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Thread: M3Dragon - NorCal CSL build

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
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    Sacramento
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    CSL M3 / 1M

    M3Dragon - NorCal CSL build

    Full build thread updated as of 12/2/2013

    Please be aware this is a VERY picture intensive build thread.

    I will apologize for the half ass build thread. For those of you are just reading this for the first time then you did not miss anything. For those who might be re-reading this I have made a proper timeline of the build over a decade of ownership.

    Full build thread XLS Document:
    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...EE&usp=sharing

    Assistance XLS Document - FULL CSL parts listing for M3 to CSL Conversions:
    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...0E&usp=sharing

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Where did it all start?

    After 10 years for going around in circles, I have decided finally, how I wanted to build out my M3. This document is the journey I have taken with my beloved E46 M3 since I brought her home from the dealers in 2002. I hope you enjoy the thread as much as I have enjoyed owning the car.

    *All of the car images are of my car and some of the parts images I had to pull from the internet as I did not take images of the parts or I lost them over the years.*

    Purchase History and Day 1


    I started looking in September 2002 at 330ci’s, as I wanted a sports car to have for weekend drives. I had never owned a BMW or even a sports car for that matter. My car ownership experience at the time I started looking at BMW’s had only been Ford Bronco’s, so I was definitely a fish out of water. After some research, I changed my mind and ordered a M3 as it had the SMG system. I asked the dealer to order a silver one and let me know when it arrived.

    About two weeks later, the dealer called me and said they had a customer back out of an order and asked if I was interested. At first, I was hesitant because I wanted silver but they gave me a discount on the several of the ordered options. I agreed to to purchase this car as I was saving money and the color was not bad. I am glad they did, as now the Steel Gray Metallic is, is one of the rarer colors for the M3 now. October 15th 2002 I bought my M3 with 88 miles on the clock and the journey began.

    Vehicle Specifications:
    2002 BMW E46 M3
    Build Date: XX/2002
    SMG II
    Steal Gray Metallic.
    Black Nappa Leather
    Premium Package
    Bi-Xenon Headlights
    CD Player
    19inch wheels
    Harmon Kardon Sound
    BMW Car Cover
    BMW M3 Floor Mats









    Last edited by M3dragon; 12-04-2013 at 10:19 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    CSL M3 / 1M
    The next morning I could not wait to walk out to the garage to see if the car was actually there or was it one hell of a realistic dream. Thankfully when I walked into the garage, there she was, sitting all clean and pretty.

    Now take this as coincidence but here are some interesting things I realized after I bought the car. I bought the car on October 15 2002. My favorite month is October, 15 is my lucky number, I was 22 at the time, the car vin ends in 15, and the stock horse power matches the last digits of an item we all need to drive. They say when things are meant to be they will just happen.

    Based on what I have seen when I bought this car, it was supposed to be mine. Fast forward to 2011 and the 1M I bought had 8 miles when I bought it along with other interesting items like above. That though is a different build journal.

















    Last edited by M3dragon; 12-04-2013 at 10:20 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
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    E46 M3 6MT

    Thumbs up

    Thanks for sharing, keep it coming. I wish I would have done the same in taking pictures of my ownership.

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    The Start of the Journey 2003

    As I was new to the sports car world, I wanted to get out and meet fellow car enthusiast and go out on drives. In 2003, I was only on the E46fanatics forum which is where I learned all about my M3 before I purchased it. This was also where for the next few years I hung out to learn about upgrades for the car.

    The very first event I went to was at Sacramento State in February 2003. This was setup by some of the local BMW guys and was my first event ever for any organized car meet. After meeting at Sacramento State and taking a few pictures, we headed out for a drive on some back roads around Folsom Lake.







    Last edited by M3dragon; 12-04-2013 at 10:20 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
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    Wadsworth, Ohio
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    BMW
    Great looking start to the build, if you really want to go all out with the CSL style check out THIS.

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    The next event I went to was in March of 2003. I can’t recall if I tried to setup this meet but my memory says this was my first attempt at organizing a meet. Mother Nature decided to remind me that she dictates when car meets happen as it ended up being a very wet and windy day.

    There was one car that showed up and the two of us did a short drive on the only road I knew at the time. While the drive was short we did pull off and take some pictures to show these cars do not melt in the rain. After pictures we took a ride in each other’s car as the E46 was still a new car at the time. I have a real respect for the continental tires that were stock on the car at the time as I drove like a idiot in the rain when I look back on that day.







    Last edited by M3dragon; 12-04-2013 at 10:21 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

  7. #7
    Join Date
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    In June of 2003 I organized another meet and drive with some of the people I meet on the Sacramento State meet and my co workers. As you will see we stopped at the same turn out for photos and completed the same loop around Folsom Lake. It was the only drive I knew and it was starting to get old driving on the same road over and over again.

    This drive was also when I test my first modifications. I bought a K&N panel filter which might not seem like much but it was the first step down a very long road. Granted at the time I did not know that the road would have been this long as well as take so many twist and turns if we are staying with the car theme.







    Last edited by M3dragon; 12-04-2013 at 10:21 AM.

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    The next performance upgrade I purchased was the UUC Rasp X system in September of 2003. I bought this to get rid of the raspy metallic noise that the E46 M3 seemed to make at higher RPMs. This was the first generation of this system and it does remove the metallic rasp. The one drawback to the system is it does not add any power and but does add weight. So the removal of the rasp sound negates any real performance in retrospect but at the time it was the hottest thing on the block.



    Last edited by M3dragon; 12-04-2013 at 10:21 AM.

  9. #9
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    Three days after I installed the UUC RaspX system I went on my first group drive up HWY 1 North of San Francisco. Only three cars went on this drive but that was more than enough to have a good time. The group coved over 330 miles from start to finish which made for a long day and a great shake down run to see how the RaspX system worked on the car.









    Last edited by M3dragon; 12-04-2013 at 10:21 AM.

  10. #10
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    The last major activity I did in 2003 was organize a drive up to Lake Tahoe for the first time. This drive took place on October 15 2003 and is a far cry from the Tahoe Drives I organize now. Like anything, you have to start somewhere and this was where it all began for the Lake Tahoe runs. As this drive was the first time I had been to Lake Tahoe on my own I let one of the other drives lead the group. This was a great day and something I look forward to planning every year.







    Last edited by M3dragon; 12-04-2013 at 10:22 AM.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
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    21
    Yo. That car is sick. I just picked up 2004 M3 6speed man. Titan silver. U have given me some great ideas. If u dont mind telling were did u pick up those oe csl wheels. Im looking myself. Mine came with same stock ones as yours. Again bad ass my man.

  12. #12
    Join Date
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    2004 The Adventures Continue

    The start of the New Year brought the start of the real performance purchase for the car. First item on the list was an Eisenmann Race muffler with 83mm tips. I went with this muffler because I like the tip design and it was one of only three choices at the time. Over the years mufflers have come in and out of favor but this is still the only muffler I can never get enough of its sound. I also ordered the color match front reflectors as a late Christmas gift to me.

    *In owning this muffler for almost 10 years the only issue I have had with the muffler was one of the side brackets broke on a drive in 2011. It was a quick weld job to re-attach the bracket*











    Last edited by M3dragon; 12-04-2013 at 10:22 AM.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
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    21
    Quote Originally Posted by M3dragon
    I got the rims through Tony at bekkers.com. Just remember these are a premium as they are OE CSL parts. Alternative is getting ZCP wheel. Look is the same but the only different is the fronts are 1/2 narrower.
    Thanks. Ya i would def. want premium if i can get them.

    Thanks. I would def. want premium if i can get them.
    Last edited by marshallm32; 07-03-2012 at 11:42 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

  14. #14
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    The second performance upgrade was a set of Eibach sway bars. I installed these myself using the PIT at my parents house. I also installed a set on my buddies 330I at the time. I still have these sway bars on the car to this day. *I did order a set of UUC sway bars and tried to install. After fussing with them for half a day I gave up and sent them back.*





    Last edited by M3dragon; 12-04-2013 at 10:22 AM.

  15. #15
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    1999 M Coupe
    sick, but that must have been an ungodly amount of money

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by Zacorias View Post
    sick, but that must have been an ungodly amount of money
    Yeah lots of funds wasted on wrong parts. But when you mod that is part of the game.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
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    destiny
    WOW bro, your car is amazing. If money permits and I can get into a E46 M3 this year, steel gray will be the color. Major kudos on such a quality build.
    Current
    2008 E70 4.8 BSM/Black - 100% Options2007 335i SG/Coral Red - 6MT - Ets, Spec, BMS, VRSF, Broadway Static
    2004 325i AW/Black

    Past
    2000 M5 Silverstone/Silverstone - ST Coilovers
    1998 E36 M3 - Tiag, Bride Gias, RK Tunes, M50, AA Track Pipe..

  18. #18
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    By this time it was February and I wanted to get out and try out my new upgrades. I organized a weekend of drives to Napa for the first time. This drive was to bring the Bay Area and Sacramento guys together for a fun day of back roads turns. I did the drive twice and the first day I got one car and the second day I got my buddy to go at the start and we met four Bay Area guys in Napa. Not stellar turnout but I was still learning it seems.

    Saturday drive to Napa




    Sunday drive to Napa


    Last edited by M3dragon; 12-04-2013 at 10:22 AM.

  19. #19
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    As March 2004 rolled around I was able to order a set of BMW E46 M3 CSL rims. At the time I got these rims they were one of the hottest items on the market for any BMW. I also got my rims before daytonaviolet for those who are keeping track. When I bought the rims I also installed a set of Nitto 555 per the suggestion of the tire shop that did the install.





    Last edited by M3dragon; 12-04-2013 at 10:23 AM.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
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    Toledo, OH
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    2005 M3, 1995 740i
    This is an awesome build man. I cant wait to see it when its done. First csl build ive seen that has done more than just csl exterior parts and csl airbox. I love it



  21. #21
    Join Date
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    At the end of March I went down to the Bay Area for the Stanford Mall meet. This was the predecessor meet to the now famous Santana Row meets. I sadly over the years I seem to have lost the images from the many events I attended down there. Luckily I have the very first meet I was at.



    Last edited by M3dragon; 12-04-2013 at 10:23 AM.

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
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    McAllen Tx
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    a slow M3
    wow, this is a gread write-up, great story, and a great showcasing. Very interesting read. Just out of curiousity would you be able to share total expenses/labor costs as well up to this point?

  23. #23
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by Midnight Shark View Post
    wow, this is a gread write-up, great story, and a great showcasing. Very interesting read. Just out of curiousity would you be able to share total expenses/labor costs as well up to this point?
    I am still getting things but I could list retail prices for the parts. I was able to work deals on parts over the years so my cost is different.

  24. #24
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by M3dragon View Post
    I am still getting things but I could list retail prices for the parts. I was able to work deals on parts over the years so my cost is different.
    great project. nice pictures too.
    ESS 625
    RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE

  25. #25
    Join Date
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    April 2004 I decided I wanted to take some pictures of my car. So I pinged the E46 forums and got a few guys together to meet up and take some photos. I only had a point and shoot camera so the pictures were not that great but I did get a few that I still love to this day.





    Last edited by M3dragon; 12-04-2013 at 10:23 AM.

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