New Car....Again...E46 M3

[Short Norman]

what's square set up, is it front and rear wheels that are the same width?

 

[James]

what's square set up, is it front and rear wheels that are the same width?

Yes mate, as they're usually staggered

 

[leeds2592]

Second this, 10J

View attachment 188688

Now that looks proper.

How do they differ from CSL wheels? Are they a bit smaller? I can't work it out from the pics haha.

 

[-Rob]

Now that looks proper.

How do they differ from CSL wheels? Are they a bit smaller? I can't work it out from the pics haha.

Thank you, my version on OEM+ as mine comes with CSL wheels from standard but 0.5 inch narrower on the front. Parts bin special from BMW.

8.5/9.5 staggered 19 CSL original wheels

10J square 18 Apex (BBS RC301)

The apex wheels are a lot lighter (9kg for 18x10) and also a lot stronger. CSL wheels are prone to cracking too.

 

[leeds2592]

Thank you, my version on OEM+ as mine comes with CSL wheels from standard but 0.5 inch narrower on the front. Parts bin special from BMW.

8.5/9.5 staggered 19 CSL original wheels

10J square 18 Apex (BBS RC301)

The apex wheels are a lot lighter (9kg for 18x10) and also a lot stronger. CSL wheels are prone to cracking too.

@james24785 You know what you need to do

 

[James]

@james24785 You know what you need to do :wink:

I'm not spending that kinda money lol

 

[Christopher]

Yeah, basically Arc 8's are the daddies

 

[imprezaworks]

@james24785 You know what you need to do :wink:

Buy another clio. Yep, nailed it.

 

[AdDaMan]

Love this.
My friend just put the Arc 8s on his charged e92. Great wheels.

 

[Knuckles]

Have you bought wheels or a clio yet?

 

[ForceIndia]

I hate square setups. Balance feels weird.

 

[Pistachio]

These wheels look perfect

 

[Ex-User (72296)]

Second this, 10J

View attachment 188688

Those wheels are lovely but look a tad small!

 

[James]

Have you bought wheels or a clio yet?

Neither lol although that 3.5k turbo Clio is tickling my fancy. Anyway.


Just stripped down the driver's door as I had an annoying tweeter issue. After a few minutes both front tweeters would go off. Been doing it for weeks, and knowing how s**t the Harmon Kardon amps are I was thinking it was to do with that. However, last night it went off so naturally I hit it in a fit of rage and it came back on then off again.

Decided it was a lose connection so took it apart and did some re-soldering. Hey presto, fixed! Bit off how a dodgy connection on the right hand side caused the left to go off aswell, but who cares.

The HK setup gets zero love on the forums, but it sounds good enough for me not to want to start swapping s**t out.

Need to strip the passenger door down next in the search for an annoying rattle. f**king thing rattles more than any of my clios lol

 

[Ex-User (72296)]

Neither lol although that 3.5k turbo Clio is tickling my fancy. Anyway.

Linky??

 

[James]

CSL diffuser and full imola interior being picked up Friday evening.

Silver grey with imola was my ideal spec when I was looking to buy, but mine came up at a good price with all the right bits done so bought it.

Only problem is it's from a non HK car so the rear cards are missing the tweeter grill. Sure I can sort that though.
They've also got the adjustable bolsters which mine don't, so a small upgrade there too.


In other news, it's not moved for nearly two weeks as it's in the garage with a skip dumped infront of it so I can't get it out
It's also fuckin filthy! Still not cleaned it since I bought it

 

[Christopher]

Awesome. Imola leather is for heroes.

 

[James]

Awesome. Imola leather is for heroes.

Indeed!
Can't wait to get em fitted. Just need to make a decision on the wheels then, but they'll have to wait another month or two

 

[Christopher]

Indeed!
Can't wait to get em fitted. Just need to make a decision on the wheels then, but they'll have to wait another month or two

Easy one. Apex 8's.

 

[Short Norman]

or CSL's

If I didn't have a tax bill to pay I'd be going to view this
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/bmw/e46-m3-00-06/bmw-3-series-e46-m3-2005/7170524

 

[James]

or CSL's

If I didn't have a tax bill to pay I'd be going to view this
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/bmw/e46-m3-00-06/bmw-3-series-e46-m3-2005/7170524

That's very nice!

 

[Short Norman]

it's just what I'm after next, ideally I'd prefer champagne interior but it's getting hard enough to find a decent manual one.

I'm not to keen on black M3's with black leather and the light grey that sometimes come with seems to be hated even though I quite like it.

 

[Christopher]

it's just what I'm after next, ideally I'd prefer champagne interior but it's getting hard enough to find a decent manual one.

I'm not to keen on black M3's with black leather and the light grey that sometimes come with seems to be hated even though I quite like it.

I think I'd go Imola with black leather. Pretty rare though.

 

[James]

Imola M3s are stunning!

God knows why anyone ever bought one with grey leathers. Must of been cheap on lease at the time lol

 

[James]

A Friday night 400 mile round trip later.....

 

[-Jamie-]

Looks great, Im currently in the process of finding a well Spec'd M to replace the Megane as my itch has gotten to strong.
Not easy though, Whats with all the w**k SMG's for sale

 

[James]

Looks great, Im currently in the process of finding a well Spec'd M to replace the Megane as my itch has gotten to strong.
Not easy though, Whats with all the w**k SMG's for sale

Lol yeah it's defo an itch that needs to be scratched!
Nothing wrong with SMG though....unless it's a daily lol

 

[-Jamie-]

SMG is not for me from the few I've driven haha

 

[James]

SMG is not for me from the few I've driven haha

Certainly very marmite mate. I've read the manual boxes aren't great either so it's swings and roundabouts I spose. Just less to go wrong with the manual. Having said that, SMG repair isn't a massive bill anymore

 

[Ex-User (19928)]

Wouldn't go that far, I always thought the E46 M3 gear change was lovely!

 

[James]

Wouldn't go that far, I always thought the E46 M3 gear change was lovely!

I've read it can be quite notchy and just generally a bit horrible?
Probably just internet b****cks from jealous SMG owners

 

[Brad Smith]

I like the smg when on a long country drive. It is a bit notch on daily drives. But I find it's not as bad as the reviews I read. If you find the perfect car you can apparently do a manual box swap quite easy.

 

[James]

I like the smg when on a long country drive. It is a bit notch on daily drives. But I find it's not as bad as the reviews I read. If you find the perfect car you can apparently do a manual box swap quite easy.

Yeah quite an easyish swap from what I've seen

 

[Pep]

The manual is notchy from 1st to 2nd when cold, and quite hard work. Once there's a bit of temp in then they're fine.

 

[Rob]

f**king love that interior jimbo. Wish the interior in my 6 was a little more lairy at times!!

 

[-Jamie-]

Suppose a manual swap could always be an option, Theres a nice one of cutters just now, Unfortunately i keep getting fuckign errors when trying to sign up so can't message the guy lol

 

[James]

Suppose a manual swap could always be an option, Theres a nice one of cutters just now, Unfortunately i keep getting fuckign errors when trying to sign up so can't message the guy lol

Cutters? It'll be 3k overpriced then lol

 

[Brad Smith]

Suppose a manual swap could always be an option, Theres a nice one of cutters just now, Unfortunately i keep getting fuckign errors when trying to sign up so can't message the guy lol

I'd be happy to message and pass on your details if you wish.

 

[-Jamie-]

I'd be happy to message and pass on your details if you wish.

Ill PM you


Edit, Scrap that, i never read all the way down, its sold LOL

 

[James]

Well seeing as I'm monumentally hungover I didn't fancy any gardening today, so I decided to fit my CSL diffuser instead

Before

During

Took the chance to clean and wax my tips while access was easier.
Finished result

Don't know wether to leave it black, or have it colour coded though? I'm thinking it needs to be.

Quick exhaust video