Sky—The SS E90 M3 GTR: KMP, MKRennsporttechnik, Spage Sport, Varis, Volk, Vorsteiner

[elliotw44]

Wow, your Original pumpkin housing was toast. any more information about this diff? 1 way? 1.5 way? 2 way?

[reidetailing]

Originally Posted by elliotw44

Wow, your Original pumpkin housing was toast. any more information about this diff? 1 way? 1.5 way? 2 way?

Toast is right, Elliot!
I confirmed it's a 1.5 way differential. Reach out to Florian (M3Post Member: "driftflo” driftflo)

UPDATE #58: Let’s Get Creative

Hey everyone and welcome back to my journal!

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted, so let’s make this a good one.

This update takes place in Early 2023.

Did Your Rear Bumper Come With Those?

I’m always trying to push the boundaries, be creative and think outside the box with my ideas for Project Sky. I am bringing two such ideas to life: Rear Fog Light and Rear Diff Cooler (both of which will be incorporated into the OEM rear bumper upper valence section).

Recall this photoshopped picture of the idea:






To actually build this out, we needed to modify the OEM Rear Bumper Beam. The Bumper Beam needed to accommodate a bracket and cutout for the JDM Subaru STi Rear Fog Light I have.
I had Usic perform the necessary welding for the task.

Here are some pictures of how it turned out so far:






















We will need to build a bracket to hold both the Rear Diff Cooler Pump and the Cooler itself. Once all that is integrated into the Rear Bumper Beam, it will then get powder-coated in flat black, and then ceramic coated for ease of cleaning.

Mmmmmmm…Titanium

Awhile back, I had Usic and Sierra pull my Varis/VRS Rear Diffuser System 1 off the car, as I wanted all the mismatched hardware replaced with titanium hardware.

All the titanium hardware arrived from Rick@West Coast Fasteners, and my oh my it looks great!








Be sure to check my Youtube video, which showcases Sierra assembling the diffuser with the titanium hardware:

Is There Even a Rear Window?

In efforts to lighten Project Sky, I turned my attention to the OEM Rear Screen.
With future plans to get a Carbon Fiber Roof, I thought it’d be a great idea to order a Polycarbonate Rear Screen.

The industry leaders in polycarbonate components are a company based in the UK called Plastics4Performance (P4P). I’ve purchased the exact Rear Screen for my Subaru STi, and was beyond happy with it! What’s mind-boggling is how clear the screen is…it looks fully transparent!!

I decided to buy the Left and Right Hand Rear Door Windows, as well as the Rear Screen.

Some features of the P4P products that I ordered are:

• Motorsport lightweight Lexan / Makrolon polycarbonate in 5mm Clear Hardcoating
• Manufactured from high quality polycarbonate sheet
• UV protected against sunlight discolouring
• Approximately 50% weight saving compared to glass of the same thickness
• Each window is marked to meet MSA, FIA & ABG regulations.
• Accurately moulded* to the curvature of the OEM glass for a perfect fit
• CNC profile cut and ready to fit

The box arrived safely from the UK, and I’m super excited to have it on the car, enjoy a pic of it on another E90:









I’ll eventually get carbon doors, and will have the remaining windows (minus the windshield) in polycarbonate.

Concluding Thoughts

Thank-you all for your continuous support with both my Youtube Channel and my journal here on M3Post.
The next update is a MASSIVE one…

[reidetailing]

UPDATE #58: Let’s Get Creative

Hey everyone and welcome back to my journal!

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted, so let’s make this a good one.

This update takes place in Early 2023.

Did Your Rear Bumper Come With Those?

I’m always trying to push the boundaries, be creative and think outside the box with my ideas for Project Sky. I am bringing two of such ideas to life: Rear Fog Light and Rear Diff Cooler (both of which will be incorporated into the OEM rear bumper upper valence section).

Recall this photoshopped picture of the idea:







To actually build this out, we needed to modify the OEM Rear Bumper Beam. The Bumper Beam needed to accommodate a bracket and cutout for the JDM Subaru STi Rear Fog Light I have.
I had Usic@Total Motor Werkes perform the necessary welding for the task.

Here are some pictures of how it turned out so far:






















We then built a bracket to hold both the Rear Diff Cooler Pump and the Cooler itself. The bumper beam also incorporated a feature which makes the rear vent of the ARC Rear Diff Cooler functional!!

It then got powder-coated in flat black by Mike@Brightside Coatings, and will eventually get ceramic coated for ease of cleaning.

Enjoy the pics, and also everything circled in red was fabricated and welded by Usic:

Mmmmmmm…Titanium

Awhile back, I had Usic and Sierra pull my Varis/VRS Rear Diffuser System 1 off the car, as I wanted all the mismatched hardware replaced with titanium hardware.

All the titanium hardware arrived from Rick@West Coast Fasteners, and my oh my it looks great!








Be sure to check my Youtube video, which showcases Sierra assembling the diffuser with the titanium hardware:

Is There Even a Rear Window?

In efforts to lighten Project Sky, I turned my attention to the OEM Rear Screen.
With future plans to get a Carbon Fiber Roof, I thought it’d be a great idea to order a Polycarbonate Rear Screen.

The industry leaders in polycarbonate components are a company based in the UK called Plastics4Performance (P4P). I’ve purchased the exact Rear Screen for my Subaru STi, and was beyond happy with it! What’s mind-boggling is how clear the screen is…it looks fully transparent!!

I decided to buy the Left and Right Hand Rear Door Windows, as well as the Rear Screen.

Some features of the P4P products that I ordered are:

• Motorsport lightweight Lexan / Makrolon polycarbonate in 5mm Clear Hardcoating
• Manufactured from high quality polycarbonate sheet
• UV protected against sunlight discolouring
• Approximately 50% weight saving compared to glass of the same thickness
• Each window is marked to meet MSA, FIA & ABG regulations.
• Accurately moulded* to the curvature of the OEM glass for a perfect fit
• CNC profile cut and ready to fit

The box arrived safely from the UK, and I’m super excited to have it on the car, enjoy a pic of it on another E90:









I’ll eventually get carbon doors, and will have the remaining windows (minus the windshield) in polycarbonate.

Concluding Thoughts

Thank-you all for your continuous support with both my Youtube Channel and my journal here on M3Post.
The next update is a MASSIVE one…

[reidetailing]

UPDATE #59: Breathing Clearly Is Important For Optimal Performance

Hey everyone and welcome back to my journal!

Project Sky is getting some of the coolest motorsport parts available on this planet. What you are about to see demonstrates the commitment to pushing the boundaries for this platform.

This update takes place in October 2022.

Two IND Distribution Boxes From Germany?

You read that correctly; I received two large boxes from IND Distribution (IND) that originally came all the way from Germany! “Alex, how does that make sense, if IND is in the US?” Well friends, I coordinated an order of two boxes worth of Motorsport24 (M24) parts through IND Distribution.







I was having minimal luck dealing with M24 via email (language barriers, lack of responses, etc.), and had almost given up. I then recalled IND Distribution does business with M24 and thought I’d ask them to coordinate the deal.

A big thank-you to Nate@IND for all the patience organizing and quarterbacking the large order. It was thanks to you that this even happened. I would happily recommend IND Distribution to anyone looking for BMW-related parts that they carry, especially M24.

Alright so the juicy information, “What did I order?” My order consisted of the following parts:

• Motorsport24 Race Airbox (S65 in standard position) (14e92082)
• Motorsport24 Aluminum Cooler Frame Lying (engine in standard position) (14e92019)
• Motorsport24 Water Thermostat and Hose Kit (14e92055)
• Motorsport24 Race Heat Exchanger used from Motorsport24 Z4 GT3 Cup Car (14e92061)
• Motorsport24 Oil Filter Housing (OEM) Adaptor D10 for Race Heat Exchanger (14e92142)
• Motorsport24 Electric Power Steering Conversion (14e92115)

Having heard this Youtube video of an S65 with the M24 Race Airbox, I knew I had to get one:

I found that in order to run this Airbox, quite a bit of work was involved (delete AC, suggestively convert to Electric Power Steering, tilt the radiator). This did not deter me, and I remained committed to the order.

This Race Airbox is an absolute work of art. It’s made of carbon fiber, including the inner trumpets, and is extremely light.
I also love the design efficiency of this Race Airbox, with the intake going straight through the kidney grills. I definitely love the weight savings from this carbon airbox setup. To optimize the airflow, I will eventually order Schrick 292 cams, VAC Motorsports Ported Throttle Bodies, Supertech Intake and Exhaust Valves, a VAC Stage 3 Cylinder Head Service, and an Epic Motorsports Pro-Tune to ensure it runs optimally and airflow is maximized. I’m not chasing power; rather, I’m chasing efficiency, hence why I have no interest in supercharging the car.

Enjoy the pictures of the parts, along with some photos of how they look installed on other cars:

Concluding Thoughts

Thanks for checking out this update!
There’s lots more in store for Project Sky. I really want all my dreams for this car to come true. It’s only going to have the best of the best parts, and full passion and creativity expressed throughout.

Stay tuned for next update…but don’t get too comfy, unless you’re sitting in one of these…

[gh0stE92M3]

Awesome man can’t wait to see that hung finished. Properly built setup man.

[reidetailing]

Originally Posted by gh0stE92M3

Awesome man can’t wait to see that hung finished. Properly built setup man.

Thanks Chris!!

UPDATE #60: Two Is ALWAYS Better Than One

Hey everyone and welcome back to my journal!

A principle that in certain situations, can be better or worse — Two is better than one. In this particular update, two is ALWAYS better than one, unless it's a speeding ticket!

Go get comfy while reading this update, just as long as it’s in a Recaro seat.


This update takes place in January/February 2023.

You Got A What?

The OEM power seats are one of the easiest ways to lose weight in the interior. Going with an aftermarket seat that saves the most amount of weight typically results in compromising certain “nice-to-haves” like powered seat adjustment, heating elements, and tilting/extending adjustability.

For Project Sky, I definitely wanted some Recaro seats, but not just any kind. See, I drive a lot of Project Sky’s inspiration from how I built my 2013 Subaru STi racecar, Project Gabby. I want the builds to be similar in nature with parts (Ex: Varis Diffusers, ARC parts, Recaro seats, Japanese wheels, Alcon brakes, etc.)…imagine seeing them side by side!!

My Subaru STi has the Recaro SPA seats that are by far some of the prettiest, lightest, most comfortable seats on the market (as long as you can fit in them). They are made of Carbon Kevlar, and fire-retardant material, but have been discontinued unfortunately; the Pro-Racer with Hans seat variant is however still available.

Here’s a picture of the seats in my Subaru…I’m still drooling over here










I began my search for Recaro SPA seats (non-Pro-Racer version), but came up completely dry. I then found a used Recaro Pro Racer Hans SPA Carbon Kevlar Seat available “somewhat locally” and decided to message the seller, Nick. Nick and I agreed on a fair price, and that I’d pick it up in-person. I decided to drive to Montreal, Quebec (1 province away) to get the seat. The drive was 570kms away (equivalent to 354 miles). Funny enough, I had a buyer named Daniel for my OEM front seats, who also lived in Montreal…what are the odds of that?!
They did not know each other, but both agreed to meet at a Canadian Tire store to conduct the independent deals.

I was definitely nervous that one or both of the deals would backfire (Ex: no-show) for some reason, especially since I was carrying my OEM seats with me and did not have room for 3 seats coming back home to Toronto. Thankfully, my faith in humanity remained intact, as both Nick and Daniel showed up, were extremely professional, and very passionate M3 owners.

What I later found out was that Nick owns an E90 Silverstone M3 too!! His is heavily set up for tracking, and looks super great in its battle form. Enjoy the pictures of his car and the seat that’s now mine…thanks again Nick and Daniel:


















Now the one part of the story I forgot to mention is that while I did enjoy the drive back, I was returning home with not one, but two things:

1. Recaro Pro Racer Hans SPA Carbon Kevlar Seat
2. A speeding ticket

Yes, I got a speeding ticket by a very unforgiving police officer 20 minutes away from the meeting point in Montreal.

1 is The Loneliest Number

Having just bought the used Recaro Seat from Nick, I knew having just 1 aftermarket seat in the car wasn’t the vibe. This seat needed a friend, but one in the most pristine of shape. I decided to purchase a brand new Recaro Pro Racer XL Hans SPA Carbon Kevlar Seat from my friend Billy@T3 Motorsports. Billy had 2 of these in stock for a while, but eventually sold one of them. I decided to buy his last one, which I’m glad, because he mentioned that Recaro was increasing the pricing on these seats going forward. These seats are super light! According to Recaro, the Pro Racer Hans SPA Carbon Kevlar Seat weighs approximately 7kg, while the XL version weighs 7.5kg!! Thankfully, this 2nd seat is in the XL version, so they will better accommodate more passengers given the wider seat compared to the one I bought from Nick being standard width. Catch-22 for me, because my standard width seat keeps me always watching my already slender figure to continue an active lifestyle, but means I can’t enjoy all the donuts in the world…I like me some donuts.
















Thank-you Billy for giving me this opportunity to buy such an incredible seat. It’s going to a great home and will be well taken care of.

The Best 30th Birthday Present Ever!

Shortly after acquiring both seats, my 30th birthday was approaching. I decided to give the seats a proper makeover to ensure they were as perfect as possible. I took both seats to my good friends Nau and Dave@Kodawari Collective for the work.

The used Recaro Pro Racer Hans SPA Carbon Kevlar Seat I bought from Nick was very dusty, worn, and the Kevlar-backing was heavily swirled and faded. I needed it fully restored. This job involved the seat being vacuumed, steam cleaned, and the Kevlar-backing being cleaned, clay-barred, polished, and then PPF’d (Paint Protection Film).

The new Recaro Pro Racer XL Hans SPA Carbon Kevlar Seat I bought was very much new and didn’t need much. It was vacuumed, steam cleaned, and the Kevlar-backing being cleaned, clay-barred, polished, and then PPF’d (Paint Protection Film).

The PPF used on both seats’ Kevlar-backing was STEK Dynoshield, which also adds a considerable amount of gloss to the overall finish.


They managed to complete the job on my 30th birthday, and even surprised me with a small gift of my true dream car in cartoon form, a Maserati MC12 Corsa in silver…enjoy the pictures:





















To the Kodawari Collective team, thank-you very much for making my 30th birthday that much more memorable!

Concluding Thoughts

Thank-you all for your continuous support with both my Youtube Channel and my journal here on M3Post.
Stay tuned for next update, it’s a CRAZY one that has 3 letters.

[reidetailing]

UPDATE #61: Price On Request Is Never A Good Sign

Hey everyone and welcome back to my journal!

I am beyond excited to share with you all an update that takes the suspension of Project Sky to a different class.

This update takes place in April 2023.

It’s Too Nice To Install

Continuing the pursuit of buying the highest quality parts for Project Sky, we return with another top shelf purchase, although, you might not find this part on even the highest shelf. See the part that I purchased is not a typically advertised part, almost an IYKYK-type part.

As many of you know, Project Sky needs coilovers for all the racing kinematics components that I’ve already purchased. I wanted to get something very unique, race-oriented, built of the highest quality, and with an efficient design.

Upon evaluating my options, I discovered I had a new favourite 3 letter word: TTX.

Yes, that’s right! The Ohlins TTX True Coilover Suspension System was the winner for Project Sky.

After seeing Mike@Obsessed Garage discuss his positive experience with Barry@3DM Motorsport. I started the discussion with Barry around September 2022, and by April 2023, I had my set!

Barry is one of the go-to specialists for motorsport suspension, and I wanted him to build a very special TTX setup with all the bells and whistles.

We decided to go with the following setup:

1. Ohlins Camber Plates
2. Ohlins TTX46 Front Coilovers(2-way Adjustable, Low speed Compression/Rebound)
3. Ohlins TTX46 Blow Off Valve Upgrade (Cast Valve Body Blow Off Conversion Kit)
4. Ohlins TTX36 ILX True Rear Coilovers (2-way Adjustable)
5. Ohlins TTX36 ILX Blow Off Valve Upgrade (High Frequency Blow Off Conversion Kit)
6. SPL Front ARB Links (custom-fit for Ohlins TTX Front Coilovers)
7. Swift Spec-R Sport Springs 140 N/mm Front Spring (with Helper)
8. Swift Spec-R Sport Springs 100 N/mm Rear Spring (with Helper)
9. 3DM Suspension Rear Clevis Shock Mounts

I went with the True Rear Coilovers because I eventually plan to cage the car, and this will be better designed for them (in addition to pairing with my Fall-Line Motorsports E9X M3 Lower Coilover Camber Arm + Shim Set). Here’s a pic of those beautiful Lower True Coilover Arms:










One of my most favourite features of the TTX coilovers is that they have the remote reservoirs built into them; it also looks much better than having to run an external remote reservoir canister.

I’m beyond excited to run these on Project Sky; they are truly a work of art. This, combined with all the MK-RennsportTechnik kinematics bits, and Strom Uprights, among many other things, will be game-changing.

Thank-you Barry for giving me this opportunity to own an incredible suspension setup.

Please enjoy the pictures:

Concluding Thoughts

Hope you all enjoyed that update.
Stay tuned for the next one…more carbon fiber is coming to Project Sky.

[reidetailing]

UPDATE #62: No More Looking Up At The Stars

Hey everyone and welcome back to my journal!

I got a great update for you all that showcases my dedication to purchasing the best parts for Project Sky.

This update takes place in May 2023.

Sunroof Be Gone?

I absolutely love having a sunroof. Night driving and looking up at the stars; parking the car and leaving the sunroof tilted always looked tough; fresh air entering the cabin from the ceiling and sweeping/crashing into my lush pompadour haircut — all great feelings when you have a sunroof.

As great as such feelings are, sadly, the days of having my sunroof are near.

In efforts to shed a substantial amount of weight from the top of the car, the sunroof had to go. From what I’ve read online, such a modification for E9Xs with sunroofs end up saving around 45lbs!!!

Enter Karbonius Dry Carbon Fiber Roof. Karbonius, a Spanish composites manufacturer since 2008, is known throughout the BMW community for being a leader in their space. One of their biggest selling points is that they have a ISO 9001:2015 International Quality Management System, so you know that the best, and most organized work practices are conducted consistently 24/7, 365.

Featuring pre-preg autoclaved dry carbon fiber parts that are always works of art, exclusive and numbered, great fitment guaranteed, I knew their roof was the only option for Project Sky.

A very special thank-you to Matt@Euro****** for arranging a group buy on this piece. I am beyond excited to have this roof installed, and then PPF’d and Ceramic Coated to ensure it’s always looking perfect.

Enjoy the pics:

A Man of Fine Taste

Project Sky has been seeing an extreme amount of top-shelf quality parts lately. This project has always been an unlimited budget with an unlimited timeframe.
Patience is a virtue with this build…after all, I haven’t driven the car since October 2019.
If I am unable to afford a part right away, my mentality is to not settle with a lesser quality/cheaper product. Instead, I’d rather just wait longer, save up, and buy the dream part.
This has led me to make better spending decisions with the car, as I don’t have to buy things twice.

All the parts you’ve seen and will continue to see are a product of that mentality. I also am appreciative of the support from my family for making my life easier and giving me freedom, emotional encouragement and financial support to make such grandiose purchases and turn my dreams into a reality. I’m grateful and privileged knowing that their level of support for me is unconditional, everlasting and from the kindest and selfless of souls. I try to repay them by being a great son, brother, and friend.

Please enjoy the stockpile of some of my favourite parts for Project Sky that would only have been possible thanks to the love and support of my family:

Concluding Thoughts

Thank-you all for supporting my journal, Youtube channel, and my personal life journey. The latter portion of this post where I discussed the support of my family truly makes me reflect on how lucky I am to have a great family. Not everyone is blessed with a loving, connected, and overly generous family, and I for one do take that for granted sometimes. I will do better for myself and hope this inspires you to reflect on your relationship with your family.

Stay tuned for next update, lots of exciting parts coming Project Sky’s way!!