Winter project... OPERATION M3 TRACK

[shane@mbtech]

Right guys, i have a winter project in mind.

Get a normal m3, strip its guts out, whack on brakes, suspension, exhaust, cage it and 2 bucket seats, some funky business graphics and track weapon will be born...... im viewing one over weekend so ill update with pics then show my progress with pics:thumbs:

Below pics of car purchased on friday, just need cage and seats now:smokin::smokin: It already has a carbon fibre cold air intake kit, ap's, and full milltek. Wheels are going, exhaust will be for sale, as so prob will be the ap's,

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[shane@mbtech]

reserved for pics

[shimmy]

Right guys, i have a winter project in mind.



Get a normal m3, strip its guts out, whack on brakes, suspension, exhaust, cage it and 2 bucket seats, some funky business graphics and track weapon will be born...... im viewing one over weekend so ill update with pics then show my progress with pics:thumbs:

you must know GT3Mick in Warrington (Sticky Micky), hes just done that !

[Craig]

Think I might end up doing the same, but mine will have a whole heap of CSL bits too lol.

[_Nathan_]

I've love to have started from a shell, acid dipped, bit of seam welding, would be an immense starting point Craig.

Look forward to seeing the end result Lawsy...

[shane@mbtech]

I've love to have started from a shell, acid dipped, bit of seam welding, would be an immense starting point Craig.

Look forward to seeing the end result Lawsy...

Thats what i want to do, but its time consuming (time not a luxury with little baby), and expensive if someone strips it for me...

Im just looking at cage options, any ideas, recommendations for cages?


How light you reckon it could be? compared to csl?

Im looking forward to it, i really enjoyed fitting suspension, brakes exhausts etc to my csl and getting it all set up

[shane@mbtech]

Think I might end up doing the same, but mine will have a whole heap of CSL bits too lol.


Yours not through choice though eh:banghead:

this what you are planning on doing then?

Good luck hope it turns out for you:thumbs:

[AlexGTT]

Look forward to seeing these projects progress.:thumbs:

[Craig]

Not sure, just been down to see the car to chack out a few things, un-fortunatly those magic fixing angels havent fixed it in the few weeks I havent seen it. Just went to go look at what is actually damaged, next week after my short break away I'll look into it a lil more.

Looking forward to see you're project, and how it progresses etc!

[Bealo]

Yes i will be watching this progress with eager eyes.

Keep the updates and photo's coming :thumbs:

[Curly]

good man lawsy :thumbs:

[Jeff]

Right guys, i have a winter project in mind.

Get a normal m3, strip its guts out, whack on brakes, suspension, exhaust, cage it and 2 bucket seats, some funky business graphics and track weapon will be born...... im viewing one over weekend so ill update with pics then show my progress with pics:thumbs:

I'm with you on this one. At £10-15k cheaper than the CSL they're a bargain to make into a fun toy.

[glendog74]

Sounds good mate - probably something that i should do!

I saw an lovely Laguna Seca blue M3 the other day...:whistle:

[azrael]

I thought of doing this, but house purchase got in the way, hence selling the second set of AP's :(

IIRC someone on PH did this a while back with loads of photos etc, was really pushing the boat out, can't remeber anymore but maybe someone else here does and has a link :)

[philj]

I thought of doing this, but house purchase got in the way, hence selling the second set of AP's :(

IIRC someone on PH did this a while back with loads of photos etc, was really pushing the boat out, can't remeber anymore but maybe someone else here does and has a link :)

Hi Azrael, I think this is thread! http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=632565&mid=51137&i=0&nmt=Project%20E46%20M3%20Track%20Car&mid=51137

[Steve Gill]

Hi Azrael, I think this is thread! http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=632565&mid=51137&i=0&nmt=Project%20E46%20M3%20Track%20Car&mid=51137
That's Duncan's car - he joined the CSL Cup for the last two races :thumbs:

[Bealo]

Sounds good mate - probably something that i should do!

I saw an lovely Laguna Seca blue M3 the other day...:whistle:

Yeah that GAY colour or the Phoenix yellow would suit you :gayfight:

[shane@mbtech]

Update.....
I bought thecar I was looking at.
A 03 plate steel grey model with 44k and fsh. And a few trick bits. I'm visiting family in Dorset (killed 2 birds with one stone) so I'll fire some pics up on Monday when I'm home.

Operation well underway!!!!!!!!!

[glendog74]

:smokin: nice one Shane

[glendog74]

Yeah that GAY colour or the Phoenix yellow would suit you :gayfight:

Lol! :birdman:

Didn't your Maxx Power R5 GTT have a rather poncy blue colour? :hahaha:

[Bealo]

Update.....
I bought thecar I was looking at.
A 03 plate dark grey modelwith 44k and fsh. I'm visiting family in Dorset (killed 2 birds with one stone) so I'll fire some pics up on Monday when I'm home.

Operation well underway!!!!!!!!!

Top man :thumbs:

Looking forward to reading about this...

[Bealo]

Lol! :birdman:

Didn't your Maxx Power R5 GTT have a rather poncy blue colour? :hahaha:


It was a Revs cover car i'll have you know :supz: and it was Lotus Carlton Green :smt055

[DazBlackCSL]

I remember seeing that on the cover :hahaha:

[AlexGTT]

It was a Revs cover car i'll have you know :supz: and it was Lotus Carlton Green :smt055

Ahhhhhh, those were the days.:smokin:

[windy]

I did a fair old bit of research into this mate, and Custom Cages still seem to be the best. I looked at bolt-ins, but they're dearer in the first place, and you still have to weld-in loads of plates, etc, so I simply don't see the point in them. If access is an issue, you can easily modify a weld-in cage to have bolt-in door bars.

There's loads of bolt-in half cages in the US though for about $500-700 but god know what shipping would be. The CC one is less than a grand...

CC cage (http://www.customcages.co.uk/Rollcage/LoadRollCage.castle?manufacturer=BMW&model=E46&type=2004%20Int)

I've been speaking to them about developing a bolt-in half cage from their existing weld in, but they don't seem too interested. Here's half of their weld-in cage, er, welded-in...

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/6179/image004po.jpg

If you're interested, I've a few bits I'm getting rid of now I've scrapped the E46 track-car idea...

KWV3's...

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/6698/kwv101.jpg

Simpsons top-mounts...

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/3530/camber.jpg

Recaro Pole Positions on side-mounts with someones home-made E30 subframes and 4-point Sabelt harnesses...

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/970/ppangle.jpg

I'm not after peanuts, but I won't do a karbonkid and ask for £7k (only kidding kk ;) )

[windy]

This may be of interest over on Northloop...

Northloop (http://z8.invisionfree.com/Northloop/index.php?showtopic=19529&st=0)

[shane@mbtech]

updated with few pics of purchase:thumbs:

[DuncanR]

Windy, you selling the seats as a pair or individual?

[shane@mbtech]

Windy, you selling the seats as a pair or individual?

join the queue:birdman:

[E46ACS]

This is exactly what I was planning on doing earlier this year when I had the CSL up for sale. Am still thinking it might be an option as the CSL just doesn't get used.......

[Hazy]

Shane.....the CSL Cup a-beckons mate:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

Curly's old car is gonna go on a serious diet.....anyone know where to get carbon bumpers/bonnet etc from??:supz:

[DazBlackCSL]

Shane.....the CSL Cup a-beckons mate:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

Curly's old car is gonna go on a serious diet.....anyone know where to get carbon bumpers/bonnet etc from??:supz:


Duncan had some nice carbon goodies on his in the last round ... think he got them from Evolve and not too pricy either ..

You going to prep it for Modified class Hazy.. Im going to do them same over the winter :whistle:

[Hazy]

Duncan had some nice carbon goodies on his in the last round ... think he got them from Evolve and not too pricy either ..

You going to prep it for Modified class Hazy.. Im going to do them same over the winter :whistle:

Whats the diff between modded and standard really, engine mods and weight I'm guessing??

[DazBlackCSL]

Whats the diff between modded and standard really, engine mods and weight I'm guessing??


Que John :whistle:

So mainly weight...Plastic Windows , carbon etc the std class suspension is two way .. mod is three or non controlled .. Cam's allowed in mod and if your names steve Carbon Doors:whistle: :hahaha:

[_Nathan_]

http://www.cslcup.co.uk/compete.php

[Hazy]

Que John :whistle:

So mainly weight...Plastic Windows , carbon etc the std class suspension is two way .. mod is three or non controlled .. Cam's allowed in mod and if your names steve Carbon Doors:whistle: :hahaha:

hmm....so not that much really, guess cams would give another 50 brake??

[_Nathan_]

More like 20.

[DazBlackCSL]

Yeah not sure of the exact gains .. but all the little individual things added up all help ;)

There is not really THAT much dif between the two, I started out 5/6 seconds of the A cars by snett I was a second or two .. well no including Thorney in his rocket powered spaceship !!:hahaha::whistle:

So with another year under my belt and some further improvement in my ability will be there or there abouts, was a bloody step learning curve, fun one at that.. but loads more to learn and develop .. as its like starting all over again with your brave pills moving onto slicks ..and dicing around others bolted in a race car :drool::eeek:

[Hazy]

Yeah not sure of the exact gains .. but all the little individual things added up all help ;)

There is not really THAT much dif between the two, I started out 5/6 seconds of the A cars by snett I was a second or two .. well no including Thorney in his rocket powered spaceship !!:hahaha::whistle:

So with another year under my belt and some further improvement in my ability will be there or there abouts, was a bloody step learning curve, fun one at that.. but loads more to learn and develop .. as its like starting all over again with your brave pills moving onto slicks ..and dicing around others bolted in a race car :drool::eeek:

Used to slicks from our E36, they are on another planet grip wise, make Cups seem the best part of useless :hahaha: Dunno about trusting them "from the off" but I guess you have to with such short races.

If you would be so good as to keep outta my way Daz as I steam through, that would be good :hahaha::hahaha::hahaha:

[DazBlackCSL]

Used to slicks from our E36, they are on another planet grip wise, make Cups seem the best part of useless :hahaha: Dunno about trusting them "from the off" but I guess you have to with such short races.

If you would be so good as to keep outta my way Daz as I steam through, that would be good :hahaha::hahaha::hahaha:


Lol !!:hahaha::hahaha::blalalala:

[Curly]

hazy's up for it chucking the gauntlet down at daz:thumbs:hazy just make the car lighter, the car was nearly 175kgs over min weight start off in the standard class first few rounds without spending to much dosh,then you can always move up to the mods class

[DazBlackCSL]

hazy's up for it chucking the gauntlet down at daz:thumbs:hazy just make the car lighter, the car was nearly 175kgs over min weight start off in the standard class first few rounds without spending to much dosh,then you can always move up to the mods class

Gonna miss ya next year :smt055
:thumbs:

[Curly]

i'm gona miss u luv:hahaha:
will see ya next year in the cup i'm spannering for shimmy :thumbs:

[Hazy]

hazy's up for it chucking the gauntlet down at daz:thumbs:

hey just having the craic mate, I remember when I stepped up from bike trackdays to full on bike racing thinking I was the new Mick Doohan.

Oh boy, was I ever wrong:hahaha:
Did alright once I found my feet though:thumbs:

[DazBlackCSL]

i'm gona miss u luv:hahaha:
will see ya next year in the cup i'm spannering for shimmy :thumbs:

:thumbs::smt039 Superb ;)

[shimmy]

i'm gona miss u luv:hahaha:
will see ya next year in the cup i'm spannering for shimmy :thumbs:


what do you know about Caterhams!!!! :bigcry:

[shane@mbtech]

Shane.....the CSL Cup a-beckons mate:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

Curly's old car is gonna go on a serious diet.....anyone know where to get carbon bumpers/bonnet etc from??:supz:

I know, dont tempt me,:banghead::banghead: , would be good kicking radders arse again:whistle:lol

Ill see how my build goes first, give it a few runs once done and ill see how it is. More importantly see how I am in it.

It may be a probability year after next.

Good luck next year you 2, :beer:

Ill have to pop across to some of the rounds.

And tell radders if you guys need any work doing on it to give us a call, we will look after you guys.

[Hazy]

I know, dont tempt me,:banghead::banghead: , would be good kicking radders arse again:whistle:lol

Ill see how my build goes first, give it a few runs once done and ill see how it is. More importantly see how I am in it.

It may be a probability year after next.

Good luck next year you 2, :beer:

Ill have to pop across to some of the rounds.

And tell radders if you guys need any work doing on it to give us a call, we will look after you guys.

:supz::supz::supz:

[Steve Gill]

...if your names steve Carbon Doors:whistle: :hahaha:
Your name's not Steve though mate, sorry to break the bad news to you :hahaha:

[shane@mbtech]

UPDATE..................



I swapped everything over from the csl to the m3, brakes, suspension, exhausts, stripped half of it out, ordered seats etc. Drove it, Its not a csl, drove the csl, and I cant sell it, so all the bits are back on the csl:banghead: Main reason is, I have had a lot of cars and finally found the right one for me (very difficult to do with my budget and only having one arm throws a normal manual out the window, making choice even more limited) The csl is the first car that has.... well I cant explain it but you guys know what I mean. So I dont want to regret selling it, thats why I transfered everything over to try it. It was at this point where you realise the extra £20k over normal m3 is not just roof, interior change and some exterior bits, Its far deeper than that.

Few hours wasted swapping things over, but hey its experience.

The M3 is back to standard and I have 2 really interested parties, both whom I know. So hopefully it will be gone next week.

So the csl is staying, Im whacking the seats I've ordered into it with rear support cage for harnesses, standard seats dont support me as im too big for them. Fitting rtab limiter kit, fitting eibach rear adjustable camber arms, Getting it wrapped in 2 weeks, then fully geo'd, wearing new 18" pilot sport cup slippers ready for next year.

Sorry for the anti climax but the csl I feel is gonna stay for a long time plus i'm home improving next year so the m3 selling will part fund that.

CSL, yfz450 race quad, enough toys to keep me going for now:thumbs:I may even do the weston beach race next year if my partner gets his finger out and buys a quad,

[alexk]

Well done lawsy ! You did the right thing mate.
CSL is CSL, it is much much more different.

:beer:

[glendog74]

Nice one Shane - glad you've seen sense! ;)

[shimmy]

UPDATE..................

It was at this point where you realise the extra £20k over normal m3 is not just roof, interior change and some exterior bits, Its far deeper than that.


never a truer word spoken, well put my man:smokin:

[AlexGTT]

Nice to hear your keeping the CSL Lawsy.

There's no doubt an M3 can be made to perform with the right bits but there's something about a CSL that cannot be easily re-created or replicated. It took a while for people to recognise this, namely the motoring press with their limited experiences in the car. Even now motoring press friends of mine look back at the car and say it was too expensive, extreme and uncompromising. They all admit it was a great drive when the tyres were warm and when the weather was OK. Quite a few still don't get it. That was the whole point of the car.

We can now look back and see that £60k new wasn't so far wide of the mark.:smokin:

[dave1]

funny i was talking to a guy in the pub last night he knew id had a few m3's he asked me if there was much difference as he did'nt really like m3's
after 20 mins talking to him he off to find a csl this week;)