M3 body panels on E30

[swrt]

Hi Guys what would be needed to convert a standard E30 body to look like a E30 M3.

Would it be something like this
Bumpers
Front fenders
rear quaters

[maxfield]

Rear windscreen.
Bootlid.
Sideskirts and pods.

[swrt]

Hi Maxfield, Is the boot required or can the rear pannels just be cut to fit on the normal body I dont like the boot on the M3, what do you mean by pods

[BAUR335I]

This was the complete kit with the m3 bumpers not the ones shown in the pictures.Seller was willing to post worldwide,he wanted 70euros to u.k.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... %26fvi%3D1
Are you looking for copy or original panels?Either way it takes a lot of work,my one is a copy and its taken 1yr over weekends to get the body looking right.

[maxfield]

My mistake seemed to think there was door pods...

You can fit it without the boot and rear windscreen but IMO it looks hideous!

[swrt]

Maxfield you dont know where I can find pics of cars with only the flares, trying to picture it but you might be right

[maxfield]

Real M3 for comparison:




You would also need a pre-facelift car as it has the M3 rear lights unlike a facelift.

[swrt]

I see what you mean, would the M3 bumpers fit a pre facelift?

[maxfield]

Yes.

[Colonel Sanders]

would this fit a facelift car? wouldnt mind gettin the wings skirts and bumpers for my 325 turbo, then matt black

[maxfield]

It will yes, looks stupid though.

Just my opinion.

[Colonel Sanders]

na!!!!! gettin bored of the tech2 plus want it to be lighter with fibreglass panels for the sprint

[march109]

unless you are using it as a track/fun car only it will look shite wit M3 GRP panels on the cost of them and then getting them sprayed and fitted (to a decent standard that is!) will be nearly m3 money anyway.

and you'll never get the back to look like a real m3 anyway.

[maxfield]

na!!!!! gettin bored of the tech2 plus want it to be lighter with fibreglass panels for the sprint

I'm sure you put the fiberglass panels over the top of the rear quarters. Not 100%

[dazleeds]

heres what i think Brianmoor would say

if your going to fit m3 panels to an e30, just buy an m3

[Colonel Sanders]

im a qualified panelbeater anyway so all the fitting would be done by me, not sure how other people do it but i would cut the metal panels out, the car would be goin matt/satin black anyway. just toying with the idea.
it wont be my daily driver as i spent so much on the motor an the boost is gonna be over a bar so dont think it would be a good car day to day.
got my old e36 m3 for that

[BristolBulldog]

[BristolBulldog]

heres what i think Brianmoor would say

if your going to fit m3 panels to an e30, just buy an m3

This makes sense generally, but if you intend to extensively modify the m3 beyond just body panels then you may as well do a standard e30. If you are a tad handy (or just persistent) you can save alot of cash, and save the m3 that you would have otherwise modified beyond "standard" form.

[Yaninnya]

BristolBulldog, is that convertible yours? Did you bought the rear window frame with all this parts as well?
Jan

[BristolBulldog]

Hi, Yes it is. these are not the most up to date pics of it.

Rear window frame? the e30 m3 has the same hood as the e30 convertible.

[1an]

bristolbulldog, have you got any pictures of it in paint?

there is only one e30 m3 replica that i have ever seen pictures of that was to an imense standard and that was the one from america done in imola red and was a convertable, you would be hard pushed to see a difference from the outside compared to the real deal.

all other i have seen pictures of dont look right or the panels dont quite line up and can be spotted a mile off.

[Yaninnya]

Rear window frame? the e30 m3 has the same hood as the e30 convertible.

Yes, I know, I just thought that the M3 body panels where from 2 door car.
Jan

[BristolBulldog]

Yep, it was. These are 2 door panels, fitted to the convertible. just to note how easy you will find it (being a panel beater).

i had never touched a welder or done body finishing before i started this. I will see if i can get you a few better shots of it on the car. The spraying was jsut to get an idea of how the car looked, hence the orange peel. The car still hasn't been finished yet, but most of the hard bodywork is done.

[maxfield]

Here's a replica:

[BristolBulldog]

The only actual difference between my car and a proper m3, bodywork wise, is that the car is about 2" wider at the rear that a standard m3. I don't mind this as wider is always better, and the primary reason i went with the m3 kit, is with a view to put some very big feet on it in the future (still 18's as they offer me a great traction/ speed trade off), but i want a massively wider rear option. uploading you newer pics now.

[BristolBulldog]

Rear window frame? the e30 m3 has the same hood as the e30 convertible.

Yes, I know, I just thought that the M3 body panels where from 2 door car.
Jan

Something else to note. You need to "doctor" the front m3 wings if you intend for them to fit the convertible (m3 convertible front wings are exceptionally rare, as are the rear ones). Pics below.



note the 324 td washer bottle.

[BristolBulldog]

Do you need pics of how to alter the doors?

I have an insane amount of pics of this project, as i used to run www.335itc.co.uk and after a hard days/evening's work on it, words failed me most day's, so i took an abundance of pic's instead.

Anything you need let me know. Here's a few things you might find interesting.
home made coilover conversion
rear spare hole removal
full rear suspension rebuild/ poly upgrade/ uprated anti-roll bars/ zm3 cooler (mount through floor)
360x28 mm front brake conversion
m3 rear bumper quad exhaust
fuel flap adaption (WIP)
convert non m3 door to m3 door
cutting of the original rear arch (prep work etc)
cutting and fitting of the rear m3 arch
inner rear m3 arch fitting/ fabrication

[Yaninnya]

Something else to note. You need to "doctor" the front m3 wings if you intend for them to fit the convertible (m3 convertible front wings are exceptionally rare, as are the rear ones). Pics below.

I'm going to convert std E30 shell to M3 so front wings will be plug and play. I do not want to ruin original M3 as I want to fit into it different engine.
That's why I asked you about M3 rear window frame.
Jan

[BristolBulldog]

There are three ways to reasonably fit the rear wings.

remove the existing wing completly, and fit the new wing in its place (if you are fitting genuine, or don't mind fabricating up the extra for fibreglass)

Cut the wing as i did, and weld it over the top, but making sure you have significantly cut back the original arch

the other method considered would be too literally just fir the arch. This would not include the top half of the wing, so your weld/ bonding seam would be in the crease that goes along the side of the original wing. This overall would involve the least work, but would leave the joins at the front and rear of the wing slightly pronounced, unless you spliced into the original wing with cutting discs to allow the lower part of the arch to sit flush.

[DJ_B4L]

hi mate i dnt no if this might help.. but there is one on here with the full m3 bodykit already fitted.. take a look
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/233397.htm