Albi Blue 200 >> BMW E46 Track Car

[tombate911]

Updaste 28/04/2018 - Not sure if this will be allowed on here...

As a few of you know from talking today the replacement for the Clio has been found. Saw this car two weeks ago on Autotrader when I got back from a Track day at Croft where I had been with a ground of friends on a track day as a passenger. Spoken to the guy a few times during that period but didn't want to rush into buying anything, If it was there when the time was right I'd go and have a look.
With all the Turbo conversion parts sold and picked up Tuesday this week, I planned to go and view it today taking a tow car and trailer down to have a look at it just in case.
HPI Checked it in the morning. Checked all the paper work out. Had a good look over it and took it for a test drive around Cannock. Everything seemed good except the diff bushing to the rear subframe has a little bit of play in it. Standard for a car of that age though and not difficult to fix. Brought a friend with me who is big into BMW's and has a factory level BMW scanning software to check the car over and everything checked out ok. The deal was done! onto the trailer and dragged back up North!



Progress will continue with the Clio but sadly it will be progress of putting it back to standard and selling parts off. Bit sad really to be leaving the Clio behind. Met a lot of really nice and awesome people through buying the Clio and really enjoyed the time being part of the forum. As you all know me i'll be making this into another serious track car and will have a build thread somewhere as i do really enjoy keeping a log of everything i'm doing and planning! Thanks for reading if you've made it this far or contributed to the total of 28 Pages of Track and Clio talk in this thread.

Thanks guys! Tom.

 

[Pav]

sad to see it go but dont be a stranger Tom...we will love to see your progress with your new toy

 

[Big Ben]

As I’ve said elsewhere that looks a really nice car to start another project on. Having witnessed your Clio and driving ability on track I think it’s fair to say you’ve reached a ceiling with the Clio and to move to the next level it needed changing.
Hopefully we’ll all get to witness how the build goes.
Cars change all the time. People don’t. Stick around, you’re input has been invaluable to a lot of members and I’m sure lots of people wouldn’t mind seeing a few non Clio updates!

 

[suj]

Looks very clean Tom, so what's the plan for the E46? What engine is it? 330i?

If you ever need any help let me know, as there are many similarities between the E36 and E46, I had an all out (albeit road legal to drive to trackdays) E36 328i I spent so much on, they are very capable cars once setup, you'll have fun in it!

 

[///M]

I have the same questions as Suj. Engine spec mate? What else? Any plans?

I know how good the E46 is. Hope you keep us updated of the progress.

 

[tombate911]

@Pav @bigben

Will keep this thread alive with updates don't worry. However if mods would prefer I will start a new thread in a different part of the forum and leave this one to fade into the background in this section?

.....Cars change all the time. People don’t. Stick around, you’re input has been invaluable to a lot of members and I’m sure lots of people wouldn’t mind seeing a few non Clio updates!

Thanks Ben. Hit me in the feels that comment! I'll be around it for a long time to come still. I've got two friends with Clio 197 and 200 that I'll no doubt be working on when i'm not working on my own. I've been on a few forums over the years, Various Mountain bike ones, Mk5 golf, van forums, Ross Tech Vag Diagnostic ones and this is the best one I've spent time on and met the most/best people from so thanks! I hope I've managed to help a lot of you out and got some of you into the track day scene a little more!


@suj @///M

It's an E46 M54 330ci M sport. 140,000 miles but with a massive packet of service history to go with it and some massive main dealer BMW repair bills in the past. The plan at the moment is to use it as a daily for a few weeks until my new van arrives and then I will strip it completely except the dash board, fit my seats and harnesses, set of coilovers and replace the diff bushes as I can hear that moving around already on the test drive. Need to sort out two sets of wheels and tyres and probably go for a square set up rather than the stagger set with 245 tyres all around on 17's rather than 18's. At least for the dry wheels.
Will be going straight to building a plated diff for it probably a Kaaz with a Shorter final drive to liven it up a little.

Had the full day today working on the car but before that.
Here's a photo of one of the reasons I've decided to swap... 3.0L Straight 6 Cylinder engine. Making 231BHP and 220ftlb.
In my opinion these are one of the best every day car sounding engines.



Straight onto axle stands, wheels off, arch liners off and gave it a good jet wash and a once over. Took the plates off and removed 15 years with of sticky plate stickers.
Found a few things already done to it, lowered on Eibach springs, Hel lines fitted front and rear with newish rear calipers.
Grooved rotors fitted on the front with Yellow EBC pads. These will all be replaced before it's first day day though.


Parked it up on the driveway with the Clio. I'll be putting that in the unit on Friday and putting it back to standard. Cage is already sold pending collection. Coilovers, 2 piece rotors, Gaz adjustable coilovers with top mounts, 1 set freshly powder coated 200 wheels with RSR's on and a set of Freshly powder coated 197 wheels up for grabs.
Then will be looking to remove the gearbox with the Gripper and shorter Final Drive to swap for a standard gearbox.
All going to be advertised in the for sale section next weekend.

I know i really will miss the Clio. It's the best handling and fun car I've even driven and I know i'll regret selling such a good car.

 

[///M]

Tom this is quality mate. You’re going to get a LOT of fun out of that. SOOOO wanna do the 4:10 diff on mine but funds are going elsewhere at the moment. Great mod.

Looks in good condition and seems to fit the bill well. Hope you enjoy the hell out of it.

Please do let us know how you get on.

 

[tombate911]

Productive weekend but certainly a step back.
Removed everything track related and put the car back to standard.
Taken two days to do it but I've removed the following
Coilovers
Safety Device Roll Cage
Gearbox with the Gripper diff
335mm brake kit - Standard rotors back on
DS1.11's - New brembo pads fitted
Toe shims removed from the rear beam.
Seats, side mounts and harnesses removed
Solid lower engine mounts replaced with Powerflex

Standard interior and parts have been refitted. When I stripped everything down I bagged everything up including all the bolts washers and fittings and put it into storage should I ever want to put it back to standard I'd have everything required to do so. So a full two days work to put 2.5 years worth of modding back to standard.
It is now for sale on Ebay and many of the parts are being posted up there day by day.
I have decided (Sorry guys) that rather than moving to a different forum, I'm going to stay, hang around a talk clios and keep this build thread running with my friends clio's that I'll probably be working on but also a lot of people have asked to see the E46 build thread continue so here goes. Watch this space!

 

[Pav]

you said it..2 and half years of modding gone in 2 days..hope she finds a good home..
and i said earlier..will be great to see your next project on here..inspiration is always good..

 

[tombate911]

Finally got a bit of information worth sharing...
The Albi Blue clio that brought me here has now sold to a dealership in Wales who are going to sort out a few of the little problems with it and then put it on their forecourt. Happy with the money I got for it considering.

This update starts off with last weekend. Had a few weekend with nothing to work on really so decided I'd do something with the weekend and take the car away for a couple of nights. Drove down to Betwys Y Coed on the Friday evening and stayed at a friend holiday house, nice to have access to that when it's free. With the plan to go and watch my friends on Anglesey on the Saturday on the motorbikes.



Greast views driving over to Anglesey on the Saturday. Obviously I took the A road across North Wales to give the E46 some testing and put some miles on it before it gets stripped.

Made my way back home on the Sunday around mid day and went to help my friend who's bought my gripper shorter FD gearbox fit it into his car. He already had the subframe down as he's replacing the coilovers so perfect time to drop old box out and the new one in Sunday afternoon.


Fast forward to this weekend I decided on Saturday morning to start making some progress on the E46 even though i'm still using it as my daily driver waiting for the new van to arrive. Out came all the interior from the rear of the car, head lining and a lot of wiring.
I thought the Clio had a bit of interior to remove this is something else a lot of weight to be saved by removing it.



No messing around making a subframe base for the seats like I did on the clio and went and bought some E46 side mounts which are designed to sort out the large ofset of the steering wheels to the seat. Best money I've spent as the seating position is perfect now and bolts straight into position.



Doing things a little differently with this build. Mounting the eyelets for the Harnesses on the inside of the shell and welding them into position. Hole drilled with the hole saw, surround areas ground back to fresh metal and the surface of the plates ground back too.



Plates welded in. 3 sides nice and easy to do with it being double skinned but the front edge proving to be a little more difficult without blowing big holes in the floor welding paper thin metal to the 3mm eyelet plates. This was the first one so they got neater. Wire wheel on them and painted.



Seats in and harnesses mounted, decided to keep the centre console and the front carpets in for the time being until I decide on what route I'm going down in regard to the cage being fitted. Few bits of sound deadening to remove but mainly that's the interior sorted for the short term.

 

[Pav]

brilliant Tom..looking forward to more..

 

[///M]

Awesome Tom. NO messing about.

Hope the drive gave you some positivity for the future with the BMW. And yep, there is a LOT of creature comfort weight in them huh? Plenty of weight in the seats too! Wait until you do the diff. Car will come alive.

And bloody jealous you have access to a place to stay in Betws y Coed! Just had a nightmare trying to find somewhere to stay around there! Will be worth it when we get on those fantastic roads though.

 

[tombate911]

So on the track days track car front not a lot has happened in the past few weeks. Taken order of another set of Gaz Gold Coilovers for the E46. This time set up with a lot stiffer springs fronts and rear. Solid top mounts front and rear too.


Ended up down at Demon Tweeks at the weekend getting alignment done on the van so decided to treat myself to a set of driving shoes. Had been eyeing this up since the last visit there, nice and simple designed. All set to go for the next track day now..


In other news I've been helping out with friends racing the Civic in the 750mc Road Sports over the last few race meetings. Been interesting to get involved with a different side of motorsport this year and been on the racing side of it rather than spectating. Last weekend was Croft but long story short they had suffered with fuel starvation at Brands two weeks previously and some detonation had left the car down on power and still running lean eventually resulting in a cracked piston and had to pull out of the 45 minute race.



Onto the other project that I've been working on this past week. Any of you lot that follow me on social media know whats coming with the update...
Set of Bilsteins b14's ordered.. Just needed a vehicle to fit them to.



Part way through fitting....



So this is what I had taken delivery of, not quite a track car but it's my daily and tow vehicle that I drive to track days in and sleep in.
2018 Volkeswagen T6 Kombi 150bhp with the 7 Speed DSG Gearbox. Spent 4 days converting it from a Kombi van with 5 seats to a camper conversion with Gas, water, electricity, diesel heater, double bed and table.




Table pops up and single burner and running water in the corner, designed to be functional but give the most space possible.



Now that that's built and on the road I can now focus my attention to building the track car and taking it off the road. That means the next update will be E46 related.

 

[Pav]

thats brill Tom..where did you have the conversion on your van done??how do you find the new suspension set up on the van??

 

[///M]

Great update Tom. LOVE the van. Would really love something like that.

 

[Sean197]

Van is awesome, would love something like that one day.

 

[tombate911]

thats brill Tom..where did you have the conversion on your van done??how do you find the new suspension set up on the van??

The Conversion was done all by myself on the driveway at home. Took 4 days working flat out morning till night. The bilsteins are great, had them fitted to the brown one so decided just to order the same for this one too.

Cheers @Sean197 @///M I wouldn't be without a vehicle like that now, so versatile that I use it as a daily as well as something to get away in at the weekend.

 

[///M]

The Conversion was done all by myself on the driveway at home. Took 4 days working flat out morning till night. The bilsteins are great, had them fitted to the brown one so decided just to order the same for this one too.

Cheers @Sean197 @///M I wouldn't be without a vehicle like that now, so versatile that I use it as a daily as well as something to get away in at the weekend.

Mate, seriously jealous of the van. Will pay for itself in accommodation money within a year for us I reckon!

That with a trailer for the fun car and I'm happy as a pig in poo.

 

[sevenfourate]

Cars coming on great guns Tom. If ends up 1/4 as good as the new van you'll have done alright

Take that as the biggest compliment ever to your normal high standards...

Very much looking forward to where this one goes

 

[tombate911]

Mate, seriously jealous of the van. Will pay for itself in accommodation money within a year for us I reckon!

That with a trailer for the fun car and I'm happy as a pig in poo.

Yeah. They certainly are so versatile. Upgraded this one to tow the large trailer I've got a little more easily and munch the miles, as well as getting away as much as possible when i can this year.

Cars coming on great guns Tom. If ends up 1/4 as good as the new van you'll have done alright

Take that as the biggest compliment ever to your normal high standards...

Very much looking forward to where this one goes

You're far too kind mate, I just enjoying building things. The E46 will be a little more special, spent quite a bit of time ordering things this week and I've got quite a stock pile of parts ready to go. Hopefully get my teeth into it Monday when we get back from Rockingham. Was going to start Tuesday after work this week but ended up sleeping the evening away.