[M3_Legend]

Originally Posted by Prolix-2

Yes, very possibly. Though I'm going to start selling things off any of the donor cars until the e91 is fully painted and assembled. Rule of thumb with a project is make sure it's fully complete before you start pitching/selling things. Keep those fasteners and misc bits and bobs as you never know what you don't know you need. Paint work is scheduled the week of the 25th, so I guess I'll get back to you on this some time in May.

Keep in mind, I probably intend to sell as a full sport kit of side skirts, front and rear bumpers. This is also something I can't ship. I'm in centra VA just outside Lynchburg, which is about an hour South of Charlottesville and about an hour West of Richmond.

Keep me posted willing to drive I'm in NJ

[Serf27]

I like the way it’s being done. I added parts I wanted to my e90 in a similar, if not the same way.
Would buy a car just because it had the wheels I wanted, or interior or bumpers I wanted. Etc.
Assuming you’re getting these at a low cost and will part them out, the parts cost you nothing in the end, except for the time taken to part them out.

[Prolix-2]

Originally Posted by Serf27

I like the way it’s being done. I added parts I wanted to my e90 in a similar, if not the same way.
Would buy a car just because it had the wheels I wanted, or interior or bumpers I wanted. Etc.
Assuming you’re getting these at a low cost and will part them out, the parts cost you nothing in the end, except for the time taken to part them out.

That's more or less what's happening. I'm patient and working through it as I go. See what shows up on the crashed cars exchange and get extras.

I bought a CLK for the family last year and I ended up purchasing an additional 6 CLKs to provide support for suspension, wheels, trim, etc. I would love to do that for this year's convertible, but there aren't than many R230s around and the ones that are ALWAYS bring good money, no matter the condition.

----------

Getting back to the E91:

Next thing on the docket is going to be suspension; most pressingly springs and shocks.

I would assume rear spring rates are going to be different than the sedans by a bit? Otherwise I could pull springs from one of the N51 M Sports and chose dampers.

I believe someone with an e91 made a comprehensive list of spring codes somewhere. I remember looking through it.

Alternatively there is always a coilover set up of some kind even though I don't want to drop the car but by maybe 1/4" to 1/2" at the most. Stock ride height is fine by me. Ride comfort with ride quality trade off is the search and likely will stick with the stock sport setup. I would love Ohlins for their legendary ability, but not sure it's worth that much of an investment for me. If I have to purchase rear springs new for the e91 to get spring rates correct it might be though as I remember pricing those new to something of the tune of $600 for the pair.

[Prolix-2]

I'm thinking of going with the Bilstein B12 kit rather than figuring out which springs to use and which shock to pair it with. My price on the kit is cheaper than buying even just the B8s individually. It seems like a no brainer unless I'm missing something.

I'm working on a spreadsheet for the various other things needed as well. M3 front control arms and trying to figure out what to do about subframe inserts in the rear. If doing the suspension, I'm going to do it all in one go.

Any other useful comments?

M3 tension strut - TRW - 31102283575 & 31102283576
M3 front wishbone - TRW - 31102283577 & 31102283578

B12 kit from TireRack

I've got the M3 lower skid plate on order.

It's been recommended I also get the M3 swaybars, or at least the front. I've not started looking for these yet.

I'm looking for the M3 front strut brace.

[4 Doors]

Originally Posted by Prolix-2

I'm thinking of going with the Bilstein B12 kit rather than figuring out which springs to use and which shock to pair it with. My price on the kit is cheaper than buying even just the B8s individually. It seems like a no brainer unless I'm missing something.

I'm working on a spreadsheet for the various other things needed as well. M3 front control arms and trying to figure out what to do about subframe inserts in the rear. If doing the suspension, I'm going to do it all in one go.

Any other useful comments?

M3 tension strut - TRW - 31102283575 & 31102283576
M3 front wishbone - TRW - 31102283577 & 31102283578

B12 kit from TireRack

I've got the M3 lower skid plate on order.

It's been recommended I also get the M3 swaybars, or at least the front. I've not started looking for these yet.

I'm looking for the M3 front strut brace.

Have you looked at the B14 kit? If so, what is your reasoning for going with B12 over B14?

[Prolix-2]

Originally Posted by 4 Doors

Have you looked at the B14 kit? If so, what is your reasoning for going with B12 over B14?

It's 3.82x the cost of b12 and that's a good enough reason for me. I have what I feel is a reasonable budget to achieve my desired result, but spending $3k on coilovers does not fall within my parameters.

[4 Doors]

Originally Posted by Prolix-2

It's 3.82x the cost of b12 and that's a good enough reason for me. I have what I feel is a reasonable budget to achieve my desired result, but spending $3k on coilovers does not fall within my parameters.

You should be able to buy them for around $850 from multiple supplies/vendors. I believe the part number is: 47-269064

[Prolix-2]

Originally Posted by 4 Doors

You should be able to buy them for around $850 from multiple supplies/vendors. I believe the part number is: 47-269064

Oh really? Why was I was seeing it for $3k?

That's not much more than the b12 kit. Not sure how I feel about coilovers. The cars I've driven with them installed and they seemed to bottom out to easily and that's annoying for my primarily back roads driving.

[Prolix-2]

The car has gone in for painting. I sanded out chips in the hood, prepped the front bumper and fender, and stripped things as much as I could to make the it easy for the paint shop to access items receiving paint, or to be able to remove them completely.

Next up I need to get cracking on the suspension choices. I'm still thinking the B12 kit is going to be my best choice. I've not been impressive with all the cars I've driven with aftermarket coilovers, and while most of them have been on the cheaper end of the brand spectrum, I'm unwilling to pay for the high end brands either, so it seems a moot point.

If someone has comment on that, please do so as I plan to order the b12 kit in about 3 weeks. Paint gets done some time next week, but I've got other things I need to attend to and won't get back to the car for several weeks. Was planning on doing the m3 front control arms and M3 spash pan thingy at the same time.

[M3_Legend]

Wagon is looking real good. looking forward to more updates.

[M-technik-3]

Will you be painting the front side marker lights body color? Enjoying the process you have made, only wished mine was going that smooth and quickly but life keeps give me frost heaves and pot holes.

[AmuroRay]

Originally Posted by Prolix-2

Thanks for the feedback!

I should mention that @Guy Fieri is also a big contributor to why I'm here. We've been kicking around car ideas together for probably going on 10 years now. We both had, and still have, Volvo wagons to talk about, and now we both have e90s too.

Probably why I got this car was because I was selling my project Volvo and needed a replacement. Here is a couple photos I took for the first test photo shoot of the project Volvo, but someone decided they wanted it from this shooting, that I never got to take a second attempt. That is one of two Volvo V70 T6 (300+ hp) AWDs in North America. It was never offered in this configuration and so it has to be built to get one.

But with that gone, a replacement tinkering car felt needed.


I've never been a stranger to BMW, but been away from for a long time as a personal car. The last time I had a bmw for my personal use was a 2001 325i convertible: manual transmission, sport pack, and curiously a manual top. I really enjoyed that car and the freedom from concern of the top failure even though it was a multi step process to put the top up and down. That's the only bmw I've seen with a manual top. Trying to remember when I had that car.... 12-14 years ago maybe? It was slow, but fun to flog.

I think the last I had one that I used semi regularly was when I would borrow my brothers red ZPH 330i when my now wife and I were dating, so that puts time line of further out than 10 years.

Though, I did get my father in law an s54 Clown Shoe for a wedding present and that is kept on hand with no plans for departure. So technically I've never been without and since I was responsible for obtaining the car, I get my own key and can take it whenever I feel like some analog goodness. We bought it with <30k miles on it and we've just past 50k after 8-ish years of ownership.


So, yea, here we are today. @M-technik-3 I don't really plan on an engine or transmission swap at this point. The Volvo linked above was a very intensive project and I don't think I want something on that level for a while. Transmission swap I would very much consider if I found someone to do it for me, but engine not likely. N54 is very easily obtainable and that would probably be the first choice, but an S65 would be interesting. Either is likely to be far more technical and costly than I have envisioned for the budget for this car. I've started watching for an M3 parts car, but everything I've watched for has brought fairly stupid money. M5 of M6 parts cars go for less money than M3s.


I have been considering selling my SL550 and replacing that with a 3 pedal convertible, which could be S65 powered. That could whet the appetite for a more powerful wagon, but I doubt it. I feel pretty OK with the power output as it is so far.

For daily use cars currently I have three spots.

Wife's car: Volvo V60
Convertible: MB SL550
Tinkering car: this e91

Wife's car she has to be on board with changing, but the other two is purely up to my discretion. I'm not in a hurry to replace the SL, but I've been thinking about it. I've never driven an e90 M and would be open minded to give it a try.

You bought a clown shoe...for someone else? And a S5 at that? You're a really nice guy!

I think Gu Furi's name and avatar are hilarious and I can't wait to see this build!

[Prolix-2]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

Will you be painting the front side marker lights body color? Enjoying the process you have made, only wished mine was going that smooth and quickly but life keeps give me frost heaves and pot holes.

Yes, bumper cover reflectors are going to be body color for a full delete.

I wouldn't say the build is going super smoothly. You are only seeing a curated view. I've had it long enough that some called it vapor ware... I've had this car since, iirc, 3rd quarter of 2021. It's been a minute and it was stalled for a good while when I went at other things and worked out some massive life pot holes that are still aren't corrected and are pointless to bring up here. Haha, I will say the biggest pot hole was cause by an e65, and it's a memory that has been seared into my emotional core that time won't erase. But... that's an in person story only.


But, yes, since I've had 6-9 months to plan, collect, and tinker, sure, a lot of the heavy lifting is done, the bigger checks are written and we can mostly smooth sail forwards. I am going over budget though, at least in the total gross receipts. Originally I wasn't planning on buying so many parts cars, but I find it difficult to resist if something worth buying shows up. I keep wanting to find an E85 Z4, as I feel their could be fun things to harvest from it, but I'm not sure what that might be.

Is there any z4 things worth swapping over?

[Prolix-2]

The e91 is back from painting.

I've not had much time to do anything with as last weekend was the Carlisle Import Auto Show where I went and hung out with all my fellow Volvo nerds and that took pretty much all energies.

More pictures here

Only one e9x was present at the show, and that was a little disappointing. BMW historically does not have a strong showing. Volvo and Saab dominate with VAG being 3rd, and a lot of misc other stuff showing up for the fun. Next year I might take The Drowned Man, but we'll see.

[M-technik-3]

Nice update, glad to see paint came out good, how far back was it blended in?

[Prolix-2]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

Nice update, glad to see paint came out good, how far back was it blended in?

Just a bit onto the right door. Might be a couple weeks before I can put it all back together, but having the body work and paint done feels like a big step forward. Once it's together then I will be let letting all left over body parts go as I'm petty sure someone else wanted the front/rear bumpers off the blue parts car

Now I suppose I need to get cracking on suspension and the rest of it.

I'm torn between shot gunning the entire job in one big go, or doing it incrementally to feel updates. Shotgun probably more better.

[Prolix-2]

I did order the b12 kit, but it's on back order.

Curious things in that I tried to put the rear bumper on and the bumper guides for the non-sport bumper didn't fit. I modified it a bit to make it functional and then called up bmw to order the correct guides. Per bmw vin decoding, there is not bumper guide for the sport body kit.

I'm very confused as to what is going on with that.

[mad1stgen]

Order 51127907259 and 51127907260, BMW dealers 🙈

[azuritschwarz]

Originally Posted by Prolix-2

I did order the b12 kit, but it's on back order.

Curious things in that I tried to put the rear bumper on and the bumper guides for the non-sport bumper didn't fit. I modified it a bit to make it functional and then called up bmw to order the correct guides. Per bmw vin decoding, there is not bumper guide for the sport body kit.

I'm very confused as to what is going on with that.

It is correct that M Sport models have different bumper carriers, for both pre-LCI & LCI — currently going through this on my own E9x.

Enjoying the progress so far!!

[Prolix-2]

Originally Posted by mad1stgen

Order 51127907259 and 51127907260, BMW dealers 🙈

It was very weird they couldn't find it.

[Prolix-2]

Originally Posted by azuritschwarz

It is correct that M Sport models have different bumper carriers, for both pre-LCI & LCI — currently going through this on my own E9x. RealOEM.com offers a great database to cross reference part numbers for situations like this when there may be a slight difference.

Enjoying the progress so far!!

Well, I used vin WBAUT9C54CA189929 borrowed from this car on BaT, that clearly has the desired LCI M Sport bumper cover

I decoded the vin to be sure it wasn't a cosmetic swap like what I'm doing.

RealOEM came up with 51127202669 & 51127202670, which the dealer tells me in EPC doesn't match this vin. 51127907259 and 51127907260 are on back order and will ship in from Germany, and because it's a special order part, I doubt I can return it.

This is my confusion.

I saw a note somewhere about there being a variation for bumper guides with or without park sensors, but I wouldn't see how that would be relevant in a meaningful way. Presumably that would only have an extra tab or something to attach the wiring harness to.

[mad1stgen]

10 Msport wagons later ... *259 and 260 are the correct part numbers. Order away !