Build Update; E46 fenders + wrap

[BMW_Hatchback]

Man, what a beast of a machine!

[Dan I]

285's fit with ease. I needed 20mm spacers in front to clear the struts, 12mm + hammer work in the rear to clear subframe and chassis. Lots of room under the car now. 305s will fit

Lessons learned on flares? Lots. Rivet-on flares would be way easier, cheaper. Bodywork requires more patience than I'll ever have. And the dust from bondo and paint is a complete disaster. If I were to do it again, I'd save my sanity and rivet some cheap-o flares and be done with it.


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[Ragnorak]

Originally Posted by Dan I

285's fit with ease. I needed 20mm spacers in front to clear the struts, 12mm + hammer work in the rear to clear subframe and chassis. Lots of room under the car now. 305s will fit

Lessons learned on flares? Lots. Rivet-on flares would be way easier, cheaper. Bodywork requires more patience than I'll ever have. And the dust from bondo and paint is a complete disaster. If I were to do it again, I'd save my sanity and rivet some cheap-o flares and be done with it.


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The patience definitely paid off though. Good info on the tire widths. I'm not even sure where to look for rivet-on flares for this car that would look proper, but I'm on the hunt.

[J_E]

Rivet on fenders might be easier, but they won't look as good as yours turned out.

[e30polak]

Such an awesome Ti! Nice work!

[Dan I]

Back from the dead again. Busy with life keeps me off the interwebz.

Long story longer...I kept having clutch, (mis)shifting, excessive diff noise and I ended up overrevving my s50 all due to a **** driveshaft. Fast forward to 6/17/17, it now sits with an obd1 m52 with my old s50 bolt-ons, the baller-ass Tilton clutch, zf trans, some apex wheels, freshly rebuilt konis, and a chassis-mounted wing from battle aero.

Pay no attention to the numerical identity crisis going on

[anassa]

Love it!!

Happy to hear it is still running, and being driven as it should be!

It seems before you mentioned the annoyance of grafting on the e46 flares, but I have to say I am huge fan of your outcome, it looks way better than bolt-on flares!

Thanks for the updates!

[BimmerBum]

Always love seeing pictures of this car. Feel free to post more.

How's the power with the 2.8 compared to the s50?

[Dan I]

Power loss is noticeable but not overwhelming. It seems like the power band is smooth and predictably progressive. S50 was a lumpy mess that needed lots of revs to let the sunbelts do their thing. I'm content with where it's at. The sunbelts and the dr vanos setup will work on the m52 and make really good power but I'm hesitant to "fix" something that really isn't broken.

[anassa]

Originally Posted by Dan I

Power loss is noticeable but not overwhelming. It seems like the power band is smooth and predictably progressive. S50 was a lumpy mess that needed lots of revs to let the sunbelts do their thing. I'm content with where it's at. The sunbelts and the dr vanos setup will work on the m52 and make really good power but I'm hesitant to "fix" something that really isn't broken.

What kind of "bolt-ons" do you have with your m52? What ratio diff? How does it fair against other m52 powered vehicles (z3/e36/e30)? Or maybe against other m50/s50/s52 powered vehicles?

Just from your experience.

Thanks!

[Dan I]

Originally Posted by anassa

What kind of "bolt-ons" do you have with your m52? What ratio diff? How does it fair against other m52 powered vehicles (z3/e36/e30)? Or maybe against other m50/s50/s52 powered vehicles?



Just from your experience.



Thanks!

Intake, big MAF, injectors, s50 software, pulleys, long tube headers straight back to a magnaflow fart can. It's REALLY loud, the good kind of loud, though. E30 3.23 diff. I would say in raw acceleration it's about equal to a stock e36 m3. Hard to judge on track because there are so many variables at play...I'm usually outpaced by modded e46m3s driven hard, I usually outpace modded e36m3s driven hard. Usually leads to drivers coming over to "see what the hell is going on" with it. Good convo starter if nothing else lol


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[anassa]

Originally Posted by Dan I

Intake, big MAF, injectors, s50 software, pulleys, long tube headers straight back to a magnaflow fart can. It's REALLY loud, the good kind of loud, though. E30 3.23 diff. I would say in raw acceleration it's about equal to a stock e36 m3. Hard to judge on track because there are so many variables at play...I'm usually outpaced by modded e46m3s driven hard, I usually outpace modded e36m3s driven hard. Usually leads to drivers coming over to "see what the hell is going on" with it. Good convo starter if nothing else lol


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Hahaha I bet! I would love to see those e36m3 owners scratching their heads trying to keep up to the "trunkless" e36!

How much tire do you usually use?

Also do you still use the " GC coilovers with Koni SA shocks (super-baller, I know) and a GC Hella-fat sway bar, NO rear bar. Spring rates are 500# front, 350# rear. -3.5 front camber, -2 rear. 0 toe" suspension setup? That rear spring rate at 350 with no rear bar seems really low! From what I have seen many people prefer higher spring rates in the rear compared to front. Have you changed the setup? Is it mostly for higher speed tracks or also for tight technical courses?


Just to clarify, Intake (includes s50/m50 intake manifold I assume, since you had a s50, so not stock m52 intake manifold) Big MAF (3.5 one? 5 series one or Porsche?) injectors (24lb? Stock m52 is 21lb?)

Thanks again!

I know, I know.. that's a lot of questions!

[Dan I]

Originally Posted by anassa

Hahaha I bet! I would love to see those e36m3 owners scratching their heads trying to keep up to the "trunkless" e36!

How much tire do you usually use?

Also do you still use the " GC coilovers with Koni SA shocks (super-baller, I know) and a GC Hella-fat sway bar, NO rear bar. Spring rates are 500# front, 350# rear. -3.5 front camber, -2 rear. 0 toe" suspension setup? That rear spring rate at 350 with no rear bar seems really low! From what I have seen many people prefer higher spring rates in the rear compared to front. Have you changed the setup? Is it mostly for higher speed tracks or also for tight technical courses?


Just to clarify, Intake (includes s50/m50 intake manifold I assume, since you had a s50, so not stock m52 intake manifold) Big MAF (3.5 one? 5 series one or Porsche?) injectors (24lb? Stock m52 is 21lb?)

Thanks again!

I know, I know.. that's a lot of questions!

No prob! M50 mani, 3.5" maf, 24lb injectors. Right now I have 245/17 re-71r that I prefer to run and a set of pirelli DH slicks if I really feel like hauling the mail. Suspension is still 500/350. I used to autocross a bit and this was a good setup for that. Turns out it works well on the tracks I do now. Road America is very fast, long course at BIR is even faster. Car is very neutral, very predictable. Anyone with the slightest skill could make it go fast

[spidertri]

Car's looking good Dan!

What was the issue with the driveshaft? Binding U joints?

[J!m]

Your experience shows just how "lame" the S52 is compared to the M52... We (the USA) totally got hosed on that deal...

And I'm sure the new wing works a ton better, but I prefer the look of the "PTG-esque" rear wing you had. With such soft springs that butt must really squat at speed, no?