WTB: M3 side mirrors for Sedan

[UdubBadger]

Anyone have any already modified? If not where do people get um? I don't want too much work getting them on the car.

Thanks

[cakM3]

I hate to say this but this is a tall order....usually you acquire OEM M3 side mirrors any way you can....some go to eBay to get them and then there's the classified section on various forums... M3Forum.net, Bimmerforum, and E46Fanatics. Once you get them you need to modify the baseplates on the mirror assemblies in order to properly fit our sedans. Rogue Engineering has a very good and detailed DIY which shows you what parts of the mirror baseplate to trim off so they will fit properly to the contour of our sedans. Then you have to drill two additional holes in your sedan doors from which to mount the modded mirror.

That's just the first part....then you have to mod the mirror housings so that you can reuse the mirror motors from your ZHP since they use ribbon cables. There is an additional mirror motor base plate you need to make (not hard to do) but required additional step to make the M3 mirrors work 100% with our cars.

All in all, it takes lots of work to get them to look good and work proper. In the end if this is what you really have to have, then it is well worth the effort to get them mounted

[UdubBadger]

nobody sells 3rd party reps that are PnP?

[cakM3]

You don't want 3rd party reps.....they are all M5 remanufactured mirrors. They look like this on our sedans.....



Not a fan of these on 3-series cars....I'd rather keep my original sedan mirrors over these.

Here are the OEM M3 side mirrors installed......see the difference?



In my opinion, if you are going to do this then it is worth all the extra effort to do it right...hope this helps

[UdubBadger]

dumbo eh?

how much you think a full refit on the M3 ones would cost (ballpark)?

[az3579]

nobody sells 3rd party reps that are PnP?

Nope. As Charlie said, the only ones are M5 reps, and they do not look right on the E46 IMO. But, some people like the style, so if you don't mind what Charlie posted above, then that might be your best bet.

Otherwise, finding a pre-modified set is a once in a solar eclipse (instead of blue moon) event.

[UdubBadger]

yeah I figured once someone goes through all the effort they don't soon take them off.


I don't like the M5's, make the car look like

[terraphantm]

I wonder if the actual m3 mirror would fit on the M5 base

[cakM3]

Good question terra! Not sure. I don't think anyone has done that yet....

as BP stated in his post above..."Otherwise, finding a pre-modified set is a once in a solar eclipse (instead of blue moon) event."

Well said BP!

A Udub....that's why I posted pics between both sedans....my first BMW and my current ZHP. When I did my ZHP I wanted to do it right this time. It cost me some money compared to the "M3 Reps" but I'm so much happier with the final results. They look spot on like they came from the factory that way...

[UdubBadger]

good point... do it right or do it twice.


so what kind of cost should I expect to incur?