My final event of last year was a two day drivers school at NJMP Lightning with the Delaware Valley BMWCCA where I drove my 2002 E46 M3 weekend car for the first time on track. I had done multiple events with my E36 but the E46 inspired far more confidence and felt more balanced. When I had the chance to ride in my instructors caged E46 M3 on R-comps for some laps the difference in performance and simple bodily connection to the car due to harnesses and fixed back seats was staggering.
Since the event, I decided that I needed to run 5-8 events in the 2023 season and try to build on my experience. I also decided that I wanted to fully commit to a track-specific car rather than modify my current very street focused car.
After losing an auction on a Boss 302, losing another auction on an E9x M3 and test driving a new GR86 I was able to find a local seller (a few miles down the road) with this thoughtfully modified and dead nuts reliable M3 with everything I wanted to focus on driver mod and nothing else.
Named Bruiser for the black and blue theme and the blue metallics in the carbon black metallic paint that make the car read as a dark blue as much as black depending on the lighting.
The two previous owners have brought the car to a really solid build state with extensive records going back over the last 6 years
Mods list thus far:
- Status Gruppe Headers
- Status Gruppe SCZA Exhaust
- TTFS Tune
- RTD Carbon Shifter w/DSSR
- VANOS Rebuild
- Rod Bearings replaced at around 90k miles
- CSF Radiator
- CSF Oil Cooler
- E46 Fuel Starvation Kit
- Injen Evolution Intake
- Yonaka Anti Rasp Section 1 Pipe
- Eibach Pro Street S Coilovers
- AKG 90A RTAB
- Stainless Steel Brake Lines
- PFC 331/332 Pads
- Hotchkis F/R Sway Bars
- Bimmerworld Brass Bushings
- Endless Brake Fluid
- CSL Carbon Trunk Lid
- Carbon fiber Diffuser
- Turner Motorspors Subframe Reinforcement
- AKG 90A Subframe Bushings
- BW Tow Straps
- Apex ARC8 18x9.5
- Kuhmo V730
- BW 5mm spacers
- Fallline Motorsports Half Cage
- Momo Daytona Driver Seat
- Brey Krausse Drive Mount w/sub mount (2) Momo Start Passenger Seat
- Schroth 6 Point Harness
- G Force 6 Point Harness
- DTM Fiberwerks Sunroof Delete
With the car pretty well squared away for events aside from consumables, my attention and investment can go toward safety and track time.
On the safety front I'm ditching my old motorcycle helmet in favor of an SA2020 Bell with head sock and Hans. Full suit as well if I can find a place near Philly to try them on and get a decent fit or find an online retailer with an easy and free returns/exchange policy.
I'm registered for a handful of events split between NJMP Lightning and Thunderbolt with my first event in April. I am deliberately choosing multiple organizers to see if one really gels much more than others: Hooked on Driving, PCA and NASA so far and hope to also be able to register for another BMW CCA drivers school and a TNIA or two.
I do have a few things to work on between now and April, but thankfully it's all pretty optional so no timeline pressure/stress
- Install Garmin Catalyst
- Sliders for the drivers seat (so I can get my partner hooked on the car as much as I am)
- Switched power and rollbar mount for my GoPro
- Figure out tool and fuel jug storage that works around the rollbar
I've never installed fixed back seats before and I'm wondering if I need to change up my seat mounts in order to add a slider.
I know that Brey Krause makes side mounts that can mount to OEM sliders but I'm wondering if I can mount a slider between the floor and the current side mounts or need a completely different mounting configuration and parts.
So far I've registered for
- 4/8 Thunderbolt with HoD
- 5/12 Cayman GT4 and 911 GT3 experience
- 5/20 and 5/21 Lightning with NASA
- 6/3 and 6/4 Thunderbolt with NASA
I'm hoping to be able to get up to Lime Rock for GridLife Circuit Legends in August and will be on the lookout for one or two Summit Point events that work with my schedule.
I also expect to get back to NJMP in September and October with PCA and BMWCCA assuming my earlier events go well.
trumant said:
I've never installed fixed back seats before and I'm wondering if I need to change up my seat mounts in order to add a slider.
I know that Brey Krause makes side mounts that can mount to OEM sliders but I'm wondering if I can mount a slider between the floor and the current side mounts or need a completely different mounting configuration and parts.
I have the e46 BK mounts with e46 manual sliders in my e36. My opinion, skip them ... I used to have Recaro fixed aluminum mounts and switched them in order to get my son in the car and they feel flimsy. The seat moves with them and they don't inspire confidence like the Recaro do. Again, its my opinion, but I had both.
See if Recaro has something. I believe there is a planted mounts + Recaro combination.
In reply to Slippery :
Thanks for the perspective and pics here. I definitely want to find a combo that doesn't feel sloppy.
docwyte
PowerDork
1/30/23 9:26 a.m.
I used Recaro sliders/side plates attached to VAC motorsports mounts on my E36, I'm sure they have the same for E46. Didn't see the vanos fix on your list of stuff...
In reply to docwyte :
As mentioned above, I am using e46 rails on my e36. I would assume they work the other way around as well.
In reply to trumant :
Also to answer your original question, no, those side mounts you have will not work on the factory sliders. They attach differently. I can dig some more pictures in a bit.
In reply to docwyte :
Vanos has been done as well thank god
Registered for the 4/26 TNIA event at NJMP Lightning. I can't think of a better reason to take a Wednesday off work.
Had to cancel TNIA but added 8/12-13 NJMP Lightning with BMWCCA.
My first event is coming up 4/8 and I'm looking forward to feeling the car out there for the first time.
Looking forward to the recap
