Please be aware this is a VERY picture intensive build thread. (place holder for build sheet link) The following build thread is the conversion of an E46 M3 into an E46 M3 GTR Street Car. Unlike most “GTR” conversion, you see people make, this is meant to be as close to factory as possible using parts that are available today. Unfortunately, some parts will have to be aftermarket, as the OE parts are no longer made or were never available. This build is planned to be completed hopefully within the next two years to be a showcase car for the 2016 event that I am planning for the E46 M3. As with my other build to make a CSL, a fully document process of the change will be posted here along with another in-depth build sheet. I hope you enjoy the process and I welcome questions and ideas, as my hope is to make this somewhat a community project. By this, I mean ideas are welcome but in the end may not be used due to time, cost, or just too far out there. Those enthusiasts who wish to help / learn in this build process are welcome to come out and help once the build begins. What is a GTR Street Car? The E46 M3 GTR street car was made for BMW to compete in the Le Mans Race Series. For a complete history on these cars there is some website that offer limited data. The few image that exist are pictured below. Love or hate looks, this is the plan on what the car will look like once I am done. A note is that some changes will be made as to accommodate parts being used and some customizing to make unique.
The Project Car The car that is being used for the body of this project has been around on the M3forums for a while. I am stating off with a 2003 E46 M3 in manual and 133K on the motor. There will be a lot of parts for sale soon from this car in order to fun the build. If you need parts, please check the for sale section to offer your support in this build. The donor parts car will be a E9X M3 for the motor transmission and other bits. This is still in the process of being scourced. Project Cars History The car I was told started off life with screen name Mr. wolfe. Here are the images I could find of the car online at the beginning. No history beyond this:
Car moving out west Car was packed up and shipped out west to start its new life on the other side of the US. The car as you see in the images needs some TLC but over all in is in good shape for what is needed.
First progress update: Living in the car hating state of California, I had to get a smog check done before I registered. Took the car on my usual 20 minute warm up run and had no issue. Car is mechanically sound just looks like the ugly duckling. Made it to the smog station, kept the car warm before they pulled into the bay. Only idled for 3 minutes before they pulled it so I was not worried about passing now. Go in take care of the paper work, come back out to see how the car does with the usual test. Guy is doing his usual visual check and was waiting for him to do the sniff test and what happens, they pull the car out as all they needed was a computer. WHAT! I went through all that and you just did a computer check to pass. While that is YAY it was a DOH!. So those in CA who are reading this I got the 411 from the station. They are now finally slowly rolling out the computer only test. Select places have it and are ensuring it works. Any car 1996 till now is computer only. Older requires the full sniff test. Next step is to begging tear down as well as find a wrecked E9X M3. I am having the damdest time getting one. Friend of a friend is trying but no luck / unknown if they are bidding on either copart or IAA. If someone has a lead I am all ears.
I was waiting to post this for some odd reason but I don't know why. At any rate, the donor car has been found and acquired. She is a roll-over but runs and drives and is on here way west. Delivery date is Friday 3/28 WHOHOO. Project will not start for a few a month or two as the shop where the majority of the work will be done is almost complete. I will share the shop pics once it is done. For now here is the pics of the car at copart. AS with the E46 chassis there will be lots of parts for sale to help fund the project.
That plot has thickened with the E90 M3 donor car. What I had reported was it was a roll over with unknown mileage. I was working on the shop space with some buddies and we discovered it was not a roll over. Instead we found it went through a building and has 24K on it. Mileage is easy as car turns on and drives. The reason we know it went through a building is there is sheet rock and insulation in and around the car. It has a winter tire setup so likely someone lost control and found a house or office building. Images of are the car after I picked it up from the shipper and have it resting inside the shop. Last image is of the shop under construction along with the chasse car.
Car just got registered to CA today... FINALLY. Took little longer then I wanted from being busy and my wife went into labor two weeks early so our first child was born on May 4th. Already looking at the recaro seats for the little man =)
Wife said I had to share that we already are starting our son off early in his M career. Close friend made the Roundel Binnie and M blanket for our little guy.
Sorry for the lack of updates. Between new baby, yard word and trying to finish the shop, time has been rather thin. Hopefully the lift that was ordered will be in this next week so actual work on the car can begin. For now it is waiting for the lift and finishing the shop organization and cleaning. Some parts for the car did arrive. Below is an image of the parts needed for the carbon fiber roof less the carbon fiber panel. In the boxes are the roof rail, headliner, glue and cover brackets. Here is a sneak peak of the shop space. Not organized nor are the benches in the right area. But this will give you idea why it is taking so long. Once the shop is done this will be a place for learning. By this I mean a place to work on car by invite as well as make DIYs or classes on welding or Vanos timing. Advantage of have a private facility available.
At last tear down time. Lift is in. Anyone that wants to get dirty and learn, I am starting on the E90 this Sunday. I should also have lots of parts for sale soon.
Project underway at last. With the helps of a few forum members, we were able to get the car turned around and started the tear down process. Hopefully we will be able to get the engine out next week.
To keep the project moving along, wife gave me the OK to work on the car after work as long as I am home by 5 to take over watch the little one. At any rate I was cleaning the donor car and know more about who owned than I should. I can confirm the car did go through a building wall. As you will see from the pictures there is dry wall and insulation in the car. Hopefully everyone was ok when it happened.
Made a new friend on the drives and found out he is a BMW tech for Performance Motor Works. Funny part was I used to use Performance until I was told they were gone. Now I find out there are still there and can also do CSL ECU flashes for E46 M3 guys. Long story short I am glad I have my old service shop back as well a new friend who made getting the motor out WAY easier. Here is how to remove a S65 out of an E90.
