E92 Spacegray Build Journal (OEM to Clubsport)

[Rochen_00]

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Hi everyone, a few days ago I wanted to open a follow-up thread for my car. Finally, that day has come.

I'll tell you my story a bit, I started in bmw with a bmw 330Ci e46 and I fell in love with the brand. Later I wanted an M3 yes or yes, I started looking at M3 e46 but due to fate, a spectacular unit of M3 e92 crossed my path and I couldn't say no.
It was completely original, with about 45K miles from 2009 and sole owner.













The first thing I did was remove the chrome and put the front kidney grills in gloss black from bmw performace, plus the side grills in gloss black and already put the hood vents in gloss black. All matching!
Later, more modifications. I couldn't stop! A M359 styling wheelset, bmw performance rear spoiler, bmw performance carbon fiber side view mirrors and front splitters.







After more mods were dropping, this time lci tail light to spend a few years.











So I said: I really like this car! I love!

Soon we will continue with more modifications!

[slcook54]

Beautiful car and great start. LCI tails go such a long way.

[slcook54]

What are you goals with the car? What's next?

[Rochen_00]

Originally Posted by slcook54

What are you goals with the car? What's next?

My idea is to make a clubsport/streetlegal. The following a little maintenance and performance mods (exhaust, coilovers, air intake, brakes ...)

[Rochen_00]

Before moving on to more mods, I made a rod bearing change. I chose oem material to avoid complications, and with about 57K miles this was the result:







Here a comparison with the new...



In general I think they turned out quite well, but that way I feel calmer.

[roastbeef]

Car looks great. Best color!

[Rochen_00]

Well, now the good stuff begins!

After doing some cosmetic changes and good maintenance, it was time to get more power out of that engine and improve the setup of the car. Modification list:

- Tecnocraft E9X ///M3 Envy™ Intake System
- Macht schnell underdrive Pulleys kit
- Akrapovic Evolution Exhaust
- Ohlins Road&track
- BBK Brembo 6p Front & Brembo 4p Rear

And of course, a few photos that we all like





Sorry for the quality of the photos, better so more artistic



Underdrive Pulley Kit



Akrapovic evo line exhaust





A comparison of exhaust tails





Once these engine mods were installed, I decided to put on an AlexAlpine tune. I contacted him and 0 problems, incredible customer support and the car totally woke up! It looked like another car!! In addition, I also added the GTS tune and the DCT was for the better. I didn't believe how the car had changed, fantastic! very happy and a great job from Alex.

Ohlins Road&rtrack



So far so good, now came the brakes part and finally I decided on a bbk kit made by myself. I chose M4 rotors 380mm at the front and 370mm at the rear. The calipers in question are 6-piston and belong to a porsche 997 gt3 MK2, the support is from a German company that is dedicated to making adaptations (Epytec) and for the rear axle, 4-piston calipers from porsche 997 carrera 4s. For the pads I chose the pagid rsl29 and together with the motul rbf660 fluid I'm very happy with the update of the braking system.





In addition I also added a GTS-type rear wing and a rear diffuser to my construction, here are some photos of my current construction.







And the best of all, is that even with the brake kit, the 18" wheels free correctly!!!



I hope you all like it, the next photos of a track day.

[wyatth]

Nice stuff! Looks great, thanks for sharing.

[M3SWEETNESS]

That's bad ass, I was looking over your mod list and was thinking you just sold a kidney lol. I've been debating trying to piece together a BBK as well, I know you used a M4 rotor but you didn't switch out the Knuckle, correct? If you don't mind me asking about what did you spend on the BBK set up?

[derbo]

Originally Posted by M3SWEETNESS

That's bad ass, I was looking over your mod list and was thinking you just sold a kidney lol. I've been debating trying to piece together a BBK as well, I know you used a M4 rotor but you didn't switch out the Knuckle, correct? If you don't mind me asking about what did you spend on the BBK set up?

He has custom brackets from a company that allows him to run porsche calipers with F80 rotors. You can see the pad sweep on the rotor is not 100% as there is a little rotor rust ring in the middle of the annulus.

https://epytec.de/en/brake-system/ad...ke-disc?c=2047

[wyatth]

Don’t the rotors bolt up fine, it’s the F80 calipers that require the knuckle?

[derbo]

Originally Posted by wyatth

Don’t the rotors bolt up fine, it’s the F80 calipers that require the knuckle?

Yup.

[Rochen_00]

Originally Posted by M3SWEETNESS

That's bad ass, I was looking over your mod list and was thinking you just sold a kidney lol. I've been debating trying to piece together a BBK as well, I know you used a M4 rotor but you didn't switch out the Knuckle, correct? If you don't mind me asking about what did you spend on the BBK set up?

At the moment I used original M4 rotors. The idea is that later, when you have to change them, mount some 2 pieces from the aftermarket.

I have more or less spent about $2,500 in total.

[Rochen_00]

Originally Posted by derbo

He has custom brackets from a company that allows him to run porsche calipers with F80 rotors. You can see the pad sweep on the rotor is not 100% as there is a little rotor rust ring in the middle of the annulus.

https://epytec.de/en/brake-system/ad...ke-disc?c=2047

Exact!! I was testing them on trackday and very happy. Later, I will continue with a post about my experience in track.

[Drifter2090]

Look's great man! You really went all out haha

[Rochen_00]

As promised, here are some photos with my construction on the track.
To say that I liked the ohlins a lot, a very beast change compared to the oem suspension although I think I should put the harder ohlins, now I take them in about 10-12 clicks (something average).
On the other hand, the brembo brakes with pagid rsl29 pads amazing!!! I was very surprised by the whole set, I was able to do 4-5 laps without failing the brakes, very happy! Although I slowed down to cool down a bit.

[Rochen_00]

After a long time without updating, work, pandemic and a little personal losing streak we're back on the load!

This time it was time to update the chassis of the car, the following list of mods has been made:

-Solid subframe bushing (Slon)
-Camber plates (Slon)
-Rear diff bushing (Strongflex red, 80HA)
-Rear Spherical Bearings Conversion on Stock Arms
-Reinforced Trailing Arm Set
-Front Spherical Bearings
-H&R front and rear Sway Bar

Some photos of the Slon pieces







We get in the car and it's time to dismount...



Then we prepped and removed all the bushings from the subframe





We install the new parts





A photo of the reinforced trailing arms and front bushings more details. The advantage is that they are much stronger and lighter than the OEM ones.













Now it's time to put everything in its place and that there are no problems








I want to thank the entire M community for their advice and the awesome threads out there. And many thanks to SYT_Shadow for solving some doubts

[reidetailing]

Great update, and glad to hear you overcame the personal losing streak!

How does the car feel with all of those drivetrain and suspension parts?

[Rochen_00]

Well honestly I haven't been able to test it much. But my first impressions have been very good, the rear of the car doesn't move at high speeds, the car feels much more attached to the road and it gives you a lot of confidence. Also by inserting the spherical bushings in the front part, the steering transmits a lot.

The combination of all these rigid parts with the ohlins and their DFV system (for me, I'm not a rattrack) has seemed like a perfect combination. That yes, the car feels much more rigid, I also take the suspensions to 4-5 clicks, quite hard but for my taste and to be able to enjoy an energetic driving and combined with some very happy track sessions. To all this 0 NVH

Ultimately very happy!

[Rochen_00]

Update with the part of the interior of the car.

After considering several options in the end what I did was find a couple of manual bmw e8x rails (since they are compatible) and together with the adapters from 55parts.de, the recaro pole position seats are centered on the steering wheel and allow them to be left quite low.

Picture of the adapters


Here mounted on the rails oem of bmw e8x


Mounting the oem rails with the adapters from 55parts.de on the car


This image is not mine, but you can see how the seats are centered with the steering wheel


Finally some images of the final result






I don't know if you can see it in this last photo, but really the seat is centered on the steering wheel

Regards!