Build thread - QLD Australia

It’s pretty quiet in this sub lately so thought I’d add some notes about my mini build to hopefully get some conversations going.

2008 E92 M3. Manual. Jerez. 95kms
Current mods
Primary decat + high flow secondary + resonator delete with stock muffler
Evolve tune
Eventuri carbon plenum and intake.
H&R springs

Maintenance items over the past 9 years
Rod bearings @ 45kms
Throttle actuators
Coils
Plugs
Some o2 sensors as they failed

Stage 1 of mini build
Harrop SC
Ohlins R&T coils
NRW valve covers in matt black
Upgraded clutch & fly
Apple car play CCC upgrade
Shifter Refresh Kit, Seal and Centre Driveshaft coupler
-Genuine BMW Shifter bush kit
-26112282573 BMW Drive Shaft Flex Joint (Giubo) - Febi Bilstein
-Gearbox selector Seal 81-24010-00M5 shifter
2 pipe muffler mod
CMP E8X/E9X Monoball Front Tension Arm Bush
CMP aluminium belly pan
CMP power steering overflow tank
New plugs

———
Stage 2 plans
BBK upgrade
New steering wheel. Leather with flat bottom
New muffler if 2 pipe mod doesn’t work out
Refresh the rest of the suspension
CMP solid subframe bushes
Recaro Sportster seats in fox red (so pretty)
Wheel stud conversion
Forged wheels (apex ?)
Fire extinguisher
——-

I bought my M3 back in 2013 after getting the v8 bug. My others cars were a NA manual MKIV supra, TT manual MKIV Supra, TME Evo (6.5) before getting into BMW with a Z4M Coupe. The Coupe was pretty but gutless so it went and the M3 came in. I only drove the M3 once before buying and my initial thoughts weren’t positive until I found some clear road and opened it up which was a memorable moment. I bought it on the spot.

Right away I did the primary decat and fiddled with the exhaust to get the sound right. I experimented quite a bit with different muffler mods etc to get the sound right and eventually settled with the primary decat, 200 cell secondary cat, resonator delete and stock muffler. The sound is subdued at low RPM but gets up a satisfying wail at WOT. It’d be nice for the sound to be a bit deeper at idle and low rpm but not sure how to achieve this without introducing drone which I want to avoid. I’m hoping the 2 pipe mod will help with this but we’ll see.

Fast forward a bit and the M3 was doing daily duties for about 2 years before making way for something more practical. Since then it’s spent most of its time in the garage with occasional trips through the mountains and some light track work.

I love driving it at WOT but otherwise it can be little boring. I’m hoping the mini build will make it a bit more playful around town and hopefully the suspension mods will make it feel a bit lighter at track days.

Anyway thats my mini build. Parts are on the way and hoping to have stage 1 complete in the next few weeks.

I’d love to hear your thoughts!









list delete duplicates

Nice one, good to see another Queenslander on the forum

Cheers Johnny. Bit quiet round here!

What BBK are you thinking of fitting? I want to do it but I’m struggling to justify the cost as I don’t currently track my car.

Smithynigel wrote

What BBK are you thinking of fitting? I want to do it but I’m struggling to justify the cost as I don’t currently track my car.

From what Ive read the stock brakes arent bad even with SC. I would like better pedal feel but apart from that they’re a bit of a vanity purchase. So they better be pretty 🤩

DBE wrote

From what Ive read the stock brakes arent bad even with SC. I would like better pedal feel but apart from that they’re a bit of a vanity purchase. So they better be pretty 🤩

I have been looking into an upgrade for the same reason. The best bang for buck, good name brand upgrade I have found are the Alcon monoblock kits from Paragon, they are about AUD9k delivered, pics below.

They also offer slightly cheaper versions that don’t have the better monoblock calipers but the difference is only about a $600 saving.

DBE wrote

Cheers Johnny. Bit quiet round here!

Yes it is, not too many E9x in Oz as there are in the US or Europe.

Don’t mean to thread steal, but you said its a bit quiet so here’s my 2c worth.

I agree on the NRW valve covers, they are a nice bit of kit. My std ones leak so I got the NRW ones too in std grey.

Other upgrades (future proofing items) I have all the parts for ready to be fitted to my ride, except as noted are:

• NRW valve covers c/w billet spark plug tubes and full gasket kit including bolt grommets etc
• NRW S65 silicon throttle body kit
• RebuildUK throttle actuators
• Mporium front under tray, similar to the CMP one you have
• Mporium vanos covers inc fitting kit with OEM stretch bolts and gaskets (these are the bolt on type not clip on ones)
• H&R springs (already on the car)
• Rod bearings (already done)

My ride has a Corsa exhaust on it (was on it when I bought it) I still have stock exhaust that also came with the car. Happy with the Corsa, no drone and not too loud unless you give it some stick, but there are better ones out there, all comes down to $ you want to spend, I’m happy with it, better than stock hehe.

You may want to consider, and I highly recommend going by the quality, getting the NRW spark plug tubes and the Mporium vanos covers, you may as well do all of that if your in there anyway fitting the SC. I’m assuming you will have a nice cheaper than new, used, locally available Eventuri plenum and intake for sale when you fit the Harrop SC? Hehe.

Good build, keep us Aussies updated on the progress, not too many Aussie builds.

Cheers

Johnny E92 wrote

I have been looking into an upgrade for the same reason. The best bang for buck, good name brand upgrade I have found are the Alcon monoblock kits from Paragon, they are about AUD9k delivered, pics below.

They also offer slightly cheaper versions that don’t have the better monoblock calipers but the difference is only about a $600 saving.

Interesting. 9k is a solid drop but I'll look into them

Smithynigel wrote

What BBK are you thinking of fitting? I want to do it but I’m struggling to justify the cost as I don’t currently track my car.

if you're not tracking the car, consider the Chinese Brembos:
I've had mine for almost 3 years now with 0 issues, only thing I replaced were the pads and the brake lines from the kit. It was around 2,300 USD 3 years ago.

Johnny E92 wrote

I have been looking into an upgrade for the same reason. The best bang for buck, good name brand upgrade I have found are the Alcon monoblock kits from Paragon, they are about AUD9k delivered, pics below.

They also offer slightly cheaper versions that don’t have the better monoblock calipers but the difference is only about a $600 saving.

What are your thoughts on the Harrop kit ?

Got a goodies photo yesterday

DBE wrote

What are your thoughts on the Harrop kit ?

The Harrop ultimate kit is more expensive than the Alcons, both kits have 6 pot 380mm x 32mm fronts but the Alcon has 380mm x 32mm rears v Harrop 355mm x 28mm, both 4 pot. But Harrop uses modified pads, rather than off the shelf pads as far as I can figure out.

Having said that nothing is wrong with the Harrop kits, I have the same ultimate kit on my VE SSV Commodore, nil complaints.

Fezza wrote

if you're not tracking the car, consider the Chinese Brembos:
I've had mine for almost 3 years now with 0 issues, only thing I replaced were the pads and the brake lines from the kit. It was around 2,300 USD 3 years ago.

Hi Fezza,

Just out of curiosity where did you get them from? Chinese stuff can be very very hit and miss, you must be one of the lucky ones hehe.

I do work for an engineering company and we source things from China, but we have to still pay extra to make sure they are up to our specs etc, still cheap even with the extra cost.

I got it from an Alibaba store, their contact's WhatsApp is +86 136 3229 5932

Yes my mechanic had to slightly machine/file (can't remember which) the mounting bracket to make it fit on my car

Fezza wrote

I got it from an Alibaba store, their contact's WhatsApp is +86 136 3229 5932

Yes my mechanic had to slightly machine the mounting bracket to make it fit on my car

Kuality

Brandoch wrote

Kuality

Quality and fitment are two separate things. You can have a good quality product with bad fitment, or good fitment with bad quality.

Depends on your budget you may want to go for the nickel coated AP Racing Pro 5000r or alcons

I went with pro 5000R and they feel amazing at high speed, but yeah they're a costly purchase...



Changing out oem M3 bushings (front monoballs and solid rear subframe) makes a huge difference! Look up the solid rear monoball bushing upgrade also it makes such a dramatic difference to the car the way it handles and puts the power down

Rear monoball upgrade

Great to see a new post up here. Yes, it has been quiet on these pages - such that I haven’t checked in for months! I’ve not done anything significant on mine so have not updated my thread in ages either.

I will definitely be following this build as you have some tasty gear incoming. Good luck with it.

Question of I could: what were your original rod bearings like when they were pulled @45K kms??

DR-JEKL wrote

Depends on your budget you may want to go for the nickel coated AP Racing Pro 5000r or alcons

I went with pro 5000R and they feel amazing at high speed, but yeah they're a costly purchase...



Changing out oem M3 bushings (front monoballs and solid rear subframe) makes a huge difference! Look up the solid rear monoball bushing upgrade also it makes such a dramatic difference to the car the way it handles and puts the power down

Rear monoball upgrade

What bushings did you go for? I’ve been looking but havent pulled the trigger yet. Seems to be a few good sealed options out there now.

Also interested if you had it done at the workshop and if so how much to expect in labour.

Smithynigel wrote

What bushings did you go for? I’ve been looking but havent pulled the trigger yet. Seems to be a few good sealed options out there now.

Also interested if you had it done at the workshop and if so how much to expect in labour.

GAS front monoballs and lemforder rear monoballs 👍

DR-JEKL wrote

GAS front monoballs and lemforder rear monoballs 👍

Thanks, I bit the bullet and ordered some Dinan front monoballs on sale.

Smithynigel wrote

Thanks, I bit the bullet and ordered some Dinan front monoballs on sale.

Yup they're pretty much the same design good quality