A purists nightmare - E46 drift build
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UPDATE
Finished up the shaved shifter trim by trimming around the handbrake and then painting. I used some paint that is pretty close to the dash trim color but its not perfect.
Next I finally found something to do with the hole in my dash that had a battery cut out in it (that was from the sedan).
Got this really nice usb charging port on Amazon. I chose this once since it has a power button feature, I wired it to the original power outlet wires so I didn't want it to always be on like the factory one.
Before
installed
Turned on
Next I did some repairs from damage.
Last season I ripped off the underglow and never got around to fixing it lol. So since I had to respray some undercoating where the cage bases are welded in it was a good time to fix the underglow.
Replaced 2 of the strips and resecured everything.
Next I decided to try and shave the M fenders.. luckily I only tried on the passenger one. Even though I went slow and tried to disperse the heat I still warped it
. I tried to fix it with filler and its better, but still not good.Here's the only 2 photos I took since I got really discouraged.
Thats it for now.
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Love the lights!
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Picked up a M bumper this past week locally for a really good deal. It even came with the diffuser and crash bar, although I don't need the crash bar and its an aluminum one rather than carbon kevlar since it was off a 2001.
Here's a photo of it somewhat mounted. I have to do some work with the exhaust, and would really like to have the openings in the diffuser shaved. I definitely don't want a dual exhaust and would rather shave the openings and make a new opening farther to the left for the exhaust in the future.
I really like how it looks especially since I was between finding a M bumper or finding a lip for my non-m bumper (which is very difficult to do)
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Any chance you could share a picture of the inside of the M bumper? I’ve always been curious to see how the diffuser is mounted.
How’s the power on the M54 for drifting? Is there any need/want for more?
I can shoot you one once its off again. It clips in on the top and push pins on the bottom.
And its gets the job done haha but there's always a want for more but I'm not sure the direction I want to spend money to go.
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Update.
So here is my solution to there not being an exhaust exit on the M bumper (that I currently can make work and that I like).
Not super proud of it but it will work for now.
You can't see it from looking at the car at all so thats cool with me, and it will do until its time to make a real exhaust.
Next i tackled fitting the gas door.
I drilled some new holes that would work with the M door layout. And trimmed up the standoffs I bought to make the door fit the overs correctly.
I also found a spacer that I had laying around that I trimmed down until it was the right size to sit against the original non-M push button thing. I need to decide how I want to attach it yet. Most likely some sort of epoxy.
And here is the fit when closed!
My girlfriend deep cleaned the dash and interior which was VERY NEEDED! I'm so glad she has the patience for that because I dont.
I also started on shaving the driver side fender. I chose to use 3M scotch-weld to "weld" in the piece of metal to shave the vent.
Here is the patch panel held in on the outside with hot glue. I then put painters tape over it to keep it in place for sure. I used the hot glue because its easily removeable.
And here is from the inside.
And here it is with the scotch-weld mixed up and applied.
Honestly I think this is going to work out really well. After 12 hours we will see!
Finally got the windows cleaned on the inside as well then installed the rear quarter glass.
Still alot more little stuff to do so hoping to keep picking away at it.
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What are you threading the standoffs into on the quarter panel side? Did you epoxy some nuts inside the panel? Looks great
The standoffs are threaded onto the gas door hinge because the hinge has studs. And the studs have nuts that go inside the quarter panel. That's how it is factory i just had to space it out for obvious reasons haha
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I was going to say that the standoffs will break, but I'm going going to revise that and just say that they might break.
Anyway, it could be worse.
I dont believe it will be a problem. Its the same way a friend did his and that was over a year ago.
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Is that scotch-weld stuff the same as panel bond?
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I don’t know why, but I kind of like how it looks as is.
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Is that scotch-weld stuff the same as panel bond?
I wouldnt say the same, it has metallic pieces in it and im not sure if panel bond does. It does come up down the list when you search panel bond, but panel bond and scotch weld are both 3M products. I believe panel bond is more for gluing 2 surfaces together like a quarter panel. Or if you were trying to mold a over to a car? I'm no body guy lmao
Definitely do NOT have the patience for that stuff thats for sure.
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I don’t know why, but I kind of like how it looks as is.
it looks like a drift car thats for sure lol. I can't wait to be able to get some wrap ordered!
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Finally got around to putting the clear vinyl on the cage to protect it. Obviously can't see much in the photo but its nice to have the cage fully exposed and not covered.
Also ordered these rear bumper extensions off of ebay, and I am pleasantly surprised with how they look!
Hard to get a decent photo with my phone of them but it was a decent $25 gamble lmao.
And also finally got the car and engine bay washed.
Just a few things left to tidy up before its ready to drive, even though it will be 5 different colors lol.
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Where did you order your clear vinyl from?
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Where did you order your clear vinyl from?
From Amazon, but it is vivvid brand vinyl and worked out really well!
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From Amazon, but it is vivvid brand vinyl and worked out really well!
Ahh gotcha. Been struggling to find quality stuff in larger sizes
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Ahh gotcha. Been struggling to find quality stuff in larger sizes
I'm sure if you contacted vivvid they could get you a larger size
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UPDATE
Totally have been slacking on the updates again now that there's no major things going on.
Finished shaving the driver side fender and got it primed and put on the car.
I tried putting in the passenger seat with the home made seat bases and brackets that I had from before and it just was not going to work. So I finally splurged on some real swat brackets and bases.
Planted steel bases with planted aluminum side mounts.
Here is the seat mounted. I really liked that they give you so much room to play with and drill your own holes in the seat mount baseplate.
And here is both seats finally mounted in the car, with much better seating positions compared to before as well.
On to something smaller, I finally upgraded to the brass bleeder screw rather than the plastic one.
Was able to get out to a "meet" last weekend at the old forest mall in fond du lac so that was cool to get the car out for a bit.
I also ordered some new DEPO clear front marker lights since I broke the tab on my left side one (thus the painters tape lmao).
I also decided to take care of the worn out idler and tensioner pulleys. But soon found out that the tensioner pulley I ordered was for the hydraulic tensioner, and i have the mechanical one. After doing some reading it appears the hydraulic one is the upgrade that BMW put in place so I got one on order.
And while I was discouraged about not getting that simple job done I decided to completely clean out the catch can and all the lines for it.
Thats it for now! I am waiting on a few new parts to show up that I am excited to share once they come in!
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