u/DoubleAbalone9398

Quick photo dump.

Took a little vacation and my brother came and knocked out the carbon roof while I was gone. Did a great job getting the old skin off. First time we got the thing off in pieces lol. Roof reinforcement welded in and roof bonded on.

I’ve been putting off getting the motor running. I wanted to finish the suspension, brakes, and get everything fitted so I can measure for a driveshaft.

Ohlins are way too expensive right now so per a buddies recommendation I bought a set of ST XTA coilovers. We’ll see how I feel about them. Thanks to wholesale discounts new F80 calipers cost about $150 more than clapped used ones. Front ones should be here tomorrow. Going to finish mounting calipers so I can finish up the brake lines.

Also decided to replace the front control arms since they looked tired. FCP is making a bag off me with this damn car.

Don’t think I’ll have much else to post until it’s time to start the car or we start doing the rear flares.

If my posts are getting to be too much let me know.

I wasn’t going to post until it was running but still have a bit to do until then and I was pretty excited the drivetrain being fully back in before my trip. Decided to mock up my carbon plenum. Needed some motivation.

Brother is installing the carbon roof while I’m gone.

Picked up my headliner and door panels from the upholstery shop.

Been a busy July and I haven’t been as productive as I wanted but doing the best I can.

Fuel system is done. M3 fuel pump and sending unit in the 135i gas tank. Really wish you could retrofit the bigger m3 tank. The range with a small tank and V8 is terrible.

Then got the front half of the harness completely routed and the dash support and heater core are back in the car. Along with the front half of the carpet. Dash is getting rewrapped and then going in next.

Time to start the engine maintenance and refreshing. This thing is leaking from every seal so it’s all getting replaced. New vanos covers and aluminum valve covers. I think it took about 10 cans of brake clean and a gallon of degreaser to get it looking this nice. Doing rod bearings this weekend and then the engine is done. New clutch shows up Tuesday and then I can mate the transmission. If all goes well the engine should be bolted back in the car so I can measure for a driveshaft.

Last was the rear end. Which completely kicked me in the dick. New billet subframe bushings, poly diff bushings, new control arms, new sway bar bushings, and new axle. What a pain in the ass. At least it’s in the car. Just need to figure out what I’m doing for brakes.

Next update will be with the car running.

Earlier this year I finished my Red 1M clone but not even 30 miles later on what I considered my perfect car I got an offer I could not refuse.

After some going back and forth I decided to build another one but this time it was going to be the opposite of my first one. More of a BMW enthusiast build. BMW paint code, manual, non idrive, and NA.

I’m about 5 weeks into this one. Hoping to have it running in 2-3 weeks and then will start the body work.

If people are interested I can post updates along the way.

Small photo dump showing progress.

Wiring harness has been swapped over and routed. Engine bay is dressed and hard lines are mounted.

E92 donor is fully stripped and sold to a shop to reshell one of their race cars.

Fuel system is done. Just need to install break lines so I can put the gas tank back up.

Rear end is getting a complete overhaul before being installed.

Same with the engine. Need to do a reseal and rod bearings.

Next update will be the motor running in the car.

Posted in here awhile back with my 1M clone. That car unfortunately sold. I was contacted by a gentleman in Canada that made an offer worthy of letting it go and was someone that would appreciate the car.

I decided I wanted to build another one. Seems silly but the chance to do it again while learning from previous mistakes and the chance to change some things doesn’t come around too often. Big change is that this one is going to be a manual car and I’m going to keep this one more OEM+.

1 series is stripped, M3 donor is getting there, and now that the engine bay is paint it’s time to start swapping everything over.

If people are interested in seeing more progress posts I’ll be happy to post.

Last time I posted the car there was a couple people asking for some exhaust clips. Finally have a decent one. Figured it can live here forever as the car is sold and will be leaving the country soon unfortunately.