UdubBadger's "WEGOHAM" Build Thread

[UdubBadger]

No I am not the charity case, unfortunately the car is. I guess I am now looking at this like I have adopted a battered and bruised child and am trying my best to give her a good home and the TLC she deserves. It honestly breaks my heart that someone would consider this a well maintained BMW - let alone an M3.

If you don't know the back story to this yet, here are the Cliff's:

Bought E46 M3 that was said to be "perfect".
Wasn't as cautious as I should have been looking it over before signing bill of sale and paying private seller.
Found appx $4-5k in repairs needed to the car after the fact.

Yeah I'm sure you know how this one ends... I got stuck with it as seller wouldn't even return an email/text/call (pending any possible future legal action that is possible).


I'm trying really hard right now not to resent the absolute shit out of the car but now I am upside down on it and the only logical thing to do is drive it. I guess it's not so bad to be stuck with this kind of car but it still severely pisses me off how it all went down.

I am going to document the restoration process of this beat up M. I second guessed myself if this was a good idea while typing this up but I don't care, I am not shady like the P.O. and if down the line I sell this car, I want everyone to know what was done to it so there is no question.

So here is the list from iND after a brief inspection by Anthony of what needs to be done. Pardon me while I go :cry over my wallet while you read it, and why not include some photos of the damage too...


Replace bald 4 tires + mount/balance - was told they were 75% left, truth is they were at 1/32 in front and actually bald in back
Replace both lower control arms (might as well do race bushings too) - both are loose and jiggle which made my drive home pretty hecktic
Alignment - no brainer with above
New front & rear bumpers (plus paint) - front was cracked in 2 spots and full of chips like it was swiss cheese. Rear has been repaired from a hit with bondo and is coming apart.
Repaint hood - swiss cheese again, some look like hail or metorites
Repaint both side mirrors - scratches and chips all over both
Repaint front driver side front fender - scuff touch up above wheel well
Replace front windshield - rubber trim integrity is horrible and I was told glass usually breaks when trying to reapply it
Replace blown speaker - (sub)
Replace missing fog plate and cracked fog lens - both need love
Replace drivers door still - huge deep scratch in drivers side
Replace missing trunk carpet panel - just missing completely
Replace center cup holder - worn down
Replace missing clown nose on rear view mirror - really? I'm not even sure this is something people sell individually


PDF pics m3damage.pdf


As for other stuff, things I would like to refresh as well:

Acquire winter wheel/tire setup by November
Full cooling system (before 100k - also will do Rogue performance pullies while I'm at it)
FCAB/RTAB if they haven't been done (at this point I'm treating this car like its never even had an oil change)

Refinish 19" CSL wheels - all rashed
Replace steering wheel - wearing leather but not horrible
Replace shifter knob - wearing leather but not horrible also
Replace ebrake handle/boot - also wearing but prefer alcantara
Replace interior lighting (LED conversion) - E46 lights are really dim IMO
Replace reverse lights (LED conversion) - helps me back out of driveway at night

And then the mods I would like to do initially (which are hard to think about at this point):

Add matte black grills
Add matte black side grills
Add LED angel eyes
Add painted or clear reflectors
Add strut tower brace
Add black M3 badge
Add BMW SSK

And the 2 big dream for this car:
Add Exhaust system
Add Headers (bimmerbrakes tester again maybe?)
Add Supercharger kit (long ways away from getting here)

So I guess here we go. Need to get some tires soon and get those FLCA's replaced so it drives properly ASAP.

Trying to stay positive even though I want to drive back up to Minnesota and beat the piss out of the guy , maybe making some progress here will ease the pain.


2goHAM

[Johal E32]

Keep your head up man. Slowly work at that list and you will get the car perfect. Unfortunately with any used car you have to expect some TLC, but if the car is said to be "perfect" then that is different..

[derbo]

Good luck Seth. In the end you will have an awesome IMOLA/IMOLA M3 that could be said to been built from the ground up.

[BavarianZHP]

Both cars have the same vanity plate? I didn't think that was possible in the same state! I didn't see your initial M3 purchase story - but I'm assuming you bought it sight unseen? I did the same thing, luckily the PO was honest. However, it was my first car purchase and I wouldn't recommending trusting someone like that, especially with their motivation to sell... Let this be a lesson we all learn from. Have someone you trust visit the car.

I wish you the best in the restoration, think of it as an experience. I realize this isn't going to make it better, but it could have been worse.

[UdubBadger]

No its getting transferred over from ZHP to M3 but I had the back plate on today to go drive it to iND for an estimate on it all.

[BimmerWill]

Sorry to hear about the loss given the amount of work that needs to be done with the vehicle but it will definitely give you some pride in it once she is back in great shape. I've always wanted one of the E46 M3's, don't know that ive ever seen one in red personally though they've all been the standard black, silver, or white. In for pics of progress

[danewilson77]

But you haz ///M

[UdubBadger]

True but I'm upside down as shit on it now.

Shoulda just bought from EAG at this rate. Oh well.



- Goin' H.A.M. Mobile

[illirep]

Man....the rock chips and scratches are a part of life and mostly unavoidable. But holy shi$ - I can not believe an M3 owner would drive on tires that look like that! Was the seller a young kid who couldn't 'afford' the car?

This is something I always think about and / or unfortunately stereotype when I see a 17 year old driving an E class / 5 series - yes you can find high mileage versions for $5k, but they still carry the maintenance / repair costs of $60k cars.....

[az3579]

Did you buy this blind, without checking it out first? eBay?

Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX HD