Nextel's Imola Sedan ZHP thread (another imola sedan?)

[Cadeez]

I love this thread... I wish I lived closer so I could see this warlock in person! Super cool build man, nicely done. How much longer until it is completely tied up and, well...complete? Haha

[nextelbuddy]

im hoping tomorrow. im going after work today to get some good video footage of it running and some updated pictures.

As of 3 days ago, the engine needed exhaust to be all welded up (it was all tacked together), the fenders needed to be rolled, and it needed an alignment and some finishing touches on the M3 stock airbox fitment (it doesnt fit with E46 Bixenon headlights.. M3 have ballasts on the shock towers instead of mounted on bottom of our headlights. so the M3 snorkel cant fit properly with out some creativing cutting and dremeling.)

[Cadeez]

Just one thing after another... So close to the finish line though, must feel good.

[nextelbuddy]

Just one thing after another... So close to the finish line though, must feel good.

exactly.. initially you think some things are going to be quick and easy and they end up not lol,

the stock S54 airbox would not fit at all because the headlight depth of Non M headlights is way off AND ballasts are mounted on bottom of the headlights compared to M3 which are on the shock tower. had to do a lot of test fitting, cutting test fitting cutting etc.. until i got proper fitment of the airbox.

got the entire engine bay buttoned up last night. no time left to get to the exhaust welding so hoping for monday.

IMG_20170429_225356-01 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr

IMG_20170429_234750-01 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr

[Cadeez]

Why didn't you go for some type of CAI solution instead? I assume you were trying to keep it OEM, which I get. However technically it will never be truly OEM since this is an S54 engine swap, so I might've opted for a nice CAI kit. Looks great in there though!

[hcbeck2689]

Why didn't you go for some type of CAI solution instead? I assume you were trying to keep it OEM, which I get. However technically it will never be truly OEM since this is an S54 engine swap, so I might've opted for a nice CAI kit. Looks great in there though!

Could be bc a lot of people have issues with cai on the s54 throwing codes and maf issues.


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[nextelbuddy]

Why didn't you go for some type of CAI solution instead? I assume you were trying to keep it OEM, which I get. However technically it will never be truly OEM since this is an S54 engine swap, so I might've opted for a nice CAI kit. Looks great in there though!

the airbox is what I had to go with and it wasnt something i wanted to spend money on when I had other things in the pipeline. ill get a CAI at some point but was pretty content with just the OEM setup. the M3 engine bay is shaped no differently than the E46 NON M and other than the passenger side sheetmetal that has 2 brackets for the overflow tank (which we replicated with factory OEM brackets anyways) so id say my engine bay is as close to OEm as you can get with out having WBS stamped in the shock tower.


so Exhaust is DONE and I have to say I Love it. looks great, fitment is spot on, they spent a lot of time getting it right. I initially said I was just finer with cutting and welding or beating in some areas of the rear floor pan spare tire well to make room but they refused to modify sheet metal and im glad i listened to them.
we have to figure out whats causing a rough idle.. if its MAF sensor, fuel pump relay or a vacuum leak somewhere.

since im running the M3 rear end and brakes and trailing arms, my ABS sensor and the m3 one both dont work. Mine has the proper plug for the body harness BUT the magnetic pickup is different.. and for the M3 sensor the magnetic pick up is fine but the plug is wrong. come to find out that we need to source an ABS sensor from an Automatic NON M E46 that has the correct mag pickup and plug so tomorrow off to the junk yard.

rear fenders are rolled, only had minor paint chipping on the INNER fender lip not on the outside so will be touching that up asap to prevent any rust on the sheet metal.

final adjustment on the complete suspension and then off to the alignment shop as well.

im crossing fingers that its all ready to go by end of the week pending no weird bugs.

the exhaust sounds really good too, has a nice tone.. .initially it was jujst straight pipe with 1 resonator and thats it... WAY too angry bees sounding so i requested a muffler be installed in the midpipe section and it fit like a glove.

I got a full length picture of the under carriage as well as some pieces of the amazing rear quad exhaust section. genius how he routed the passenger side tip and piping behind the bumper cover (yes it is wrapped with exhaust wrap and proper clamps.)

I love the stance of the car with that quad setup and the 19s.. it looks really good

i cant wait for a proper test drive, wash and photoshoot!

Under Carriage S54 ZHP by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr

2017-05-02 07.29.15 1 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr

2017-05-02 09.54.50 1 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr

2017-05-02 09.54.51 1 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr

2017-05-02 09.53.51 1 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr

2017-05-02 09.53.53 1 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr

2017-05-02 09.53.52 1 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr

2017-05-02 09.53.49 1 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr

2017-05-02 09.53.50 1 by Shawn Robertson, on Flickr

[BMWCurves]

[nextelbuddy]

thanks man, its been a long time comin. started with buying the parts car back in November 2016 lol, started the actual swap in Feb 2017 and now its all almost finished. its soo soo close I can feel it.

[Cadeez]

the airbox is what I had to go with and it wasnt something i wanted to spend money on when I had other things in the pipeline. ill get a CAI at some point but was pretty content with just the OEM setup. the M3 engine bay is shaped no differently than the E46 NON M and other than the passenger side sheetmetal that has 2 brackets for the overflow tank (which we replicated with factory OEM brackets anyways) so id say my engine bay is as close to OEm as you can get with out having WBS stamped in the shock tower.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't knocking anything about the build or what the desired outcome was for you. I was simply stating that a CAI may have been easier than putting what seems to be quite a bit of work in just to fit the airbox. At that point I may have just opted for an easy route. But again, at that point you were probably thinking this should be the last hurdle, no need to cut corners now!

Regardless, car looks seriously awesome man, legit M3 status. And that exhaust fab work is dyno-mite! Ass end of that thing looks wicked stout.