 for the reinforcement + subframe bushings. Seems a bit high. I was seeing prices of 1000ish for labor on the forums.

[SlimKlim]

I've never even checked my car for subframe issues...

Since we're listing shops, Coho Auto in Manasses has worked on my car, Christina's and I think Jake's and we've all be happy with them. I dunno about subframe reinforcement specifically but they do a lot of track car stuff and seem to know their way around a BMW.

I might actually send mine down there again soon to spend some quality diagnostic time with them, I want to figure out why the car sometimes sounds like it's crushing gravel during a hot start, along with some other small irritations.