Its been a while since I have been on Renntrack and I am back in a BMW. Anyhow, here is my project.
Project Green Monster
Before we get started, pics of the finished product can be viewed here:
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=830443
OEM BMW Edition Grill Set
Front Clear Bra
RE SSK
Macht Schnell Shift Knob
iND Shifter extension
AMS Shift Knob
OEM BMW Sports Steering Wheel
OEM GTS Exhaust
Challenge Sport X-Pipe
Brembo F/R 380mm BBK
KW Clubsports
Volk Takata TE37s
Macht Schnell TPMS Emulator
ESS VT2 535 SC
Motorsport 24 Radiator
Motorsport 24 Oil Cooler
RKP GT4 Front Splitter
VARIS GT Wing
Challenge CF/Kevlar Trunk Lid
OEM BMW Motorsport ALMS Mirrors
Bottom line up front, I built this car for me. However, the journey to
this finished product has been a long one. When it was time to find a
companion for my daily driven E36 M3, my original thought was a new E92
M3. In late 2007 I placed an early order with BMW Military sales and in
July 2008 I picked up my Jet Black E92 M3 DCT. The car was fantastic but
with the DCT transmission, I felt a little disconnected from the driving
experience. While the DCT system is a technological marvel and does what it
does flawlessly, I missed rowing through the gears. Also, the M3 is
currently built as more of an "all arounder" rather than a focused sports car.
Blame the Latte sipping bimmerphiles for the sacrifice in overall
performance in the name of a luxurious ride and a quieter cabin.
Not long after buying the M3 I started looking at
Porsches. Their out of the box focus and performance combined with
company-backed modification options (this was before BMW Performance),
made the Stuttgart derived vehicles a tasty alternative. I could mod the
car with tried and true modifications made by Porsche. I test drove a
997S and about six months later I was trading in my 2200 mile six month
old E92 M3 for a bright red 997S Aero. My 997S was flashy and with the
Porsche short shift kit, PASM suspension, and GT3 derived body kit, it
felt like the focused sports car I was looking for.
I found the Porsche Owners Club pretty early in my ownership experience
which led me to both road course racing and Global Motorsports Group
(GMG). Within another six months my 997S was sporting a GMG exhaust, a
GT3 rear end, GMG specced Bilstein Damptronic Coilovers, BBS Motorsport
E88s and several other Porsche and GMG motorsport parts. And, although
I was very satisfied with the car, my taste for automobiles started to
become a lot more expensive. Pretty soon I started wondering why I paid
for a modded 997S over a stock GT3? An important question and a sort of
defining one, especially when it comes to my personal feelings about car
ownership. The seeds of doubt had sprouted and after about two years of
ownership, I sold the 997S.
Somehow I landed back in the seat of an E92 M3. I am not sure what
brought me back here. I think car buying for an enthusiast is an
emotional decision. But, putting my emotional feelings aside, the E92 M3
could be ordered without many electronic gadgets. One of the few
remaining sports cars that can. I could custom order an M3 through the
individual program. Even new, the E92 M3 represented an almost unmatched
performance bargain. With the money saved, I could modify my individual
BMW to be more unique and even faster/FOCUSED. Furthermore, the V8 in the
M3 is probably one of the last engines of its kind to be seen in a
sports car and certainly the last to be seen in the front of an M3.
Finally, the racing pedigree of the M brand and to a greater degree, the
E92 M3, was something that I admired.
There is something about ALMS spec race cars. For some reason I respect those
companies that field race cars in the ALMS series. I believe the ALMS series is why
I love cars like the Porsche GT3, BMW M3 (now Z4), Ferrari 458 and even the Corvette Z06.
I especially like that that these race cars are more than just shadows of the street version.
The engines of the RLL M3 GTs and GT3 cups are extremely similar to the engines we find
in the street version. The importance of my love for automotive racing, and to a larger
degree ALMS racing, drove the purchase and modification of this M3 as well as provided
the inspiriation for the build.
Finally. I have to be honest and say it was projects like INDs and Martin Ds M3
and Meaner than Hell that made me realize that a project like this was possible.
In my mind those two cars are legendary, have road presence, extreme performance
and yet retain an analog vice digital feel. Orginally I contacted IND simply to let them
know that I was planning on using them as source for parts and that my car was going
to be similar in feel to some of their more risque M3 builds. After the first few email
exchanges with Nate I realized that my relationship with IND is going to be much
stronger than simply using them as a source for parts. I had an idea in my mind of
what I was hoping to achieve. IND took that initial idea and "supercharged" it.
INDs fresh spin on my project ideas, as well as INDs world wide connection base,
were instrumental in turning the car into what it is today. I really cannot describe
how perfect IND has been during the build process. It might be hard to believe,
but I placed the order for this car back in May 2012! That gave the IND crew and I
nearly a year to refine what we wanted the car to be.
The majority of the modifications were completed in my garage by me, friends and
family. I not only wanted to build an epic M3 but I wanted to show that it could be done
in a garage, built with my own hands. I know my car is not the only DIY build and I applaud
everyone that has endured the frustrations of a project like this.
Here we go.
I arrived at the idea of a Porsche color when I saw a "Speed Yellow" M3 for sale on Autotrader.
That, combined with INDs Green Hell, got me thinking about an individual build. After researching
some dealerships I found myself sending emails to Steve Thomas BMW. They quickly responded
that they could get me a Porsche RS Green M3. I honestly could not be happier with Steve Thomas.
They run a great dealership with fantastic customer service. As I stated previously, I ordered this
car back in May 2012!
Here she is not long after I picked her up towards the end of January this year!
Top View by JMEllis, on Flickr
Signal Green by JMEllis, on Flickr
This is where the modification journey started. I had originally thought I would
do a set of black TE37s with gold accents. But, when I mentioned this to IND they
suggested I try one of the rare Takata Green sets in an aggressive offset. Let me tell you,
I was not sold on the idea at first. However, the idea grew on me and I am honestly in love
with them.
IMG_0349 by JMEllis, on Flickr
I originally considered going with a matte gold sticker but after trying both. I decided on
gold foil. Griots makes some expensive... ahem good products. I used their positioning
spray to mount the foil stickers. Word of warning, gold foil is a pain to mount!
IMG_0352 by JMEllis, on Flickr
And here is the finished product.
IMG_0358 by JMEllis, on Flickr
The wheels were the first modifications to arrive but they were not the first modifications on the car. The first modifications were a full set of BMW Edition Grills and a full front clear bra.
Bain Mendoza from Doza Designs installed the clear bra. He is a mobile installer that came highly recommended.
Fender Bra by JMEllis, on Flickr
He custom cut my clear bra that extended around panel edges.
Hood Bra by JMEllis, on Flickr
He did fantastic work and even cleared my GT4 lip!
Front Lip Bra by JMEllis, on Flickr
Here are the grills ready to go on.
Grills by JMEllis, on Flickr
I utilized the DIY pages quite a bit during this build. For the tricky side gills I used the tape method described in the DIY section. Basically, you use packaging tape for leverage to pull the chrome gills off and then simply pop in the new ones. Pretty simple but it takes a little more force than you would think . I doubled up on the tape. I used two pieces of tape top and bottom before pulling.
IMG_0103 by JMEllis, on Flickr
When IND offered me an OEM M3 GTS exhaust, I could not refuse. I combined the OE GTS rear section with a challenge sport center section which utilizes sport high flow cats.
A few notes, removing the stock exhaust is required for installation of the Rogue Engineering short shift kit. I combined the installation of the SSK and the exhaust system.
I backed up the car up on ramps and used jack stands for the front.
IMG_0106 by JMEllis, on Flickr
The hockey puck trick is a great way to keep your OE jack points looking good.
IMG_0108 by JMEllis, on Flickr
Here is the OE GTS exhaust and the Challenge center section ready for install. Note how the Challenge center section is perfectly suited to connect to the OE GTS rear exhaust section.
IMG_0029 by JMEllis, on Flickr
Silicon spray makes removal and the replacement of OE exhaust bushings much easier.
IMG_0115 by JMEllis, on Flickr
The rear valence prepped for install.
IMG_0116 by JMEllis, on Flickr
The GTS rear section bolted right up with zero problems.
IMG_0117 by JMEllis, on Flickr
At this point it was time to install the Rogue SSK. I have to say, installing the SSK was one of my least favorite parts of the build. Being under the car for extended periods of time was not fun.
I do not have any pics from under the car. There are quite a few DIYs for SSK installs. The trickiest part is removing the carrier bushing.
IMG_0114 by JMEllis, on Flickr
I used an allen wrench as a pry bar. I then used Rustoleum rubber spray paint to re-cover the connection points. The Rustoleum product was identical in feel and look to the rubber covering that was on the connection points from the factory. RE recommends a grease with teflon for the install. I found SuperLube which was recommended by the RE tech I spoke to.
IMG_0120 by JMEllis, on Flickr