Charlie's ///M Project Thread

[cakM3]

I have decided while my car is in the shop getting all this work done to it next month, I will bring in a new titanium part to install . . .

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230813/39184691f78ee9166c214cd37a7aef1f.jpeg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230813/81908d91e443320e4fd423ac0f1ce456.jpeg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230813/84232731af4f844391d146370263029e.jpeg



Lots of good stuff for my M3, a great start to my 2025 car season :thumbsup

This mod is going to happen when I have my M3 in for its next maintenance/upgrading. A very good friend of mine, a fellow E46 M3 owner, just sent this exhaust to me. :cool

[cakM3]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54273804948_bd2589c0e6_o.png

Planned upcoming Maintenance and/or Upgrades

My M3 is scheduled to go into the shop sometime during the March 2025 time-frame to officially begin "my" 2025 car season with the following work:

- Turner rear subframe reinforcement plates
- Remove rear subframe assembly and powder coat
- Replace all the rear subframe bushings
- Replace rear diff bushing
- Replace RTabs and adding limiters
- Replace FCabs
- Replace Front Control Arms
- Replace transmission mounts
- Install new Bilstein PSS-10 coilovers with Ground Control camber kit.
- Install Rogue Engineering rear exhaust hanger mount
- Install titanium Gruppe M exhaust
- Install Turner rear adjustable lower control arms
- Install new Hankook Ventus V12 EVO3 tires

Things I plan to add to the work already being done:
- Possibly replace wheel studs for brand new ones
- Replace all lug nuts
- Annual Engine Oil change
- Install stainless steel VANOS oil supply line
- Check all stainless steel brake lines and replace if necessary
- Send oil sample to Blackstone Labs for analysis


When I get my car back it will feel like a brand new car with solid suspension.

My M3 will be getting tinted with 20% black ceramic UV tint on the side and rear windows tomorrow.

The carbon roof I recently installed will be getting the clear EXPel wrap to protect the carbon fiber once I locate a reputable shop that can add this Clear XPel film to the carbon surface. I am looking forward to getting this completed as I still have a few more things planned for this amazing car :cool

There will obviously be more to do with this car and yes, I'm having a lot of fun getting this car set up :)

EDIT: the time-frame for getting all this work done has slipped to the right to the month of June but it will get started and I will be able to document all this work thru my photos when it begins. This should be a fun project that will have my entire suspension completely refreshed.

[Oli77]

So much, passion, dedication, and quality maintenance, its crazy!

[cakM3]

So much, passion, dedication, and quality maintenance, its crazy!

Thanks, I appreciate your comments :thumbsup

Yes I have a lot of passion regarding my cars :)


Sent from my iPhone 15 Pro Max using Tapatalk Pro

[cakM3]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54336901990_b0b55d9a20_b.jpg

Got my M3 tinted with proper lifetime tint film. So all three of my cars are now “Florida tinted” :)

My M3 looks so much better this way.

[cakM3]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250220/e942f28a468f74f8c591d1479d3a35a3.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250220/4ae18db087c968673a96ec4ac0309a8a.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250220/5c16ec473e0a3ae82c16f921f7574f62.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250220/bfaadd8d0344af1371bd310dbdff201d.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250220/c427f04c7afcf6b8da5db7fb144f920e.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250220/751bf8d2ecf668944d4ea9958fa87c3c.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250220/b564b0bb740678cfb5a4b863ba83f72d.jpg

Here's a few shots after I got 20% ceramic UV film applied to my side and rear window. My car is going back in to a different shop to have clear UV film applied to my carbon roof panel and front windshield which will complete my UV protection for this car. :cool

[cakM3]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230813/39184691f78ee9166c214cd37a7aef1f.jpeg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230813/81908d91e443320e4fd423ac0f1ce456.jpeg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230813/84232731af4f844391d146370263029e.jpeg


My Gruppe M exhaust arrived from UPS delivery this afternoon (still in the box). When my M3 goes into the shop for extensive suspension overhaul/upgrades, I will be installing this when completing my maintenance period. Looking forward to having this installed :cool

[cakM3]

My M3 is going to a local detailing shop today where they will prep my carbon fiber roof panel before applying a clear UV protection film on it. While the car is there over the next few days, they will also apply an additional layer of UV protection film on the windshield per their recommendation. This car will be completely UV protected from the Florida sun after I get it back :cool

After this, my M3 will be ready to head to my friends Indy shop where it will undergo extensive suspension maintenance and upgrades. I plan to have lots of work performed to make this ride better than it was when it was brand new. Should be a lot more fun to drive then!

[cakM3]

In the past week I have had two different people inquire if I would be willing to sell my M3. The first person clearly could not afford what I would sell my M3 for and the second person who inquired can. Question is whether or not "I am ready to sell" my car which at present I'm far from ready. I told the second person this and he made me promise him if I ever consider selling my M3 or Porsche he wants dibs to be the first to purchase them.

It's nice to have options while in retirement. :)

[Oli77]

Your cars are beautiful, it makes sense. YOU keep driving them!

[cakM3]

Your cars are beautiful, it makes sense. YOU keep driving them!

Thanks!!! I plan to enjoy all my cars for many more years to come :thumbsup

[cakM3]

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15fTrHXpMW/

I took delivery of my M3 today after having the carbon fiber roof panel and front windshield protected by a UV protection film. Car came out fantastic and once I finish my upcoming maintenance/upgrade period, I will put my M3 back in this shop to have the rest of the car paint-correction detailed and ceramic coated.

[cakM3]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250302/88c435a734fa4d329ed80aaa33bbca01.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250302/e55f28690b400ea7b5df3054b35cf652.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250302/6800acb425196e3d355499f63ae1346d.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250302/2e2eb6f613b32d86bd5b67181d4a7412.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250302/5e90404f5430a752f1e92d7c2cd004cb.jpg

My carbon fiber roof panel is now covered in clear UV protective film and it looks amazing. I also got my front windshield covered in protective UV clear film so my car’s interior is now protected from the Florida sun [emoji41]

Note: the OEM CSL roof rails I have installed look perfect with my carbon fiber roof panel. I really appreciate Hieu for setting me up with these!

Sent from my iPhone 15 Pro Max using Tapatalk Pro

[cakM3]

With a lot planned already for my M3 this car season, I will also add restoring both of my key fobs to the list.


I just placed an order for two replacement batteries from Amazon for both of my key fobs so I can restore them when I do this. I have done this to one of my key fobs for my M3 a few years back so I know it is not hard to do.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54382295194_ccced84bdc_z.jpg
https://www.amazon.com/HQRP-Battery-LX8FZV-Degrees-Coaster/dp/B00IOK2QS2


For redundancy purposes, I have also placed the video link here on my project thread for reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imyB6_F2u0o

Since I now have one failed key fob and recently learned from fredo that these key fobs are now NLA from BMW, I figured it is now time to restore both of my key fobs with brand new batteries so I won't have to worry about them for another few years going forward. Doing this is really not that hard as long as you are taking your time doing it. :)

[cakM3]

I came across this post from John Bimmer of oemcustomz for their illuminated BMW E46 M3 door sills and made the purchase today so when it does arrive, I will be adding them to my ride . . . :cool

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54392915068_15c14f2481_z.jpg

Here is what the illuminated door sill will look like
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54392686231_7546f19317_b.jpg

I have been wanting to do this ever since Graftwerks made them but when I was ready to pull the trigger to buy them, they stopped producing them for the E46 chassis so when I saw these come up I jumped on them. Since I have already sent the funds, all I have to do is sit and wait for them to be produced and then shipped. The hardest part of every modding game is having to sit and wait but the waiting is what makes all my mods to my M3 worth having. :)

I will be installing these illuminated brushed aluminum door sill inserts into these new carbon fiber door sills I plan to install into my M3. This will complete the look I have always been going after for this amazing ride!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54393117215_12e689b7c9_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54392746461_33b8eaae21_b.jpg

This is how they should look but with the aluminum lit door sill inserts pictured above . . . :cool
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54391867082_bfebb60c92_b.jpg

So much goodness being put into this amazing ride! :)

[cakM3]

I spent the past week clearing out my garage as well as doing a much needed paint correction detailing of my M3 after getting this amazing ride to my new home in Florida. The body shop that performed my carbon fiber roof install did not do a very good job paint correcting my car and caused several blemishes that needed addressing which is why I opted not to ceramic coat the car before moving. I have since found a very good and reputable detailing shop to take good care of my M3, much better than the shop in Rhode Island did, and they will professionally paint correct and then ceramic coat my car after I have my upcoming maintenance completed.

I got a new Nikon camera so I decided to grab a few pics as I'm getting used to this camera since the day is awesome . . .

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54402891826_c5a1c677b8_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54403057454_f3b877f119_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54403057514_ff31fbd707_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54403123563_4048ae483c_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54403123528_1cde4edcc2_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54403057609_b2b9a892b8_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54402005962_52978b3c2a_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54403057534_3b7c701a8e_b.jpg

My car is currently at 192,417 miles and is still running very strong and is still a blast to drive! I get a lot of looks with this car and the local car enthusiasts here already know of my M3. Since moving here I have not seen any clean E46 BMWs in my area.

[BADCLOWN]

The CSL trunk really changes the look of the M3 from the rear in the best way.

[dazed]

Such an attractive ride, feels like something you?d see rollers off on the freeway.

[slater]

charlie, that CF roof is... :applause

love your fastidious upkeep on this thing, AND the mileage!

[cakM3]

charlie, that CF roof is... :applause

love your fastidious upkeep on this thing, AND the mileage!

Thanks Peter! The mileage is now at 193k miles and the car has been amazing! My S54 is in excellent health and still pulls strong like a freight train. I have much more planned as the M3 will be going into my indy shop in June for a much needed full suspension overhaul. There will be more pictures and updates as this project begins.

As for the Challenge Carbon Fibre roof panel, I have sat on this project for 8 years before finally pulling the trigger on it last summer to have it installed. I have no regrets in doing this and it really adds to this platform. I very rarely used the sunroof that came with my car and don't miss having it. The local car enthusiasts where I live all know me as the guy with the "badass M3". Every time I see them go by my driveway and I'm working in my garage, I see them staring into my garage where both my Porsche and M3 are stored. Sometimes one of them will pull over to have a chat with me.

[cakM3]

I noticed the Kiks R40 lug nuts currently on my wheels are looking worn so I ordered new Muteki HR38 and SR 48 open ended lug nuts and locks to refresh my wheels.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250427/5ada4f63f296b89feb87f601c1530a0f.png
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250427/c7f058dee6d0c9bd5aa5853e4949d1f4.png