Are you going NA, J? If so, welcome back, my friend. You, too, will soon remember the overwhelming joys of dropping 20 lbs. and adding 30 hp.
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02-02-2026LAST POST
Hujan wroteHa, yeah there is a good chance.Are you going NA, J? If so, welcome back, my friend. You, too, will soon remember the overwhelming joys of dropping 20 lbs. and adding 30 hp.
JEllis wroteExcellent! In that case, you owe it to yourself to talk to Malek about his build if you haven't already. Some very exciting stuff he's got in mind. It's something I will no doubt look at myself, hopefully in the not-too-distant future, after a bespoke suspension setup.Ha, yeah there is a good chance.
Hujan wroteExcellent! In that case, you owe it to yourself to talk to Malek about his build if you haven't already. Some very exciting stuff he's got in mind. It's something I will no doubt look at myself, hopefully in the not-too-distant future, after a bespoke suspension setup.
E36!!! very clean
The car is over two years old now and I felt it was time to transition to the final form I wanted the car to take. The huge wing, green TEs and SC were fun but in the long run I felt I wanted something a little more OEM+.
First, I contacted Malek at MRF and discussed the move to an RKP GTS/GT4 wing. With Maleks help I ordered a new E92 trunk lid that would have welded in reinforcements for the wing.
IMG_0830 by JEllis, on Flickr
As you can see the RKP reinforcements are welded to the structure of the trunk lid. Very sturdy!
MRFs paint guy did a great job matching both the exterior color but also the matte under coat.
IMG_0828 by JEllis, on Flickr
I chose the flat black version of the wing as it best represented an authentic GT4/GTS wing. And, I think it flows nicely with the signal green paint.
IMG_0831 by JEllis, on Flickr
This is the first time the car has been at MRF since the new wheels and RS3s. Time for an alignment check. As expected, I had fallen out of spec due to some changes I had made in ride height and camber.
IMG_0832 by JEllis, on Flickr
Having the car on the lift and a good tire shop down the street gave me an opportunity to have the wheels re-balanced with a road force machine. No more pesky vibration.
IMG_0826 by JEllis, on Flickr
Now I loved the SC and I still believe the ESS 550 is one of the best kits on the market. But, I had always intended for this car to be NA over the long haul.
IMG_0836 by JEllis, on Flickr
I had saved just about every tiny part when I installed the SC. Even this connector housing that had to be removed for integration with the ESS manifold. Its all about the details.
IMG_0838 by JEllis, on Flickr
I normally try to go with OE parts but this Clampco clamp is far superior to the OE one.
IMG_0849 by JEllis, on Flickr
The kit sold in two days after removal and went to a good home!
IMG_0844 by JEllis, on Flickr
Cleaned up some pieces I removed during the SC un-install.
IMG_0850 by JEllis, on Flickr
Cleaned and protected my wheel hubs!
IMG_0851 by JEllis, on Flickr
Touched up and then sealed the corners of the bumper with helicopter rotor tape. These little corners are not normally seen but they sometimes rub on the headlight.
IMG_0852 by JEllis, on Flickr
I ordered a bunch of replacement clips and OE fabric tape to put all the wires I had moved during the SC install back into OE position.
IMG_0853 by JEllis, on Flickr
I am a little OCD when it comes to my cars and after 14 years of E36 ownership I know how these wire looms can rub through paint. I decided to prevent it here with some stick on rubber sheeting.
IMG_0854 by JEllis, on Flickr
Well I am not going all the way back to stock with the motor. Here is the Dinan intake side by side with the OE intake.
IMG_0855 by JEllis, on Flickr
A lot of people have questioned any advantage a Dinan intake has over a drop in filter. Here you can see the size difference in the collars that attach to the filter. Dinan claims theirs is 30% larger. It certainly looks less restrictive.
IMG_0857 by JEllis, on Flickr
Its a beautiful piece installed.
IMG_0858 by JEllis, on Flickr
The noise the Dinan intake helps the motor make is bliss.
IMG_0859 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0863 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0872 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0871 by JEllis, on Flickr
Messing with my camera to try convey the true color of my car.
IMG_0869 by JEllis, on Flickr
First, I contacted Malek at MRF and discussed the move to an RKP GTS/GT4 wing. With Maleks help I ordered a new E92 trunk lid that would have welded in reinforcements for the wing.
IMG_0830 by JEllis, on FlickrAs you can see the RKP reinforcements are welded to the structure of the trunk lid. Very sturdy!
MRFs paint guy did a great job matching both the exterior color but also the matte under coat.
IMG_0828 by JEllis, on FlickrI chose the flat black version of the wing as it best represented an authentic GT4/GTS wing. And, I think it flows nicely with the signal green paint.
IMG_0831 by JEllis, on FlickrThis is the first time the car has been at MRF since the new wheels and RS3s. Time for an alignment check. As expected, I had fallen out of spec due to some changes I had made in ride height and camber.
IMG_0832 by JEllis, on FlickrHaving the car on the lift and a good tire shop down the street gave me an opportunity to have the wheels re-balanced with a road force machine. No more pesky vibration.
IMG_0826 by JEllis, on FlickrNow I loved the SC and I still believe the ESS 550 is one of the best kits on the market. But, I had always intended for this car to be NA over the long haul.
IMG_0836 by JEllis, on FlickrI had saved just about every tiny part when I installed the SC. Even this connector housing that had to be removed for integration with the ESS manifold. Its all about the details.
IMG_0838 by JEllis, on FlickrI normally try to go with OE parts but this Clampco clamp is far superior to the OE one.
IMG_0849 by JEllis, on FlickrThe kit sold in two days after removal and went to a good home!
IMG_0844 by JEllis, on FlickrCleaned up some pieces I removed during the SC un-install.
IMG_0850 by JEllis, on FlickrCleaned and protected my wheel hubs!
IMG_0851 by JEllis, on FlickrTouched up and then sealed the corners of the bumper with helicopter rotor tape. These little corners are not normally seen but they sometimes rub on the headlight.
IMG_0852 by JEllis, on FlickrI ordered a bunch of replacement clips and OE fabric tape to put all the wires I had moved during the SC install back into OE position.
IMG_0853 by JEllis, on FlickrI am a little OCD when it comes to my cars and after 14 years of E36 ownership I know how these wire looms can rub through paint. I decided to prevent it here with some stick on rubber sheeting.
IMG_0854 by JEllis, on FlickrWell I am not going all the way back to stock with the motor. Here is the Dinan intake side by side with the OE intake.
IMG_0855 by JEllis, on FlickrA lot of people have questioned any advantage a Dinan intake has over a drop in filter. Here you can see the size difference in the collars that attach to the filter. Dinan claims theirs is 30% larger. It certainly looks less restrictive.
IMG_0857 by JEllis, on FlickrIts a beautiful piece installed.
IMG_0858 by JEllis, on FlickrThe noise the Dinan intake helps the motor make is bliss.
IMG_0859 by JEllis, on FlickrIMG_0863 by JEllis, on FlickrIMG_0872 by JEllis, on FlickrIMG_0871 by JEllis, on FlickrMessing with my camera to try convey the true color of my car.
IMG_0869 by JEllis, on Flickr
JEllis wroteGreat choice. Do you notice whether there is a slight variation in colour between the section with clear bra -v- without?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.
Jason
Jet in Oz wroteNo but I have seen cars that have old bras that are fading (fogging).Great choice. Do you notice whether there is a slight variation in colour between the section with clear bra -v- without?
Now, I'm not really into these track builds with cages, big wings and whatnot (rollcage in an E90 is just WTF), but this immaculate E92 and E36 and your OCD made me a little bit moist. Awesome, awesome, awesome. And I like the fact you're keeping the car for the long haul, too.
Awesome, awesome, awesome. And I like the fact you're keeping the car for the long haul, too.
I love the fact your cars are built to keep for the long run!
Inspiration for fellow E9X owners
Inspiration for fellow E9X owners
swagon wroteThanks man!Now, I'm not really into these track builds with cages, big wings and whatnot (rollcage in an E90 is just WTF), but this immaculate E92 and E36 and your OCD made me a little bit moist.
KudosM3 wroteYeah a lot of the inspiration for the E92 build came from my experience with the E36 and witnessing how that market has changed over the years. Special color, cloth interior and light on the high tech options were all a result of seeing how the E36 has aged.I love the fact your cars are built to keep for the long run!
Inspiration for fellow E9X owners
JEllis wroteWhat options did you order with? Sorry if I missed it earlier in the thread although I definitely have read through! Just not for a while. I like that your car is non-navi (my phone with a mount works great). Mine is also a special colour but does have leather.. You ordered cloth??Thanks man!
Yeah a lot of the inspiration for the E92 build came from my experience with the E36 and witnessing how that market has changed over the years. Special color, cloth interior and light on the high tech options were all a result of seeing how the E36 has aged.
nekky wroteMy Build:What options did you order with? Sorry if I missed it earlier in the thread although I definitely have read through! Just not for a while. I like that your car is non-navi (my phone with a mount works great). Mine is also a special colour but does have leather.. You ordered cloth??
BMW Signal Green
Speed Cloth Interior
CF Cloth Trim
Comfort Access
Park Distance Control
Looks great Jason!
Really like where you're heading with this car. Amazing specimen.
Always been one of my favorite M3 build, looks good as always!
Limey wroteThanks!Really like where you're heading with this car. Amazing specimen.
psuwcc112 wroteGreat Compliment! Thanks man!Always been one of my favorite M3 build, looks good as always!
always looks good in person 
JEllis great seeing your car again. I admired it at both bimmerfest and HRE. I was with a group of friends both times who were less familiar with your car and both times their jaws dropped. Its absolutely a car you stop and take your time to look at. Bummed I didnt get to meet you in person.Alex@AUTOcouture wroteGood meeting you guys at HRE. M4 looked so dope and I am now totally sold on the new RKP wing. I want to stop by ACM West next time im down south.always looks good in person
ilikebmxbikes wroteThanks man! I drooled over your 1ser and saw your S3-R at both events as well. I think I saw you walking around but were quite busy. I will say HI next time.
