First track build (e92 M3)

[FrostyAZ]

I bought a 2010 e92 M3 6MT a little over a year ago with 36,000 miles as a dedicated track toy. I decided to buy the car after I got into tracking with my2014 Mercedes E63 S model AMG. The merc was great on the track, faster then almost anything but it was really heavy so consumables got to be ridiculous. That is when I decided a used e92 M3 should be an additional car just for the track. I was nieve at first, thinking I could just upgrade brake pads and lines and get some r compound tires. In a short time, I had enhanced the track capability and completely killed the street ability of the car. I installed JRZ RS 2 way damper, eibach anti roll bars and had started to replace most of the rubber bushings with solid spherical bearings including the rear subframe and differential. I had installed a catless X pipe with Bimmerworld axle back (which sounds great) along with an ESS tune. I then had a custom diff with 4.10's done by Jim Blanton. The car was getting better but I had no safety and it was still heavy.

Now I have the car being fully built by Late Apex Fabrication in Fort Worth, Texas after I could not find anyone to do the job I wanted and in the timeframe I wanted in Arizona where I live. So back in November, off the car went. I mentioned I was nieve early on in buying the car and figuring a few mods would make it a suitable track toy. Initially, I set out to just do the cage and a few safety related items like harnesses, some type of fire suppression or just extinguisher and figured the rest would come later. Well that nieve (or maybe impatient) trait reared its head again and I am now in the middle of a pretty extensive build. I am sure I will forget many of the items but the bulk of the upgrades includes:
Full cage tied into rear subframe and front strut towers
Reinforced strut towers and rear shock towers
Removal of all non essential interior pieces to include rear deck
NASCAR bars on drivers side
Cool shirt pro air and water for a cool shirt and helmet cooling
M24 Electric power steering pump and new rack
Delete the entire belt loop for the a/c and power steering
Solid aluminum motor and transmission mounts
Lightweight flywheel
OMP Drivers and passengers seats
Stilo intercom
Engine is out so having rod bearings and valve cover gaskets being done. Greg Smith from Greg Smith Racing does a lot of work with Late Apex Fabrication so Greg is doing the motor work and helping on any unique mechanical items.
Headers are being ceramic coated
Do88 oil cooler, radiator and ps cooler (although might not need that now)
Intrax 4 way Black Titan coilovers with ARC and spring adjusters
Most likely going to a muffler delete with turndowns
Safecraft drivers net
Safecraft fire suppression system
Schroth enduro harness for driver and profi II for passenger
MA Shaw FRP doors (10lbs each)
Optima battery (only 24 lb savings but no issues to deal with)
Bimmerworld Carbon headlight blanks
SPL Parts: front control arms, rear toe arms, camber arms, adjustable sway bar links, Thrust Arms
PFC Z54 front kit with 11 pads
Cantrell brake duct cooling kit
Bimmerworld Headers and X pipe


I am sure there are several things I am missing so will post again when I figure out what they are. I will also update with pics as the car progresses. The car started the build weighing 3,450. My goal is to get below 3,000 before driver. May not get there at the end of the initial build but one way or another it will happen.

I have learned a lot from many of the forum members so figured I would share my build as well. Erik Lister from Late Apex has also been very knowledgable and has made some really good recommendations along the way.

[FrostyAZ]

[FrostyAZ]

Seems like I can't upload any more pics or I am not doing something right.

[roastbeef]

Very nice, I like how bare you got it. She's gunna be light!

[hayes180]

Originally Posted by FrostyAZ

Seems like I can't upload any more pics or I am not doing something right.

check to see if the pictures are in the correct size, if not reformat and make them smaller to up load.

From the description, this build looks like it's going to be sweet

[ThunderMoose]

Looks great!

With respect to pictures, it's better to host them somewhere else and just embed the link.

[FrostyAZ]

You can see the M24 electric power steering pump in this picture. Special thanks to Warp 10 for turning me onto this. Very happy to remove the belt driven pump and a/c compressor.

[FrostyAZ]

I had to crop the photo but you can see there is a good amount of weight just in hardware (nuts, bolts, fasteners, etc) that get removed. Can't wait to get a finished weight.

[INDCISV]

I'm also in az, would love to see this in person one day when it's completed. Build progress is impressive so far! Keep the pictures coming!!

[redpriest]

Wow, what a monster build. Subscribed for sure.

[FrostyAZ]

Here is a picture of the Intrax coilovers. I am hoping they turn out to be worth it. Could not find many people in the US running them but they seem quite popular in Europe.

[///Mobbin]

Epic! I can't wait to see the finished product, congrats on the build being well underway and glad you chose this car!

[FrostyAZ]

I tried that and for some reason could not get it to work. I am not real tech savvy though.

Originally Posted by ThunderMoose

Looks great!

With respect to pictures, it's better to host them somewhere else and just embed the link.

[FrostyAZ]

Definetely, hope to be on AZ tracks soon.

Originally Posted by reforM3d

I'm also in az, would love to see this in person one day when it's completed. Build progress is impressive so far! Keep the pictures coming!!

[bigjae1976]

You should be able to get under 3k lbs...wiring and sheet metal removals is a significant amount of weight.

Was this an idrive or non-idrive vehicle?

[warp10]

Sub'd

[dogbone]

Looks like you have a solid plan in place. Can't wait to see how it progresses. Should be really nice when it's done!

Keep us posted!

[warp10]

Where did you source the doors? M24?

[ThunderMoose]

Originally Posted by FrostyAZ

I tried that and for some reason could not get it to work. I am not real tech savvy though.

reply with a link to your pics and I'll try show you how.

[scotty_miller]

Builds like this make me all giddy on the inside. Excited to see more

[FrostyAZ]

Car was a total stripper. No I-Drive, cloth seats, no sunroof. I don't have the original sticker but I am guessing there was not a single option checked, which was exactly what I was looking for. The car had some mods already done to get my starting weight before the build at 3,450 but those mods maybe amounted to 50 pounds.

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

You should be able to get under 3k lbs...wiring and sheet metal removals is a significant amount of weight.

Was this an idrive or non-idrive vehicle?

[FrostyAZ]

Doors are from MA Shaw, made in the USA. Price was very reasonable and Mike (owner) is a nice guy. It took them a little while to find the mold, he said there has been very low demand for E92 parts. They make a lot of lightweight Porsche and E36/46 parts. I have asked him to let me know me how many firm orders he needs to make new molds. Would be nice to have a source for reasonably priced lightweight body parts. I would like him to make a lightweight GTR vented hood. First I want to see how the doors look and feel when mounted.

Originally Posted by warp10

Where did you source the doors? M24?