my E30 M3 replica build

[Rtaylor2208]

Love this, Kudos to you. I wish i had the time, space and bottle to do this. Keep the updates comming. One of my favourite threads.

[Greeny]

When doing something like this yourself, even if the end results aren't perfection it's sooooo much more satisfiying knowing you did it yourself.

[petchy]

I've got one of those Aldi compressors too- handy little things!

Yer garage is massive!!

I'd be very happy if I could do a DIY job as good as this! I am looking forward to seeing you're progress with this project!

[breakermart]

yeah even though its far from perfect, i can stand there and say i did it all myself and be proud of my efforts. never done this before so each challenge is a first and most probably a last lol. must admit garage is quite big. helps having some empty stables on the back aswell so i can store all my parts in there lol.
anyways, been putting bits together past few days, realising im missing some trim and clips and dont quite remember where everything goes lol. was over a year since i took it appart....



























to be continued.................

[breakermart]

by the way, whats everyones thoughts on the black line around the bumpers? iv only done them tempory with electrical tape to see how it looks. its either black or red. or who prefers without?

[kieran325]

I prefer the black around the bumper.

I bought some from the dealer for my M3, it was £50 for the complete bumper tape!

[Rav335uk]

Excellent!!!!!!!!

[breakermart]

yeah i think i like the look of the black stripe too. will look into buying the set from a dealer. what is it exactly? is it tape, plastic inserts or what? cuz im tempted just to paint it in there. and thanks Rav335uk. alot of the time i think to myself though, im glad nobody is here to actualy see this cuz it looks better in the pics than in person lol. you can see the imperfections in the paint and things like that.

[Nobby_N]

For your first big project it looks amazing mate, wish i had time and skills to attempt something half as tough as what you've done bud! well done!

[harry_p]

it's going to look great when all back together

i will say, please try and get a pair of proper m3 indicator lenses. theyre a different size to both pre and post facelift normal m3s. it's the finishing details that can make or break a project. so many people just bodge any set of lenses in and they look terrible

[Sanchez]

Respect the effort in this thread.

Congrats.

[e30topless]

it's going to look great when all back together

i will say, please try and get a pair of proper m3 indicator lenses. theyre a different size to both pre and post facelift normal m3s. it's the finishing details that can make or break a project. so many people just bodge any set of lenses in and they look terrible

+1,

i have a pair of used m3 indicators here if they are of any use to you

[breakermart]

pm'd

[polsta]

yeah i think i like the look of the black stripe too. will look into buying the set from a dealer. what is it exactly? is it tape, plastic inserts or what? cuz im tempted just to paint it in there. and thanks Rav335uk. alot of the time i think to myself though, im glad nobody is here to actualy see this cuz it looks better in the pics than in person lol. you can see the imperfections in the paint and things like that.

excellent thread and work, cars looking good, for all the effort youve gone too its the final details that will make or break it, things like these stripes and the indicators mentioned, dont bodge the final detailng !

[breakermart]

yeah fair one, its so easy done, when you can see an end you tend to get an urge to rush it and cut corners. il use the propper parts to get the oem look. think the next job is the 5 lug conversion. iv got all the bits in the garage now..... wich reminds me, a question to sombody having already done it. iv got the e36 compact rear setup. do i use my own drive shafts or the e36 shafts? or are they the same so it dont matter?

[polsta]

just spotted them here

http://c3bmw.co.uk/StockItem.asp?catego ... m=unassign

[breakermart]

is that tape just like wide electrical tape? lol its the word tape that scares me, sounds like it would peel once threatend with a jet wash

[polsta]

its an original bmw part for the m3 bumpers its not going to peel straight off is it, probably like the stuff they use for side stripe decals

[Hoobs]

If you use the proper stuff it'll be fine.

Cars looking good although LHD would be better. Just personal preference.

[breakermart]

yeah think il use the propper stuff, like you say it will be good enough for its purpose and il do my best to keep everything as it should and not aftermarket crud..
as for LHD... it would make the replica side of things more convincing granted but would ruin the drive for me. and we all know the bmw is the ultimate driving machine lol so its got to feel right for me

iv had a thought though, (the number plate) im thinking about having the uk plates made out to look like german plates, i want to use a private plate because its a facelift reg but the car is not facelift anymore since i changed the rear panel. even though it currently has facelift headlights lol (for now)

does anyone think my german looking plates is a w*nk idea? or has anyone already got this on their car?

[breakermart]

oh and id like to retract a comment i made earlyer about them making a few rhd m3's. i thought wrong, all m3's apparently are built lhd and some were later converted to rhd by the buyers or carried out as a conversion by bmw at the factory after it was built. oh well. i was half right lol. you can get a genuine rhd m3 but it wasnt ment to be rhd, if that makes sence i just dont want to claim to be a know it all lol. but saying that, i do know ALL..... "fook all"

[dan-t-man]

end of the day mate there may be many bms like yours ,but that one yours and youve done it all yourself, theres not a lot of people can say that so keep up the good work,ps love your evo splitter

[breakermart]

cheers pal, i agree. and im hopeing to get the evo rear spoiler with carbon gurney flap too.

[johnl320]

I really didn't think this car would turn out like this, well done, it truly is a credit to you.

john

[Hoobs]

What makes you think LHD would ruin your car? Have you driven a LHD e30?

German style plates just look tacky and you'll run the risk of fixed penalty tickets. Stick with proper plates.

[harry_p]

What reg is the donor?

They did m3s on h plates, keeping the pre-facelift rear end for the entire run.

Headlights were the early type up until the rest of the range got first bullseye then smiley lights.

[breakermart]

lol lhd would ruin the car for me because id be sat on the wrong side to where i prefer...
and the car is 1991 originaly.

[tonybtonyb]

Oh my god how well as your M3 turned out! It looks like a genuine one,once you've finished it.

[Rich320I]

i had German style plates on an e30 and didnt get pulled once and it passed the MOT with them

car looks superb mate, and major credit to you for all the hard work its turned out so well

[Hoobs]

Depends on the copper who pulls you I guess? I had them on my e21 and got a fixed penalty and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

You can't really be saying this view would be improved by having looky-likey German plates?



Bottom line is if you like them, fit them.

[Rich320I]

a pair of german plates on that would be the cherry on the cake

joking, but like you say bottom line (like quite a few E30 mods) if you like it then crack on. as for legality of german plates they are illegal, so yeah i think i was more lucky than anything else

[reepers13]

very nice, got a link to where you got the kit?

[breakermart]

iv stated it earlyer in my post.... sevral thousand times

[reepers13]

iv stated it earlyer in my post.... sevral thousand times

Sorry I must have missed it

I'd seen a couple in eBay etc

[breakermart]

yeah i seen bits of what looks like the same kit on ebay too, normaly fetch slightly above what there worth. you can buy the complete kit for £550 posted. the link to the person who sells it is back somwhere on here. wish i had comission on the people who have asked where i got the kit so they can buy it. could have paid for mine by now lol