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      02-26-2018, 10:38 PM   #1
IanMan
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Project Panda - E90 M3 Slicktop

So after this long as year (It's been rough), I'll be finishing up my M3 starting this coming February. I originally decided to repaint the car Atlantis Blue, but it looks like that's not going to come until a much later date if ever. I've decided to do a comprehensive refresh of my M3, fixing anything and everything that I can. I'm coming up on 80K miles. The car is otherwise in incredible shape. It's been a California car most of its life until I picked it up and drove it all the way to the MidWest.



I purchased my E90 M3 a little over a year ago. It is my 3rd M car and 5th BMW. I was previously driving an E46 M3 and before that, an E60 M5.

I got the car for a great price from a seller in LA. I had a friend look at the car. It had the LCI tail light upgrade and CSL trunk as well as being lowered and having the M3 GTS DCT software and a few other mods. It was worth the price. I had to move back to the mainland from Hawaii and needed a cheaper car but wanted to have another M. I had wanted the M3 sedan for years and leapt at the chance.

I flew to LA from Hawaii when I moved. I was immediately plagued with throttle body actuator failure and of course the owner denied knowing about it (as well as a few other issues). Nonetheless, it was a solid car with only 68K miles and an interior that still looked like new.
I changed out the actuator in my business partner's parking garage and she was good to go.

I spent two weeks breaking her in in LA. I drove the canyons in Malibu and had my secondary cats and resonators removed so I could enjoy the sound. The canyons were a blast! It was such a fun time. I played cat and mouse with my friend's E46 M3. I was hooked on the car.



I just recently started taking her apart to change out the rod bearings to BE bearings and ARP rod bolts along with new gaskets and other maintenance items. It's about time as the car is nearing 80K miles.



I got the itch recently to start modding her and turning her into something special but still clean and true to the original design. I will update this thread once a month and keep posting progress on the build. My goal here is to essentially have a "new" M3 sedan.

So, here we go!

List of mods:

EXTERIOR
New Front Bumper
IND Carbon Fiber Roof
OEM Gloss Black Front Grilles
New Headlight Lenses (Headlights already have LED upgrades! )
Gloss Black Turn Signal Shrouds
Gloss Black Rear M3 Badge
New Rear Left Door Handle Light (Sucker burned out )
Repainted Side Skirts and Front Bumper
Full Paint Correction & Ceramic Coating


INTERIOR
Respray my Window Switch Frame (To replace my peeling one )
Nelson Racing Wheels Flat Bottom Alcantara Steering Wheel w/ Yellow Stripe
Coby Wheels E-Brake Boot & Handle
Coby Wheels DCT Shift Boot
New OEM M3 Mats
Seats Reconditioned (Already in incredible shape)
Nelson Racing Wheels Carbon Fiber Interior
Bimmerworld Black Anodized Pedals


WHEELS & SUSPENSION
New Rotors
TITAN7 T-S5 18" Wheels in Gloss Black, 9.5 & 10.5
Self Made BMW Center Caps for The Wheels
Hankook Tires
Stock Calipers Painted Gloss Metallic Blue w/ M Logos


MAINTENANCE
Oil
Oil Filter Housing Gasket
Oil Cap
Spark Plugs
Spark Plug Tubes
Valve Cover Gaskets
Engine Mounts (Corteco)
Belt Service
DCT Service
Diff Fluid Replacement
All CV Boots
Cabin Filters
Exhaust Flange (Got an Exhaust leak form hitting a massive pothole)
Suspension Refresh
Steering Rack Rebuilt (Sucker was leaking everywhere)
New Air Intake
Air Intake Boot
Turner Racing Reengineered Splash Guard


PERFORMANCE
Fast Attack Motorsports Tune
Custom X-Pipe
Stock Exhaust OEM Mod w/ Gloss Black 3" Tips



Thanks for subscribing, everyone!
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Last edited by IanMan; 09-03-2018 at 08:12 PM..
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      02-27-2018, 02:35 AM   #2
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Welcome Ianman! Good plan and start, will be interesting to follow your progress!
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      02-27-2018, 03:51 PM   #3
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Welcome! I am also considering the carbon fiber roof so I'll be following your process. Good luck on your journey
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      02-27-2018, 07:20 PM   #4
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Can't wait to see it, one of my favorite colors from BMW
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      10-17-2018, 05:09 PM   #5
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Started to work on changing the rod bearings again this weekend. Had most of the stuff out of the engine bay and unfortunately had to tow the car to a friend's house to finish the job (My apartment complex said no after they told me it was okay). We had to turn the wheel manually with the car off (and in neutral) and now there's a huge puddle of power steering fluid underneath.

(Will upload photo)

Took my valve covers off in order to start changing the valve cover gaskets and spark plug tubes. I dropped off my valve covers to get glass bead blasted and then refinished. They're going through a multi-step cleaning process here in my town in order to make sure they're as clean as possible before the powder coating process. Thanks to member Cbozz, I decided to get them powder coated as he has had his done for a while and they still look great as new after 5K or so miles. I'm going with a wrinkle blue finish on the top of the covers as well as adding a wrinkle blue finish to my plenum. It will look spectacular.
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      10-17-2018, 05:11 PM   #6
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^ Can't wait to see the blue valve covers!
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      11-14-2018, 08:23 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wyatth View Post
^ Can't wait to see the blue valve covers!
Thanks! Started on the valve covers. Just got my valve covers back from my buddy.

They were first glass bead blasted. Cleansed in brake cleaner and scrubbed out, the baked for three hours. Then powder coated with gloss black epoxy. They look incredible. The coating appears to be really well bonded. Next I'm going to spray the tops with wrinkle blue VHT paint. I'll update this post once the work gets done then post the plenum.
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      11-15-2018, 01:31 AM   #8
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is that the inside of the valve cover powdercoated?
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      11-15-2018, 02:51 AM   #9
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Love the trunk, I'm a huge fan of the CSL trunk on the E46 and E90/92.
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      11-15-2018, 07:36 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SFCM3 View Post
is that the inside of the valve cover powdercoated?
Yes! Just as the original were finished on the inside too. The problem was that the original coating inside was just flaking off and floating around the engine. (common on these cars around a certain mileage). On top of that, it was allowing oil to just cake on and a build up underneath the valve covers which will inevitably end up causing sludge. The coating we used is a special type of epoxy, which my friend told me should last for a long time.

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Love the trunk, I'm a huge fan of the CSL trunk on the E46 and E90/92.
Thank you! When I saw the car for sale, the trunk (as silly as it sounds) was one of the selling points since it was a 2008. I'm not one for aftermarket body ad ons, but the CSL trunk looks like how it should have originally looked like from the factory. Pair that with the LCI lights and it's so sweet.
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      11-15-2018, 07:50 AM   #11
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Sorry to break this to you, as the covers look great, but I dont think you are supposed to powdercoat the inside. The originals were not fully coated inside, just a little overspray inside the cap area is common. When it heats and cools, it will crack and flake off putting you back to square one on the flaking issue you mentioned. The epoxy breaking off in chunks inside the engine would not be good.
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      11-15-2018, 08:06 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mvy View Post
Sorry to break this to you, as the covers look great, but I dont think you are supposed to powdercoat the inside. The originals were not fully coated inside, just a little overspray inside the cap area is common. When it heats and cools, it will crack and flake off putting you back to square one on the flaking issue you mentioned. The epoxy breaking off in chunks inside the engine would not be good.
It'll be fine. It's inevitable. I've talked to two other members on here who have done the same and put close to 10K miles on theirs since without issue.
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Last edited by IanMan; 11-15-2018 at 08:37 AM..
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      11-16-2018, 10:53 AM   #13
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More pics of the CF Roof!
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      11-16-2018, 10:56 AM   #14
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More pics of the CF Roof!
you need it, and we can do it.
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      11-16-2018, 03:49 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IanMan View Post
Thank you! When I saw the car for sale, the trunk (as silly as it sounds) was one of the selling points since it was a 2008. I'm not one for aftermarket body ad ons, but the CSL trunk looks like how it should have originally looked like from the factory. Pair that with the LCI lights and it's so sweet.
Agreed, I love the way the curve from the quarter panel flows into the trunk.

Plus on the E92, I think the only panels that are the same as the non-M are the trunk and the doors (on the E90, the roof, which you're swapping out), and now I can say my trunk is different also
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Last edited by jd501; 11-16-2018 at 04:05 PM..
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